Crock Pot VS Ultrasonic cleaner Steeping

[cocacola31173]

Right now I have a small crockpot that I keep on low and put my bottles into it. I shake them every 30 minutes for about 2 hours.

My question is a Ultrasonic cleaner any better then this method? I am just trying to justify the cost of getting one.

Thanks!

 

[westhc]

There is a thread where tests were done in May 2014 by several helpful members to evaluate the difference between a UC and a crockpot. mikepetro did up the 3 samples for each tester (there were 5 or 6 testers). One was a control - no cp or uc, one steeped in the crockpot and one in the uc.

Here is the link
http://http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/348635-steeping-times-ultrasonic-cleaner-part-iii.html

It's a long thread but with lots of interesting information.

The result on page 145 of the thread was

Sample A = Crock Pot
Sample B = Ultrasonic

This has been a interesting evaluation.

Results seem to be so close that one could surmise that either method is just as good. A few gave nudge one way or the other, but even those nudges were pretty much split.

 

[Zombo]

Ok so there's :

- Crock Pot
- Ultrasonic Cleaner w/ or w/o Heat
- Microwaving
- Hot Water Bath in Thermos/Cup
- Rock Tumbler
- Magnetic Stir Plate w/ or w/o Heat

Been DiYing for a week, and trying to take all that in is making my head spin lol. Now I don't know what to do. They each seem to have their fans so I guess they all work. I used a Crock Pot for my first batch, but I have nothing to compare it to. I'm now leaning towards a Magnetic Stir Plate because it looks sciencey.

 

[Boletus]

Ok so there's :

- Crock Pot
- Ultrasonic Cleaner w/ or w/o Heat
- Microwaving
- Hot Water Bath in Thermos/Cup
- Rock Tumbler
- Magnetic Stir Plate w/ or w/o Heat

Been DiYing for a week, and trying to take all that in is making my head spin lol. Now I don't know what to do. They each seem to have their fans so I guess they all work. I used a Crock Pot for my first batch, but I have nothing to compare it to. I'm now leaning towards a Magnetic Stir Plate because it looks sciencey.

If you dig into this DIY forum long enough, you will also read about putting juice in the hubcaps of an old pickup truck and driving down a bumpy road on a hot day, and convincing a busty, athletic amazon go jogging with a bottle of ejuice in each cup of her sports bra (no, I did not make any of that up). All manner of household appliances and powered hand tools have been used, some with interesting attachments, such as a drinking straw with slits up the side that opens into a propeller shape when rotated rapidly.

IMO, that is the fun part, playing around and seeing what works. But for someone just starting out that wants the best chance of satisfaction from their first batch, I would suggest reading Dannyv45's steeping blog.

 

[defdock]

rock tumblr. or a good ole hand shake

i dont trust anything with heat - as heat degrades nicotine.

 

[Mrdaputer]

Right now I have a small crockpot that I keep on low and put my bottles into it. I shake them every 30 minutes for about 2 hours.

My question is a Ultrasonic cleaner any better then this method? I am just trying to justify the cost of getting one.

Thanks!

I think it is more important what you make rather than how you try to steep it. Work on getting a great flavor from the start and steeping may or may not be needed. Some juices I make are shake and vape another can be put in a soup thermos for a few hours being shook once a hour. Like what was said before doing it your way is half the fun as long as your safe.

 

[Kamsleo]

A test I did w my UC was by acdedent. I went to bed and forgot to turn it off. With the lid cracked and a fan on low I kept the heat down. Six hours later the color (nic strength ) and flavor was outstanding. Now it's my S.O.P.

 

[dannyv45]

Right now I have a small crockpot that I keep on low and put my bottles into it. I shake them every 30 minutes for about 2 hours.

My question is a Ultrasonic cleaner any better then this method? I am just trying to justify the cost of getting one.

Thanks!

If you already have a crock pot and it's working for you then I don't see the need for investing in something else. I was one of the participants in that testing mentioned in the second post. The results were near the same for both a crock pot and UC. My results and reviews are here.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ng-times-ultrasonic-cleaner-part-iii-133.html post 1324

and

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...asonic-cleaner-part-iii-134.html#post13224446 post 1333

If you use a crock pot shake the mix every hour or so until done. No need to do it every 30 minutes.

A guide on steep times would be as follows.

fruits - no steeping to 1 hour
Deserts, creams and custards 2 - 4 hours
Tobaccos 4 - 5 hours

Read my blog on steeping it will clear up some of the confusion for you.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...you-wanted-know-about-steeping-then-some.html

 

[Exchaner]

I read somewhere that any temp above 95 degrees may be hazardous. Just to be safe, I have started steeping my juices at no more than 95 degrees and compensate by increasing my steeping time to 6 hours. You can control the temp inside using a simple dimmer like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300...e=UTF8&qid=14....4771&sr=1-22&keywords=lutron

It is rated at 300 Watt Max. Therefore your crockpot should not be rated any higher. I got a small one at Target rated at 150 watts. It is very energy efficient and I am quite happy with the results. The whole setup cost me $25.

Alternatively, I use a high efficiency vacuum insulated food jar from Thermos or Stanley, and they both do the job.

