So the tank is etched , now what

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

Would you re use it?

Once its etched its not as if it will get worse, and if not longer using the juice that etched it your not vaping plastic. Though im not entirelly sure you would be even if using the "offending juice"

i'd like some viewpoints on this. Yes, i know most clearo's tanks etc are cheap and its not worth the risk etc... im just looking for some discussion, because i cant be the only one that gave a second thought to reusing an etched tank.

Btw the omg super tasty juice was gumby blood. Excellent stuff, just apparently strong.

 

[MikenGA]

One of my Vivi Novas is etched, but I don't remember which ejuice did the deed. It works though, so I use it.

OTOH, my Stardust Clearos do NOT like my DIY Cola or Cinnamon. When the clearo tank begins to etch, I know it's already too late for the plastic drip-tip; it's already melting, so I vape it and toss the whole thing.

I need a glass clearo tank...or even a glass Vivi Nova. Is there such a thing?

 

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

not that i have found, i would sell my soul for a glass or metal clearo. Something like the vision/stardust types.
tanks do have a purpose, just not something i want to get into. If vaping becomes a hassle for me i just wont do it anymore. I mostly use kanger t3's and stardusts/ visions they're easy and dont leak.
but heres a shot of the vision that got eaten. the top 3/4 of the plastic got all smokey. It does work, just hard to tell if its full or not.

 

[Buggs5347]

There are metal vivi Nova replacement tanks. let me see if I can find them..... I know there are some with a view window, that wouldn't do because the view window is plastic, but there are all metal ones around....be back when I find them.

Here you go

This one is for the full size vivi nova Vivi Nova Replacement Metal Tank

The next two links have the mini vivi nova metal tanks

http://www.healthcabin.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8136

scroll down on this one to find the metal tanks http://www.gotvapes.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=151_189

There are a lot of glass tanks for carto/tanks and many RBA type glass or stainless steel tanks.

 

[Ryedan]

Good question J.R. Bob Dobbs! I am not a chemical engineer, so these are my opinions only. FWIW, I do have experience in plastic molding, but more from the tooling and process ends rather than the chemical side.

First, is there is actually etching happening or is the plastic simply becoming opaque? Second, do we actually 'vape plastic' when this occurs? Third, is this plastic safe to use, or to use with a different juice?

I have seen plastic change (degrade) when a petrochemical substance like a grease was applied to it. The surface finish in the situations I've seen did not change, however these were not clear plastics to start with. These changes caused various physical properties to change. Typically in my cases this involved physically stressed (think screwed down) parts cracking/breaking over time, sometimes in a matter of days. I assume the changes were not just on the surface or cracking would probably not have happened.

You can also make clear plastics non-clear by bending them. I don't think this enters into this discussion.

So first, is it etching or simply becoming opaque? I don't know. I suspect simply becoming opaque, but either way I believe it is caused by a chemical reaction which is likely not on the surface only.

Second, is something released when this happens? I don't know, but I think this may be the case.

Third, is this degraded plastic safe in general and is it safe with a different juice? I don't know. My opinion is that once the plastic has degraded, I don't know anything about its physical or chemical properties and all bets are off.

 

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

thanks for the inks buggs, the other side of why i don't want tanks is they are just too big for my taste.

If they had something pyrex or metal(with the ability to see the liquid inside so you know when its getting empty) in like 1.6 ml that would be perfect.

@mike, those questions are why i created this thread

 

[Ryedan]

Buggs, I have been using a metal sleeve on my VN with my DIY cinnamon juice for the last few weeks and it's been great. I have a metal drip tip on it too. Ya, the windowed ones use plastic ... so it's just for the cool factor. Why bother? Hmm, may be a business idea here?!!?

 

[Buggs5347]

thanks for the inks buggs, the other side of why i don't want tanks is they are just too big for my taste.

If they had something pyrex or metal(with the ability to see the liquid inside so you know when its getting empty) in like 1.6 ml that would be perfect.

@mike, those questions are why i created this thread

It's pretty easy to use an XL stainless steel cartomizer. You really aren't flying so blind with those because you can sense when you are getting low and can easily pop off the drip tip to top it off. An XL will hold about 1.6 mL

There are no combo metal tanks with anything other than plastic view slots on them. The links I have above are totally metal replacement tanks for the vivi nova and mini vivi nova clearos. The mini vivi nova's are roughly the same size as a stardust, just not shaped the same.

 

[Ryedan]

@mike, those questions are why i created this thread

Yup, if there's a chemical engineer out here who knows plastics I would also love to have concrete answers!

 

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

right, but arent those carto tanks? Do i have to use a punched carto with them? or is it a combo like the vision/ stardust types?

wait nvm i got it i need to buy the unit then replace the tube...derp!

