cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/40404782
EDIT: oh, I realized I have a question for you, too - so, I bought this like disposable USB-chargeable vape pen, and it has a lot of juice left, but I’ve noticed when I suck to get it started, it just won’t “hit” or heat up … it’s like there is oil clogging something that is necessary to get it started?
Sometimes I have to suck really hard for minutes to get it going (there is no button as far as I can tell to get it started).
Any suggestions on how to get it to work more reliably? Am I supposed to be cleaning or maintenance-ing this pen in a way I don’t know about?
Thanks!


Sounds like the tube is clogged, which you can usually suck clear enough to get it moving again.
There’s not much you can do about it other than to suck slower and longer to let the heat melt the clog back down to the wick, imo.
If it’s bad, it might require preheating which can be done with a blow dryer. Very inconvenient for pen use on-the-go. A lighter can work if used very gently and you’re patient enough to let the heat sink in slowly.
I only buy batteries and carts and never disposables for reasons like this. I have one cart that’s clogged so badly I have to run the 10 second preheat cycle three separate times over the span of a minute to get it flowing enough to hit. Even then it’s challenging to hit, and it gurgles.