I use Ikenvape HV atties with dark sweet juices almost exclusively. After a few days they lose some of their zip. Is the U/S cleaner worth the $40? (I saw one @ Harbor Freight) Are there any negative effects on the atty? What chemical do you use to clean them? Thanks all.
Do ultrasonic cleaners really bring gunked up atties back to life???
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I've found ultrasonic cleaners to be really useful at bringing dead attys back to life. Even the cheapies work effectively. Mine was $31.00 at amazon.com and even qualified for the super-saver free shipping.
There are lots of different ways to skin this particular cat. Here's my method.
There are lots of different ways to skin this particular cat. Here's my method.
- Blow out attys from the battery end and wipe off gunk. Repeat once or twice.
- Drop in the ultrasonic cleaner. I cover the attys with 91% isopropyl alcohol.
- Give them three three-minute zaps in the ultrasonic cleaner.
- Fish them out, dry with paper towel (unless you enjoy the taste of 91% isopropyl alcohol), then blow them out from the battery end.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4.
- Dry with paper towel again, blow out from battery end, put on dry paper towel and let them dry overnight at least. Drying for a couple of days ensures that every molecule of the 91% isopropyl alcohol evaporates.
Have you tried this? http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tips-tricks/69834-my-atty-resurrection-method.html
I use that method to clean my attys, except I use baking soda and vinegar first then do the dry burning.
I use that method to clean my attys, except I use baking soda and vinegar first then do the dry burning.
I pretty much follow mostlyclassics method with a couple of variances.
I wipe and blow out the atties and do a burn until the coils are red after the second three minutes. Then put 'em back in for just another three, nine total. I do another burn prior to use to ensure it's dry. My 510 and eGo tanks get a bath at the same time. I use cheap vodka.
If you watch for sales, you can get an ultrasonic cleaner for around $25. I got mine off Amazon for $20.99 shipped.
I wipe and blow out the atties and do a burn until the coils are red after the second three minutes. Then put 'em back in for just another three, nine total. I do another burn prior to use to ensure it's dry. My 510 and eGo tanks get a bath at the same time. I use cheap vodka.
If you watch for sales, you can get an ultrasonic cleaner for around $25. I got mine off Amazon for $20.99 shipped.
Idk about resurrecting a dead atty but they do a better job cleaning them than anything I have tried
You can get a cheap ultrasonic jewelry cleaner at Walmart in Canada for less than 30 bucks.
Probably even cheaper in The States.
Look in the jewelry department.
I use one and they work fantastic! Clean the atties in some Isopropyl (you can also by that at Walmart) for 30 mins
or so and it'll be almost as good as new.
Probably even cheaper in The States.
Look in the jewelry department.
I use one and they work fantastic! Clean the atties in some Isopropyl (you can also by that at Walmart) for 30 mins
or so and it'll be almost as good as new.
I actually did some testing with this. And ultrasonic works great. The vid is in my youtube link in my sig.
Has anyone ever posted any pictures of an atomizer with baked on gunk all over the coil before cleaning, and then posted pictures of that atomizer after cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner showing that all the baked on gunk is gone? Because I've seen such pictures a number of times for dry burning, but never for any other cleaning method.
Not that I know of. But there is a difference between maintenance and resurrection.
Gunk baked on is definitely "resurrection"
Good point.Not that I know of. But there is a difference between maintenance and resurrection.
Gunk baked on is definitely "resurrection"
So we're basically talking about cleaning out old dried up juice in the mesh that could be clogging things up?
If so, I have seen so many different cleaning methods and materials, each with groups of folks that swear by them.
Personally, I believe rinsing an atomizer out with very hot water works just as good as anything else.
I guess we'll probably never see anyone do a full blown test with pictures and everything for just cleaning out juice from the mesh.
In the absence of such a test, it looks like this debate will rage on forever.
Might wanna give it a quick rinse in water if you're using isopropyl alcohol.
Good point.
So we're basically talking about cleaning out old dried up juice in the mesh that could be clogging things up?
If so, I have seen so many different cleaning methods and materials, each with groups of folks that swear by them.
Personally, I believe rinsing an atomizer out with very hot water works just as good as anything else.
I guess we'll probably never see anyone do a full blown test with pictures and everything for just cleaning out juice from the mesh.
In the absence of such a test, it looks like this debate will rage on forever.
Well, here's my working framework regarding the subject.
The only things that will caramelize (something like a milliard reaction) are the flavorings. Nicotine doesn't react to heat in that manner, and neither to PG/VG. However, that buildup of caramelized garbage doesn't happen in an instant, nor does it occur in a fashion where the buildup becomes solid in an "instant".
So my methodology, whether it's ultrasonic or some form of soak/rinse, is to wash away anything in the atty before it solidifies. Which is why I clean weekly.
As to success? Well, I've just lost an original 510 atty I got with my Joye kit last summer. But that isn't indicative either- because at best it's anecdotal evidence.
But with the eGo-T and 510-T the anecdotal evidence it really strong in my experience.
So to sum up my position:
Cleaning an atomizer before anything solidifies can make it last a long time... or longer than normal... on average.
But yes...
We will be continuing this debate for a long time. It never goes away.
We can't even get everyone to agree yet that an atomizer should be cleaned at all.
We can agree on that!
LOL!
We can't even get everyone to agree yet that an atomizer should be cleaned at all.
That's sort of funny, because no matter what atomizer you're using, it's eventually going to cease working. With some of the said cleaning methods, one could have their atty up and functioning again. I wonder if those who do not believe in cleaning an atomizer ever actually attempt to, or just throw away an atty when it's kaput.
That being said, anyone who has "broken" atomizers that wants to donate them to me, I'll gladly take 'em.
If this is true (and I have no idea whether it is or not) then regular cleaning should help prevent buildup.
And if it were possible to clean it frequently enough, it should be theoretically possible to never accumulate any buildup.
And if it were possible to eliminiate all accumulation of buildup, then it would never be necessary to do dry burns.
So while dry burns work perfectly, there are certainly people that are afraid to do them, or have problems doing them.
And if you're not careful, it is always possible to pop your atomizer, especially when using higher voltage or lower resistance.
So reaching the point of being able to eliminate dry burning would be a good thing for the average user.
And even being able to slow down the accumulation of gunk buildup would at least allow for less frequent dry burns.
But it all hinges on the statement quoted above.
And then the following question - How about ultrasonic cleaning for cartomizers?
"Never" is not possible. Minimal perhaps.
But even then it should result in world peace, a cure for AIDS, free love, and free Hamburger Helper for everyone!!
I haven't tested this for filler cartos.
On CE2's used in Map tanks it works great. I'm assuming the 3ml tank cartos (like a CE2) I've been using will clean up nice.
No idea on filler cartos though.
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