Just blew 2 of 3 attys with dry burn

[IVapus]

I've been rotating the same 3 510 atomizers for 6+ weeks now. I use the dry burn method to clean them when they begin to get the burnt smell as they start to run dry when I'm dripping or using a cart. I hadn't cleaned them in a while so I decided to clean all 3 of them at once. I basically pulse them on for 3-5 seconds and then off for about the same length of time. I generally stop when nothing appears to be burning off anymore and there is no foul burnt smell. I found that using the visible burning orange/red method worked with only 2 of the 3 atomizers, and as it turned out this one actually worked slightly better than the other two.

Anyway, I've done this dry burn probably a couple dozen times(usually on only one at a time), and always with very good success. This morning, everything seemed to go along as usual, except I appear to have blown 2 of the 3 atomizers. I Didn't notice at first because of course they were still warm when I took them off the battery after the dry burn, so I didn't realize they had actually quit working. I only noticed when I went to test them afterwards and found they weren't heating up at all. This is a bit of a drag since I only had one spare atomizer in addition to the one that's still working.

The situation isn't dire because fortunately I do have a fair number of cartomizers, but I am wondering if there isn't a better, safer way to clean these atomizers, or to minimize the risk of blowing them in the dry burn process. I know 6 weeks isn't necessarily a bad run for an atomizer, but still. These are regular, not LR by the way, and I used a standard 510 battery to do the dry burn.

 

[attymiser]

Don't use the pulse method. I had several attys pop trying that method. Do 3 second burns and remove the battery from the atty each time. Blow into the atty each time to cool it down and do another 3 second burn. If things get to hot while doing the dry burn the atty can pop.

I know it sounds risky but rinse, dry and dry burn often and you will have better luck. My attys last for months not weeks.

 

[JoeChemo]

Ooops! That's a bummer. I haven't encountered the burnt smell and other problems (knock on wood) I've read about on ECF and I'm a heavy vaper. I've had a few die (mainly LR attys) and when one start performing poorly (usually occurs when I vape 100% VG), I heat a cup of water in the microwave and drop in the atty and swish it around. I then blow it out and repeat a couple of times. After an overnight dry they're good as new. I must be lucky. Yeah - I am lucky! I stopped smoking.

 

[IVapus]

Don't use the pulse method. I had several attys pop trying that method. Do 3 second burns and remove the battery from the atty each time. Blow into the atty each time to cool it down and do another 3 second burn. If things get to hot while doing the dry burn the atty can pop.

I know it sounds risky but rinse, dry and dry burn often and you will have better luck. My attys last for months not weeks.

Interesting. That all makes sense to me, except the part about removing the battery from the atty between the 3-second burns. Why does that matter? I do normally blow into the atomizer between pulses, but from now on I guess I'll try the slightly less aggressive methods you've suggested.

 

[attymiser]

It just helps it to cool faster. It's a slight PITA but it works for me. The solder points are on that end. I think when we over heat them thats the weak point.

 

[IVapus]

Ooops! That's a bummer. I haven't encountered the burnt smell and other problems (knock on wood) I've read about on ECF and I'm a heavy vaper. I've had a few die (mainly LR attys) and when one start performing poorly (usually occurs when I vape 100% VG), I heat a cup of water in the microwave and drop in the atty and swish it around. I then blow it out and repeat a couple of times. After an overnight dry they're good as new. I must be lucky. Yeah - I am lucky! I stopped smoking.

The burnt smell is noticeable when the atomizer begins to run dry, and I guess some caked on gunk on the coil begins to burn instead of the liquid. Prior to that, if well lubricated, though the burnt smell may be effectively masked, I find that it may still distort the flavor of whatever you're vaping slightly. In my albeit brief experience, and from what I read, no amount of boiling hot water will clean gunk off the coil, hence the need for dry burn.

 

[IVapus]

It just helps it to cool faster. It's a slight PITA but it works for me. The solder points are on that end. I think when we over heat them thats the weak point.

Thanks. Out of curiosity then, how long would you estimate you typically spend performing dry burn on a single atomizer.

 

[attymiser]

I do it very often so it only takes 2 or 3 burns and they're ready to go. My wife on the other hand rarely cleans hers and when I eventually have to clean them for her it may take 8 to 10 burns before they're ready.

 

[Switched]

Atty Resurrection Method

 

[attymiser]

That's the pulse method that he already tried.
Use this...
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-maintenance/102443-atty-cleaning-dummies.html

 

[muttSRT]

when i was using attys, i did the dry burn except i used a can of compressed air as well. dont full blast hit it, but a slight pull of the trigger on the can while you are burning the junk off kept me from popping any attys. you dry burn and use the compressed air, and the atty is actually cold when you get done cleaning it.

I also used the compressed air when i was trying out a bunch of new flavors. I drip the juice, vape and review it and then run the atty under hot water for about 15-20 secs. I then use a paper towel to hold the atty while i blast the air and get most of the water out, a short burn again dries the atty and its on to the next flavor. no mixing of flavors and a clean atty each time for the new juice.

 

[7thCabal]

4-6 weeks? Sounds good to me, I see no reason to clean atties, work em' till they're dead drop them in a collective for future rebuilding if the fancy strikes. JMO

 

[sjohnson]

When doing the dry burn, I watch the coil and let it get red hot for no more than 3-4 seconds.

Then, I cool the atomizer by blowing through it before repeating the coil heating. My original 510 atomizers are now in their 10th month and we haven't popped one yet.

Let'em cool down!

 

[IVapus]

Thanks guys. I was pretty much doing everything you guys are recommending with one key exception which I will now be careful to do. I was soaking in boiling hot water and blowing them out. I was not however allowing them to cool between dry burn pulses. I assumed it would be quicker and more effective to do this if the atomizer were kept warm. The only other difference is that after the boiling water, and blowing out, I would not wait for the atomizer to dry as I assumed the dry burn would take care of that automatically. I'm not sure how critical that piece is.

 

[Switched]

That's the pulse method that he already tried.
Use this...
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cigarette-maintenance/102443-atty-cleaning-dummies.html

He might of tried it, but didn't do it right. Funny how even Janty supports HighPing's method or a variance.

 

[gb_ibmguy]

I Dunno, never had an Atty last more than a week. So, no problem. Some LR's only last 2 or 3 minutes - problem solved. Never had to clean an Atty yet, they just die before they need cleaning, very low maintenance, just expensive.

GB

 

[sjohnson]

The dry burn was around before highping posted his variation, his post supports Janty's recommendation, not the other way around . Gotta give him credit, he made it popular.

The earliest reference I found describing the dry burn is dated August 2009, by Lucy Lin, Cleaning the Atomiser - Lucy's description is what started me doing the dry burn.

 

[Switched]

I stand corrected

 

[DaMulta]

YouTube - Cleaning a Low Resistance 510 Atomizer

 

[sjohnson]

Kudos to highping, but credit where credit's due!

There MAY be another preceding Lucy, I dunno!