Lemon Juice And Salt Test

[Sun Vaporer]

Thanks for the explanation Sun and not flaming me for my question.

HMA95--No flaming--we are just trying to say, as we have repeatedly said that this is the experiment section here and we do not what someone thinking that we are advocating these types of chemicals--CLR contains sulfamic acid which is bad news. So please just remember that if you choose to use any chemcials --that you do so at your own risk. All we ask is that everyone use common sense when reading hear and that these are only experiments. People that do not heed to the warinings do so at their own risk.

No less then one would use DRANO to clean their dishes--these chemicals where not indented for the purposes of cleaning and using an atomizer---Thanks for understanding---Sun

 

[kinabaloo]

Wonder - don't know how my comment bit quoted related to what you wrote! but anyway ...

I have thought about a fine sand in water a few times but always stopped from posting it as an idea because, well it would be last-ditch to use an abrasive, and because the grains might get stuck in the metal wicking (but at least harmless). I actually think the diluted toothpaste (non-fluoride of course) is a good idea, if a small pump kept it flowing through the atomizer. After all, toothpaste is a superfine sand.

There was a guy ging to develop such a thing. I suggested a suitable pump, a warmer (small heater) element and that it could be usb powered. Not heard about it since.

 

[hma95]

Sun-- I sincerely meant thank you for not flaming me. Your explanation was very respectful and to the point! I've seen so many other forums where a person is just asking a simple question and they get answers like, what are you stupid, your a troll, go jump off a bridge so you can't reproduce.... crap like that! LOL

I totally understand your concerns also, just like when you use ANY product that isn't intended for other things.

I just don't have a lot of $ to be buying a new atomizer every week or two, so I'm of course very interested in this subject. It's great that so many come together to try and find a solution for this.

Sorry off topic, so I'll get back on topic here! From another thread, most build up can be greatly reduced just by rinsing it off shortly after they tested different juice's. This won't get rid of ALL build up, but sure would help keep the atomizer working longer if maybe a rinse at the end of the day every day would be done. Then once a week use something more forcefull like the ice cleaner solution. Or would rinsing it everyday do more harm than good to the atomizer?

 

[kinabaloo]

hma95 - no harm in rinsing every day. Probably better to soak overnight in say vinegar or lemon juice though; this might help with coil deposit as well as just dried juice elsewhere.

ps : CLR only contains a small amount of sulfamic acid; it's in many cleaners, even denture cleaner. But always rinse out well after any cleaning.

 

[surbitonPete]

Hi all
got around to disecting the atomizer today, as I said before it had soaked in nucalgon for 24-25 hours the coil looked almost exactly like petes picture (a few posts back) the actual wires were visible but around it was some buildup of the black gunk. In answer to all your questions;
1. the atomizer was tried on 2 freshly charged 901 batteries and also my sd battery
2. all contacts were cleaned on both the atomizer and the battery with alcohol and a q-tip
3. the atomizer had been cleaned with a steam cleaner
As I'm typing this, the coil is once again soaking in the nucalgon just to see what happens.
Btw any reports back on how the .... cleaner worked out?
Thanks
Chuck

I forgot to report back about the .... cleaner, I did get some DR Green it's called..it had absolutely no effect on the gunk whatsoever ...I even tried boiling it in it.

 

[kinabaloo]

Pete - how about the electrolysis? Tried upping the voltage?

 

[hma95]

Thanks Kinabaloo for the suggestions! Is that straight vinegar/lemon juice? Or do you add water with it?

 

[surbitonPete]

Pete - how about the electrolysis? Tried upping the voltage?

I can only do 12v max.....kinaba.....I use a car battery hooked up to a charger...the car battery makes sure there is no a/c involved. There were plenty of bubbles coming out of the atomizer ....unfortunately I couldn't see what it did to the coil because it's not a dead one yet....but it didn't improve it's vaping performance in the least.

 

[kinabaloo]

Pete - 12v would be plenty. If the coil is inside the atty, probably little of the current and bubbles would come from coil

Sounds like you gave it a good try-out!

Ok, bring on the toothpaste ...

 

[surbitonPete]

If we can't find anything to 'dissolve' the gunk....the idea of something like a pond pump pumping a liquidized toothpaste around the atty has potential........shot blasting in miniature! ....lol

 

[kinabaloo]

I just wonder how long that would take !

And if any side-effect damage.

Coud use finger and thumb over ends with a little air in there too ans shake ...
Or ultrasonic bath? if that wouldnt mind the toothpaste

 

[perkiekat]

The sh*t works, I can't stress enough! People always seem reluctant to trying it, I don't get it. I guess some people like to dink around and experiment? I just soaked my atomizer overnight with the Nu Colgon.... I am stoking it as I write. It hits like a frieght train! Very clean, e-liquid tastes fresh and delicious! The difference with a clean atomizer is absolutely amazing.
My main atomizer is a month old, still goin' strong! I usually only use my secondary atomizer while the main is soaking.

I LOVE MY PILOT!
.

I just purchased their last bottle. Can't wait to try this out...thanks for sharing!

 

[kinabaloo]

The NuCalgon seems to work well if the atomizer is not too old.

 

[jbbishop]

There is another popcorn kettle cleaning product called "Carbon Off"

Carbon-Off

CARBON-OFF QUICKLY REMOVES BAKED ON GREASE & CARBON, AND IS
SAFE ON ALUMINUM!

