cleaning w/ vinegar <--- ?

[flexy123]

i read some threads but still didnt come to a conclusion how to go about cleaning (despite the canned air, which sounds good).

I reject any idea of using industrial strength cleaners....hey, we INHALE that stuff. So how can you recommend "fog machine cleaners" and similar?

Anyway..i wanted to know whether someone has results using vinegar...or maybe even lemon juice/citric acid?

Based on that we use this stuff for cleaning coffee makers....if vinegar would work...wouldnt it be ideal? Would it dissolve/loosen the carbon particles?

G.

 

[QueenInNC]

I tried vinegar and it got me nowhere. I have not tried lemon yet or the ice machine cleaner.

 

[shakey ceasefire]

I boiled 6 atomizers in about 1/3 vinegar and 2/3 water. Here's what I found:

Some black specs came out. It's possible that this is the burnt crud that accumulates on the heating element. It seems obvious that the atomizers were "dirty" and that this cleaned them at least somewhat.

I let them dry over night. After this they are totally dry, and will appear to be dead when you first try to use them again. However, they aren't dead. Put some liquid on the atomizer and let it soak in for about 10 minutes. Then, it's like you have to break them in again. One atomizer in particular took almost an hour to "wake up", but now it works like new.

I used apple vinegar (only because that's what I had at hand). There was no trace of the vinegar taste left in the atomizer when I started using it again.

Conclusion: there's a good chance that it helps, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

 

[QueenInNC]

I take that back!! I let them sit overnight and just tried them again. They are like new!!! I let them soak for a while in vinegar then put a little peroxide in with some boiling water and boiled them. I didn't see any build up in there but they were definitley dead. I tried them with 5 different batteries. There is hope for these things. I think that the ice machine cleaner is probably the answer though. There are a lot of great people here spending lots of time trying to find a way to keep these atomizers going. Thanks for all of your hard work! Terraphon, Sun, Stone...I am sure there are more, I am just having trouble remembering who they were right now.

 

[kinabaloo]

Actually a fog machine is pretty much what a personal vaporizer is, on a larger scale.

Vinegar, cola and lemon juice work reasonably well if the atomiser is only a little compromised by deposits, especially if dripped in (5 or 6 drops) and the atomiser activated till it fizzes. There is info on how to do this with an automatic without using your mouth elsewhere. Otherwise, use these undiluted (as when drip) and leave a long time to soak, such as overnight.

The only two liquids to work well with more severely compromised atomisers are:
1) high strength (75%) phosphoric acid (ice-machine cleaner)
2) hydrogen peroxide (9%)

By the way, never mix these two or use them at same time!

Yes, these are strong and one needs to be careful to avoid skin contact. But you must rinse very well afterwards in which case there will be no chemical left when you begin to vape again.

If you want something that works, these 2 are the best ways. Otherwise buy a new atomizer (or 2).

 

[QueenInNC]

Actually a fog machine is pretty much what a personal vaporizer is, on a larger scale.

Vinegar, cola and lemon juice work reasonably well if the atomiser is only a little compromised by deposits, especially if dripped in (5 or 6 drops) and the atomiser activated till it fizzes. There is info on how to do this with an automatic without using your mouth elsewhere. Otherwise, use these undiluted (as when drip) and leave a long time to soak, such as overnight.

The only two liquids to work well with more severely compromised atomisers are:
1) high strength (75%) phosphoric acid (ice-machine cleaner)
2) hydrogen peroxide (9%)

By the way, never mix these two or use them at same time!

Yes, these are strong and one needs to be careful to avoid skin contact. But you must rinse very well afterwards in which case there will be no chemical left when you begin to vape again.

If you want something that works, these 2 are the best ways. Otherwise buy a new atomizer (or 2).

I mixed the peroxide with boiling water. How do I heat the atomizer to put the peroxide in. Is there a way of doing that without using my mouth? An average way? lol

 

[kinabaloo]

The easiest thing to do would be disconnect atomiser from battery and put it into the solution for a while, perhaps simmer it (not boil). Not my suggested way, but since you are 1/2 way into it, that's what i would suggest.

BTW, a note for everyone : Never mix chemicals when cleaning.