Does boiling an atomizer work?

[IYFZZZ]

I searched the forum for this and did not see a definitive answer, sorry if it’s posted here somewhere.


I have 3 or 4 atomizers that still work to some extent but they don’t produce the amount of vapor I like so does boiling an atomizer work for cleaning it?  How about taste removal?

BTW I gave them a Pepsi / Coke bath but they did not improve.



Thanks,
Mark

[RoadRunner]

I boiled mine yesterday to try to remove some of the residual flavours from my tasting session.
I think it helped. I'd previously been soaking them in lemon juice and I think that boiling was probably an improvement.
Of course, you're going to need to make sure that the atty is completely dry afterwards and I have no idea if it will have any real effect on the quality of vapour or lifespan.

Paul..
The RoadRunner..

[caz]

i soaked a couple of my weak atomisers in boiling water for ten minutes and then made sure they were dry   and they were as good as new.

[Darth Vaper]

Boiling is the least likely to ruin them out of most methods.
It's best to boil the water and place it in a coffee cup... then place the atomizer in the cup...

just don't get to crazy with the heat....... there are tiny fragile wires inside and soldered joints.

Steam cleaner works good too.... little better at blasting out debris and chunky built up gunk.
Can follow up with a steam blast after boiling. Alternately you can use a cappuccino machines
frothing steam nozzle.

In theory the boil loosens buildup/carbon/gunk/residue....and so on melts it some/breaks it down

The steam blast gets it out...and blasts it off.

One or another seems to work about the same... so no need to run off an by a cheap steamer.
If boiling does it for you and you want to invest.... then ok... with either method however you have
to be sure to remove all the water before vaping them again... if not the atomizer will appear dead
even though it is not.

Sometimes though nothing can fix them.

But always remember to steam in a well ventilated place. Not a small bathroom, or you will end up like me.


Pepsi Max has bought some life out of a couple of atomizers on there way out for me. A good all night soak seems best.

Denture Cleaner Just bought some this week and need some training from crossbow... but does get bad flavors out for sure.

Power/Dry Burn is the the most dangerous to there health it seems. Helps sometimes.... but is best to avoid or use as the very last resort. But is part of the reason there messed up in the first place.

Allowing to dry after cleaning is critical..... Makes repriming easier too. The dry wick seems to absorb the e-liquid more readily. A damp wick seems to repel it. Kinda like oil and water don't mix Not doing it properly and without patience will only end up frustrating you. When cleaning bulk batches... sometimes I will just throw them all in a bottle of no nic after drying and let them marinate for a couple of days
Blowing the atomizer out with just your mouth..... to get the bulk of the water out speeds the process up.

When all else fails.... you at least now have the opportunity to buy a 5pack real cheap...... thanks Jason.

[RoadRunner]

When all else fails.... you at least now have the opportunity to buy a 5pack real cheap...... thanks Jason.

We would if he had any left... I've been watching the site for a few days now and he's all out of Titan atty multipacks.


Paul..
The RoadRunner..

[Darth Vaper]

You guys too huh

[andyl66]

I tried boiling my atty.  Here are the results:

Boiled using pan full of straight tap water on an induction hob (aren't I a flash git) for five minutes.

I stuck it in cold water and bought it up to boil, then put on simmer for a total of four mins.  I took the atty out with a spoon, wrapped it in a tea towel, waited about 30 seconds till the atty was cool enough for me to blow through, gave it a good blowing   Then left it to sit for the night to dry off.

Got up this morning, tried it and it really is as good as new!  The one I boiled has always played up a little, not producing the vapour I would have liked, it got very hot (still does) but vapour was below par (for the Titan).  After the boil it has improved a lot, vapour production is about twice as good as it was, it still gets very hot and doesn't produce as much vapour as my gunked up, never cleaned attys, but its a hell of an improvement, I actually took this atty to work and used it there  

So, I'd deffo recommend boiling an atty!

[Raff67]

When all else fails.... you at least now have the opportunity to buy a 5pack real cheap...... thanks Jason.

We would if he had any left... I've been watching the site for a few days now and he's all out of Titan atty multipacks.


Paul..
The RoadRunner..

tecc has them in stock

[IYFZZZ]

The results

These atomizers wear still working but had significantly dropped in mist output.  So I boiled 2 of them for 10 minutes at a slow rolling boil.  I then drained them, blew out the remaining water and let them sit for several hours until totally dry then primed with a few drop of juice and tested.

One of them does not work at all now....LOL....the other works like a champ! It produces vapor just like a new atomizer.  So my conclusions are boiling does work but I will keep it as a last resort, I will stick with draining each night and keeping the contacts clean and the occasional Pepsi bath.


Peace,
Mark

[Darth Vaper]

Sometimes they may appear dead after a boil..... a good marinate in 0 nic seems to help....... good priming is essential.
A little 35mm film canister(wash it out) is great for this, followed by some shaking.......... shot glasses are fine too..

Funny with all the shot glasses all over the house I look like and alcoholic. They work great for ecig ashtrays/holders works for micro pipe too. They do make a nice catch for letting atomizers sit and chill also..... can recycle what falls from them.

[Bjorn Toulouse]

Sometimes they may appear dead after a boil..... a good marinate in 0 nic seems to help....... good priming is essential.
A little 35mm film canister(wash it out) is great for this, followed by some shaking.......... shot glasses are fine too..

Funny with all the shot glasses all over the house I look like and alcoholic. They work great for ecig ashtrays/holders works for micro pipe too. They do make a nice catch for letting atomizers sit and chill also..... can recycle what falls from them.

know what you meen, same here shot glasses in the kitchen, livingroom, ......
usualy with attie and coke or attie and vodka or attie and water
never thought of using them as a stand though.