Removes Baked on Grease and Carbon from:
Pots, Pans, Grills
Waffle Bakers
Chinese Woks
Deep Fryers
Barbecue Grills
Broilers & Rotisseries
Popcorn Kettles
Stove Parts
Glass
Roasting & Sheet Pans
Brick
All Metal Surfaces

For medium to light carbon build-up, use Carbon-Off™ Aerosol

Do not use on painted surfaces, plastics, acrylics,counter tops, or calphalon non-stick pans.

CARBON-OFF WORKS FAST AND IS FREE RINSING

MSDS

http://www.deverechemical.com/MSDS/Carbon-Off Liquid.pdf

Another unrelated product called carbon off which does not seem to be indicated for use on metal pots used for cooking and which is not safe for aluminum or zinc contains:

A powerful blend of alkalis containing caustic soda and detergents combining to effectively remove baked on carbonized oils, fats and greases.

So it looks like we're getting closer to oven cleaner here.

"A powerful blend of alkalis." Perhaps this is an explanation for why washing soda has been reported to be effective.

 

[kinabaloo]

jbbishop - interesting find.

Alcohols, dichloromethane, aromatic hydrocarbons and ammonium hydroxide.

Nothing too exciting; wonder how similar the popcorn cleaner will be - quite a bit similar i guess.

I think some people have tried ethanol and isopropanol and similar, but not the lighter hydrocarbons such as parafin - for worries over any remaining after cleaning and impuriries.

Exogenesis : ha, ammonium is the hydrogen releaser (we should have thought of that).

"Solutions of ammonium can also dissolve reactive metals such as zinc, with the liberation of hydrogen gas. When ammonium hydroxide is mixed with dilute hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a metal ion, such as Cu2+, the peroxide will undergo rapid decomposition." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonium_hydroxide) How about making use of that second reaction for a gas-release gunk-breakup clean?

 

[kinabaloo]

I think it was Sun who said that one wouldn't keep using the same frying-pan over and over without cleaning it each day; after a week you just wouldn't be able to get the gunk off any more.

So it would be interesting to do an overnight soak everyday, starting with a new stomizer - to see if such a strategy would be effective. Perhaps cycle these 3: citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium bicarbonate.

 

[sbuck]

Question for Sun or anyone that can answer...

Is silicic acid harmful?

I tried a cleaner with one of my atomizers called B-brite. It is used in home brewing to clean and sterilize equipment(hubby home brews beer). The ingredients are: Sodium Percarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, silicic Acid and sodium salt. I mixed vinegar, lemon juice and B-Brite cleaner. It worked quite well.

For my un-scientific experiment, I used the foil lining that is in the bottom of my oven. Several weeks ago, we made ribs and the BBQ sauce dripped all over the bottom onto the foil. We have used our oven SEVERAL times since and it was definitely baked on. Looked just like the gunk in the atomizer. I cut into 1" x 1" squares. Soaked one in cola, one in everclear and one in this solution. The everclear did nothing. The cola worked, but required additional scrubbing. The mixture w/ the b-brite worked wonderfully. All I had to do was very lightly move my finger over the residue and I had a brand new, shiny piece of foil.

Next, I had a torn apart atomizer that I had used continuously for one month, every day. I soaked it in the vinegar, lemon juice and B-brite overnight. The next morning, I rinsed it under hot water and BARELY pinched the exposed coil and all of the stuff crumbled and fell right off. The coil was 100% clean. The only problems would be if 1) This cleaner is harmful and 2) Finding a way to get a little pressure to an assembled atomizer without breaking it. I'm wondering if a pipe cleaner would do the trick, or maybe a water-pick. Like I said, I barely had to put any pressure on the coil to get the black stuff to just fall off entirely.

What are your thoughts guys?

I would have taken pics, but my step-son "borrowed" my camera for a project at college.

P.S. If anyone wants the rest of the gunked up foil sheet to experiment with, I will gladly send it to you...

 

[kinabaloo]

sbuck - "2) Finding a way to get a little pressure to an assembled atomizer without breaking it." Just vaping with it again would probably cause the deposit to flake off - that happens after it has been weakened.

B-brite seems quite harmless. It's main active ingredient, the percarbonate, is an active oxygen cleaner, not unlike hydrogen peroxide.

A nice idea to mix the powder into vinegar and lemon juice rather than water.

 

[jbbishop]

I think the report is very promising. I was considering suggesting it when I was looking into citric acid as used in coffee equipment descalers and looking into keg tap cleaner recommended by another member. Based on your experiment I think we should consider how the combination of elements may have contributed to your results. I probably should use b-brite on my own brewing equipment instead of bleach, although I don't do much brewing anymore and have focused on what I call mini-brewing (1 gallon batches). Would the softened carbon have washed away with a simple water rinse?

Here's a book I wrote if anyone wants to know how to do every kind of professional home wine brewing. It includes instructions on about everything including champagne. My own invention is a home brewed wine cooler that is both carbonated and sweet without resorting to artificial carbonation and without any risk of exploding bottles I just love my hard lemonade and fuzzy navels.

http://rapidshare.com/files/222466914/Professional_Home_Winemaking.doc.html

http://rapidshare.com/files/222477460/Professional_Home_Winemaking.doc.html

http://rapidshare.com/files/222478641/Professional_Home_Winemaking.doc.html

If all of the links get broken and anyone is still interested, PM me.

 

[kinabaloo]

"Would the softened carbon have washed away with a simple water rinse?"

I doubt it as it would just come off while in the cleaner. Seems to be heating (and cooling) of the coil that does the final removal.

ps: wouldn't you rather sell your winemaking book? Is this like a draft for proofreading/feedback. I was into this years ago, and as an avid consumer of the red stuff might go back into it one day.