Atomizer Resurrection, Pt 1

[Jaaxx]

I have a couple of guesses about why this works (ie. why it clogs in the first place.)

1 - semi-solid liquid residue builds up there because it's behind the atomizer and doesn't get hot enough to flow out.

2 - Twisting and pulling the carts in and out loosens and moves the atomizer around making the disks go out of alignment.

I have seen several 901 atomizers where the actual atomizer cup (as pictured above) is loose and can move up/down and twist in the tube. Seems like the glue that holds it in place is a weak point.

I'm glad people are having success with this, but I still caution everyone. You will be sorely tempted to try this on an otherwise good atomizer that is just in the *declining* stage and very likely may end up with a cold one. I consider this adrenaline to the heart, battery cables to the chest, last resort.

[equazcion]

I'm from the "atomizers should never need replacing" school, so far. I've taken atomizers apart and I really can't see how regular use could break them, even with "overheating". I believe it's all just gunk building up in the wick, which I think can always be dissolved away. It's just a matter of finding the right solvent.

When my atomizers' performance starts falling off, I go through a cleaning process that starts with boiling in white vinegar for 10 minutes. I then go through a few soakings and "shakings":

I take an empty prescription medication bottle and press a sticky substance into the cap. I use silicon ear plugs for that. I then press the battery end of the atomizer into the silicon, so that the atomizer sticks up vertically. I put some vinegar in the bottle, put the cap on (with the atomizer sticking into the bottle), then shake vigorously for a few minutes. The atomizer stays stationary in the silicon while the liquid swishes around and through it. I also let the bottle sit upside-down for a few minutes so that the atomizer is soaking in the vinegar, then shake again. I repeat that process with hydrogen peroxide and then water. I blow out the water afterwards, let the atomizer sit out and dry a few minutes, screw on the battery and vape with no cart or liquid (to hopefully vaporize any remaining water), then put a full cart back on.

It's a bit of a process, yes, but it has worked to restore my atomizers to like-new performance a few times so far. I estimate it takes about a half hour or so all together, but I consider it protecting my investment. I'm absolutely determined to avoid giving in to the whole "atomizers are consumables" thing. Hopefully this will continue to work and I'll be vindicated.

[nakli_dhumrapan]

equazcion - could you say a bit more about your cleaning routine? DO you do this only when the atomiser performance is poor? Or on a regular basis? Does it 'revive' apparently dead atomisers? How long have you been doing this for? I would really like to have non-consumable (or less-consumable) atomisers.

[Sun Vaporer]

Equazcion, do you re-prime your atomizers after doing your cleaning method? It was my understanding from other posts that not re-priming them with e-liquid causes them to burn right up but I could be wrong. Are you not having that experience? Thanks--Sun

[equazcion]

Originally Posted by nakli_dhumrapan

equazcion - could you say a bit more about your cleaning routine? DO you do this only when the atomiser performance is poor? Or on a regular basis? Does it 'revive' apparently dead atomisers? How long have you been doing this for? I would really like to have non-consumable (or less-consumable) atomisers.

I haven't been doing it for very long -- it's been about 2 weeks. I know that's not very long, and it may sour the credibility of my process for some people. You'll have to judge for youself. However, keep in mind that I vape... alot. The thing is in my mouth perpetually when I'm at the computer, with the USB passthrough, for many hours each day. I don't measure millileters of liquid, but to give you an idea of the volume I'm talking, I get home from class in the afternoon (between 12:30 and 3:00pm depending on the day) and vape pretty much constantly til I go to sleep around midnight. It's enough that the vapor becomes thin enough to be considered worthless within just a few days.

I don't clean preemptively. I only clean when I become frustrated with the performance. I've never experienced a completely "dead" atomizer, at least not yet, so I can't say whether or not this would actually work as a total "resurrection".

Originally Posted by Sun Voporer

Equazcion, do you re-prime your atomizers after doing your cleaning method? It was my understanding from other posts that not re-priming them with e-liquid causes them to burn right up but I could be wrong. Are you not having that experience? Thanks--Sun

After drying I do a few inhales without any liquid or cart. Not too many, just 4 or 5. I can understand the logic behind repriming right away, cause a completely dry wick could theoretically burn up, depending on what it's made of. However my belief is that the wicks are so tightly wound that they don't release moisture easily and so they're difficult to dry. I believe that partly because in the past when I've re-primed first, the first few pulls are still virtually vape-free, so I think there's still some water left that you're boiling out before the liquid has room to soak in.

