it makes no sense to me why I keep seeing people say they soak in vodka.

[Gowanus]

Is there some reason I'm missing to soak anything in vodka? Or is this just to sound cool?

Because when it comes to alcohols, vodka has plenty of impurities and is fairly expensive.

Rubbing alcohol is 3 bucks compared to 20 for vodka, and is a far more efficient cleaning agent.

Someone enlighten me.

 

[rhelton]

What you said makes sense to me. I just assumed it was the alcohol in the vodka they were after.

 

[smacuser]

I suppose you can use rubbing alcohol, though I'm not sure if it's good to vape.

I used to use the cheapest vodka I could find, because it still has the solvency to break down the gunk and erase most flavors.

 

[Gowanus]

at least rubbing alcohol is sterile and pure... you'd be hard pressed to prove that vaporizing vodka is any better for you than vaporizing rubbing alchohol... vodka can contain a variety of impurities in addition to the alcohol. This whole idea of food safe being equal to inhale-able ought to be put to rest. Just because you can drink it, has nothing to do with putting it in your lungs. I can breath clean air, but if you put it in my IV, it will kill me in seconds.

 

[Kevin littell]

would you drink rubbing alcohol????


If not, why would you vape it?

( I'll give you a hint, isopropyl is poisonous vodka is just poison....I use bourbon)

 

[Gowanus]

I wouldn't vape it. Nor do I. But justifying vodka as something you could vape, because you can drink it is so wildly off base. You shouldn't vape vodka either. I wouldn't drink PG. I wouldn't even drink VG. I wouldn't have eaten tobacco. And I wouldn't vape tuna fish.

Part of the misconception here is that what's safe as food has anything to do with it actually being safe to vape.

If you shouldn't vape either thing, then why you use the more expensive, less sterile, not made for cleaning thing to clean? Rubbing alcohol is MADE for cleaning things we put in our body. It evaporates rapidly, ensuring less residue is left on the item you cleaned.

No disrespect intended, but Bourbon is even sillier to use, filled with impurities, some of which are from burning wood, the exact thing you shouldn't be putting in your lungs. And it's more expensive, has an odor, a color, nothing about Bourbon is clean.

 

[440BB]

I have used both, with similar results. I think that vodka is often suggested because it is not as dangerous for inhalation purposes should one not rinse thoroughly. The cost difference is negligible for the small amount of liquid used. As for impurities, a hot water rinse after using either is mandatory as far as I'm concerned, so as long as they give me similar results, vodka is just fine.

 

[VHRB2014]

Cause it sounds so cool!

Nothing but detergent and water here for me. And that`s just the initial clean. After that its a water rinse and away I go.
If there is a flavor that`s not coming out (or I know wont come out), than I rewick it.

Works for me. :?)

 

[smacuser]

A lot of people put PGA in their DiY recipes and it's also contained in flavorings.

I've used rubbing alcohol. I just made sure to rinse it out good. After that, since the coils are bare, I'd put a few drops of juice on the coil to keep the circuitry from oxidizing.

Vodka kind of prevents that.

 

[Kevin littell]

I dont put anything in or on my vape gear thats not food quality.


Rubbing alcohol is poison.


I use bourbon for flavoring reasons.....But then again I dont clean wicks I just replace them.


And I will say it again.....Don't use anything on your gear that's not food quality. Sure, no one would drink VG (Yuck) but I''ll eat a cake made with it. Gleefully.

Inhalation of grain alcohol can burn your lungs....if enough is used in high enough strength....


but were talking about using it as a cleaning agent.

 

[ElConquistador]

I've often recommended vodka as a solvent, but when I was cleaning atomizers, I used cheap rubbing alcohol. I soaked them, then rinsed them very well in water, then let them dry. The reason I recommend vodka is to avoid being lambasted for using isopropyl. I eventually went blind, but I saved a TON of money.

 

[Gowanus]

I'm confident that vodka will in no way keep circuitry from oxidizing. But it can leave impurities that would be burning. If you're not going to rinse with hot water after cleaning with alcohol, it would seem even smarter to use rubbing alcohol since it evaporates so quickly. You can soak a paper towel and it will be dry in a matter of minutes, leaving nothing behind.

This is exactly why I started the thread, because my guess was that cleaning with vodka was a thing due to misconceptions.

 

[smacuser]

I love bourbon; drinking it right now.

Bourbon has been discouraged in the past because it's a dark liquor with more sugar and impurities.

 

[wshanncap]

Rubbing alcohol is Isopropyl alcohol and is toxic when consumed. Vodka, Everclear, etc. are ethyl alcohol, also called "grain" alcohol. They are (for the most part) safe for human consumption (at least in moderation). So when cleaning it may not matter so much. But residue left on the gear that could get vaped is basically being "consumed" in a way. I guess it's one of those better safe than sorry things. Although I have used rubbing alcohol to clean my gear. I just rinse it off good and dry it well with a paper towel.

 

[Gowanus]

and again with the food quality... I wouldn't want a surgeon to clean a scalpel with vodka and then use it on me, even though it's food safe. There's no reason to think that cleaning with rubbing alcohol means vaping it. But to suggest that vaping vodka is just fine because it's food safe seems irresponsible. I just saw in another thread someone suggest capsicum for throat hit... even though it's food safe, vaping that could cause some serious problems. People need to get off this food safe bandwagon and see things for what they are.

 

[Kevin littell]

and again with the food quality... I wouldn't want a surgeon to clean a scalpel with vodka and then use it on me, even though it's food safe. There's no reason to think that cleaning with rubbing alcohol means vaping it. But to suggest that vaping vodka is just fine because it's food safe seems irresponsible. I just saw in another thread someone suggest capsicum for throat hit... even though it's food safe, vaping that could cause some serious problems. People need to get off this food safe bandwagon and see things for what they are.

So your 100% sure that 100% of the rubbing alcohol is out of you wicks when you light them off???


Why not use acetone then?


Or Trichlor?

 

[smacuser]

I'm confident that vodka will in no way keep circuitry from oxidizing.

This is exactly why I started the thread, because my guess was that cleaning with vodka was a thing due to misconceptions.

You might have a point. Vodka might do a better job because if it's impurities, because rubbing alcohol evaporates into bare nothingness, more or less.

It all depends on how much work you're willing to do on a buck-50 coil that'll end up performing at most 75% of that of a new one.

 

[grimstar]

Ok...before any more misconceptions get thrown around...rubbing alcohol is not 'pure', it contains additives that make it unsafe for internal use in any form, grain alcohol from the liquor store, on the other hand, is safe to consume...however, pure grain alchohol is expensive, vodka is usually the cheapest substitute with the fewest impurities (not always the case). Long story short, if you're worried about what goes in your atty, buy some Everclear at the liquor store, a little can go a long way if you're careful with it, cheap, clear, unflavored vodka, is probably the best budget substitute. Rubbing alcohol will work, but it does contain additives that aren't safe to consume, and may leave a residue of those additives behind, but we're all adults here, so you can make your own decisions.

ETA Since this is the internet and I don't expect anyone to believe me, you can check the MSDS for rubbing alcohol, or go here... http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalcomposition/f/What-Are-The-Ingredients-In-Rubbing-Alcohol.htm

Vape on,

Grimstar

 

[Racehorse]

Which is precisely why I use denture cleaner. Used to use vodka. If you are using vodka, Everclear is the purest, and that is the only vodka I used. 95% alcohol (190 proof)

 

[smacuser]

I'm not worried. In fact, I now just rinse with hot water for a few seconds and refill.