 

[dannyv45]

I read somewhere that any temp above 95 degrees may be hazardous. Just to be safe, I have started steeping my juices at no more than 95 degrees and compensate by increasing my steeping time to 6 hours. You can control the temp inside using a simple dimmer like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300...e=UTF8&qid=14....4771&sr=1-22&keywords=lutron

It is rated at 300 Watt Max. Therefore your crockpot should not be rated any higher. I got a small one at Target rated at 150 watts. It is very energy efficient and I am quite happy with the results. The whole setup cost me $25.

Alternatively, I use a high efficiency vacuum insulated food jar from Thermos or Stanley, and they both do the job.

I have not herd that steeping above 95F may be hazardous can you provide where you saw that. I find that 150F is perfect and have been steeping at that temp for over a year with no issues. I would really like to see some information on this. I did some googeling on that and found nothing.

 

[Exchaner]

I have not herd that steeping above 95F may be hazardous can you provide where you saw that. I find that 150F is perfect and have been steeping at that temp for over a year with no issues. I would really like to see some information on this. I did some googeling on that and found nothing.

This might have been one of the threads where the OP brought up the subject. He didn't mention a reference - but he did post a video involving Dr. Faraciano's research. I believe it involved heat and ultrasonic waves and the findings were far from conclusive.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ms-have-accelerated-aging-my-diy-juice-2.html

 

[zoiDman]

Right now I have a small crockpot that I keep on low and put my bottles into it. I shake them every 30 minutes for about 2 hours.

My question is a Ultrasonic cleaner any better then this method? I am just trying to justify the cost of getting one.

Thanks!

One thing you might try.

Next time you Mix a Batch of you favorite Recipe is to pour 15 or 20ml off into a Separate Bottle. The place that Bottle in a Cool, Dark Place for 4 or 5 Days undisturbed.

Then after you have done your Crockpotting, Untrasonicing, Rock Tumbling, Ceiling Fan Spinning, .... whatever, compared the e-Liquid that just sat to the ones that got all the Iterations.

It might Surprise you.

 

[dannyv45]

This might have been one of the threads where the OP brought up the subject. He didn't mention a reference - but he did post a video involving Dr. Faraciano's research. I believe it involved heat and ultrasonic waves and the findings were far from conclusive.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ms-have-accelerated-aging-my-diy-juice-2.html

Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos discussion was on the effect of vapor when vaporized in an atomizer during the actual vaping process and not heat produced via steeping. These results were inconclusive and preliminary and the harmful biproducts produced were found to be much fewer and far lower in concentration when compared to cigarette smoke.

The actual discussion of the thread was not the effect of heat when steeping but the effect of wave frequency being harmful when steeping in an ultrasonic cleaner. It was debated that the wave frequency was changing the actual molecular composition of the mix and this unknow result may be an issue. The comments were speculitive and no hard facts or evidence were given to this conclusion.

 

[dannyv45]

One thing you might try.

Next time you Mix a Batch of you favorite Recipe is to pour 15 or 20ml off into a Separate Bottle. The place that Bottle in a Cool, Dark Place for 4 or 5 Days undisturbed.

Then after you have done your Crockpotting, Untrasonicing, Rock Tumbling, Ceiling Fan Spinning, .... whatever, compared the e-Liquid that just sat to the ones that got all the Iterations.

It might Surprise you.

There actually was a blind taste test done on that very suggestion and the results were rather interesting. See post 8 in this thread. I was a participant in that test and have repeated it several times since.

 

[westhc]

My uc is on its last legs.
I have started a batch of soup in the crockpot.
Wonder if I can add bottles to the soup to steep while it cooks.

 

[Boletus]

My uc is on its last legs.
I have started a batch of soup in the crockpot.
Wonder if I can add bottles to the soup to steep while it cooks.

I would not. The soup will want to be boiling, or close to it, and that temp is pretty high for steeping. Also, you run the risk of getting nic in your soup and/or soup in your juice. The amount of energy saved is not that much dollar-wise.

 

[dannyv45]

My uc is on its last legs.
I have started a batch of soup in the crockpot.
Wonder if I can add bottles to the soup to steep while it cooks.

If you have the CP on low (150F) and If the bottles don't leak and are glass I don't see why not. Just make sure the outside of the bottles are very clean. But I think Boletus may be more right then I am in this case. Why take chances of contaminating the soup.

 

[zoiDman]

If you have the CP on low (150F) and If the bottles don't leak and are glass I don't see why not. Just make sure the outside of the bottles are very clean. But I think Boletus may be more right then I am in this case. Why take chances of contaminating the soup.

To Hell with the Soup.

I Don't want the Poly Caps on my e-Liquid bottles smelling like Crème of Mushroom Soup!

 

[dannyv45]

Anyone ever vape mushroom soup!, earthy but not much throat hit..... Umm

 

[twgbonehead]

If you dig into this DIY forum long enough, you will also read about putting juice in the hubcaps of an old pickup truck and driving down a bumpy road on a hot day, and convincing a busty, athletic amazon go jogging with a bottle of ejuice in each cup of her sports bra (no, I did not make any of that up). All manner of household appliances and powered hand tools have been used, some with interesting attachments, such as a drinking straw with slits up the side that opens into a propeller shape when rotated rapidly.

IMO, that is the fun part, playing around and seeing what works. But for someone just starting out that wants the best chance of satisfaction from their first batch, I would suggest reading Dannyv45's steeping blog.

You left out the, er, "Woman's bedroom power-tool". (Dang, should have bookmarked that post!)