510 Atty questions

[pmd]

Hi folks, noob here and questioning attys.
I have a good supplier so I can only feel this is a user error problem in regards to the 510 atty.

1) 8 wks in and the 2 attys supplied with the kit. 1 died, I accept that after about 5 wks. really dead, no question.
2) 2nd atty thought was dying but it lives, I removed the wick like thread under the the mesh ( by accident) but this thing still performs like a champ. effortless, strong vape used on a pt.
3) 3rd atty, still working (about 5 wks) but not as great as the 2nd one
but ok.
4) 4th atty from just Oct 1, broke in and not working good, noticed that the wick like thread under mesh had come loose and removed it( didn't want to, it just came out), now that atty heats, but doesn't work well, it's a effort to get vape, must drip and there is much effort. doesn't seem normal
5) 5th atty started on the 15th Oct, I know it takes a day or so to break in and this seem to be vaping normally, so I'm OK with that.

Question, because I've seen this here and wonder.
How important is that little thread of wick under the mesh to the performance of the atty.
Has anyone else had attys die so soon.
Am I expecting too much from an $8 little heating device
Am I obviously killing these thing due to user error
Is there too much emphasis here on cleaning a device that should be left alone. ( Is there any manufacturing advice for cleaning?)
Is this just luck of the draw with buying attys

I ask this cause when I read of attys lasting 2,3, 6 months and I'm killing 2 in 8 wks, I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks,
with all these little problems, these things have still changed my life.

 

[Kent C]

Hi folks, noob here and questioning attys.
I have a good supplier so I can only feel this is a user error problem in regards to the 510 atty.

1) 8 wks in and the 2 attys supplied with the kit. 1 died, I accept that after about 5 wks. really dead, no question.
2) 2nd atty thought was dying but it lives, I removed the wick like thread under the the mesh ( by accident) but this thing still performs like a champ. effortless, strong vape used on a pt.
3) 3rd atty, still working (about 5 wks) but not as great as the 2nd one
but ok.
4) 4th atty from just Oct 1, broke in and not working good, noticed that the wick like thread under mesh had come loose and removed it( didn't want to, it just came out), now that atty heats, but doesn't work well, it's a effort to get vape, must drip and there is much effort. doesn't seem normal
5) 5th atty started on the 15th Oct, I know it takes a day or so to break in and this seem to be vaping normally, so I'm OK with that.

Question, because I've seen this here and wonder.
How important is that little thread of wick under the mesh to the performance of the atty.
Has anyone else had attys die so soon.
Am I expecting too much from an $8 little heating device
Am I obviously killing these thing due to user error
Is there too much emphasis here on cleaning a device that should be left alone. ( Is there any manufacturing advice for cleaning?)
Is this just luck of the draw with buying attys

I ask this cause when I read of attys lasting 2,3, 6 months and I'm killing 2 in 8 wks, I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks,
with all these little problems, these things have still changed my life.

First, How have you cleaned them? What did you use?

 

[pmd]

I generally don't want to clean them with anything,
The one that is the oldest and still performing strong, I cleand in boiling water and, in ignorance removed the wick under the mesh, thats what perplexes me, this thing should be dead after 8 wks.
The ones that are not performing are the ones that didn't perform from the start and I soaked in iso alcohol ( out of desparation).
But there is a question about that wick like thing under the mesh. It's inconsistant here.
On 1 it doesn't seem to matter, it works like a champ, on another it doesnt seem to work unless I dip only.
The atty that I started on Oct 15, is in tack and assuming there is a break in period of a day or two is working normally.
I am against this obsession with cleaning attys for no real reason but I was at my witts end.

 

[Jules22871]

The one and only time I removed that wick from under the bridge my atty was dead from that point on. This happened about a week after I got it in July. I am still using the second atty. I dont' clean it and I sure don't touch that wick any more,lol I have found that the less I do to an atty the longer it lasts. But that is just my experience and you will get 100 others that say 100 different things.

As far as cleaning, I do a a 2 second dry burn maybe once a week if it starts to taste funny and that's it. I was going thru 901 attys like crazy until I started leaving those alone too. Now they are lasting as long as my 510's are.

 

[Kent C]

I generally don't want to clean them with anything,
The one that is the oldest and still performing strong, I cleand in boiling water and, in ignorance removed the wick under the mesh, thats what perplexes me, this thing should be dead after 8 wks.
The ones that are not performing are the ones that didn't perform from the start and I soaked in iso alcohol ( out of desparation).
But there is a question about that wick like thing under the mesh. It's inconsistant here.
On 1 it doesn't seem to matter, it works like a champ, on another it doesnt seem to work unless I dip only.
The atty that I started on Oct 15, is in tack and assuming there is a break in period of a day or two is working normally.
I am against this obsession with cleaning attys for no real reason but I was at my witts end.

My guess is that you're flooding your attys and thinking they are not performing. The doing that obsessive cleaning that you're against.

When an atty isn't performing - if you haven't put it in isopropyl or boiled it, then it's likely flooded and what you do is take it off the batt, remove the cart and blow - by mouth - from the batt end into a paper towel until you aren't getting it wet. You could take a qtip and _carefully_ clean out the inside of the atty case making sure you don't mess with the atty bridge. Connect up everything and vape and you could put 1 drop on the atty bridge to help kick start. Also if you overfill your carts you can flood the atty so fill only to a 'moist' level, not a bubble.

Some attys need to be 'huffed' a bit to start. Like you're lighting a pipe or cigar and trying to keep the fires going. quick draws and puffs and then begin the slow like sucking a thick shake through a straw draw and then you should be good to go on regular draws (on the 510 - if you're on an auto you really have to stick to the 'slow draw' thing).

I really hate suggesting 151 but it is what I use. I use it because unlike isopropyl it is for human consumption and doesn't leave a film like iso can. I don't use water because it takes too long to dry and electronics and water don't mix if you haven't dried entirely. But try the unflooding thing first.

If you're still having problems, I'd contact the vendor - if you haven't had them too long they should be under some warranty or just contact them and see what they suggest. Heaven Gifts has a blurb on cleaning attys - someone posted it but you could likely find it at their site easier, although I don't recall seeing it though I never looked for it either.