steam cleaning atty

[mcquinn]

I read somewhere you can steam clean your atty by dripping a couple of drops of water in it and puffing without inhaling.Then I guess you clean as usual.Gonna try it sometime and see what happens.Fix it or finish it off is my motto.

[Royal]

Better yet, you can get yourself one of those little portable steam cleaners.



I have heard of them priced down to as little as $20.
I think Big Lots sells them.

[mcquinn]

oh oh do I hear JAWS music?Steam Shark perhaps.

[Jim Davis]

I seldom clean my attys. If they clog, and get a hard draw, I soak them in Everclear (Grain Alcohol) for a few hours. Gently blow them out, and vape. If any alcohol is left in the atty, it will vape out with the juice.

I feel that people are over cleaning attys. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[lordmage]

jim and i have the same steps

[Royal]

I don't overclean either. I only do it when the attys start to drop to an unsatisfactory performance. Clogging has not been an issue. In my case this with most attys is about two or three days as I tend to chain vape when doing zero-nic.



Edit: Since first making this post, I have gone to DIY e-liquid and also am using 5 volts exclusively, and have noticed a dramatic increase in atty life without any noticable loss in production. So I would say it is safe to assume that the type and ingredients in all the different smoke juices can have an effect on the life of an atty. And I also feel that with the increased heat from using higher voltage has also helped in keeping my attys gunk free. (Using a self cleaning oven in my perspective).
I am now going on one month on one atty with no loss in performance, or need to clean.

[mcquinn]

I only clean mine when they plug or start to taste bad.It seems to be more frequent with the domestic liquids,but I can't see me buying anymore of those half a sample bottle of menthol and it is all gone.Back to Dekang.

[ChrisL]

I heard someone say they put an oz of diet coke in a cup and put it in the microwave for 20 seconds..then drop the atty in there and slosh it around for about 20 seconds..then blow it out and let it dry over night...he's a high voltage vaper and said that it does wonders..haven't tried it myself..

[Rick]

I give mine an H2O/alcohol enema once a week. The 510 is renowned to get better after the initial break in period, I know mine have improved in a week.

Nightly maintenance i blow them out each night and allow them to drain. Once a week or when I need a clean atty (try a new recipe) I flush 'em out:

4 oz boling water spiked with 2 droppers of alcohol, let soak 5-10 minutes. Then using a syringe and the little white silicone gasket from some cartomizer, I give them a flush, let 'em soak again, flush one more time and rinse with just hot water in syringe. Blow out excess from both ends and allow to dry overnight. vapes like new without any residual taste. Best darn cleaning method I have been privy to.

[Royal]

ChrisL,
I have tried the coke bath, not boiling it though. Not sure whether it is the carbonated water, or the citric acid in the soft drinks that does this. I have had pretty decent luck in cleaning with this method, but I let mine soak over night.

I have had better luck with just using grain alcohol.

But have had the best luck in cleaning an atty in a boiling bath of water and concentrated citric acid. I place two heaping table spoons of powdered citric acid in a pot with just enough water to cover my attys, brought the solution to a boil and stirred until all the citirc acid was dissolved. Dropped my attys in for about 3 to 5 minutes, then removed and soaked for a few minutes, and rinsed with grain alcohol (190 proof ever clear). Drained, then dried with a hair dryer. Then dripped a few drops of juice and let them stand for a few minutes.

Just be careful when boiling an atty and don't over do it, some (most) have silicone grommets and can easily melt or become mis-shaped.
I usually remove mine from the heat once the bath has reached a full boil, and only go back to the heat if needed, usually not. Be sure to stir your attys, so they do not stay in one position too long.
And as with all cleaning methods, do at your own risk.