Atomizer life and technique

[Rahz]

I was just curious, those of you who experience long atomizer life, what are the techniques you use? It would be intresting to see if method correlates with atomizer life span.

Maybe list atomizer model, average lifespan thus far, cart/modded cart/drip, cleaning frequency and method, juice used, and whatever else seems noteworthy.

I haven't had one go bad yet (except the one I tried to clean with bleach), and can only say that two have survived a month, 2 weeks each. I haven't had one go bad yet, so not sure my data should be included but here is the format:

510 attie
2 weeks average, without atomizer death.
dripping
soak in 50/50 grain alcohol/vinegar, rinse and dry, about once a week.
Currently using MFS juice (PG based)

 

[Dirtybutts]

510 atty's, started out blowing them out everynight..I was also using carts back then but now I only drip and blow them out if vapor amount drops. Have never cleaned them with anything. I am still switching the same 2 attys after 3 1/2 months...one for cig flavors and one for other flavors.

 

[Rahz]

Wow, so that's 7 weeks each and no cleaning!

I guess I'll back off on the cleaning and see how that works out. Seems like if you treat them right, they're pretty tough.

 

[umop apisdn]

So far I've used one atty (510) for about 3 weeks (switched off a little bit to another one just to break it in gradually so I didn't have to be stuck with a crap one later on) with only cleaning once, and very rarely letting it drip out. So far, it's been working really well, still great vapor and flavor.

 

[Thornak]

I got my first 510 about 5 months ago and I'm still on my first atty.

 

[Tristar4]

Just shy of 2 months and have 3 attys (m401) in rotation, 2 of which came with my original kit, and I haven't had any problems. I dip rather than drip and for the most part use Ecopure flavors (VG). I don't give my attys any maintenance other than blowing them out if I'm changing flavors. I do have spares waiting in the wings though .. better safe than sorry!

 

[aschmidy]

I've had my ecigs since January and have only lost 3 attys. Never had a 401 or 510 die, yet. But I've lost 3-4 901s on my PS passthrough (5 volts). Pretty sure I let them get too dry on the 5 volts. Never let them get dry! I drip 99% of the time and never clean my attys. No water or anything like that. If they get sluggish I blow them out and let them drain overnight. I only use VG and I go through at least 3 ml. a day
As soon as I post this I'll probably loose about 3 in a row.

 

[Tristar4]

As soon as I post this I'll probably loose about 3 in a row.

LOL!! I was thinking the same thing after I posted!!

 

[Archer74]

lost 3 cartomizers from power-vaping on my PT. my very 1st 510 is still kickin from the day I got it(see sig) and I've been using it daily... Never cared for it, just cleaned it once to get the primer out and thats it. I would say I have abused it eg. dropped, drowned, dripped, drenched and dipped. The wick is actually shredded from doing a cart mod but still puffing like new.

No idea why, but my fortune with gadgets is the more I care for it, the sooner it breaks. If I dont give a rat's ... for it, it auto gains nine lives... 8-o8-o8-o

 

[tdwave]

September 24th. Started vaping with my new 801 kit.
Today November 20th, sitting here vaping on the same one. NO cleaning, just vape baby.
I picked up the VP-2 about 2 weeks ago, love it. i switch that atty between my batts and that. i started a new atty on the vp so i don't have to switch.
That is my story

 

[Walrus]

I switched to 510's in the beginning of August. I'm on the third atty. First one died after 2 weeks. Second one never died, but got really weak after about 6 weeks. I've been on the third since then... about 5-1/2 weeks so far.

I don't do anything to them at all... just use the hell out of them. I drip.

I tried cleaning the second one (the weak one). Tried boiling, lemon juice... it didn't change anything.

 

[mp166]

7 months with a DSE901 on fourth attie, one died after cleaning with surgical spirit, other two died "natural" deaths, never clean, blow or do anything to them, just treat as disposable item, my attitude pack of atties = cost of half a week of analogues.

MP

 

[greenie]

901 attys last a good two and three months if I don't clean them or get an killer eliquid. My 801 atty died after getting really hot then dead cold. I don't know if it was a natural death or I let it get too dry and hot and it did get really hot right before it died.
I've had really good luck with 901 attys for the most part. I just blow mine out when needed and I drip.

oh and I also alternate which allows one to rest while I use the other.

 

[bigozone]

BE901, 10 weeks on my orginal atty.... i never clean it, i never blow it out, maybe once a week i'll do a 3 to 5 sec dry burn. not sure if i just got a good one or what, but why mess with what seems to be working.

thought i'd mention that my atty has never had less than 5v ran through it. been on 6v for over a week.

 

[Rahz]

Thanks for the replies.

It seems like for the most part, an atomizer is going to last -at least- 6 weeks on average. Several have stated vapor drop at the 6 week mark. Most are dripping, but there's at least one person using carts, with no cleaning, with a 2 month old attie.

Of course, vapeing habits vary too much to draw anything conclusive, but the more replies, the more of a general idea we can get.

Thornak, 5 months is impressive. I'm curious if you clean the atomizer, and any other info that would explain it's longevitity.

 

[frogbmth]

I have one with 6 months on it and still going strong - A Janty KBC atty. I have only ever used PG in it and blow it out with a can of air regularly. I am convinced that VG and part VG juices clog atties. Mine are all lasting when I use PG only and they don't seem to be generating the burnt taste thing

 

[feenoir]

As soon as I start messing with the atties (clean, soak blah blah) they either die or no improvement. I must say I usually go through at least one every 1-2 weeks. Only had one "die" on me though. Once they don't draw as well or get funky I just ditch it. The blowing out thing keeps them from getting gross, but I can't clean them without killing them or having an annoying 20 minutes vaping session trying to get some vapor to start again. Seems like too much effort for me.

 

[melly710]

I think the trick is to not over clean. I blow them out every night but I only do the Efferdent bath when an atty starts to not work as well as it had been or when it was new.

 

[caesar]

510, single atty for 1.5month, no cleaning, 10sec draws @ standard voltage, lipton PTB. Never left dry. I repace them 1/month now, when taste is a bit off due to burnt bridge wick.

801 atty, 1 per week, 5-6sec draws @ exactly 6V (step up converter), dripping.

901 atty (in the past), dry burn 1/day, 10 sec draw, usually 3 months lifespan.

All are original SLB and Joye and are left full of juice overnight so they don't dry.

Had a few experiences with cheap copies that died in a couple of days and produced no vapor.