Atomizer Cleaned ! Simple Cheap Effective Method.

[exogenesis]

RGJ
I'll try it again with just water, then again with vinegar (acetic acid), then lemon juice (citric acid).
But tbh I think the extra ooomph of H2O2 could well be the key.
Also from previous experiments I think any hot acid is going to start dissolving the thin metal wire,
particularly where the coil meets the blobs.
Unfortunately (or maybe not) this Boots formulation contains a very small amount of phosphoric acid
(to keep the H2O2 from dissipating I think).

edit :Although the red-heat burnt off most of the crud, I don't think it leaves
'just a little cleaning', the crud is deep in the wick & I would hazard that the coil
will taste worse if you just do the heating step - in fact I don't think that step
is really necessary at all.

The 9% H2O2 skin disinfectant was what Boots had, didn't see any 3%
(I think you can get that as a surface cleaner elsewhere?)


kinabaloo
The H2O2 is a powerful oxidizer and safe bleacher, rather than an acid, which I think is the key.

With the concentrated acids(/caustic), I possibly now expect these to the leave a deposit
in the fine voids in the metal mesh, which simply can't be washed out properly.

Be interested in the results from 85% phosphoric acid tests though, possibly the coil will clean,
but the metal mesh might block up (I'd advise washing with distilled water rather than tap,
until you're sure all the acid is gone, due to flock/precipitate that might form in the wire mesh).

You're right about possibility of my example not bwing the worst case (although it was a pretty tough test).
I have it in mind to cake the testing coil/wick up over a longer time with a cleaner e-liquid, possibly
just 36mg unflavoured, and maybe then a further test with just VG.

An automated effective 'gadget' would be fantastic, I'd buy some.


surbitonPete
I tried the same thing - immersion boiling in a volume of H2O2, with the heat applied externally,
on the same test coil as above, it was not effective.
I think the key here is to repeatedly super-heat small amounts of H2O2 on/in the coil/wick as outlined above.


Okiki
I think it's quite possible that there's no 'something' that will do the job as a simple soak,
at least not one that leaves the atomizer intact.
I was going to try hydroflouric acid at one point, but thought better of it.

So some further tests to do then....

[Frody]

RGJ
...
I think it's quite possible that there's no 'something' that will do the job as a simple soak,
at least not one that leaves the atomizer intact.
...

Some germans are using "effective microoganisms" (em). They just soak the atomizer 24h in em and most of them got very good results. But be aware, the em's could "eat" the paint or silicone stuff!

Here's a picture after the cleaning (sorry can't post url's, so don't forget the dot after "www"):
www
e-rauchen-forum.de/showthread.php?tid=1949&pid=26600#pid26600

[ZambucaLu]

Some germans are using "effective microoganisms" (em). They just soak the atomizer 24h in em and most of them got very good results. But be aware, the em's could "eat" the paint or silicone stuff!

Here's a picture after the cleaning (sorry can't post url's, so don't forget the dot after "www"):
www
e-rauchen-forum.de/showthread.php?tid=1949&pid=26600#pid26600

Of course I couldn't actually read this thread since it's foreign but it hasn't been active since 9/08. Is there something more current on this? Or something to say how it's going?

Lu

[Frody]

Of course I couldn't actually read this thread since it's foreign but it hasn't been active since 9/08. Is there something more current on this? Or something to say how it's going?

Lu

I posted the link just for the images to see how good it works.

What is EM and how it works?
http:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_microorganism

EM is no chemical. Some use it to clean their floor or use it as a roomspray (eliminates bad smell) or drink it.

If someone has any questions, feel fee to ask.

[ZambucaLu]

I posted the link just for the images to see how good it works.

What is EM and how it works?
http:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_microorganism

EM is no chemical. Some use it to clean their floor or use it as a roomspray (eliminates bad smell) or drink it.

If someone has any questions, feel fee to ask.

Have you tried it yourself yet Frody? If so, how did it go?

Lu

[exogenesis]

Some germans are using "effective microoganisms" (em). They just soak the atomizer 24h in em and most of them got very good results. But be aware, the em's could "eat" the paint or silicone stuff!

Here's a picture after the cleaning:
www.e-rauchen-forum.de/showthread.php?tid=1949&pid=26600#pid26600

That's definitely interesting, had a look & that microorganism mixed culture
seem to be able to do a lot of things.

If the microbes 'eat' the deposits on the atomizer coil over a period of days,
that'd be an extremely good start, but then you've got to get the microbe culture
completely washed out again, not sure how easy that'd be ?

I'm a microbiologist by university degree & worked for 13 years in the labs,
so it's doubly interesting to me, thanks for the link
(might even get some 'EM')

[Frody]

Have you tried it yourself yet Frody? If so, how did it go?

Lu

Yes, I tried it on two old pen atomizer, which were left lying around for approx. 6 months. They worked much better after the use of EM but far not as good as a new one (no surprise after 6 months drying). Unfortunately I can't see the wick of the (pen) atomizer to see the results..
Next time I'll use a MiniFogger atomizer. There I can see the wick! I'll try to make some photos..

.. but then you've got to get the microbe culture completely washed out again, not sure how easy that'd be ?

In the german forum they use wodka or ethanol for the washing. I think that will do the job.
Otherwise I see no need for that. As mentioned before some people are drinking EMa (some drops per glass) or use it in the household. I think the EM's are the good guys..

[kinabaloo]

I think the limitation with claning is going to be inside the fibres inside the coil. Neither H2O2 or any acid can dissolve all the deposit, some solids will be left. These may break off and flush out after the gunk is weakened by having some of it dissolved but some deep in the coil fibres may be stuck there more or less permanently. *

Neverthless, to hazard a guess, if cleaning is done early and often, it might be possible to extend atomiser life to months rather than weeks.

* Exogenesis - if you were to vape for a few minutes and take one more picture of the coil after that (i.e., after the last photo in your current series) you might well find the coil has become shiny and the remaining black stuff at the edges gone.

[Di]

from the german forum ----

Unglaublich aber wahr.
Nochmal 24 h in neuem EM super strong Reinigungsflüssigkeit

I think this says soaked 24 hours in EM superstrong -------

but the pix are incredible.....
we need someone to get this - EM stuff, and try it....

Di ......

[ZambucaLu]

Hey thanks for the pix Di. I'm waiting for someone to try it too!

Lu