Syringe/Pipette cleaning methods

[PhatRon]

What is a good, inexpensive way to clean your syringes/needles and pipettes to make sure everything is safe?

I have a drinking problem and would like to not have any grain alcohol in my possession because I am 5 months sober and don't want to tempt myself.

Would something such as Listerene mouthwash work?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

 

[bcollier9253]

I use isopropyl alcohol 91% CVS brand and then a good hot water rinse. Hopefully someone with more experience than I will approve this. I have read so many conflicting stories on which alcohol to use isopropyl,isopropyl rubbing, ethyl rubing. Chime in everbody!

 

[vaperature]

Pipettes are impossible to clean, you'll never get them to dry out inside. They're disposable.

 

[SheerLuckHolmes]

Vodka!!

Makes cleanup much more fun.

 

[bcollier9253]

He is recovering ( N0 drinkable alcohol)

 

[DetraMental]

I just use very hot water and shake the pipettes out vigorously and they do dry out. This has worked great for me and caused no problems. I've been DIY'ing for approximately a year. Good Luck and Happy vaping!

 

[FACE MEAT]

I use hot tap water. For especially stubborn concentrates, I use distilled vinegar.

 

[Spazzer]

I use hot tap water. For especially stubborn concentrates, I use distilled vinegar.

Exactly what I do. Works well.

 

[Kyle&Ann]

Hey there! I thought I would show you what works for us...please click on the link below. I will try to fix the video link if there is any interest.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/475835-success-cleaning-pipettes-easy-way-do.html#post10871393

Kyle&Ann

 

[MaxPower]

I'm interested in seeing how it works. Got a quick set of directions on how to build one?

 

[Huckleberried]

What is a good, inexpensive way to clean your syringes/needles and pipettes to make sure everything is safe?

I have a drinking problem and would like to not have any grain alcohol in my possession because I am 5 months sober and don't want to tempt myself.

Would something such as Listerene mouthwash work?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

For this very reason, I have been using 91% isopropyl to clean everything else. Hot water rinse and done. I'm gonna stick around to see if there's a better answer myself, so thanks for posting. And congrats on 5 months.

 

[bcollier9253]

I'm interested in seeing how it works. Got a quick set of directions on how to build one?

I as well!

 

[Spazmelda]

I'm interested in seeing how it works. Got a quick set of directions on how to build one?

http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/File/pdfs/american_biology_teacher/2002/064-09-0682.pdf

 

[bcollier9253]

I like a lot ! Sounds like a good rainy Saturday project!

 

[Spazmelda]

I like a lot ! Sounds like a good rainy Saturday project!

I thought about building one, but I don't use long glass or plastic pipettes. Too much of a pain, even with a cleaner. We used to use these in the lab back when researchers were still using reusable pipettes.

I thought about trying to build a tiny one for washing cartomizers, but I don't use those anymore either. Lol.

 

[tonyorion]

Those plastic pipettes are made to use once and throw away. Of course, if you are paying the rip off prices from shops that sell DIY, that can get to be expensive. If you shop around, you can get 100 of them for a few $bucks. (Amazon or Ebay).

By trying to reuse them, you are .......izing the way they were designed to be used. Most of you are using them incorrectly anyway. You only count the volume between the markings, not the whole thing.

DO NOT USE ANY FORM OF DENATURED ALCOHOL! It's called denatured for a reason. Isopropyl alcohol is not the same chemical as the alcohol you drink and is poisonous when ingested; it is not denatured but a different chemical family. Add or subtract a carbon bond, and you can hurt yourself. Confused? You should be, so don't mess with it.

When I did my graduate degree in Chemical Engineering, I will never forget what the professor in Atmospheric Chemistry said about "safe" toxicity levels. His answer was zero. We do not know how a particular chemical will impact humans until we look at the statistics to see the rise in birth defects, particular illnesses, etc. for a geographic area or demographic group exposed to certain chemicals over the long term.

Sorry, the jury is still out on how safe vaping is. We really do not have any long term (like 10 years or more) studies. No question that it safer than smoking. I know tobacco will hurt me, so vaping is the better alternative.

If anything, you are better off using a syringe with a blunt nose tip (for safety reasons, use a Dremel cut off wheel to remove the sharp point). After using them to measure your ingredients, just draw in warm water and squirt out three of four times. Remove the plunger and just blow out any residual water that might be left in the needle. Try to get 16 gauge needles (Tractor Supply) since anything smaller will make drawing VG a pain.

I am going to rant a little at people with zero background in chemistry giving advice on what to put into your lungs. If that sounds arrogant to some of you, too bad!

