Cleaning Atomizers

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kristin

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Aug 16, 2009
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I've been using plain old vodka now. I blew them out, rinsed them under running hot water, blew the excess water out and soaked them overnight. Rinsed under hot water again, blew out again and let dry. So far, old attys come back to life and old flavors are gone.

I've tried doing nothing, just blowing them out, just rinsing, boiling, boiling with baking soda...nothing has worked as well as the rinsing & vodka soak. I haven't tried Polident, but that sounds like an excellent solution - it just makes sense!
 

a2dcovert

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Apr 24, 2009
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I've been using plain old vodka now. I blew them out, rinsed them under running hot water, blew the excess water out and soaked them overnight. Rinsed under hot water again, blew out again and let dry. So far, old attys come back to life and old flavors are gone.

I've tried doing nothing, just blowing them out, just rinsing, boiling, boiling with baking soda...nothing has worked as well as the rinsing & vodka soak. I haven't tried Polident, but that sounds like an excellent solution - it just makes sense!

This is the method I use too. I have used rubbing alcohol but I find the everclear, or any drinkable clear alcohol, to be much more convenient because there is no chance of a bad taste afterwards. In fact when I am finished with the cleaning cycle I simply blow through the atty to remove most of the alcohol and re-prime and put it back in service. I also use about 10% everclear in my juice mixes. It will restore the throat hit after you cut the juice with VG. I've been cleaning with alcohol for over 5 months now and it does a good job..

Kevin
 

tolip

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Oct 21, 2009
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Heads up ppl with black BE112 atty's.
(might apply to other painted atty's also)

I gave a black BE112 atty a 5 hour vinegar soak.
The vinegar did strange things to the paint.

My atty HAD the inside of the atty tube painted black.
The vinegar seperated and shrunk the paint from the tube.
I had something resembling a black cellophane tube scrunched in there after trying to gently insert the corner of a paper towel.
It was crumbling and leaving black flecks of chinese paint right on the bridge. Some bits were still firmly attached to the tube too.

I had to reach in there with hemo's, needle nose, and tweezers to rip the stuff out and clean the bridge. There is still some visible between the tube and the bridge edge. I'm sure it's clean but it remains unused. :(

The paint on the outside is slightly discolored in places.

My other (unused) black BE112 atty is also painted on the inside.
My chrome BE112 is not painted but it looks like there is something coating the inside of the tube because it is discoloring. No bath yet for the chrome one.

302 atty no paint
DSE801 4hole(tinyx4) high bridge no paint.
510's OEMs and Titan wide bands from TW clean.
I have a white OEM 510 that has spent about 48 hours in vinegar by now and the paint on the outside still looks new.

Anyone else notice this?

For black BE112's I'd recommend a shorter vinegar soak ;)

Things that make ya go "Hmmmmmmm" damnit!

YMMV

tolip
 

a2dcovert

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Apr 24, 2009
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Does an over-night everclear soak really make that much difference vs a 15 minute soak ?? I've been happy with the results just from a quick soak. Not tried the overnight gig.

Yes, sometimes the longer soak is necessary. I usually try the shorter soak first to see if that does the job. If not, it gets an overnight saok. I would recommend cutting the everclear down some. I have had a lot of success using 70% rubbing alcohol so the same strength everclear would work just fine, I think everclear is 90% alcohol.

Be careful and not soak too often or too long. As tolip stated it will weaken the power coat paint on the Atty. For an example I had one atty that had been through several soakings and the paint all flaked off.

I just last week though I took 2 brand new atomizers and soaked them in full strenght everclear trying to remove the paint (the metal shieve is stainless steel) to make matching atomizers for my Protege. After 4 days soaking It was still hard to rub the paint off, but it did come off.

Kevin
 

Valmeow

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Oct 29, 2009
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First of all I'ld just like to say "YEAH", my 402 starter kit finally arrived from China this morning. Taste is a little weird, but I already have supplies of juices & other pre-filled carts.:D

But there are two things I don't clearly understand:

How often to clean the atty?

What the heck is "blowing" i.e, "I blew the atomizer"?:confused:
 

feenoir

Full Member
Oct 10, 2009
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I've tried different atties in peroxide, hot water, pepsi max and alcohol (different atties different cleaning methods). I haven't found one that worked. In fact I swear they either stopped working after the cleaning or just well...sucked worse than before. They all were "working" at the time of cleaning just really hard draw, etc.
They are all dse 801.

