It seems everyone is always interested in how some people come up with an atomizer that lasts and lasts, and what may have prompted it to last. Of course, sometimes, they just die for no reason, probably due to cheap mass manufacturing, but not ALL items made that way will be weak, and so it leaves us wondering why some last and some don't.
I was about to reply to another thread where someone asked another how they took care of their setup to make their atty last quite so long, then realized it was off-topic, and that perhaps others would be interested if they saw it in the proper context, and also others may have input. So I decided to post my reply here.
I'm another user with a longtime success with an atomizer -- including on the Prodigy. So I thought I'd add my 2¢ on this.
I'm on my third atomizer, my first lasted 3 1/2 weeks, second one lasted 4 weeks to the day. That means this one has been in use for 12 weeks, including Prodigy use since August 4th. I attribute this one lasting longer due to me learning how to care for it better.
To answer the questions --
1. I'm using the 901's from Bestecig.com (China provider) I had just ordered a set of 5, to go with the one included with my passthrough kit. (I ordered a basic Prodigy kit from PS, since I had all the other goodies. So no atty's from PS yet -- I plan on ordering bulk pretty soon) I'm not sure what "model" it is, just the ones from the link for 901 atty's.
2. I don't rotate. I just forget, well, okay I'm too lazy. Same one in service for the entire time. (I do have a spare in my little coin pouch that I carry spare batteries in too)
3. Light on the maintenance -- the first two I washed em out etc etc etc. Now I just blow them out if they seem a bit sluggish, if that doesn't work I replace batteries. Usually only floods if the battery starts going weak anyways. But that's the only maintenance -- blow it out if vapor/throat hit is weak. My PT I started on was a "true" PT so vaped at 5v, so I think the hotter temp keeps it cleaner. I see no deposits on my atty.
I didn't start "not cleaning" by design, actually I started school and jumped in over my head right off the bat, and literally my every waking moment was doing homework so I just didn't have time. (I got a 4.0 overall though, so worth it! Now to repeat the process...../sigh) I would look inside my atty with my son's magnifying glass, see no deposits, and say okay, not gonna clean it now, on with homework!
4. I vape PG with a little VG added in for consistency purposes. I DIY my menthol and like it STRONG!!! so it's a bit thin unless I add in the VG. (70%PG/PG based nic juice, 20% Menthol/Alcohol, 10%VG -- more VG would be better, but 10% is the happy medium between thick enough to not leak from the cart and discreet amounts of vapor. I vape in public a lot and just don't WANT huge billowing clouds.)
5. My average draw -- well, like normal cigs I guess... 2 seconds'ish. I just use it like I were smoking. If stressed I probably draw a bity harder though. I am amazed by some of the vapers here that can draw 5-10 seconds??!! I'd pass out from lack of oxygen hehe
6. I do back off when my atty gets warm -- I got that warning from this forum before I ever started vaping, and I practice it religiously almost. My atty is my Precious! Must coddle my Precious!! I touch it to my lip almost as a weird "Habit" before inhaling now, if it's warm, I make myself wait. Not gonna kill it out of impatience I must say, it doesn't get hot like others say though, perhaps because of my lighter draw method. If I'm super stressed, it will heat up a bit more. That's when I have to make myself wait.
If I have to attribute my "success" with this atomizer, I'd say it's a combo of not letting it get too hot, and keeping it moist. I don't drip, EVER, but I don't vape my cartridge empty either. When the flavor changes even a tad I refill my cartridge. I feel the flavor change is indicating a bit drier atty which means a bit hotter. Because I'm not vaping my cartridge dry, I throw out the filler every few days and replace it. (Not sure if that stuff goes "bad" or not but don't really want to be sucking old juice) I'm using fish filter material, it just easier and more convenient for me -- I use the Whisper Bio-Bag refills, throw out the charcoal (It's in a seperate package) and cut the sheets into nice little cartridge sized lines of filter material. (cut to twice the length and doubled up)
I also wonder if drip-vaping allows the atty to get hotter (at the end of the drip amount) more often therefore shortening the life span? Dunno, just a thought
Anyway. I'd say my most maintenance done is actually on the cartridge tip, replacing the filter material and making sure it's full at all times. Also, as a reference point -- I am not a light vaper, I vape 3-4ml a day. My juice is 10.8mg/ml by the time I finish cutting it.
