Cleaning eGo mega cartomizers

[flea77]

I love the cartomizers I got with my eGo kit, they are as large around as the battery and are tapered to a nice mouthpiece. I have been looking around on how to clean them, All the videos and posts I have seen seems to be for standard cartomizers like the 510 where it is a metal cylinder and some even talk about removing the plastic pieces as a prerequisite to cleaning (Doc Vapor, 510 cleaning video).

Since the eGo megas are all plastic, I was wondering if it is still OK to boil them? Is there a particular method to cleaning them I should know before messing them up?

Any help appreciated.

Allan

 

[Lyndagayle]

Allan, the mega cartomizers are made to be disposable and there really isn't a way to clean them like you can with the 510. The megas are practically sealed except for the small hole at the top and bottom. I have extended the life of a few by using the syringe and squirting hot water into it and blowing it out but even that doesn't do a good cleaning to get that yukky gunked up flavor out. You lose a lot of good liquid too because there just isn't any way of extracting all of it before attempting a clean. I held on to several of mine thinking there surely would be a way to make them last longer than a week, at the most. It's a shame that the heating element continues to work like a charm but the taste gets unbearable. Maybe someone else will come along and give you some better advice but this has been my experience with them and I tried hard to stick it out for over 3 months because I love them when they're performing at their peak.

 

[Klute]

X2 Lyndagale.... I LUV the Mega Cartimizers. But have adapted to using one cartimizer for one flavor and keeping it moist at all times and try not to dry them out to extend the life span. I have not cleaned one yet.... Hope this helps

 

[swt_silhouette]

I can't see how you'd do it either...
That's why I love the clearomizers so much. They work great and are Sooo easy to clean. (and so easy to tell when you need to lol!)

 

[leannebug]

I do hope someone comes up with a way to clean them. To date, mine are used as disposables. Unfortunate for me.. mine only last a few days. Still cheaper than cigs. But not as cheap as I'd like!

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[flea77]

OK, since we did not get any good answers, I decided to do some experiements. I started with a pair of carts that had hard draws:

1) In order to see what we were dealing with I used a dremel to cut one open. The atty assembly is all put together and glued in place as one unit. Unfortunately this means the tollerance for the air channels that run down the sides of the tank can be less than optimal. It also told me that you can force whatever down the channels and through the filling tube and it all runs out the same hole in the bottom.

2) I tried boiling the one I cut apart to see what effect the water would have on the plastic. I did not want to have the plastic right on the bottom of the pot on the burner so I put in a screen to suspend the cart off the bottom a couple of inches. Boiling for ten minuted of rapid boil did not hurt the internals but did warp the lower shroud where it screws on the battery, making it useless, DO NOT BOIL THEM!!!!!

3) Next I tried just using a blunt syringe to inject boiling water into the cart. While that did not melt anything, it also did not accomplish anything.

4) Next on the list was vodka, real Russian stuff, not that pansy French wanna-be vodka. I injected vodka every which a way you could inject it. Through the filler tube, down the sides beside the filler tube, from the bottom. This immediately made it much easier to vape through. I now have it sitting in a small container of vodka to soak overnight and through tomorrow. I will pull it out tomorrow night, blow it out as best I can, and then let it sit for several days to dry.

I thought about using isopropal alcohol but given that the unit is pretty well sealed I did not know how much would be left when I started vaping. I have no idea what the effects could be of vaping that stuff, but the vodka I feel pretty comfortable with

I will keep you all in the loop as to what happens.

Allan

 

[Hotwire]

Keep us posted Allan.

I love the Janty Ego XL cartos for my short trips out of the house due to the compactness over my tank attys and carts, being 2 piece instead of 3 and being shorter altogether. They give pretty good vape too and the whilstle tip is so comfortable to draw on.

So, as I only use them once or twice a week for a few hours, I plan just keep them topped up as soon as they seem dry and before any nasty taste and they should last me a while. But would love to know a good cleaning method to prolong their lives as they are a very nice piece of kit!

 

[leannebug]

Definitely keep us posted!! I am very interested! Also, if you need any more to fiddle around with, I have a few on hand I can pop in the mail.. just send me a PM and I'll get these right out.

