RDA Rda cleaning

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CasketWeaver

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I usually take a q-tip to it. If the q-tip comes back darker than it went it, it gets an alcohol rub down after removing the O-rings. If it comes back covered in metal shavings, it gets the air blasted treatment with an alcohol rub down. If it comes with both oil / grease and metal shavings - depends on the mood at that point and the level of garbage I find on it.
 

sonicbomb

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Always clean new RDAs or RTAs, always. There will be at the very least residual machine oil which is used as a coolant in the machine shop where it is made. It is also very likely there will also be some metal particles left over from the same machining process. Machine oil is toxic and tastes vile, metal particulates, well thats obvious.
Strip the new device down including the o-rings and soak it in hot water and dish soap. Then scrub it with an old toothbrush and then rinse with clean water. After washing and drying, give it a sniff, the smell of machine oil is pretty obvious. You may need to repeat this process several times. One RDA I had needed washing five times before I was happy that it was safe to vape.
Some people use isopropyl alcohol, some people use ultrasonic cleaners.
 
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musicman21

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@sonicbomb @Ou2mame @Deap @roxynoodle I think I've gotten the dirtiest atomizer yet. It's a high grade rta and I've cleaned it over a weeks time now. Gave it dawn, isopropyl alcohol, and white vinegar cleanings. Have left it in each of these overnight. Have boiled it even for over 10 minutes over 3 times to the point where the base started to gather brown spots that I could gradually polish off with white vinegar with super hard scrubbing with a toothbrush. The base is finally clean after all of these attempts, but now the chimney still has that machine oil taste, and I refuse to use it until it smells completely clean. Any thoughts on how to clean this thing perfectly? I have a feeling that it's just so dirty within and I really have to get up in there with something, but I don't know what.
 

anavidfan

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@sonicbomb @Ou2mame @Deap @roxynoodle I think I've gotten the dirtiest atomizer yet. It's a high grade rta and I've cleaned it over a weeks time now. Gave it dawn, isopropyl alcohol, and white vinegar cleanings. Have left it in each of these overnight. Have boiled it even for over 10 minutes over 3 times to the point where the base started to gather brown spots that I could gradually polish off with white vinegar with super hard scrubbing with a toothbrush. The base is finally clean after all of these attempts, but now the chimney still has that machine oil taste, and I refuse to use it until it smells completely clean. Any thoughts on how to clean this thing perfectly? I have a feeling that it's just so dirty within and I really have to get up in there with something, but I don't know what.

A round of cleaning and then a soak in baking soda? It is known to absorb smells, and clean really well?

Had that problem with a genuine KFL. Just tasted horrible.... Took a month to finally get taste out. The smell of machine oil etc went away fast, but the taste. I have a feeling the oil was in all the AFC holes, and all the crevices that were hard to get into with a brush.
 

musicman21

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I had a k4 clone that had black tar like crud everywhere. I completely dismantled it (yes, all 41 parts) and boiled it in distilled water with some white vinegar for about 25 minutes.
my god. to pay so highly for something, then have to go through all the pain of cleaning it is such a burden in my opinion. Haven't even had the pleasure of vaping on it yet. Have much better things to do than cleaning out something I payed over 175 dollars for. Ridiculous.
 
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musicman21

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I've been using an ultrasonic cleaner with warm water, dish soap, & a big splash of isopropyl alcohol. It seems to work quickly & easily.
Just went to my b and m shop tonight and saw that they had an ultrasonic cleaner. Very excited. Will let everything sit in isopropyl one more night, then will see if they are ok with me slapping some dawn and alcohol in their device for tomorrow for some heavy duty cleaning. This stops here. Thanks for advice.
 
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musicman21

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Just went to my b and m shop tonight and saw that they had an ultrasonic cleaner. Very excited. Will let everything sit in isopropyl one more night, then will see if they are ok with me slapping some dawn and alcohol in their device for tomorrow for some heavy duty cleaning. This stops here. Thanks for advice.
I clean mine with grain alcohol and then wash it off and blast it with some air and its ready to go.
Thanks for the advice. I was able to get in there good with a piece of it tonight and it did help with the horrible smell somewhat.
 
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KentA

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my god. to pay so highly for something, then have to go through all the pain of cleaning it is such a burden in my opinion. Haven't even had the pleasure of vaping on it yet. Have much better things to do than cleaning out something I payed over 175 dollars for. Ridiculous.
That would upset me too. It's a failure in quality + customer service.
 

disallowedword

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We always used acetone to remove mill scale from steel materials, the next step down is lacquer thinner.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use lacquer thinner on the steel parts only, let it evaporate. then clean it up with dish soap in hot water.
I would suspect the coolant in those Chinese shops is well utilized (Nasty).
 
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