 

[Ryedan]

It's pretty easy to use an XL stainless steel cartomizer. You really aren't flying so blind with those because you can sense when you are getting low and can easily pop off the drip tip to top it off. An XL will hold about 1.6 mL

There are no combo metal tanks with anything other than plastic view slots on them. The links I have above are totally metal replacement tanks for the vivi nova and mini vivi nova clearos. The mini vivi nova's are roughly the same size as a stardust, just not shaped the same.

I find I can tell when the full sized VN I use with a metal sleeve is getting low. I was worried about that before I tried it. I've only been using it for a few weeks now, but it's turned out to be pretty easy. I would think the mini would be about the same.

 

[Heavyrocker]

There are metal vivi Nova replacement tanks. let me see if I can find them..... I know there are some with a view window, that wouldn't do because the view window is plastic, but there are all metal ones around....be back when I find them.

Here you go

This one is for the full size vivi nova Vivi Nova Replacement Metal Tank

The next two links have the mini vivi nova metal tanks

2.5ml Metal Tube for Mini Vivi Nova Tank Clearomizer [D-A7 Vivi nova Metal tube] - $1.50 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail

scroll down on this one to find the metal tanks GotVapes Vision Mini Vivi Nova™ : GotVapes.com, E-cigarette Supplies - Atomizers Cartomizers Mods Juice and more

There are a lot of glass tanks for carto/tanks and many RBA type glass or stainless steel tanks.

Metal with plastic inside,i have one.

 

[Buggs5347]

I find I can tell when the full sized VN I use with a metal sleeve is getting low. I was worried about that before I tried it. I've only been using it for a few weeks now, but it's turned out to be pretty easy. I would think the mini would be about the same.

Yeah, I would think you would get used to sensing it, just like you do with cartos and such.

 

[The Ocelot]

I'm not a chemical engineer, but I can pretend to be a rocket surgeon...

(Background - feel free to skip) I love cinnamon based e-liquid, but no one mentioned to me that it would melt polycarbonate and acrylic; I found out the hard way. The first thing that melted was the drip tip on a clearo. I got a stainless steel tip, but I also got a vivi mini nova in the same order, so I didn't use the clearo. After about 3-4 weeks, I noticed that the threads on the top of the nova tube were melting. It wasn't until I took a picture, so I could post and ask a question about it, that I really saw how damaged the tube was:



A very kind ECF member walked me through how to put together a glass carto tank, but since I was waiting for it to come in the mail and had nothing else, I decided to keep using the nova - I couldn't break it more, right? That only lasted a couple of hours. Nothing bad happened, it just occurred to me that what the plastic was breaking down to (insert correct technical term), might not be the best thing to inhale. I got a little nervous. I switched to clearos and less aggressive juices waiting for my tank to arrive.

I thought I was home free with glass, until about a week later, when the pretty acrylic caps turned to mush:


(L-new/R-mush)

I ultimately ended up using glass tanks with stainless steel caps, polypropylene tanks with silicone grommets, and stainless steel or glass drip tips. Sorry to be long winded, but I love typing about myself...

I'm not terribly picky about "safety." My cat walks on the counter and I'll share an ice cream cone with my dog, but the etching of the plastic concerns me. Think about beach and ammonia. Each are fine by themselves, but when they mix you have a problem. Polycarbonate and acrylic are fine, cinnamon is fine, but what is released when they mix together and melt? Just my

ETA: I should clarify that it was the same juice that damaged the gear, but the results were different. On the nova, the threads around where the top cap screwed on started coming off, like fine hairs. I guess I should have written "degraded" rather the "melted." When the juice was removed and the nova sat for a few days, it was very stiff and would probably crack if squeezed. The acrylic caps, on the other hand, really did melt. They got soft and sticky, and remained sticky even after being rinsed under the sink.

 

[Ryedan]

Great points Ocelot! Especially about the really bad bleach and ammonia mix. I think the best thing that could happen here is if we have a chemist in the house who would be willing to share her/his knowledge about plastics and our vaping compounds. Until that happens I can only hope we all err on the side of caution and toss anything that might be a health hazard.

 

[Heavyrocker]

This very interesting scary at the same time.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...degradation-plastic-components-atomizers.html

 

[zapped]

Not even a concern anymore if you dont mind paying a few bucks more for pyrex.

 

[SissySpike]

Glass or SS is the way to go.

 

[Ryedan]

Yup, we know glass and metal are good. But can anyone answer the questions above about what is actually happening to the plastic parts and is it safe to continue using them with another juice or the offending one?

 

[Unforeseen]

Moved to Assorted PV Topics - Tanks