Cleaning dual coils - Anyvape Davide...Can juice get tainted?

[Taledus]

I can find all sorts of topics in search about "cartomizers", not sure if there is a difference between cartomizers and coils.

I got several Anyvape Davide dual coil tanks. I have replacement coils coming in the mail..probably will be here by Monday. 2 of my tanks have a very nasty flavor to them. I have drained the tanks, soaked tanks in 20/80 mix lemon juice and water (which surprisingly was the only concoction that got the smell of some nasty flavors out), and soaked coils in straight alcohol. I let everything dry thoroughly.

Filled tanks, re-primed, and the nasty flavor remains. After searching the forums I believe these coils are no longer any good. Initially I thought I just started not liking the flavors. These coils came with the tanks and have only lasted about 2 weeks, while other tank coils have lasted 3 weeks with no sign that they are about to go out.

The tanks come with 2 coils, 1 - 2.1 ohm (rated 3.0-6.0 volts), and 1 - 1.8 ohm (rated 3.0-5.0 volts). I am vaping between 4.5-5.0 volts depending on the juice. I have yet to use any of the 1.8 ohm coils as I am already towards the limit on their voltage.

My question really isn't about the coils, unless there is another way to re-use/re-build these things that I have yet to come across. I want to know if the juice in the tank can become tainted by the coil - meaning it is probably best to dump and clean, replace with new coils once they arrive, so that the flavor doesn't get into the new coils?

 

[GPC2012]

After you cleaned the coils (btw what kind of alcohol did you use) did you dry burn them? Put the unit back together and leave it empty fire the unit for a couple of seconds and let the coil heat without any juice on it. I use either aspire BDC tank or a Hypertank and prefer the lower ohm coils. to me each coil can be a little different. With a new coil I start out low and work my way up the wattage ladder until I get the vape I want. depending on what you have been vaping the coil could be pretty gunked up. the dry burn might clear it up some.

 

[Taledus]

After you cleaned the coils (btw what kind of alcohol did you use) did you dry burn them? Put the unit back together and leave it empty fire the unit for a couple of seconds and let the coil heat without any juice on it. I use either aspire BDC tank or a Hypertank and prefer the lower ohm coils. to me each coil can be a little different. With a new coil I start out low and work my way up the wattage ladder until I get the vape I want. depending on what you have been vaping the coil could be pretty gunked up. the dry burn might clear it up some.

I have used both vodka, and then rubbing alcohol when I ran out of vodka. Everything was rinsed thoroughly, then dried. I have tried cleaning just the coils several times with nothing getting the nasty taste out. I realize rubbing alcohol may not have been the best choice even though others have posted using it on here, but it was all I had left aside from hydrogen peroxide which I have no intentions on using.

I should have mentioned I did try a dry burn after each time I let the coil dry (minimum 12 hours each)...I hit my button and let it stay on for 1 second - I did this 5 times.

 

[Crazed trucker]

When I was using clearo's, I would soak my coils in antiseptic rubbing alcohol. My Dr. Who vapes told me this method. Soak for 1 hr min, rinse under hot water, than soak in hot water for 24 hrs. Nvr had a problem. Nvr tasted or smelled like alcohol. Got previous flavor out completely. Even brought it to a non smoker( my daughter) to smell. She said smell like nothing. Coil and with we're clean as a whistle. No black residue nothing. DR says that's how they clean thermometers, rinse in water b4 Putting in patience mouth.

 

[Taledus]

I have yet to have any sort of alcohol flavor left over after thoroughly rinsing them and letting them dry. However, looking inside the coil the parts still appears very dark. I figure that the coils are just ready to be tossed. The juice that was in them is mid-dark colored, while my other 2 tanks have a lighter colored juice, and I have yet to clean them once.

I'm just wondering if when I do change the coil that I should go ahead and dump the juice and start fresh. I have no idea if the flavor coming from the coil can taint the juice inside the tank.

 

[GPC2012]

I've had a couple of mid vape burnouts, changed the coil and didn't ever have a bad taste in the juice, remember to allow the new coil to prime for about 5 minutes after putting it in the tank.

 

[Maestro]

I have used both vodka, and then rubbing alcohol when I ran out of vodka. Everything was rinsed thoroughly, then dried. I have tried cleaning just the coils several times with nothing getting the nasty taste out. I realize rubbing alcohol may not have been the best choice even though others have posted using it on here, but it was all I had left aside from hydrogen peroxide which I have no intentions on using.

I should have mentioned I did try a dry burn after each time I let the coil dry (minimum 12 hours each)...I hit my button and let it stay on for 1 second - I did this 5 times.

You have to dry burn until you see the coil glowing red. Then clean it again

 

[Taledus]

You have to dry burn until you see the coil glowing red. Then clean it again

So clean, dryburn until red, then clean again?

 

[Maestro]

Yes. The purpose of dry burning is to remove all the gunk built up on the coil. If you can't see the coil, then it's still covered in gunk and probably smoking like crazy why you fire it.. But make sure you still use 3 - 5 second pulses.

 

[drummerskey]

To answer your initial question, yes.........you can taint the juice.