I did try soaking a few in some vinegar (along with my E2's) however.. I have not tried to use them since soaking.


thanks for doing this!! Let me know if you need anything

 

[flea77]

Just an update, it seems that it will take quite some time for the vodka to evaporate even when blown out pretty well. The one I soaked for 20+ hours is still very wet inside. I did notice however that even when the vodka ran clear forcing it through with a syringe after soaking it turned brown (was cleaning a chocolate filled one).

More tests coming!

Allan

 

[budsalinger]

sorry if this is a bad question but I'm a noob....

Does any other company make a mega cartomizer that will fit these ego mega batteries that are cleanable?

 

[sprink0281]

Bump for an update.......please!

How about grain alcohol? Seems that would evaporate much quicker...

 

[flea77]

So far the update is not that great. In addition to my boiling disaster, Vodka is a bad idea, Alcohol is a real pain as it does not want to evaporate for what seems like weeks and even then I get a weird taste. Right now I am working on a hybrid cleaning idea and will see where that leads.

Allan

 

[cowfodder]

After alcohol you can just flush with hot water, blow out, prime, and vape. You will get weak to no flavor at first, until it vaporizes all the water away, but after that you're good to go.

 

[Munkyman27]

I got an idea today, I have some orange chronic metal/glass/plastic cleaner at home. It leaves no residue and takes only minutes to remove gunk from glass pieces, so I'm thinking, if I only pour the liquid onto a bag, not the granules, it should break down any gunk in the atty and remove any flavors. Btw I'm using an eGo with a cylinder LR atty (I have the cone LR atty as well) and love it, just not in love with the recent taste I've been getting. I'll keep you all posted

 

[Smokin_Alex]

here there is a good way to extend cartos life, it was posted on italian forum and who posted it called it "MacGyver method" maybe from the original creator, that i do not know.
I hope it can help in some way, sorry for the poor traslation

system to mod the cartos:
System to recharge the cartos:

and this is the post:
Ricarica Megacartom METODO MCGYVER

and a google traslation:


What you need:
2.5 ml syringe plunger
Perlon wool
Blue Foam (not required)
Drill with 6



I created an inspection window on the side of cartom .. I have a hole of 6 mm in diameter .. removed the woolen now "cooked" and "saddened" .. I placed a blue disc floam rest on the 'atom and then filled the space above it with the flannel Perlon .. everything is closed by a cap made by the piston of a 3-ml syringe (the rubbery black) .. allows me to inspect the cap and wash-house (but does not require) the '.. atomizer change the flannel when after a few days .. its yield decreases drastically and recharging with 2 ml of liquid the cartom 2 months now .. I always use the same (sgrat sgrat).
The only care is essential to drill a hole a little smaller than the diameter of the cap of the plunger so as to create the proper seal to the vacuum that must be created within the right "fuel mixture" of steam .. difficult to say that not to be ... in other words when your cartomizzatore becomes "hard" in the shot means that the woolen immediately close to the resistance of 'atom is "cooked" then drill \ woolen remove \ change the woolen \ close the hole (for the less able in a matter of bricolage scotch black) .. and good SVAP !!!!!

The plastic is soft enough and thin cartom .. and then any suitable tool for that purpose may be used .. in my case I used a Dremel tool from a hobbyist with several interchangeable tips included .. (like the dentist's drill). . I'VE MADE a small hole 1 mm, I served as a centering hole for the next 6 mm (this time with a regular drill) with a peak in iron at low speed .. after that I fixed the diameter at various times with a file tapered to accommodate the stopper that repeat, must enter and remain "tight" ... taking advantage of its flexibility you can plug it and guarantee a perfect tightness ..
I wanted to point out that obviously the hole on the side of cartomizzatore must be done on the inside that is not affected by the 2-channel inlet steam .. and that its vertical position must be as high as possible into the mouthpiece .. this makes us come dall'atomizzatore away and have a more comfortable space for the insertion of new flannel .. posizionamneto the floppy blue floam immediately in contact with the 'atom is intended to make cartomizzatore longer cooking performance and avoid early Perlon (more stringy and fragile) .. I got the floppy blue floam perfectly inside diamter of the cartom setup using the empty shell of a battery used as a "stamp" swing

