Cleaning a Stardust 3.0

[Lightseeker]

I have searched and searched and I can't find directions on how to clean a Stardust 3.0. I'm sure that is what I have, the little metal opening is above the white piece and I have the long wicks. All the "how to" videos I've seen are for the short wicks.

Can I clean it without taking it apart? Is it possible to just fill it with water, place the mouth piece on it, shake and pour until the wicks are clean? Oh..but then there's the dry burn..I'll probably have to take it apart for that. Dry burns seem like they are important to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Malduk]

Short wick and long wick versions are built pretty much the same, so the cleaning is pretty much the same.

You don't have to take it apart to clean. Remove that silicone cap just under the mouth piece (take something thin, stick it in the little hole, and pull up), fill it with water (hot, warm, cold, whatever), shake it around, rinse and repeat.
After that, simply dry burn it. With removed silicone cap, you'll see the coil inside.

Long wicks are a bit of a pain to dry burn, since they will hold more liquid/water.

 

[Lightseeker]

Thank you so much for your response. Ok..I just want to make sure I understand.

Remove the mouthpiece

Remove the silocone cap

Pour some water into the cylinder part but not into the center? About halfway to allow for the sloshing to clean it? Is it important to keep the water out of the metal center?

Place the mouthpiece on the end.

Shake

Repeat until the wicks look lighter?

Empty the water for the final time.

Then click the power button until there is a red glow and the vapor stops. If there's a red glow and there's still vapor..just keep going? That way I'll know the wicks are dry?

Once the wicks are dry replace the sillocone cap. Are there notches that I need to look for to make sure they are over the wicks?

Replace the mouthpiece and really really really hope that it still works

 

[Malduk]

Don't overthink this, you're just water cleaning something really cheap

After you remove the mouthpiece and silicon cap, you don't have to put mouthpiece back. I typically let water drain a bit (holding it up straight) so I get some air inside, and then use fingers on both ends, and start shaking. Water will, and should, enter the center piece. You're not cleaning only the tank, you also want to clean the coil and wick.
Repeat that as often as you want, and clean it pretty much any way you think would work better.

After you empty the water out, some people just leave it to dry. I don't. I start burning it.
The only thing that can go "wrong" here is that you forget what you're doing while holding the power button pressed, and the coil pops.

 

[Lightseeker]

Over think...how did you know my middle name Thanks again for all your help...I feel a lot more confident now about it all. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can

 

[Kay1959]

Here's a good video on how to clean it with RockinRobbie...I'm a visual person myself, so videos are a must! lol!!

Gotvapes Stardust: Advanced Cleaning - YouTube

 

[Lightseeker]

Thanks Kay. I saw that video...but here comes my over thinking again..it didn't have long wicks. How can I follow those directions if it isn't exactly the same model I have??? That's my newbie thinking anyway. Plus I don't really want to tear it apart..just wash it out the best I can without having all these pieces laying around and wondering how they go back together again.

If there is a video out there for the Stardust 3 I haven't found it. But now that I have learned a bit more..the other videos were really good enough. I was just stuck in "long wick" mode

 

[Lightseeker]

I have big news (plus a question at the end)...only ECF members can truly share in my excitement. I cleaned my Stardust! Yay! Thanks everyone on this thread..and thank you to the dozens and dozens of videos I have watched.

I discovered that a lot of the people removing the plastic piece with the metal sticking out were using tweezers with hooked ends. I tried it with regular tweezers and it didn't work.

Then the hubby told me had a teeny tiny hook on one piece of metal. He pushed and prodded..I'm holding my breath trying not to say anything i.e. DON'T RUIN IT. MY NEW STARDUSTS WON'T ARRIVE UNTIL WED OR LATER" I held my composure..and out it popped!

I gleefully ran to the kitchen..well walked briskly. Ran the clearomizer under hot running water and blew through each end. I then began the process of the dry burn. I am so glad you all told me about dry burns and what to really expect. Ok..it's turning red..don't panic..there's still vapor coming out. I held my course..kept checking the vapor and finally it stopped. YAY!

I looked at the clearomizer and there was water on the sides of it. All the videos I had viewed were completely dry. I thought oh well..it will just take a bit to vape through the water and it might dilute my juice a bit..let's give it a try.

Sure enough..it took me a few minutes but eventually it started working..the taste is there along with the vapor and the crackling noises. I haven't enjoyed a noise so much since dial up internet..listening to the tones. It's a comfort noise I'd say it's about 90% to 95% right now. It should get better once I get a fill of pure juice next time.

One more question..just how do I get the water completely out of the plastic to where it is completely dry. I dry burned until there was no vapor..maybe I should have gone longer? Oh..and I'm going to the hardware store tomorrow to find tweezers or teeny tiny pliers with hooked ends. My nerves can't take the single piece hooked end

Thanks everyone!