[damulta]

Anyone have problems cleaning the catchers on their stoves?
ast.
Well I found that boiling them in salt water just makes the hard crap fall right off. I think when my atomizer dies I will boil it in salt water then wash it out really well to get all the salt out. I think it would loosen all the crap out of them very fast.

[IYFZZZ]

LOL @ Darth  thanks I will try a good prime, I thought I did but you never know.


M

[g-grandad]

I was just giving my Titan atomisers a 24 hour soak in Isopropanol which seemed to do the job pretty well, but now I also boil them for 5 mins to clear any residue left in them and then dry off in a warm place for 24 hours.

I'm still using the two original atomisers I got with the kit two months ago and they both come back to full power after this treatment..

[~K~]

I was just giving my Titan atomisers a 24 hour soak in Isopropanol which seemed to do the job pretty well, but now I also boil them for 5 mins to clear any residue left in them and then dry off in a warm place for 24 hours.

I'm still using the two original atomisers I got with the kit two months ago and they both come back to full power after this treatment..

I am going to have to try this when it is my atts turn! 

[g-grandad]

I was just giving my Titan atomisers a 24 hour soak in Isopropanol which seemed to do the job pretty well, but now I also boil them for 5 mins to clear any residue left in them and then dry off in a warm place for 24 hours.

I'm still using the two original atomisers I got with the kit two months ago and they both come back to full power after this treatment..

I am going to have to try this when it is my atts turn! 

With the isopropanol you only need a small container.  If you haven't a lid for it cover tightly with cling film to prevent evaporation. after 24 hours the liquid should change from clear to a dirty brown colour. Rinse it under the hot tap and then boil up in a small saucepan for about 4 - 5 minutes. I don't do the rolling boil as it bounces the atomiser around on the bottom of the pan - a gentle simmer seems to work. The boiling gets rid of the nasty taste left by the isopropanol.

[~K~]

With the isopropanol you only need a small container.  If you haven't a lid for it cover tightly with cling film to prevent evaporation. after 24 hours the liquid should change from clear to a dirty brown colour. Rinse it under the hot tap and then boil up in a small saucepan for about 4 - 5 minutes. I don't do the rolling boil as it bounces the atomiser around on the bottom of the pan - a gentle simmer seems to work. The boiling gets rid of the nasty taste left by the isopropanol.

Thanks so much for the more detailed info!!! 

[Darth Vaper]

Ok did some experimenting at work today for a foolproof method of hot water/steam/boil method of cleaning refreshing atomizers that can be performed by most and in non ideal circumstances...... (bad atty on the road or at work)

If boiling I would suggest 5minutes or less...... but I seem to have found a better way that can be performed
when out and about. And seems to be working really good.

Step One: Remove atomizer from battery...... then remove cart.... blow through atomizer to get excess
                  liquid out of it.

Step Two: Put boiled water into cup... you can do this with hot water from other sources as well:
                  Hot water from water cooler or company coffee maker (tea option)
                  A really hot tap ... some water heaters are set higher than others... the hotter the better
                  What you are essentially looking for is water that is too hot to touch.... does not have to be boiling.

Step Three: Place atomizer in cup of hot/boiling water.

Step Four: Let is soak.... stirring occasionally .... swishing around atomizer in cup.

Step Five: After about ten minutes... while the water is still warm take atomizer out... being careful not to burn your lips
                  repeatedly blow out water.... let atomizer dry out... occasionally blowing out any water that collects as
                  atomizer wick drains.

Step Six:   Prime back up.... generously..  6 drops or so....... and allow the liquid to soak in......Top off cart as well
                 place back in atomizer and let it sit.


But anyways it seems the safest method.... keeping risk minimal of destroying atomizer with too much heat from direct boil.
I just used hot water from a water cooler at work and had a good fresh newly revitalized atomizer while on the go. The hot water can also be obtained from a fast food restaurant such as McDonalds or so while on the road. They seem to be selling the boiled coffee again. It may take some persuading ....... but if your stuff fails with no backup it should get you back in the game.

[~K~]

Thanks 4 the info Darth! 

[Free_Eagle]

Hi,

I tried my self boiling a 510 atomizer in a small bot adding one bottle cap vinger (my wife's advice) lol. let it boil for 5 minuts. get it out dried for one hour.

i got brand new atomizer.

[Darth Vaper]

What kind of vinegar  Free_Eagle?   White?

[g-grandad]

Good question...according to Wikipedia there are 19 kinds of vinegar 

[Free_Eagle]

Hi Darth Vaper,

the one i used: white distilled malt vinegar. i boiled one to test and i had perfect result. i'lll do teh same for teh rest.

[g-grandad]

Looks good - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar#Cleaning_uses

The herbicidal properties of vinegar are interesting too if you're into organic growing.

[bionic_vapour_boy]

ive been boiling mine and they have all, touch wood, came out fine. i find that you dont need to leave them to dry all night either, just blow through them and dry them off. you can use them right away.

for getting rid of strong flavours i boil them in water straight from the kettle and add either lemon juice or white wine vinegar. i dont use much water, just enough to cover the atomiser when its laying on its side, and a little bit more. Only boil for 5 - 10 minutes. been working a treat so far.

[Larry]

After reading that I nuked a coffee cup about half full of water and put my atomizer in it then moved it around every once in awhile.  I coul'd believe the crap that was on the bottom of the cup.  It looked like tiny black pieces of coal.  When I pored the water out it was yellow.  Vapes better now.

[berthou]

i also use a can of compressed air to help with the blowing , does the job real good