Steam cleaning...any thoughts ?

[scalewiz]

A while back I saw a few comments in one of the forum threads where people were talking about steam cleaning their atomizers. I picked up a steam cleaner at Walgreens, looks like a little teapot/pitcher. I have been using this to clean my atomizers, with impressive success. Every couple of days, I take my used atomizers, and run about 15 seconds worth of steam through them. It seems to do an excellent job, even getting rid of old flavors. My eGo-T attys, upon close inspection, still have a white wick in the middle, even though it gets gunked up; I used lots of dark fluids.

Has anybody else tried this? How has it worked for you, and would you recommend it. So far, I can't see any problems or bad effects. It sure is a lot easier and cleaner with this method; no alcohol baths, etc. They dry very swiftly as it seems as I can use them almost right away. Also, I'm not losing atomizers so it doesn't seem to be tearing them up.

If no negatives, someone may want to try this too.

 

[ancient puffer]

I've seen that too. It seems to me its not worse for them than boiling, and probably better since its much quicker. Gah, guess I need to head to walmart tomorrow and get one of those

 

[mgmrick]

A while back I saw a few comments in one of the forum threads where people were talking about steam cleaning their atomizers. I picked up a steam cleaner at Walgreens, looks like a little teapot/pitcher. I have been using this to clean my atomizers, with impressive success. Every couple of days, I take my used atomizers, and run about 15 seconds worth of steam through them. It seems to do an excellent job, even getting rid of old flavors. My eGo-T attys, upon close inspection, still have a white wick in the middle, even though it gets gunked up; I used lots of dark fluids.

Has anybody else tried this? How has it worked for you, and would you recommend it. So far, I can't see any problems or bad effects. It sure is a lot easier and cleaner with this method; no alcohol baths, etc. They dry very swiftly as it seems as I can use them almost right away. Also, I'm not losing atomizers so it doesn't seem to be tearing them up.

If no negatives, someone may want to try this too.

I was looking on walmarts site. What kind are you using and how are you cleaning?

Thanks

 

[scalewiz]

I got it at Walgreens drug store. The box says Living Solutions Steam Cleaner. It looks like a teapot, and a hose attaches. It has various attachments. I take the cone-shaped pointy thingy, stick it down in the cartridge end, and let it rip. It blasts the old fluid and gunk out the holes on the battery end. I kinda wiggle it around good and steam it for 10 to 15 seconds. It gets warm, but the thin metal cools down quickly. I then suck on it two or three good times to help it dry and then put it away. If I want, I just want another minute and then start using it right away. They need a good priming though, because all the fluid has been washed out.

 

[berger]

I know someone who's been doing that for over a year with no adverse effects.

 

[scalewiz]

Forgot to mention, it was only twenty-some bucks, so it even is a good price. Use it for other stuff around the house, too.

 

[mgmrick]

Thanks....dont see any for 20 bucks. Will have to looksome more. this does not mess up the wick on the attys?

 

[scalewiz]

Yeah, I looked on Walgreens site, but it's not there. I think I might have just got lucky, and found one left over. It's similar to the Shark, or some other brands. I noticed on ebay they have one for 29.99. I'm confident that there are several knockoff brands. Might leave some room for the creative side of folks; just be careful because steam under pressure BURNS!

 

[mgmrick]

Picked up a steam cleaner today from walgreens. Steamed cleaned a dirty ego-t atty with out removing the needle plate. Put it right into service. Works great. Tried another but removed the needle plate...popped the coil as the wick was gummed up on it...oh well

 

[texasgranny]

Hmmmm, gotta give this a try on the cartomizers.
Logically it should work.

