Tank carto cleaning?

[Ratchet]

Hi guys.... I'm having issues with my tank cartomizers. I am using 3.0 single coil from Volcano and also have 2.8's from Myfreedomsmokes and 1.5's from Elxirliquids. I am finding that I can only use a tank carto for about 4-5 days, then the draw becomes way too tight, and I can no longer see any light through the air tube in the middle, so it cloggs up pretty quickly. This is with various juices. I have 50/50's and also 70/30's, either way, my tank carto clogs too quickly. I've tried boiling them but that's not working too good, either. I end up pitching them after just a few days since I don't know how else to clean them. I stuck a needle in the air tube once but ended up destroying the carto, zero air was going through afterwards. Any suggestions on how I can prolong the life of my tank carto? I'm using a Phiniac tank, which shouldn't make a difference, I had the same problems with the Volcano Tube tank I was using before...... HELP! I'm wasting too many tank cartos...........

 

[Ratchet]

Has anyone tried to flush tank cartos with Hydrogen Peroxide 3%? I know it's not meant to be inhaled but I'm wondering if I flush it with water really well afterwards, blow it out, then let it dry in the oven at 125-150 degrees for an hour or two, do you guys think that's a decent idea? I figure Peroxide may clean off some of the gunk that's clogging the air tube. Suggestions/opinions?

 

[DaveP]

I don't clean cartos. On an eGo, they last me several days. On my Provari at 4.2v, they last 2 maybe 3. I'm addicted to the new carto clean taste.

The best way I've seen to clean cartos (and I haven't tried it), is to use a turkey baster with a surgical rubber adapter tube on the end that you can stick the carto into. Put hot water in the bulb and flush it slowly through the open end of the carto. Refill as necessary. Stick a rolled up paper towel in the mouthpiece end, contacting the filler to wick moisture into the air and let it dry in an open area until vapable. You'll have to experiment to determine how long they take to dry.

The turkey baster method looks good to me. If you try it, let us know how it works. I just toss and grab a new one, but I'd be open to cleaning if it restored them to new. What makes me shy away from cleaning is the burned fiber and juice that eventually occurs around the coil. Use one for a few days until it isn't good anymore and use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull out the filler. Unroll it and examine it and you may agree with me that they aren't worth cleaning. If the plastic tube is scorched brown and you have scorching around the coil, it's not worth cleaning, IMO.

If you use them one day and start a new one, you might avoid the burned juice scorching that occurs with several days use. You could clean a weeks worth in a few minutes, let them dry for a week and reycle.

 

[DaveP]

Has anyone tried to flush tank cartos with Hydrogen Peroxide 3%? I know it's not meant to be inhaled but I'm wondering if I flush it with water really well afterwards, blow it out, then let it dry in the oven at 125-150 degrees for an hour or two, do you guys think that's a decent idea? I figure Peroxide may clean off some of the gunk that's clogging the air tube. Suggestions/opinions?

I wouldn't use anything other than water and alcohol. The alcohol and water will evaporate in time.

 

[Ratchet]

Hmmm, what I was thinking is that Peroxide exposed to air & light will end up being nothing but Saline (salt water)... So, technically, if I flush with peroxide and then with water, by the time it dries, all traces of peroxide should be gone.... I might just try it and see how it does.... I'm curious.., LOL!

 

[Vchick]

I take a larger straightened paperclip and gently twist up into the carto from the battery end to loosen any debris,
then use a large syringe (I believe luer lock ~ it has the end that a tip twists onto)
and then attach a pen/pencil grip

I first fill the syringe with boiling hot water, attach the grip and carto and push that through the mouth end to flush out the juice and discard jthe water.

I then draw and flush out several times, removing the carto with grip attached and blow through this a few times. Suprisingly I've been able to refill and reuse straight away.

Hope this helps ;

images aren't showing, might be able to see in my album; http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/members/vchick-albums-syringe-tank.html

 

[Ratchet]

Well, I jumping in and tried it. Got them in a hot peroxide bath now. See some bubbles coming out, I'm hoping this works, I really don't want to throw the cartos out every 3-4 days, even though I do like the "fresh, clean carto" taste, too.....

Well, didn't work..... Carto is still clogged even after soaking for an hour, then rigorous flushing.... It's in the trash now, using a new, clean carto.....