Anyone know why i have such horrible luck once i start fiddling with them?
 

a2dcovert

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Apr 24, 2009
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Louisiana
But there are two things I don't clearly understand:

How often to clean the atty?

What the heck is "blowing" i.e, "I blew the atomizer"?:confused:

I usually don't do anything to the atty until I notice a drop off in vapor production caused by the atty. Contrary to some recommendations I don't blow the excess juice from my attys. I think it is better to keep them as wet as possible. My atomizers are stored with a partically filled cart on them. and I cover the thread end with one of the cartridge caps. You really don't want an atty to dry out. For long term storage of a used atomizer I put them in a bottle filled with water.

I hope this helps.

Kevin
 

nubee

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ECF Veteran
Jun 24, 2009
1,496
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IL, USA
I've tried different atties in peroxide, hot water, pepsi max and alcohol (different atties different cleaning methods). I haven't found one that worked. In fact I swear they either stopped working after the cleaning or just well...sucked worse than before. They all were "working" at the time of cleaning just really hard draw, etc.
They are all dse 801.

Anyone know why i have such horrible luck once i start fiddling with them?

I've been using Crest Pro Mouthwash (blue) every night, 15 mins soak, hot water rinse and overnight dry.

They take about 1 cart to get back up to full vapor but then I'm good to go.

Best routine I've found and low startup taste (just a hint-o-mint). My 801's vape good all the way up to death approx 3 weeks later but I vape a lot and hot at 3.7v

$0.02
 

bluesuede

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 28, 2009
833
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Central PA, USA
I've tried different atties in peroxide, hot water, pepsi max and alcohol (different atties different cleaning methods). I haven't found one that worked. In fact I swear they either stopped working after the cleaning or just well...sucked worse than before. They all were "working" at the time of cleaning just really hard draw, etc.
They are all dse 801.

Anyone know why i have such horrible luck once i start fiddling with them?

I have cleaned (once) my almost 2-month old 801 attys with sattec's Crest method because they were getting a little "tired". Worked like a charm. Like new. Cleaned my 401's yesterday same way.

After cleaning/drying you have to prime the attys then puff along until they "catch" again... and they will, unless you'd burned them really bad.

I never ever let my attys get so hot I get a bad taste and they seem to last a very long time. <knock on wood>
 

acezzz

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 19, 2009
145
18
The crest mouth wash is an excellent cleaner for attys. I dont know what is in it, but whatever it is it works. I would not recommend soaking an atty in anything containing alcohol as it softens the casing on the tiny connection wires inside the atty which could possibly cause a short or corrosion. Plus it doesnt do the tiny wick inside the heating coil any good either.
 

acezzz

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 19, 2009
145
18
Heads up ppl with black BE112 atty's.
(might apply to other painted atty's also)

I gave a black BE112 atty a 5 hour vinegar soak.
The vinegar did strange things to the paint.

My atty HAD the inside of the atty tube painted black.
The vinegar seperated and shrunk the paint from the tube.
I had something resembling a black cellophane tube scrunched in there after trying to gently insert the corner of a paper towel.
It was crumbling and leaving black flecks of chinese paint right on the bridge. Some bits were still firmly attached to the tube too.

I had to reach in there with hemo's, needle nose, and tweezers to rip the stuff out and clean the bridge. There is still some visible between the tube and the bridge edge. I'm sure it's clean but it remains unused. :(

The paint on the outside is slightly discolored in places.

My other (unused) black BE112 atty is also painted on the inside.
My chrome BE112 is not painted but it looks like there is something coating the inside of the tube because it is discoloring. No bath yet for the chrome one.

302 atty no paint
DSE801 4hole(tinyx4) high bridge no paint.
510's OEMs and Titan wide bands from TW clean.
I have a white OEM 510 that has spent about 48 hours in vinegar by now and the paint on the outside still looks new.

Anyone else notice this?

For black BE112's I'd recommend a shorter vinegar soak ;)

Things that make ya go "Hmmmmmmm" damnit!

YMMV

tolip
This is another good reason you shouldnt soak attys in vinegar or alcohol.
 
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