Getting rid of burnt taste - 510

[Silence]

ok... so 3 minutes in to this and my clear hot water in a white cup has turned a yellowish color...

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

You can boil an atomizer in the microwave in a glass or ceramic bowl if you cover it with water (a good inch or two to prevent evaporation). I usually do 2 minutes. Leave it set in the microwave to soak until cool enough to handle the bowl and remove the atty by hand.

After that, I soak in some PGA for 2-8 hours, blow out until dry (PGA displaces all the water and evaporates so a very quick dry) and reprime. Burnt taste is gone and runs like a champ. (PGA may bubble the paint on your atty if you leave it on too long or if it has scratches to the finish, btw).

I'd think dry burning only is adding to the burned taste in an atomizer... it burns the liquids to to the fiber wick (and possibly the fiber) in the atomizer. Here is a great pic of a burned wick:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...tml#post580832
(interesting old thread to read in its entirety)

I really don't think dry burning is a necessary part of cleaning and is probably just adding problems. I've only had one 510 get a burned taste, and I think it was a stray piece of the wicking material that was down in the pot area (it came out on its own when I boiled the atty and the atty tastes fine now and runs like a champ).

[Mountain Dude]

That's basically my cleaning method: near boiling water soak for about 10 minutes, followed by a soak in 190 proof Everclear. I use a plastic test tube with a cap for this. Shake it whenever I remember. Leave it in there for a day or so. If the liquid is clear, it's clean. If it's cloudy or amber colored, it gets fresh alcohol and another soak. Blow out and air dry, no dry burn.

I haven't lost an atty yet, despite some really thick flavored and colored juices. I had a caramel I mixed that was waaaaay too strong and while it took half a dozen soaks to clean, it did get it all out.

I've got about a dozen attys, with three to four in use at one time, another three or four soaking, and whatever is left clean and waiting for use. I normally use one for three to four days before cleaning, but it could go almost a week if I'm vaping the same flavor that long and it still tastes good.