Q: Restoring a 901 atomizer

[wdave]

Hi,

I posted this Q in tips and tricks. But this newbie forum gets a lot more replies. And my Q is kind of an emergency

How effective are the following at restoring a 901 atty to "like new" condition?

1) Blowing air through the atty?

2) Cleaning the heating element?

I've read that it is helpful to have a device blow high pressure air through the atty. If so, where would I get such a device?

I've read that one should clean the heating element with alcohol. Is this okay? Are there better ways to clean it? I tried vinegar and it seemed to make matters worse

Thanks,
Dave W.

 

[DC2]

How long have you been using it and how often?

 

[darkkmail]

sometimes I use 100% iso. alcohol... let it sit, blow it out, make sure it's dry, prime with liquid

compressed air should be available at hardware stores, or computer stores... essentially canned air. It is usually used to blow dust and other things out of computer parts (tower, keyboard etc)

 

[wdave]

I'd say I'd been using the attys for about 14 full days total. It is also likely that I was overfilling in the beginning.

On the days I've used it, its been the equivalent of a pack and half a day of analogs.

Thanks,
Dave W.

 

[DC2]

I'd say I'd been using the attys for about 14 full days total. It is also likely that I was overfilling in the beginning.

On the days I've used it, its been the equivalent of a pack and half a day of analogs.

Thanks,
Dave W.

Some people soak in Coke overnight.
Some people soak in alcohol overnight.

And there's a bunch of threads in the Experiments section of the forum on advanced cleaning methods. Lots of good information in there as well, definitely worth the read.

Experiments with equipment subforum

 

[EbenezerScrews]

blah blah blah

You need a new atomizer, period

Atomizers last, on average, two weeks of "heavy use"

Buy them in bulk man, you are going to need them....

If you overfill one, blow into the threaded end, the excess will pour out the cart side, you don't need equipment for this...

Later

 

[Kate51]

Ditto, Ebenezer, that's the best advice.
They burn out. Every day or two blow them out from the back, hard, a couple times, tap gently onto a paper towel cushion to rid some of the droplets, and it's good for your lung function, too!. That's helpful to keep it working for as long as it's going to with as good a taste as possible. Just don't let it get bogged down with cooked juice (it does darken and thicken) and not all juice is vaporized, so sits in there in the bottom, but get yourself a few extras to have onhand. Same with batteries, and you're set to go.

 

[Liscab]

1 and a half pack a day is around $10.00 a day one atmy is around $10.00 biweekly, thats fair

 

[EbenezerScrews]

If you can afford to buy bulk, atty's shouldn't cost more that $6.

At $3 a week, no maintenance is required, ever...

Even $5 a week, just throw them away, haha

 

[Lazarus]

Try the coke soak for 2-3 hours, rinse with warm water, blow out with mouth, or compessed air if avalible, then re-prime with 3-4 drops of your favorite e-juice.

If that does not work, chuck it in the trash.

Attys are considered "consumables" so they will not last forever.

 

[LuckySevens4U]

What other drinking alcohol can you use besides everclear? We cannot buy that in our state.

 

[AppleJack]

Lucky, I just purchased 100 proof Smirnoff Vodka. Should do the job.

 

[wdave]

I had to wait 12 hours after the alcohol soak, even after blowing with compressed air.

When done, the one that was clogged was still clogged. Thankfully the others are still OK.

Before trying the alcohol, I was just blowing air through the thing with my mouth. I see no improvement over that so far. I'm glad someone thinks the same thing

Thanks guys.
Dave

 

[wdave]

CORRECTION!

After the alcohol soak, my attys that were working "OK" are now working more like "new".

How often can you soak in alcohol before it starts doing more harm than good?

Dave

 

[tokarev]

To my knowledge, soaking in alcohol won't harm an atomizer. Whether it will help or not is a matter of opinion. Personally, I only use alcohol occasionally to clean out old juice residue. As was pointed out in previous replies, they will eventually just fail. Sometimes suddenly and sometimes gradually, but they will all fail sooner or later. Keep a few replacements on hand and you will be fine. That's what I do.

TT33

 

[framitz]

I just check the resistance with an ohm meter, if the resistance is over 3 or 4 ohms (like over 100 ohms) then it is toast and there is no point in wasting any time on it. Multimeters are very inexpensive these days.

If the resistance is good you can usually clean it and get improvement. I have heard of using high pressure air, heard that it can destroy the coil, there is no need for high pressure air at all.

I also do not ever use isopropyl alcohol, it leaves a waxy residue, you can prove this by putting a few drops on a clean mirror and let it dry. I would use methanol or ethanol instead, but cola also seems to work really good and rinses out easily and is inexpensive.

 

[webtaxman]

I have yet to read anyone who tried gasoline. Regular-Unleaded-California Blend. I've got an atty I was going to toss, so what the hey, I'll soak it over night. The gasoline has a detergent to boot!

 

[kgonepostl]

Man, you guys suck. 2 weeks?

 

[wdave]

I also do not ever use isopropyl alcohol, it leaves a waxy residue, you can prove this by putting a few drops on a clean mirror and let it dry. I would use methanol or ethanol instead, but cola also seems to work really good and rinses out easily and is inexpensive.

Well, I was thinking of soaking every evening and letting them dry overnight. At least on the ones that are on their last leg.

Let me get this straight...you are suggesting rinsing with water? Wouldn't there be a risk of leftover water dripping into the battery?

Cola sounds safer, though I'm assuming that would need to be rinsed with water overnight.

Would methanol or ethanol dry overnight on it's own? What is safest if trace amounts are breathed in?

Thanks for your help...

Dave

 

[wdave]

To my knowledge, soaking in alcohol won't harm an atomizer. Whether it will help or not is a matter of opinion. Personally, I only use alcohol occasionally to clean out old juice residue. As was pointed out in previous replies, they will eventually just fail. Sometimes suddenly and sometimes gradually, but they will all fail sooner or later. Keep a few replacements on hand and you will be fine. That's what I do.

TT33

I'm speaking of my 901 atomizers (the 901 is my alternate ecig, for looks and holding a different flavor). The 510 atomizers seem to take a lot of use without cleaning.

BTW, will cutting PG with VG help keep atty's clean, as VG is oil?

Thanks,
Dave