Newbie questions about cleaning and maintenance

[cherrybomb666]

Hi all! Not only am I new to ECF but also to vaping in general. My setups are VV eGo style batteries with clearomizer tanks (all of mine are bottom coils). I've been learning so much thanks to this forum, but I'm having a hard time sifting through information about care and maintenance, and I'd really like to make sure I'm properly cleaning all my stuff and showing it TLC so it doesn't crap out/my vaping experience remains healthy and efficient. Is there any resources you can pass forward that detail how to clean and care for this style of vape set up?? I specifically am wondering about dry burning and if there's any additional maintenance for batteries that a newbie might not be aware of? For my batteries I've noticed the inside of the top part develops some residue (?) and I gently take it out with a dry cotton swab - is this recommended?? Thanks in advance for any advice!!

 

[Papajohns]

The residue on the top of the battery comes from a small amount e-liquid leaking from the bottom of the tank. This is normal, and a cotton swab is recommended to clean it. The best way would be to get a tank that is sealed on the bottom(like the aerotank) so that leaking is impossible. As for the coils, I never dry burn, I just rebuild my own every few days because it's so easy, but that's up to you.

 

[cherrybomb666]

The residue on the top of the battery comes from a small amount e-liquid leaking from the bottom of the tank. This is normal, and a cotton swab is recommended to clean it. The best way would be to get a tank that is sealed on the bottom(like the aerotank) so that leaking is impossible. As for the coils, I never dry burn, I just rebuild my own every few days because it's so easy, but that's up to you.

Thanks for the reply! I think my tanks are sealed on the bottom, but I'm not sure. I have a kanger mini PT2 and an aspire bdc, so maybe the residue is from me being a little sloppy with my dripping? I try and refill my tanks carefully, but what can you do. Right, that whole "rebuild your own" notion seems to be popular, but I honestly am not sure what that means. Do you have any links/videos you can suggest that describe the process?

 

[DavidOck]

Indeed, cleaning the battery top / connection with a swab or twist of tissue is a good thing, and helps. I tend to do that every time I change the topper. And periodically clean the charger connection as well. There is often a little condensation at the connection, and over time it will bake on and prevent an electrical contact, so good to get rid of it.

I wash all my toppers, after taking them apart, under hot running water. Lots of water, as hot as my fingers can handle. (I do this with new ones as well, to get anything the factory left out!)

I'll wiggle off the chimney of the coil, and remove the flavor wicks. I generally don't have any luck reusing them, so I replace them with 100% cotton yarn. Others use other wicking material, it's really a personal preference. But I find a full piece of yarn works well with the PG/VG ratio I use.

With that out of the way, you're ready to dry burn. Reassemble the coil to a dry base, put it on the battery, and fire. For maybe a second or two. You'll get vapor. Continue pulsing it until you see the turns of the coil all glowing red when you pulse. Take it back apart and rinse the head again, and then either let it dry or just replace the flavor wick and chimney, and you're good to go. (If the latter, the first few draws may be pretty tasteless, as you finish boiling out the rest of the water.)

Worst case, you overcook and pop the coil, and have to replace that part. Typically $2, so it's not exorbitant.

You can search Utube, or Google up something like "dry burn Evod coil", all the bottom single coils are essentially the same. And the burn process is the same if you search for Vivi, a top coil, although the parts are a bit different.

 

[Swagasaurus-R3X]

Always clean new atomizers with soap and water from there on out I rinse mine when I start a new build. For polishing my mod I use Felix german made metal polisher.

 

[cherrybomb666]

Indeed, cleaning the battery top / connection with a swab or twist of tissue is a good thing, and helps. I tend to do that every time I change the topper. And periodically clean the charger connection as well. There is often a little condensation at the connection, and over time it will bake on and prevent an electrical contact, so good to get rid of it.

I wash all my toppers, after taking them apart, under hot running water. Lots of water, as hot as my fingers can handle. (I do this with new ones as well, to get anything the factory left out!)

