Sattec's atty cleaning test thread

[broomgal]

This process cleans the mesh not the coil, and increases air flow

Was just about to post this question and saw your answer on the last page!

I have removed my bridge and wick on all my atty's but I can see the coils are filthy- wondering the best way to clean them....

[DC2]

I have removed my bridge and wick on all my atty's but I can see the coils are filthy- wondering the best way to clean them....

From everything I have read nobody has found any good way to clean them.
I think the closest thing anyone found that had ANY effect was icemaker cleaner.

Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

One guy recently posted that he put a lighter to them and it burned all the gunk off, but nobody seemed interested and nobody has followed up at all on his comments. I don't know if that is because he was a newbie and no one believed him, or if it was because none of the experienced atomizer experimenters saw his post, or if it is because the discussion is taking place and I haven't seen it yet.

I mean, seriously, if you can just burn that stuff off with a lighter...

[broomgal]

From everything I have read nobody has found any good way to clean them.
I think the closest thing anyone found that had ANY effect was icemaker cleaner.

Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

One guy recently posted that he put a lighter to them and it burned all the gunk off, but nobody seemed interested and nobody has followed up at all on his comments. I don't know if that is because he was a newbie and no one believed him, or if it was because none of the experienced atomizer experimenters saw his post, or if it is because the discussion is taking place and I haven't seen it yet.

I mean, seriously, if you can just burn that stuff off with a lighter...

This issue really consumes me! I would probably be better off just buying new ones every few weeks and quit wasting my time on it!

When I get a new atty it vapes like crazy but within a day or 2 it is way down.
Removing the bridge and wick has given me back great throat hit but still barely any vapor so I am kind of thinking that it is related to the coil. I am really wanting to see the new atty I get to compare. I will then be able to make some better observations starting with a new one.
Although I have seen many threads relating to *cleaning an atty* I guess they are in reference to the bridge and wick parts more than the coil?

[g123456e]

I like your cleaning research.
I used generic scope because I already had a bottle; shares active ingredient.

I cleaned 2 attys with similar results. 1 atty is a year old. I typically use PGA cleaning.
The results were same for both attys. The used scope was almost clear but contained several very small particles. Particles much smaller than black pepper.


Details:

PGA rinse.
Scope (Don't have Crest yet) soak and shake for a few hours.
Distilled H2O rinse.
Inspected used bath and found some tiny specs.
PGA rinse and blow.
PGA prime.
Atty working like new.

What is PGA? Propolyne Gylcol?

[g123456e]

Sorry, read it later... Pure Grain Alcohol.

[DC2]

Although I have seen many threads relating to *cleaning an atty* I guess they are in reference to the bridge and wick parts more than the coil?

Mostly the bridge, wick, and mesh that surrounds the white ceramic coil pot.
At least that is my impression from what I've read.

Although I'm sure many people think they are cleaning the coil.
But unless I am mistaken, they really aren't.

[sjohnson]

The coil surrounds a wick in most atomizers. That area of wick is subject to the second-highest heat in an atomizer, and impurities in the e-liquid can bake out onto and into that wick.

If let go too far, the build-up extends to the coil itself. When I first started doing the dry burn, you could see black-brown crud around and on the coil on my 510 atomizers. Now that I clean an atomizer every 3-4 days, when done all you can see is nearly white wick and a silvery-gray coil. I can't see the entire coil, of course, as it's partially hidden from view by the bridge. But I can see about 1/3 of it.

So yes, I am getting the coil clean, as well as the other parts of my atomizers. I use ultrasound, plain water and the dry burn. And I'm well past the 6 month mark on my oldest atomizers.

[DC2]

So then the dry burn has really taken hold as a proven method?
Is it still common wisdom that you really need to start with a new atomizer though?

[sjohnson]

It's proven to me but everyone should make up their own mind.

I was apprehensive about cleaning two-month old atomizers with the dry burn, but I think the step of an ultrasonic cleaning before the dry burn helped me, or I was just lucky. I haven't lost a used atomizer yet. When I started doing it, I cleaned 6 used atomizers using an ultrasound clean/dry burn/ultrasound clean cycle and didn't lose any.

The second ultrasound cleaning removes the burnt taste the dry burn gives my atomizers. I can see some ash and black bits after the dry burn that are gone after the second ultrasound and the burnt taste is gone, so I'm sticking with it.

My oldest 510 atomizers are over 6 months old. Both still test at 2.3 ohms.

It's working for me, is easy to do (takes less than 5 minutes of my time, but 2-3 days total time), and gives an atomizer that tastes and works like new, and looks functionally nearly like new.

The ultrasound does fleck off the black paint, so the outside of my atomizers looks crappy unless I finish removing all the paint, but that's the only drawback I've found.

HTH

[Nietzsc]

Ultrasound? how do yo do that sjohnson?