~Yira
I was about to reply to another thread where someone asked another how they took care of their setup to make their atty last quite so long, then realized it was off-topic, and that perhaps others would be interested if they saw it in the proper context, and also others may have input. So I decided to post my reply here.
I'm another user with a longtime success with an atomizer -- including on the Prodigy. So I thought I'd add my 2¢ on this.
I'm on my third atomizer, my first lasted 3 1/2 weeks, second one lasted 4 weeks to the day. That means this one has been in use for 12 weeks, including Prodigy use since August 4th. I attribute this one lasting longer due to me learning how to care for it better.
To answer the questions --
1. I'm using the 901's from Bestecig.com (China provider) I had just ordered a set of 5, to go with the one included with my passthrough kit. (I ordered a basic Prodigy kit from PS, since I had all the other goodies. So no atty's from PS yet -- I plan on ordering bulk pretty soon) I'm not sure what "model" it is, just the ones from the link for 901 atty's.
2. I don't rotate. I just forget, well, okay I'm too lazy. Same one in service for the entire time. (I do have a spare in my little coin pouch that I carry spare batteries in too)
3. Light on the maintenance -- the first two I washed em out etc etc etc. Now I just blow them out if they seem a bit sluggish, if that doesn't work I replace batteries. Usually only floods if the battery starts going weak anyways. But that's the only maintenance -- blow it out if vapor/throat hit is weak. My PT I started on was a "true" PT so vaped at 5v, so I think the hotter temp keeps it cleaner. I see no deposits on my atty.
I didn't start "not cleaning" by design, actually I started school and jumped in over my head right off the bat, and literally my every waking moment was doing homework so I just didn't have time. (I got a 4.0 overall though, so worth it! Now to repeat the process...../sigh) I would look inside my atty with my son's magnifying glass, see no deposits, and say okay, not gonna clean it now, on with homework!
4. I vape PG with a little VG added in for consistency purposes. I DIY my menthol and like it STRONG!!! so it's a bit thin unless I add in the VG. (70%PG/PG based nic juice, 20% Menthol/Alcohol, 10%VG -- more VG would be better, but 10% is the happy medium between thick enough to not leak from the cart and discreet amounts of vapor. I vape in public a lot and just don't WANT huge billowing clouds.)
5. My average draw -- well, like normal cigs I guess... 2 seconds'ish. I just use it like I were smoking. If stressed I probably draw a bity harder though. I am amazed by some of the vapers here that can draw 5-10 seconds??!! I'd pass out from lack of oxygen hehe
6. I do back off when my atty gets warm -- I got that warning from this forum before I ever started vaping, and I practice it religiously almost. My atty is my Precious! Must coddle my Precious!! I touch it to my lip almost as a weird "Habit" before inhaling now, if it's warm, I make myself wait. Not gonna kill it out of impatience
I must say, it doesn't get hot like others say though, perhaps because of my lighter draw method. If I'm super stressed, it will heat up a bit more. That's when I have to make myself wait.If I have to attribute my "success" with this atomizer, I'd say it's a combo of not letting it get too hot, and keeping it moist. I don't drip, EVER, but I don't vape my cartridge empty either. When the flavor changes even a tad I refill my cartridge. I feel the flavor change is indicating a bit drier atty which means a bit hotter. Because I'm not vaping my cartridge dry, I throw out the filler every few days and replace it. (Not sure if that stuff goes "bad" or not but don't really want to be sucking old juice) I'm using fish filter material, it just easier and more convenient for me -- I use the Whisper Bio-Bag refills, throw out the charcoal (It's in a seperate package) and cut the sheets into nice little cartridge sized lines of filter material. (cut to twice the length and doubled up)
I also wonder if drip-vaping allows the atty to get hotter (at the end of the drip amount) more often therefore shortening the life span? Dunno, just a thought
Anyway. I'd say my most maintenance done is actually on the cartridge tip, replacing the filter material and making sure it's full at all times. Also, as a reference point -- I am not a light vaper, I vape 3-4ml a day. My juice is 10.8mg/ml by the time I finish cutting it.
~Yira