I'll wiggle off the chimney of the coil, and remove the flavor wicks. I generally don't have any luck reusing them, so I replace them with 100% cotton yarn. Others use other wicking material, it's really a personal preference. But I find a full piece of yarn works well with the PG/VG ratio I use.

With that out of the way, you're ready to dry burn. Reassemble the coil to a dry base, put it on the battery, and fire. For maybe a second or two. You'll get vapor. Continue pulsing it until you see the turns of the coil all glowing red when you pulse. Take it back apart and rinse the head again, and then either let it dry or just replace the flavor wick and chimney, and you're good to go. (If the latter, the first few draws may be pretty tasteless, as you finish boiling out the rest of the water.)

Worst case, you overcook and pop the coil, and have to replace that part. Typically $2, so it's not exorbitant.

You can search Utube, or Google up something like "dry burn Evod coil", all the bottom single coils are essentially the same. And the burn process is the same if you search for Vivi, a top coil, although the parts are a bit different.

Thanks! That dry burning process seems easy enough, I'm going to try it with my PT2, which I've already seen some video tutorials on youtube of and it doesn't seem too involved (which actually isn't an issue for me, but because I am new to this I am trying to pace myself with the whole "learning curve" haha). Do you think that this will extend the coil life? I have replacements, but if a simple dry burn and wick replacement is more cost effective in the long term than all the better. Where do you get cotton yarn?? Ah I have so many questions!! But I kicked a PAD habit that's been about 9 years in the making, so even with the slight overwhelmed feeling I couldn't be more pleased with vaping!! Woo vape on.

 

[Simply Red]

This guy does it pretty well. Alittle scatter brained but effective.
Advice: How to Clean & Dry Burn - KANGER - EVOD & PROTANK - YouTube

Happy Vaping!!

 

[DavidOck]

Great to hear your success story! That's what this is all about, right

Yes, dry burning will greatly extend coil life. I have some that are several months old and working like new.

I got the "peaches and cream" brand cotton yarn at Wally World. Make sure you read the package to get 100% cotton, there are synthetics in the same line! I got white. Others get "ecru" figuring it's more natural - the white is bleached. Many repeatedly boil a length of it and let it dry, changing water frequently, to get anything out. I figure that since I'm using less than 3/8" per coil, I'll just pretend there's nothing foreign in it

Since you can gunk a coil in a couple of fills, depending on the flavor, dry burning is certainly a money saver. And if you still have your old gunked ones, no reason not the revive them.

 

[Papajohns]

Thanks for the reply! I think my tanks are sealed on the bottom, but I'm not sure. I have a kanger mini PT2 and an aspire bdc, so maybe the residue is from me being a little sloppy with my dripping? I try and refill my tanks carefully, but what can you do. Right, that whole "rebuild your own" notion seems to be popular, but I honestly am not sure what that means. Do you have any links/videos you can suggest that describe the process?

Kanger coils will leak a small amount of liquid. There's really no stopping it besides getting a aerotank base and using that with your tank. I'd link you a video on rebuilding but im at work and cant go on youtube. Google some videos on rebuilding kanger coils, there are plenty. There are many methods, and most of them work. Find a method that works for you and just practice.

Materials you'll need:
Kanthal A1 wire between 28-32 gauge($7 for 100ft, will last a looong time)
Wick material(I use organic cotton $3 for a big bag at Walgreens)
Something to wrap on(I use a fat paper clip)
Something to cut the wire and wick(I use nail clippers, clean ones of course)
A resistance meter or mod that will read your coils(I use my MVP 2.0)

A little ghetto but the point is to save money right?

 

[cherrybomb666]

Since you can gunk a coil in a couple of fills, depending on the flavor, dry burning is certainly a money saver. And if you still have your old gunked ones, no reason not the revive them.

Thanks for the tips! I actually do have a few of my "old" coils, so I'll definitely try this with those as well. Yes quitting analogs (as I've noticed everyone here calls tobacco cigarettes, haha awesome) is certainly what its all about!

