Atomizer Cleaning Method(s)?

[jblaque]

Hi all-

Well, I got my starter kit from Katy at the Smokeless shop, and have been having lots of fun with it. Also happy to report that I'm down to 4 regular cigs a day (from an average of 20-25). Not bad after 30 years of analog smoking!

My (undoubtedly dumb) question to you veteran e-smokers is this: What is the safest and most effective way to clean a DSE901 atomizer, and how often do you do it?

Katy's instructions are to fill the atomizer with a little water, shake, drain, repeat a few times and place the atomizer, battery-side up, on a napkin to dry. Not knowing the actual internal construction of the atomizer, I'm wondering if water will harm it in any way and/or are there any other ways to keep it clean and clear...

Suggestions, tips, tricks, etc. would be most welcome. Thanks!

 

[youfillintheblank]

I used to swear by 99% rubbing alcohol, but now I've switched to boiling them (cheaper!!) I do mine by dropping them in a small pot of boiling water for about 2-3 minutes or so, every week. You can leave them dry overnight like Katy says, or use a hair dryer to force out the moisture if you can't wait. Boiling really does release more gunk and crap, if you clean with un-boiling water, I'd do it ever 2 days or so. I've been e-smoking for 7 weeks, boiling atomizers for about 4 or 5 and I haven't had one die yet.

If you let it get too dirty, it'll get to that "point of no return" and nothing will clean it all out properly.

Hi all-

Well, I got my starter kit from Katy at the Smokeless shop, and have been having lots of fun with it. Also happy to report that I'm down to 4 regular cigs a day (from an average of 20-25). Not bad after 30 years of analog smoking!

My (undoubtedly dumb) question to you veteran e-smokers is this: What is the safest and most effective way to clean a DSE901 atomizer, and how often do you do it?

Katy's instructions are to fill the atomizer with a little water, shake, drain, repeat a few times and place the atomizer, battery-side up, on a napkin to dry. Not knowing the actual internal construction of the atomizer, I'm wondering if water will harm it in any way and/or are there any other ways to keep it clean and clear...

Suggestions, tips, tricks, etc. would be most welcome. Thanks!

 

[jblaque]

Ah, OK - so there's no internal parts that actually be harmed by alcohol or boiling water. That's great to know, thanks (and thanks for fielding the newbie question).

I used to swear by 99% rubbing alcohol, but now I've switched to boiling them (cheaper!!) I do mine by dropping them in a small pot of boiling water for about 2-3 minutes or so, every week. You can leave them dry overnight like Katy says, or use a hair dryer to force out the moisture if you can't wait. Boiling really does release more gunk and crap, if you clean with un-boiling water, I'd do it ever 2 days or so. I've been e-smoking for 7 weeks, boiling atomizers for about 4 or 5 and I haven't had one die yet.

If you let it get too dirty, it'll get to that "point of no return" and nothing will clean it all out properly.

 

[SuperStack]

I just heat up a mug of water in the microwave *really frikkin hot* then drop the atts in it for 5-10 minutes, along with a bit of dish-soap. Swirl it around a bit. Then rinse out with hot water under a tap and let dry.

That really seems to do the trick as well. Everyone has their own variation I guess. I haven't killed one doing it like this at least, so I'll keep using my method.

 

[GabbyD]

What if you did the boiling water and it's still a pretty hard draw? Is that one hopelessly clogged? I mean, I can use it, but it's not the most pleasant choice.

 

[jblaque]

Another good tip. Thank you!

I just heat up a mug of water in the microwave *really frikkin hot* then drop the atts in it for 5-10 minutes, along with a bit of dish-soap. Swirl it around a bit. Then rinse out with hot water under a tap and let dry.

That really seems to do the trick as well. Everyone has their own variation I guess. I haven't killed one doing it like this at least, so I'll keep using my method.

 

[youfillintheblank]

Probably....I haven't had one that bad. Something acidic might break it up, like soaking in hot vinegar. a few people on the forum have tried that with success.

What if you did the boiling water and it's still a pretty hard draw? Is that one hopelessly clogged? I mean, I can use it, but it's not the most pleasant choice.

 

[Kit]

best technique ive found is throw the atomizer over your shoulder in a random fashion!and but a new one on.
or try here....
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tips-tricks/1100-how-clean-atomizer.html

 

[warbdan]

I soaked my favorite dse901 atty(it was a true vapor cannon) in gin overnight. The next day I rinsed it out, let it dry for another day. Now it has a really nasty burning metal taste. It's so bad I can't even use it. Any ideas on how I can save it? I have 3 others, but they don't perform as boldly as this one did.

 

[blondeambition3]

I soaked my favorite dse901 atty(it was a true vapor cannon) in gin overnight. The next day I rinsed it out, let it dry for another day. Now it has a really nasty burning metal taste. It's so bad I can't even use it. Any ideas on how I can save it? I have 3 others, but they don't perform as boldly as this one did.

did you 'prime' it with nic juice before using it?

 

[warbdan]

yeah, I'll keep messing with it, cuz I really like this one.

 

[warbdan]

Alright! I'm back in vaping action with my best atomizer and BFD cart mod! Woot!

 

[DJ Deviant]

tried to clean an atty months ago. diddnt work. boiled for 20 min. killed it. now i just blow them out every month. works like a charm. rn 4081 atty btw.

 

[methylamine]

I've tried everything--denatured alcohol soak, vinegar soak, hot water, coke, denture cleaner. I've tried a soak followed by steam cleaning, which works pretty well--pure vinegar overnight followed by a quick rinse in pure water and a steam cleaning.

But the absolute best, one that seems to restore them to "like new" performance, is the ultrasonic cleaner.

I bought a semi-decent one--it's not the cheapest $25 kind, but not the professional jeweler's $500 kind either. It's an $80 one from Amazon, the Gemoro. It has a high-power US transducer, and it "cavitates" well. You'll know what I mean if you see it in action, there are tiny bubbles formed in the water where the ultrasound is so intense it's causing the water to "boil" in place.

It cleans the coils, getting 90% of the black gunk off. My atomizers look like the sparkplugs from an old carbureted engine that's running too rich--they're covered in a black carbon goo that prevents juice from getting to them, and insulates them so they're running way too hot.

The ultrasonic cleaner beat most of that off. The hard-drawing, low-vapor atomizers I've cleaned this way are drawing effortlessly and producing clouds of thick vapor just like new.

Highly recommended!

 

[OldCoot]

i've been doin this since i started Vaping,,,when the atty gets to tasting a little rank,,i pull it off, go to the sink put a drop of regular dawn dish washing liquid into the addy, then place in hot water in a cup beside the sink,,let it sit for about 30 minutes,,,rinse out with good hot water,,,,blow it out,,dry it off,,and replace,,amazing what this does for cleaning out an addy,,no elaborate science here, just common sense,,

GOOD VAPING TO YA!!

 

[spider362]

Kinda old thread to resurrect, but anyway, here's my procedure.

Bought a cheap aquarium air pump from Walmart and taped a small bowl to the top to act as a sonic cleaner.

• Fill with hot water and 1/8 tbl spoon of Baking Soda (to remove old flavor)
• Run through sonic cleaner for 15 minutes
• Fill with 50% water/vinegar and run for another 15 minutes (to remove crust from heating element)
• Run clean water for 15 minutes. Do this twice

I have 5 attys I originally bought and they are all still working just fine.