Gunk

[Cumulo Vapus]

I used a bunch of blacknote juices and that went fine.

Currently using a flavoured 70VG juice…stuck a qtip down the chimney (as you do) and came out with this gunk….I hope Im not inhaling this kind of stuff into my lungs.

 

[Jdurand]

Harm reduction, not harm elimination. You have to remember that fact. Try that same test after smoking just 1 cig through a drinking straw.

The gunk is more sugars and residue from the flavorings. You will also notice the residue is water soluble, unlike the residue you get from cigs. I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you do......You got a decision to make.

 

[wiredlove]

I used a bunch of blacknote juices and that went fine.

Currently using a flavoured 70VG juice…stuck a qtip down the chimney (as you do) and came out with this gunk….I hope Im not inhaling this kind of stuff into my lungs.

View attachment 561059

You should see the gunk I get out after mowing. It's amazing what finds it way down into the mouthpiece and down the chimney - grass, pocket lint, dust, particulate matter of all kinds. That said, perfectly clean you'll still see some dark liquid, especially if your coils and wick are all dirty. Mine is usually maple syrup colored.

 

[BrotherBob]

Gunk becomes a problem when it mutes the taste of the e liquid. Unwanted wick color/discoloration is a good sign post with regards to muting the flavor in the foreseeable future.

It's amazing what finds it way down into the mouthpiece and down the chimney - grass, pocket lint, dust, particulate matter of all kinds.

Make my own drip tips along with a drip tip plug. In a pinch, stuffing a tissue in the tip can keep the drip tip clean.

 

[wiredlove]

Gunk becomes a problem when it mutes the taste of the e liquid. Unwanted wick color/discoloration is a good sign post with regards to muting the flavor in the foreseeable future.

Make my own drip tips along with a drip tip plug. In a pinch, stuffing a tissue in the tip can keep the drip tip clean.

That's not a bad idea, but I'd certainly lose anything that was a plug. I already carry on my person 2 spare 18650s in case, a pre-built second deck for my supreme, watch, wallet, pocket knife, 2 unicorn bottles, large lighter, e-cig, errr... pen... ok, so I might not lose it, but still...

/don't ask me about my bag and the bag in the bag with all the other stuff.

... A pic was easier, plus a phone

 

[wiredlove]

Gunk becomes a problem when it mutes the taste of the e liquid. Unwanted wick color/discoloration is a good sign post with regards to muting the flavor in the foreseeable future.

Make my own drip tips along with a drip tip plug. In a pinch, stuffing a tissue in the tip can keep the drip tip clean.

I need to clarify, towards the end of my personal coil cleaning schedule, the maple syrup gunk shows up in the chimney. It's at that time that I know I need to change things out.

Color description was added so that the OP would know what I've seen (for years) on matter of chimney goo.

That also depends on the tip I'm using... straight tips tend to toss all that back down and I don't see any goo. varying mileage, etc.

Darker stuff like he's seeing looks like dust to me, but I vape the my own diy liquid. The Black Note stuff looks interesting though - and they claim no gunk.

 

[Bonskibon]

Isn't there always condensation in the chimney making it's way up anyways? I use the Q tips all the time when condensation is in my drip tip. Is that even avoidable?

 

[Jdurand]

Isn't there always condensation in the chimney making it's way up anyways? I use the Q tips all the time when condensation is in my drip tip. Is that even avoidable?

Some vapor is going to condense on the inside of any drip tip. It will be worse on a cold metal one, but even a delrin drip tip is going to get some type of liquid and solid residue on it for sure.

 

[Edsai]

I find the chimney in my lemo gets really black but not in my subtank, using the same liquid. May just be something with that particular tank.