I would rather have a dryer wick when I start with the cart, so that there's no water in the way to dilute the e-liquid, and I can really see how well my cleaning process worked immediately. I do top up the cart before putting it in though, to the point that there's some loose liquid in the top. This has worked a few times already, like I said, and I haven't burned out any atomizers yet.

[equazcion]

I forgot one step. I also shake with another substance before the water. It's a household cleaner called "simply green heavy-duty cleaner". It's diluted to roughly 5 parts water to 1 part cleaner. That may sound scary but it's non-toxic, and I make sure to shake repeatedly with water afterwards, changing out the water in the bottle until shaking produces virtually no suds.

I decided to use that stuff because when I've used it around the house it seems to be able to dissolve almost any type of residue.

I don't know which one of the substances is responsible for the successful cleaning -- the vinegar, the hydrogen peroxide, or the household cleaner -- or maybe a combination of all -- and I'm too lazy, and too eager to get my atomizer working again when it's dying, to do a methodical test of each individually.

[Jaaxx]

Yep, cleaning is key to prolonging the life, but even with cleaning (and maybe because of it) the alignment issue can occur.

I've got my own cleaning method I'm really happy with. Maybe I'll save that for "Atomizer Resurrection Pt.2"

[Sun Vaporer]

Jaaxx--have you had a chance to take a look at why the "Jaax Method" works on the DSE801's and RN4072's? We have fired up 6 previously "dead" ones using your method?? Thanks--Sun

[parapo]

Originally Posted by equazcion

I'm from the "atomizers should never need replacing" school, so far. I've taken atomizers apart and I really can't see how regular use could break them, even with "overheating". I believe it's all just gunk building up in the wick, which I think can always be dissolved away. It's just a matter of finding the right solvent.

When my atomizers' performance starts falling off, I go through a cleaning process that starts with boiling in white vinegar for 10 minutes. I then go through a few soakings and "shakings":

I take an empty prescription medication bottle and press a sticky substance into the cap. I use silicon ear plugs for that. I then press the battery end of the atomizer into the silicon, so that the atomizer sticks up vertically. I put some vinegar in the bottle, put the cap on (with the atomizer sticking into the bottle), then shake vigorously for a few minutes. The atomizer stays stationary in the silicon while the liquid swishes around and through it. I also let the bottle sit upside-down for a few minutes so that the atomizer is soaking in the vinegar, then shake again. I repeat that process with hydrogen peroxide and then water. I blow out the water afterwards, let the atomizer sit out and dry a few minutes, screw on the battery and vape with no cart or liquid (to hopefully vaporize any remaining water), then put a full cart back on.

It's a bit of a process, yes, but it has worked to restore my atomizers to like-new performance a few times so far. I estimate it takes about a half hour or so all together, but I consider it protecting my investment. I'm absolutely determined to avoid giving in to the whole "atomizers are consumables" thing. Hopefully this will continue to work and I'll be vindicated.

have you tried Isopropyl alcohol ?
it suppose to clean atomizers as well. (will try it this weekend)

what concentration of hydrogen peroxide do you use?
we have some 35% stuff at work....it kinda burns and whitens your hand if it get in touch.....maybe a try worth.

[equazcion]

Originally Posted by parapo

have you tried Isopropyl alcohol ?
it suppose to clean atomizers as well. (will try it this weekend)

what concentration of hydrogen peroxide do you use?
we have some 35% stuff at work....it kinda burns and whitens your hand if it get in touch.....maybe a try worth.

Mine's a measely 3% . And I don't keep rubbing alcohol around, plus I'm also a little hesitant to use that. As for that and the hydrogen peroxide that's so concentrated that it burns your skin...?

I'd be careful with experimenting with the strongest possible solvents. That is, unless it's a last resort, or you've got enough of them laying around that killing a couple won't matter (not the case for me).

I've heard that rubbing alcohol dissolves paint, and I'm wondering what else it would dissolve (even partially) -- such as the adhesive that bonds the brass fitting to the atomizer tube. That's why I've limited the substances I use to those traditionally used for cleaning.

One product I was wondering about though is CLR (Calcium Lime Rust), as that's supposed to be a pretty powerful solvent that's safe for household cleaning.

I'm sure it's obvious but I'd always make sure to rinse the atomizer extremely thoroughly after trying all this stuff.