Wicks in clearomizer turning brown?

[cgallagher]

So I tried a new clearomizer and I used a Tropical Punch liquid. The liquid is clear. After vaping it for a little bit I noticed the wicks in the clearomizer turned all brown. They look almost like they were burnt. It changed the color of the juice a bit but it has not changed the taste of the juice. It just seems odd. I added some more juice to the clearomizer and the majority of the brown color went away. Can anyone explain this?

 

[steved5600]

Yep that is what happens over time. Try cleaning it in grain alcohol. I 'd normally use just rubbing alcohol but if you don't have a rebuildable the use grain alc. Then rinse it good with water. Water picks do a good job. If you have a rebuildable then just leave the tank off and take off the tip of the head the silicone thing and do a dry burn to burn off any crust on the atty. Then rinse it again.
It will extend the life a bit. At some time you will have to toss it or if rebuildable replace the head.

 

[cgallagher]

Okay thanks for the reply. Problem is, it was band new and never used before...

 

[lulu836]

I made some peppermint juice about a week ago that stayed clear for that whole time in a vivi nova tank. Today I decided to put a little sweetner in it (couple of drops in about 8ml) and it is beginning to turn brown. I've had lots of juices do this and always assumed that the people who said that the brown was a reaction of heat and light on the nicotine were correct. That is NOT true. It's the sweetner in the juice being super heated by the coil. Just like if you put sugar and water in a pan and put it on the stove. The sugar is gonna turn dark every time.

 

[UncleKielbasa]

Not a problem, just using dark juice. Try boiling the head from the clearo and the wicks should mostly whiten up again.

 

[srguapo]

Its the sugar in the juice that is "caramelizing" on the coils. Its not usually a big deal, but you may need to clean the wicks/coil more often.

I have been cleaning my clearos after every couple refills, they always turn back to white after rinsing with hot water.

 

[tc1]

Cleaning before every refill can really help keep that baby alive. Id recommend cleaning it out and a quick dry burn every couple days at least if you want the most life out of the coil.

 

[dsy5]

I just soak mine in hot water for half a day and the juice will dissipate from the wick, turning white again. Then I let it dry thoroughly and dry burn 5 or 6 times until the crud on the coil can be mostly blown away. The dry burn usually returns any brown around the coil area of the wick to white again.

 

[steved5600]

I made some peppermint juice about a week ago that stayed clear for that whole time in a vivi nova tank. Today I decided to put a little sweetner in it (couple of drops in about 8ml) and it is beginning to turn brown. I've had lots of juices do this and always assumed that the people who said that the brown was a reaction of heat and light on the nicotine were correct. That is NOT true. It's the sweetner in the juice being super heated by the coil. Just like if you put sugar and water in a pan and put it on the stove. The sugar is gonna turn dark every time.

Yea I have that problem I want things like peppermint to be sweet. I use sucralose, ezsweetz or ethyl malto. I use to use agava nectar and it would really gunk up and the juice turned brown. So i stick to the others. I do find that the sweeter it is the more i have to clean. IME.

 

[cghildreth]

Try cleaning it in grain alcohol.

+1

I drop my Vivi heads in grain alcohol for a couple hours/overnight after each tank. I've found that this helps tremendously in maintaining flavor production. You can do a dry burn after the soak, but I don't think the dry burn is absolutely necessary - just pat dry the wicks and the head, blow it out, set it on the counter to dry for an hour or so, and its ready to go again.

 

[robtest]

Its the sugar in the juice that is "caramelizing" on the coils. Its not usually a big deal, but you may need to clean the wicks/coil more often.

I have been cleaning my clearos after every couple refills, they always turn back to white after rinsing with hot water.

yes, caramelizing of the sugars jumped to mind for me too...

hopefully a good cleaning in hot water will take care of it

 

[lulu836]

I rinse the heads, let them dry, do a dry burn and drop them in vodka for a few hours. Take them out and pat dry then let them dry under a student lamp which really gets hot if you bend it down close to the desktop where the heads are.

I'm REALLY po'ed at myself for believing the light and heat story about nicotine. Dumb........really dumb on my part.

 

[dsy5]

I'm REALLY po'ed at myself for believing the light and heat story about nicotine. Dumb........really dumb on my part.

There is actually some truth to that. Nicotine will 'tan' when exposed to oxygen. Sort of on the same principle as metals 'rust'. If you ever make DIY juices, the mix starts out fairly clear (urine colored) than turns a light golden brown or orange after a few days or weeks.