 

[Dant]

I gleefully ran to the kitchen..well walked briskly.

No, you definitely RAN to the kitchen to clean it, and you were shouting out rather excitedly. We all heard you!

 

[Lightseeker]

LOL Dant! And I tried to be quiet

 

[Malduk]

I also don't use tweezers to remove silicon cap; I use one leg of those little scissors for fingernails as a hook to pull it up.

As for water, without opening it up, there's no easy way to get rid of it completely, as some condensate will build up during dry burn. You can always leave it to dry if you want.

 

[Lightseeker]

Oh..so that's how they got rid of he moisture. It's all I could do to get this far..I'm not interested in pulling it apart..well maybe when one of them burns out for good I might give it a try.

ahhhhh fingernail scissors...everyone here is so creative. Thanks again Malduk for all your help!

 

[div]

I have big news (plus a question at the end)...only ECF members can truly share in my excitement. I cleaned my Stardust! Yay! Thanks everyone on this thread..and thank you to the dozens and dozens of videos I have watched.

Oh..and I'm going to the hardware store tomorrow to find tweezers or teeny tiny pliers with hooked ends. My nerves can't take the single piece hooked end

Thanks everyone!

Don't need to buy something. I didn't have pointy tweezers either. I used a large paperclip. I have one the broke off at the curve part, it's perfect to fit in the hole and pops right out.

 

[div]

I dry burn mine and left it overnight. Was definitely dry next morning, like new. .

 

[Lightseeker]

That's a great idea Div. I'm waiting until my order comes in though...just in case. Thanks!

And thanks for the paperclip tip too..everyone is just so creative around here.

I dry burn mine and left it overnight. Was definitely dry next morning, like new. .

 

[zacxzac]

Thank you so much for your response. Ok..I just want to make sure I understand.

Remove the mouthpiece

Remove the silocone cap

Pour some water into the cylinder part but not into the center? About halfway to allow for the sloshing to clean it? Is it important to keep the water out of the metal center?

Place the mouthpiece on the end.

Shake

Repeat until the wicks look lighter?

Empty the water for the final time.

Then click the power button until there is a red glow and the vapor stops. If there's a red glow and there's still vapor..just keep going? That way I'll know the wicks are dry?

Once the wicks are dry replace the sillocone cap. Are there notches that I need to look for to make sure they are over the wicks?

Replace the mouthpiece and really really really hope that it still works

Okay, I've dry burned mine a couple of times now, so here is my two cents.

Doesn't matter how much water you get into the center tube - once you finish, you can flick this water out.
Same goes for any time you get liquid in there - just hold it upright, put it above your head, and flick it out (towards the ground).

Seriously - it works. Very, very well.

Taking the rubber cap off is very simple with the right tool.
And don't worry about getting it back in perfect, just get it lined up then screw the mouth piece on - it puts the cap where it needs to be.

Word of advice - after you dry burn, go rinse it out again!
Wait for it to cool down a little tho, you don't want to put water onto a scalding hot coil.

 

[Lightseeker]

Thanks zacxzac! Great tips to try out. And that's a really great tip to rinse everything out after the dry burn. And I'll definitely remember to let it cool first. I'm meeting with a Sister in Vaping this week. We're going to her house to show her how to clean a Stardust. We're both really looking forward to it. I did pick up a new set of tweezers with a slightly turned in tip. They seem to work just fine..but I had taken my off several times earlier. I'll remember to flick too And yes..I did discover it's very easy to replace the rubber cap. One time I did manage to get the thing inserted just on one side duh! Easily fixed though.

I do have another question. As I was playing around with my Stardust a small white flimsy circle fell off. It wasn't the one on the drip tip. I don't know where it came from. All I know is that when I inserted the dip tip there was no resistance. It seemed to work ok..maybe a bit more leaky in the dip trip. It must fit into the cylinder part somehow but I couldn't figure it out.

 

[Malduk]

That little o-ring sits inside at the top of the "tank", right under the threads. You can continue using the stardust, though its possible you'd get some leaks from time to time.

 

[Lightseeker]

Thanks Malduk. I thought it went in the tank somewhere. Is there something that i did that would cause it to come out? Or something I can avoid doing?

That little o-ring sits inside at the top of the "tank", right under the threads. You can continue using the stardust, though its possible you'd get some leaks from time to time.

 

[Malduk]

Thanks Malduk. I thought it went in the tank somewhere. Is there something that i did that would cause it to come out? Or something I can avoid doing?

Well, I guess it happens by taking out / putting back in the mouthpiece a lot. Its the thing that gives you resistance while you're moving that mouthpiece. You probably didn't do anything wrong, nor you can avoid doing that.