 

[mgmrick]

Ok..I am impressed. With anything they decrease over time so you really dont know how bad they have become. What I notice after hitting it with a few shots of hot steam. Big time flavor....I can taste my juice again. I bet I am going to need to do this every other day but it only takes a minute

I bought mine at walgreens for 29.99. Not listed on their website

http://www.sylvaniaproducts.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=16

Unless this proves to be bad for my attys....nothing has cleaned them as well as.... 30 seconds with this unit and no drying time needed

 

[kabonk]

I use the steam arm on my Rancilio esspresso machine to clean my attys, hold it with a pair of needle nose and give it a couple of blasts it doesn't get rid of strong flavors but it cleans out the gunk pretty quick

 

[mgmrick]

With out removing the needle plate not sure how it is cleaning the coils. My attys were vaping good they just lost their flavor. I removed the needle plate on one of my attys to clean it better but the coiled was gunked up and burned to the coil when I removed it the coil wire must have broke...bummer.

So I left needle plate in another atty and cleaned it that way. What I can see is it cleaned the wick up nice. Now tons of flavor again.

 

[francis_a]

Ok..I am impressed. With anything they decrease over time so you really dont know how bad they have become. What I notice after hitting it with a few shots of hot steam. Big time flavor....I can taste my juice again. I bet I am going to need to do this every other day but it only takes a minute

I bought mine at walgreens for 29.99. Not listed on their website

SYLVANIA - ITEM DETAIL

Unless this proves to be bad for my attys....nothing has cleaned them as well as.... 30 seconds with this unit and no drying time needed

Did you have to special order the steamer? Coz I didn't find one at my local Walgreens.

I tested the concept on our clothes steamer, just used the cone thingy from the syringe I got from Wally World and I must say it works. The stream wasn't as concentrated as it should be but it still brought back the flavor. I also did the dry burn method that Scottbee outlined in one of his posts. Now my atties work as, or even better than, new.

 

[mgmrick]

I did not see it listed on their website but it was on the shelf here in cny just got it today

I see this one listed on walmart's web site

http://www.walmart.com/ip/SteamFast-Handheld-Kitchen-and-Bath-Steam-Cleaner/8592430

 

[francis_a]

Thanks. Will try other Walgreens and Walmart. I'm even tempted to just get the Shark from Home Depot.

 

[wadlewadle]

i boil my cartoz and then just toss them em the dryer (wrapped in socks) for bout and hour or so on high heat untill dry, never had and problems

 

[tonyorion]

I use the steam from my espresso machine. OK, one has to be adicted to coffee to spend that much money on an fully automatic espresso machine (grinds each portion,etc), but I tell myself that with all the money I save by not smoking, I can suddenly afford a lot of things: new keyboard, a Breedlove guitar, etc. etc.

One caveat when using an espresso machine steamer: mine really blows out the steam at high pressure and that jet can damage the coil in an atty. I can throttle mine back and use the lowest setting possible.

As an insurance policy against a potential ban, I tackled rebuilding my attys. Those little coils are flimsy, so it does not take much physical force to damage them.

In any event, from the ones that I have taken apart, they all seem to have gunk build up which will cause overheating and failure. It's the same as the baked on crud in your pots and pans and just as hard to get off. At less than $5 for a Joye atty, it's just not worth the effort.

Only strong oxidizers like oven cleaners will get that stuff off. I am not so sure I want to spray oven cleaner inside of my atty.

People swear by using various alcholols, vinegar, and Lord knows what else to clean their attys.

I really doubt that chemically that stuff works. You can soak your pots and pans for days using many of the methods mentioned in the threads to clean attys and they just won't work in removing baked on foods.

I soak mine in a mild oxidizer like denture cleaner, steam them, and they do a very controlled dry burn.

 

[res1492]

lol...i use the milk frother on the coffee machine to clean my attys..steams them a real treat....plus i can make a cup of coffee at the same time

 

[bluemark]

I picked up a steamer from Amazon. I must say this method works great. I cleaned out some spare atties that had already been cleaned with Everclear and could smell old flavors coming out as I steamed them. It left the wicks nice and white and flavor is much better. Fifths of Everclear get pricey and this was a one time expense so it will be more economical too.
This place is great!