 

[cherrybomb666]

Kanger coils will leak a small amount of liquid. There's really no stopping it besides getting a aerotank base and using that with your tank. I'd link you a video on rebuilding but im at work and cant go on youtube. Google some videos on rebuilding kanger coils, there are plenty. There are many methods, and most of them work. Find a method that works for you and just practice.

Materials you'll need:
Kanthal A1 wire between 28-32 gauge($7 for 100ft, will last a looong time)
Wick material(I use organic cotton $3 for a big bag at Walgreens)
Something to wrap on(I use a fat paper clip)
Something to cut the wire and wick(I use nail clippers, clean ones of course)
A resistance meter or mod that will read your coils(I use my MVP 2.0)

A little ghetto but the point is to save money right?

Thanks!! I googled the aerotank base and it seems like its some sort of valve attachment, didn't know about that, so thanks!! I'll put that on my vape shopping list (which is on my fridge next to my grocery list haha). All of those products seem easy enough to get, and I wouldn't call it ghetto I'd say more MacGyver haha.

 

[CenCalFog]

Yes, I have found dry burning to be quite effective. I have an Evod bottom coil tank as well as several KangerTech T2's. It works well on both. Just make sure that as soon as the coil turns red to shut it off. Otherwise, you risk burning your wick and dealing with a constant burnt taste for the life of the coil. (I learned this the hard way.) But, practice makes perfect, right?

 

[OldSeer]

One thing that is a mystery and over looked all to often is the left out air shafts of the tanks...
You'll hear time and again... "oh no! I woke up this morning and my unit is leaking out the bottom again!"
But... that individual didn't take the time to think about how much condensation they blew out the night before...???
And in doing so... the air shaft in their tank... time and again was PLASTERED with wet condensation and the walls
became thick with e-juices... and when they set that mod down... sooner or later their tanks had air shafts that
began to cool off and the liquid (e-juices) on those walls have (has) to drain off some place... gurgle..gurgle.. leak.. leak.
leaking begins.... when ...instead of taking a moment and
running a simple little pipe cleaner thru those air shafts of the TANKS can save
such a great amount of could be would never to be problems...
Try it... you'll really be glad if you turn it into the habit.

 

[DavidOck]

I see rewinding coils has been mentioned. A good and inexpensive way to go, if you're so inclined. Not hard, but you do need some way to measure the resistance before powering it up. A short can be very bad for your battery. So don't feel you need to recoil. You can dry burn many times without it getting to the point of needing a new coil.

In either case, the head may (will?) get to the point where the silicone grommet at the bottom gets badly scorched. Unless you have new ones of those, at that time it's time to chuck it, as the burnt part will transfer a bad taste to the liquid.

And yes, indeed, pipe cleaners are your friend!

 

[wedoitall]

Sub'd


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[Fast and Furious]

Day Two:

Note to self: Soon you will need to buy a large note pad. Scraps of paper from junk mail insufficient. (stop) Also plan on setting aside minimum of two hours to learn about 'Peaches and Cream' (Do Not Consume), Kanthal A1 (not new brand of steak sauce) and MVP (nothing to do with baseball, football or other sport). Saving money imperative. (stop) Stopping smoking will be more involved than anticipated. (stop) Help still available (stop) Day three just around corner and help will be there just as it was yesterday and today (stop).

Note on tope of note to self: Do not go to E-Liquid Discussion where delivery delays are discussed. It's none of your business you save-the-world fool. (stop). Thank the nice people and go back to reading helpful info. "Than You Helpful People"!

End Notes to Self.

Tom

 

[DavidOck]

Vaping can be as involved - or not - as you're comfortable with.

Like many things, there's a little to learn about the care and feeding of the hardware. We're blessed with a lot of choices, which may feel overwhelming at first. So if what gear you have works for you, keep using it. Learn what might be needed to keep it performing well.

Read, research, and ask questions here on ECF before jumping on anyone else's bandwagon