Thank you again McGyver

Further improved method, D

perfected the "cap McGyver" move up in a location that offers several advantages over the previous position.
as you can see from the picture is now placed on the flat sides of the spout intake .. or along the sidewall.
The main advantage is that now the cartomizzatore can be recharged with liquid in a vertical position and this allows the natural descent of the liquid and allows maximum coverage .. also charging the woolen Perlon is more simple .. they have all the inner tank and free The flannel can be placed vertically to fill more evenly inside the cartom .. you should not put too much flannel, but this will totally fill the interior but "airy" .. not far from over .. and above all make sure it is in close contact with the atomizer.
The other cartom has the cap along the vertical side, this for those who may think that it can be bothersome to her lips (absolutely not) even if you stop the suction channel into steam it seems that even cartom takes advantage .. Today I replaced the inner flannel now cooked and burnt and reloaded the liquid and the cartom really seems that the first day (indeed) ..
Greetings to all from McGyver

 

[Shantia]

Would flushing a filled cart with PG work to remove a previous flavor? If flushing it with PG would work that'd be great.

 

[Shantia]

Flushing with PG didnt work, i tested it out. So i did the McGyver mod, and i definitely do not suggest drilling the hole on the side of the carto, punctures one of the air flow valves, not getting as much vapor now. Drilling on the flat part of the mouth piece seems to work well, just dont drill to high up..Glad i did this mod, the filler was burnt pretty badly, Ew!

 

[Munkyman27]

@Alex-
What?...your stream-of-consciousness typing confuses the ..... outta me, I can't even tell wtf you are trying to describe lmao

 

[Munkyman27]

The best method for cleaning that I now use requires rubbing alcohol and water.
1)to clean your atty-any type, put about 1-2 inches of alcohol into a glass cup, lay the atty in the bottom of the glass. Let it soak for 10-15 minutes, swirling occasionally. After soaking(the longer the better), pull the atty out and take it to the sink. You can use hot or cold water, they both work the same on this method. Turn the water on to low, starting with the mouthpiece end, let the water fill up the atty, then quickly blow the water out, before it drains out. Repeat 5-6 times, then flip the atty and let water run into the hole for a few seconds and blow it out, from the threaded end towards the mouthpiece end. Do this 5-6 times, then flip it and fill/blow again. Do this, blowing from both sides, about 4-5 times and you should be 90% flavor free. To dry the water out, blow from the mouthpiece end a couple of times, until the excess water drains from the battery end of the atty. Then take your atty in your hand, with the open end towards your finger tips and swing your arm down. This will use gravity to free the water in the wick and bridge. It works best if you do this with a plastic bag or sheet of paper in front of you, so that you can hear when the water stops flinging out. Then flip the atty, blow through that end, and repeat the process. Do this till your swings stop flinging water. I know it seems long-winded typed out, but the whole process takes less than 20 mins, including soak time.
2). For carts, soak fully submerged in alcohol. Be sure to take out the 2 baffles from the mouthpiece. Just straighten a paper clip, slightly bend the end, put it in the tiny hole and pop the baffles out. Also-remove any filler before soaking! After a couple minutes, wash out and swab insides out with a q-tip.

I'll prob make a vid on this tonight, happy vaping

 

[Lakewell]

I would like to thank Smokin_Alex for posting this mod to clean the cartomizers and reusing them. This led me to perform this mod, a bit differently, but much the same.

I have a drill, but I didn't want to use it (lazy), and I didn't have the correct sized rubber plunger. I had a different sized plunger, but I quickly figured out that wouldn't work when I tried to cut it down. Then I thought an eraser might work, but I'm sure little bits of rubber would rub off into the carto and I'd be smoking rubber soon enough. And this is when I found the perfect "stopper" for the mega cartomizer for the Ego !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And most of you might have it.

These little things come with every cartomizer, they are the end caps for the side where the carto screws into the battery. Here is the finished product.

Like I said I didn't use a drill, just an exacto, scissors, and my multi-tool blade. I kind of just "burrowed" in the carto and then kept checking that the hole was the right size until the stopper barely went in, to insure a tight fit.

I pulled the fill, cleaned the carto in alcohol and then some water, put new fill in (from a bed cover, works very well though), filled it with juice, and inserted stopper. Now I have a refillable and filler replaceable Ego Cartomizer. It vapes just like brand new .

Just make sure to clean it out very well to get all the pieces of plastic out, and when you vape the first time it might take several hits ,if the wick is still wet from cleaning, to get a good vape going.

I'm so stoked on this mod, these cartos give me the best vape, aside from my busted tank mod by Shan, and now they will last until the atty dies. Not bad for $3 bucks.

I may make a video if some of you would like a little bit better idea of what I did, just let me know in a post.

VAPE ON ! ! !