Re-starting dry atty?

[Briar]

OK, so can someone advise on how exactly to re-start a *completely* dry atty for dripping?

How many drops, on the average, should I expect to add? How quickly? How do I know when it's enough?

So far I've had bad luck with that - the atty either burns or floods.

It just so happens that I sent three of my "diseased" attys though a mayhem cleaning cycle. Alcohol bath was involved, and, yes, the paint was damaged. They are kind of bumpy now, like a crocodile skin or something... Hot water bath was used afterwards to get rid of any possible alcohol fumes or deposits. They are now drying overnight like good little soldiers, and tomorrow morning I will put them in the oven for half and hour just to make *sure* there is no leftover water.

I'd like to avoid any possible polyester contamination, so I'd like to just drip on them if they come back to life.

But the procedure is giving me a headache. I've yet to do it well. Any words of wisdom?

Thanks, all.

Briar.

 

[happily]

I'd drop 5 drops and let them sit for 10 minutes. Then blow the juice out and drop 2 drops to start. Anytime it's flooded just blow it out and start fresh.

 

[Elokin6]

I drop a couple of drops of straight PG (no nic) in and let it sit for 15 mins or so. Then I puff on it for a while, adding more PG as necessary until it starts working right again. I use straight PG instead of nic juice because the juice you use to reprime an atty is kind of wasted and I'm cheap

So far, all of mine have survived cleaning. *knock on wood*

 

[Overlord]

When do you usually start cleaning attys? After they start to weaken or just a regular schedule to maintain performance?

 

[Elokin6]

I clean mine if they start to taste like crap or if they feel clogged.

 

[framitz]

I'd drop 5 drops and let them sit for 10 minutes. Then blow the juice out and drop 2 drops to start. Anytime it's flooded just blow it out and start fresh.

+1
The best method.

 

[Jbugz]

Would anyone mind explaining what's bad about a "completely" dry atty? I thought that was a desired thing.

I have 3 attys that seemed to have gone out in one day, although I'm not positive because I hadn't used a couple in a week or so, but when one went, I tried another and then another and none worked right. They will produce a touch of vapor, but that's it and I'm scouring the board to see if there's info on fixing them or if that's considered "history".

 

[TnA]

I'd drop 5 drops and let them sit for 10 minutes. Then blow the juice out and drop 2 drops to start. Anytime it's flooded just blow it out and start fresh.

+2 This seems to be the most effective method. I have previously tried placing a couple of drops on the atomizer and letting it sit to re-moisten and then try to vape on it, but it can be an unpleasant experience (as far as taste).

Would anyone mind explaining what's bad about a "completely" dry atty? I thought that was a desired thing.

I have 3 attys that seemed to have gone out in one day, although I'm not positive because I hadn't used a couple in a week or so, but when one went, I tried another and then another and none worked right. They will produce a touch of vapor, but that's it and I'm scouring the board to see if there's info on fixing them or if that's considered "history".

Jbugz, a completely dry atty is the last thing you want. When heat is applied to a dry atty, the only thing available to heat up/burn is the wicking material around the nichrome wire of the atomizer. (If you've ever noticed a really nasty taste and smell, this was probably the reason). If you were to continue to heat up the atomizer in this manner, you would begin creating carbon deposits which will eventually overcome/destroy the atomizer wiring. Therefore, you want to keep the atomizer wick moist at all times (even in storage). This is the reason why factory atomizers come with a "primer" coating over them that you must vape off.

 

[Jim Davis]

Would anyone mind explaining what's bad about a "completely" dry atty? I thought that was a desired thing.

I have 3 attys that seemed to have gone out in one day, although I'm not positive because I hadn't used a couple in a week or so, but when one went, I tried another and then another and none worked right. They will produce a touch of vapor, but that's it and I'm scouring the board to see if there's info on fixing them or if that's considered "history".

Atomizers MUST STAY WET. A dry atty will burn out. If they are producing a tiny bit of vapor, they may be OK. Keep your carts filled, and don't draw too fast. Fast drawing does not give the liquid time to flow into the atty. But be careful. Too much liquid will flood the atomizer.

Check out the Troubleshooting guide at;
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/e-cig-technical-issues/31787-ecf-troubleshooting-guide.html