 

[bcollier9253]

I haven't used glass ones yet but got some on order as well as a pump. I just can't seem to use syringes or disposable pipettes as far as accuracy is concerned. I find that with a syringe I always get different amount in my graduated cylinder, don't know if the amount of fluid in the needle is figured in the total amount, I don't think it is though. I have tried drawing fluid in the barrel past my desired amount and then drawing the fluid out of the needle, expelling to desired amount but I always come up with something different. ??? I was just under the impression that a pipette and pump would give me more consistent results. Mohr Pipette | 10ml capacity
Mohr Glass Pipette | 1ml
25ml Pipette Pump | greater accuracy

 

[bcollier9253]

Those plastic pipettes are made to use once and throw away. Of course, if you are paying the rip off prices from shops that sell DIY, that can get to be expensive. If you shop around, you can get 100 of them for a few $bucks. (Amazon or Ebay).

By trying to reuse them, you are .......izing the way they were designed to be used. Most of you are using them incorrectly anyway. You only count the volume between the markings, not the whole thing.

DO NOT USE ANY FORM OF DENATURED ALCOHOL! It's called denatured for a reason. Isopropyl alcohol is not the same chemical as the alcohol you drink and is poisonous when ingested; it is not denatured but a different chemical family. Add or subtract a carbon bond, and you can hurt yourself. Confused? You should be, so don't mess with it.

When I did my graduate degree in Chemical Engineering, I will never forget what the professor in Atmospheric Chemistry said about "safe" toxicity levels. His answer was zero. We do not know how a particular chemical will impact humans until we look at the statistics to see the rise in birth defects, particular illnesses, etc. for a geographic area or demographic group exposed to certain chemicals over the long term.

Sorry, the jury is still out on how safe vaping is. We really do not have any long term (like 10 years or more) studies. No question that it safer than smoking. I know tobacco will hurt me, so vaping is the better alternative.

If anything, you are better off using a syringe with a blunt nose tip (for safety reasons, use a Dremel cut off wheel to remove the sharp point). After using them to measure your ingredients, just draw in warm water and squirt out three of four times. Remove the plunger and just blow out any residual water that might be left in the needle. Try to get 16 gauge needles (Tractor Supply) since anything smaller will make drawing VG a pain.

I am going to rant a little at people with zero background in chemistry giving advice on what to put into your lungs. If that sounds arrogant to some of you, too bad!

So you are saying don't use isopropyl , isn't that what the doctors use when wiping your skin before giving a shot? Not being a smarta.. just courious

 

[Spazmelda]

Glass or disposable pipettes are definitely more accurate than syringes ideally, but... Here's the thing that stops me from using them. The liquids we use are viscous. They tend to stick to the insides of small diameter things. Pipetting viscous liquids in the lab was always a huge pain. You'd dispense the liquid, then wait for the leftover liquid to run down the inside of the pipettes and collect at the bottom, and then dispense the rest. This also makes it difficult to use the pipettes correctly as tonyorion posted above. Additionally, it makes cleaning a pain. Plastic pipettes are usually less 'sticky' than glass ones, but after they get dirty on the inside (and without proper cleaning they will get dirty no matter how diligently you rinse them out) they can become more sticky. They are also difficult to get dry on the inside. So for me, the potential accuracy of a pipettes is offset by the difficulties in using one properly with viscous liquids and difficulties in cleaning them. YMMV, of course.

The advantage of a syringe is that you can use the plunger to get out all the liquid.

I'm a molecular biologist, so I know how to measure things with accuracy and precision, but I also know that there are times when diligent accuracy and precision are not super important. IMO, making elqiuid does not require so much accuracy and precision. We are not doing complex chemical reactions here, just mixing up solutions. You want your liquid to be reproducible, but your measurements don't have to be super tight for this. They just need to be fairly close and you need to be able to fairly accurately replicate them when you make another batch.

 

[bcollier9253]

Glass or disposable pipettes are definitely more accurate than syringes ideally, but... Here's the thing that stops me from using them. The liquids we use are viscous. They tend to stick to the insides of small diameter things. Pipetting viscous liquids in the lab was always a huge pain. You'd dispense the liquid, then wait for the leftover liquid to run down the inside of the pipettes and collect at the bottom, and then dispense the rest. This also makes it difficult to use the pipettes correctly as tonyorion posted above. Additionally, it makes cleaning a pain. Plastic pipettes are usually less 'sticky' than glass ones, but after they get dirty on the inside (and without proper cleaning they will get dirty no matter how diligently you rinse them out) they can become more sticky. They are also difficult to get dry on the inside. So for me, the potential accuracy of a pipettes is offset by the difficulties in using one properly with viscous liquids and difficulties in cleaning them. YMMV, of course.

The advantage of a syringe is that you can use the plunger to get out all the liquid.

I'm a molecular biologist, so I know how to measure things with accuracy and precision, but I also know that there are times when diligent accuracy and precision are not super important. IMO, making elqiuid does not require so much accuracy and precision. We are not doing complex chemical reactions here, just mixing up solutions. You want your liquid to be reproducible, but your measurements don't have to be super tight for this. They just need to be fairly close and you need to be able to fairly accurately replicate them when you make another batch.

Yeah I seen on your profile that you have lab experience, hence the reason I was picking your brain. I'll just keep on keeping on till I get consistent results. Thanks for your input!!