If you’ve been vaping for a while, you’ve probably run into the frustration of a stuck part on your RTA or vape setup. Whether it’s a tank that won’t budge, a top cap that’s seized up, or a base that refuses to unscrew, stuck parts can test your patience. Over the last 16 years of dealing with vape gear, I’ve seen it all, and I’ve learned a thing or two about how to handle these situations without turning your prized atomiser into a scratched-up and un-usable mess.

First off, if you’re dealing with a seriously stuck part, my advice is to get in touch with us before you go full caveman with pliers or a spanner. Harsh tools might seem like the quick fix, but they can easily damage your gear, ie stripped threads, dented metal, or cracked glass. Nobody wants to turn a minor annoyance into a costly repair or replacement. We’ve got the experience and the right tools to sort it out safely, and we’re happy to help.

That said, if you’re determined to tackle it yourself, there’s one method that’s been my go-to for years, and it’s dead simple: a rubber band. Yep, the same kind you’d find in your junk drawer. Wrap a thick rubber band tightly around the stuck part to give your fingers extra grip. The rubber creates just enough friction to help you get a solid purchase without slipping. Twist slowly and steadily, and you’ll often find the part starts to give way. I’ve used this trick on everything from stubborn top caps to over-tightened bases, and it works like a charm nine times out of ten.

Why does this happen in the first place? Vaping gear takes a beating—juice residue, heat, and constant screwing and unscrewing can make parts stick like they’ve been welded together. RTAs, with their tight tolerances and threaded components, are especially prone to this. Over-tightening is another culprit; it’s easy to crank down too hard when you’re in a rush to refill or swap a coil. And if you’ve got liquid seeping into the threads, it can act like glue once it dries.

Tips to Prevent Stuck Parts

• Keep it clean: Regularly clean your threads and contact points with warm water and a soft cloth. Dry thoroughly to avoid residue build-up.
• Don’t over-tighten: Snug is enough—there’s no need to channel your inner Hulk when screwing parts together.
• Lube sparingly: A tiny dab of e-liquid or VG on the threads can keep things moving smoothly, but don’t overdo it, as too much can attract gunk.
• Store smart: If you’re not using an atomiser for a while, drain all e-liquid from the tank and clean it out then loosen the parts slightly to prevent them from seizing up over time.

If the rubber band trick doesn’t do the job, you’ve got a couple of other gentle options. One is to try heating the stuck part with a hairdryer for 20-30 seconds to expand the metal slightly, then give it another go with the rubber band. Another trick I’ve found handy is the freezer method. Pop the stuck component (make sure it’s dry first!) into the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. The cold can cause the metal to contract just enough to break the seal. After taking it out, wrap it with the rubber band and try twisting again. These temperature tricks—hot or cold—can often nudge things loose without risking damage. Still no luck? That’s when it’s time to reach out for professional help. We’ve got tricks up our sleeves that go beyond what most vapers have at home, and we can usually save your gear without turning it into a salvage project.

Vaping’s supposed to be enjoyable, not a wrestling match with your hardware. Stick to simple solutions like the rubber band or a quick chill in the freezer, keep your gear clean, and know when to call in the pros. Got a stuck part that’s driving you up the wall? Drop us a line—we’ll get you sorted.

SAY NO to the proposed ban on flavoured e-liquids for e-cigarettes.
Vaping has been a lifeline for many, helping them break free from deadly tobacco. Let's not turn back the clock on progress.

Sign this petition to speak up for your access to flavoured e-liquids. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/656683 and be sure to follow this up with an email to your MP. You can contact your MP here - www.writetothem.com

If their plans go ahead and all flavoured e-liquids are banned, we'll all have to say goodbye to our favourite fruity, dessert, and sweet flavours. The only flavour available will be tobacco.

Your choices have already been impacted by ill-thought-out, fear-based legislation. This proposed ban on flavours is not going to help with the teen vaping issue but it will seriously impact adults who use flavoured vapes responsibility to stay off combustible tobacco.

Make your voice heard!

We are reaching out to you today with a matter of utmost importance that affects every vaper in the UK.
The Department of Health and Social Care is currently conducting a consultation about the plans to severely restrict the flavours and the types of products you currently enjoy.

At Crème de Vape, we have been dedicated to providing you with high-end vaping equipment and supporting vapers of all levels for the past 14 years. We believe that the current range of vaping products successfully caters to a diverse community with varying preferences and needs.

It is our firm stance that introducing further restrictions on flavours and products is not the solution to the issue of youth vaping. Existing legislation is already in place to prevent sales to minors. What we need now is diligent monitoring of retailers to ensure they adhere to these rules, and strict enforcement with fines for non-compliance.

We urge each and every one of you to participate in this consultation and make your voices heard! Your input is crucial in safeguarding your right to choose the vaping products that suit you best. Let us stand together and ensure that adult vapers are not penalised for the shortcomings in enforcing existing regulations.

Please take a moment to respond to the consultation page at https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/65201ed1f3410a69990d3081 You can do so anonymously if you wish and it only takes about 15 minutes to complete.

We'll be sharing this information on our Socials and we encourage you share too and help to spread the word that vapers' voices are needed to protect the products we use to stay smoke-free.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Lisa & Keith

Nicotine occurs naturally in tobacco leaves in the form of a salt. In this natural form, the active nicotine is not easily "freed up" so it can't be delivered to our bodies very effectively.

In the 1960s, cigarette companies developed a process which added ammonia to the natural nicotine salts from tobacco leaves which made the nicotine more bio-available and provided more of a nicotine hit without increasing the dose. The process they pioneered gave us freebase nicotine, which is the type of nicotine most commonly used in e-liquids. It is also used in nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, gums, lozenges and sprays.

Due to its potency, freebase nicotine provides a harsh throat hit at higher strengths. When it’s used in a high-wattage setups, it tends to be very uncomfortable on the throat, which is why vapers using sub-ohm setups tend to use much lower nicotine strengths. This low concentration prevents the e-liquid feeling too harsh on the throat when inhaled but these low strengths mean vapers have to vape for much longer durations to be satisfied.

Recently, a new chemical process was developed by the vapour industry to enable natural nicotine salt to be more bio-available and to more closely mimic the sensation of smoking a real cigarette. It utilises benzoic acid which helps nicotine salt vapourise at lower temperatures and makes it more absorbable like freebase nicotine. It also delivers the nicotine with a much smoother throat hit.

This new development allows users to obtain a nice potent hit of nicotine in a shorter time using a more portable low wattage device without the harsh throat hit. 

Today's pod systems are ideal for salt based nicotine as are most of the standard higher resistance (1.5ohm plus) MTL tanks on the market. Keep in mind though, you should avoid using high powered devices because using sub-ohm devices to vape salt nicotine at high strengths will give you excessive amounts of nicotine which could cause unpleasant side-effects.

View our salt based nicotine e-liquids.

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