But some other points. I agree, you do have to dry burn and then clean again. You mentioned that you are vaping a 2-ish ohm coil at 4.5-5 volts which could be really high. This is a matter of preference but I have 2.2 coils that usually don't see north of 4 volts because any juice I have gets torched and I have to back it out. Just because you "can" doesn't always mean you should. It can be a delicate balance.

I have never heard of a lemon/water mix to clean the tanks and I assume as long as you clean it out well and don't use it on the coils you should be fine. You really shouldn't use the rubbing alcohol. Although it can be used on thermometers, you are not inhaling a thermometer so if you can avoid it, I would. A cheap gallon of vodka is $11.

I have coils that have lasted me months but I do this by one simple process. I keep 4-5 in a rotation. Each day, I take the coil out and when I have 3, I soak it for a few hours/overnight in vodka and let it dry for 8-12 hours or more. I don't dry burn or anything else. The trick to this is doing it more than needed because if you wait for the coil to gunk up too much, you aren't cleaning it completely anyway.

 

[Taledus]

Thanks for all the information about this guys!

I never had a need for vodka and only had some left over from 2 years ago. I will be getting more soon. I got my new replacement coils in late yesterday afternoon, replaced, and the juice is fine. However, I found out that these coils can be re-built: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwgkYUgZXHI

I just placed an order for the silica wick and some kanthal wire like in the video from LightningVapes. Hopefully this will help anyone else who finds this post in a search.

 

[Taledus]

To anyone who rebuilds coils like this - can the cotton wrap on the inside of the cap be replaced with fine mesh or something similar? Also, where can you get the rubber insulator replacements at?

 

[XenonRam]

All you need to do is rinse them under hot water coming out of the tap and let it run through the coil at full volume. Do this for about 5 seconds then blow it out... repeat 3 times and let the water run for 20 seconds on the third time, blow it out, install it back in the tank, fill with juice, vape a few times to get the water cleared out and get the juice flowin. NO need for all this alcohol and soaking for hours. I dont use tanks/clearos anymore but when I did, I did this every time I changed flavors and never got a carry over taste, even when going from a strong tobacco juice to a fruit juice. If you have a bad taste then you've either melted your insulator, or burned the hell out of your wick. The wick can withstand the heat of a blow torch, but if you have remnant of juice and you burn the sugars in the juice into the wick then thats where the flavor is coming from. Also, make sure you wash every single thing that you are going to put juice into, or is coming into contact with your body either directily or indirectly. You never know if the guy in the factory that makes those was picking his .... or nose or scab. They are made in low quality factories by below poverty level workers in china, so use your imagination when you picture a kanger, innokin, aspire, or any product from the Shenzhen area of china, etc assembly line, they have no regulations regarding cleanliness and dont follow the guidelines that are in place.

 

[Taledus]

After several days I have to come back and revisit this thread with an update. Even though I can rebuild the coils, I have still taken precautions and have been cleaning the coils everyday in order to ensure they last longer between rebuilds. Ultimately I believe I have failed on some level as I keep getting a very harsh metallic taste along with the flavor I am vaping every time I swap coils out to clean. I do get a good flavor for the first 4-5 hits, but eventually the harshness comes back. This isn't one particular color or flavor juice that I am running into this with, it is on every one. Here are a few methods I have been trying:

First method
1. Dry burn coil
2. Rinse several times under hot water
3. Hit with can of air to get out excess water
4. Let dry for 12-18 hours

Second method
1. Dry burn coil
2. Soak in vodka for 2-3 hours, shaking container several times
3. Rinse several times with hot water
4. Soak in hot water for 6-12 hours
5. Hit with can of air to get out excess water
6. Let air dry for 12-18 hours

There have been some variations of the above steps that I have tried, but for the most part I have tried these steps. Right now I have 8 of these tanks with the 2.2ohm coils, and 10 additional replacement 2.2ohm coils...but I have went through all of them, even the new ones, trying to clean everyday and just swapping them out.

That being said, I don't think trying to clean the coils everyday in attempt to keep buildup from happening is going to work for me. I already have my first 5 coils that need to be rebuilt due to being burnt up. I honestly believe I just need to use the coils for several weeks until they are ready to be rebuilt, then rebuild them instead of doing all this cleaning because this is very tedious.

Regardless it still seems rebuilding is going to be cheaper than ordering 5 coils every 2 weeks just to keep replacing them. And if I get more flavors, and I'm going to start making my own juice as soon as my TFA order comes in the mail today, I would need to purchase even more replacement coils.

I'm still smoking though, as that seems to be the only thing I have found to get the nasty harsh taste out of my mouth...I still remain at 1-3 per day, which is better than 10 per day. And I'm not saving any money either. However, I went from rolling my own cigarettes @ $30 per month, to a new hobby, coupled with OCD, etc, etc, etc... In the last month alone I have spend upwards of $600 on this new hobby (thank god for tax time). For once though my wife has not complained at the money I have spend with vaping as opposed to smoking. On the DIY side of things I have enough rebuilding supplies and ingredients for juice to last me for well over 6 months, and with my investment in 2 mods and 10 tanks, I have enough hardware to last me at least 2 years. This is a small amount compared to the other methods I have spent on trying to quit smoking, and so far this one is proving to be the most successful.