http://haroldvhysell.blogspot.com/2015/07/is-dry-burning-your-coil-necessary.html

The trick is to dry burn your coil to loosen the gunk before scraping it off with a needle or pin. The more experienced vapers among us know about this trick. What many of the newbies may not have been aware of, however, is Doctor Farsalinos' opinion on this matter.