atty cleaning

[frnkj74]

i think i may have killed my atty's by cleaning them with denatured alcohol, is there a way to bring them back to their original state 'cause now they don't vape very well, or do i have to buy new ones, also i drip so on the new one's i order if i have to order some, is removing the wick a good idea? what method is best for cleaning 510 atty's i have the e smoker 510 if that helps with anything

 

[superfrog]

I've heard and tried several different methods. As far as 'denatured' alcohol, never heard anyone using it. Mostly everyone uses isopropol (I use 91%) or Pure Grain alcohol (PGA) for their atty bath. Generally, 15 minutes to an hour does fine. Some take it another step and use a vibrating jewelery or sonic cleaner (don't use the cleaning solution) with the alcohol. Others use Crest Pro Health mouth wash, I got a nasty flavor and stopped that. Some also use near boiling water. Honestly, we each find what works best for us.

If you are still getting SOME hits, then the atty is probably salvageable. I would think that the denatured alcohol might be a factor. I would first try the hot water, blow them out, rinse again, then let them dry over night. Then see how they perform.

I have the sonic cleaner and usually bathe in isopropol for no more than 30 min. Rinse with hot tap water, and blow out really good. Then I'll bathe them in hot tap water with a deture cleaning tablet for an hour or so. Works for me, and the way I rotate my attys, I'll clean 12 or so attys at the end of the week at the same time. (I rotate 4 attys in use every 2 to 3 days). I'm still running on the original attys for my Magma that are going on 4 months old, and have only popped one Joye and one LR through 'Abuse'. Again, works for me.

There's a thread about 'shock' cleaning using a manual batt or manual pass through. I've tried it, but didn't like it. A couple of friends swear by it. Using the PT and heating it up dry to bake off the crud.

 

[Rusty0007]

As a rule of thumb, how often do you need to clean them? Sounds like quite a process!

 

[prash]

As a rule of thumb, how often do you need to clean them? Sounds like quite a process!

I'm also looking for a general answer on how often is 'good' to clean the attys. I'm getting an ego so maybe if it varies from model to model, anyone with an ego can help here?

 

[Void]

Does cleaning prolong the life or just get rid of the old e juice flavors?

 

[CaptJay]

You really dont need to clean them imo - I don't and mine last pretty well. I just drip the new flavor in and vape through the transition flavors (lol). Some flavors though tend to linger (cinamon, mint, menthol) and those ones have their own atty that I dont tend to use other flavors in.
I use an eGo (510) and previously a basic 510 as well as my Buzz - I think ive only ever cleaned one atty and it died - kinda put me off lol.

 

[Ravage]

I just use water every few days to clean mine. I have a syringe that came with a tooth whitening kit I use to shoot water through the atty, then blow and burn dry. Looks shiny new

 

[scratchm]

I've had little success with cleaning my atomizers. I've killed several (not entirely sure how, but after cleaning they just didn't work any more). I now have a cleaning process that works for me (I soak them in vinegar for an hour or two, then in near-boiling water until the water cools, then try to blow them out and let them dry for a few days) but after cleaning it seems like they go downhill faster than new ones. So I don't think I'm getting them completely clean, or maybe I'm damaging them somehow.

To address the question posed by Rusty and Prash... I find that a brand new atomizer works well for me for about a week, then over the next week I get less and less vapor out of it until by the end of two weeks I'm frustrated enough to switch to a new atomizer. After cleaning a used atomizer, it lasts about half as long (sometimes only 3-4 days, but usually 6-7) before it seems like it needs cleaning again.

To be honest, I often throw them out instead of cleaning them again; I could buy a fresh atomizer every 3 days and still save money over what I used to spend on cigarettes.

 

[dfs405]

I have read in another thread about isopropyl and now use this method. I use it when they get sluggish but not dead-it works great. After the web site improvements though I cant find my old posts to get the actual blog, but the gentleman did a very nice video showing what to do. Soak for about 10 minutes in 92% isopropyl-very cheap stuff and available in most stores- then swish around a little- keep filling the mouth side and let drain through the batt side. When you get a free running liquid instead of a drip-drip, you are done. Tap gently onto a paper towel and let dry overnight. Prime as if new in the morning and you are good to go-very quick, effective, and cheap.

 

[judybr]

I just started this vaping thing about a month ago and have tried the alcohol and even vinegar for cleaning. Even after rinsing and drying the vinegar one had a bad taste and I used the white vinegar. Mostly at this point since not only am I trying to seriously save money and completely quit smokiing, I am blowing them out well and leaving it at that. I only use hot water now when I do clean them due to the bad tastes. I guess its a personal choice

 

[prof beard]

I don't clean atties - in my experience it doesn't increase life and sometimes shortens it - I use them and bin them

 

[Kargonet]

Now I understand why someone in another thread suggested getting a small tackle box to keep all your goodies in. Attys, cartos and juices...OH MY!

 

[superfrog]

As a rule of thumb, how often do you need to clean them? Sounds like quite a process!

As you can see, there's alot of oppinions for how to clean. Some don't even clean.

Not sure if cleaning does prolong the live, like I said, only 'abuse' has killed any atty I've owned. The rest are going strong.

Being a Navy guy (we have processes to develop processes that deploy processes) with OCD, doesn't seem too much of a process to me. All actuality, I'll collect about 12 or more attys from the week and clean them all at the same time. Other than letting them sit in the the denture cleaner and the alcohol, actual hands on is really only about 10-20 minutes a week for cleaning, and another 10 minutes putting about 5 drops of 50/50 PG/VG in them and putting them up in my rotation drawer.

 

[frnkj74]

so what ur saying is that using the cleaning method of flushing the atty with a syringe & denatured alcohol is not necessary, what about dripping, i removed the wick material 'cause i've read on this forum that's what some people do, or should i leave the wick? in your own personal opinion did i screw up my atty's by flushing them with denatured alcohol?

 

[AJMoore]

I have read in another thread about isopropyl and now use this method. I use it when they get sluggish but not dead-it works great. After the web site improvements though I cant find my old posts to get the actual blog, but the gentleman did a very nice video showing what to do. Soak for about 10 minutes in 92% isopropyl-very cheap stuff and available in most stores- then swish around a little- keep filling the mouth side and let drain through the batt side. When you get a free running liquid instead of a drip-drip, you are done. Tap gently onto a paper towel and let dry overnight. Prime as if new in the morning and you are good to go-very quick, effective, and cheap.

DSF405 - this might be the thread you were thinking about: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ce/113362-cleaning-510-attys.html#post1733044

 

[superfrog]

so what ur saying is that using the cleaning method of flushing the atty with a syringe & denatured alcohol is not necessary, what about dripping, i removed the wick material 'cause i've read on this forum that's what some people do, or should i leave the wick? in your own personal opinion did i screw up my atty's by flushing them with denatured alcohol?

Don't know about the denatured alcohol, haven't any use for it, so I googled it. Denatured alcohol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I'm not a chemist, but I'm guessing the additives may have done a number, just guessing. Me personally, I would get those things as clean as possible using iso or grain alcohol to completely flush out those additives. According to wiki also, some of those additives are poisonous, at the very least not good for you.

 

[Schewbert Gordonbruger]

I smoke a pipe during the cooler months of the year so I cannot get out of the habit (ritual) of cleaning my stuff after use. At the end of the night I rinse with hot water. Then I take a compressed air can to both sides from ~6" away. Then set on a paper towel cartridge end down before I go to bed. I had some bad ghost flavor from some horrible juice in my atties this morning so I dunked em in Everclear (pure grain alcohol) for 15 minutes then repeated my nightly clean.