To clean cartos or not to clean that is the question

[Lethalp]

I would like to opinions on if you clean your cartos?
Yes I know some of u will say u don't clean them u just pitch them and get a new one. That's great if u can afford to do that, some ppl can and some ppl can't.

If u do clean your cartos, what is ur preferred method?
Boiling? Jewelry cleaner? Cartomizer fillinator?

Do u take them completely apart? Or have u tried that then not had any luck getting them to work again?


Also recently I have seen that some ppl think using water to clean them is a no no? That it will alter the taste, or make the draw stiffer? I have also seen that some clean with pg, or PGA?
Do u use water, pg, or PGA? Or a combination of them?

Lastly, how much longer do u get out of them if u do go through all the steps to clean it and get it dry? Are they just like new? Do u get more than a couple fills? How long does a used, then clean carto last?

I have only tried to clean a couple and was not real successful, so before I invest in any more gadgets, I would like to hear from ppl who have been successful at cleaning, thanks!

 

[Lethalp]

No one cleans cartos? Anyone?

 

[Beans]

Hi! I used to but got lazy and prefer new freshies. I'd boil mine a few times and rinse them out, but they were never the same. Kind of funky and crispy in a way.. They normally took 2 days to completely dry on the counter..

 

[yo vapo]

I'm trying to clean them, with little success. I haven't found a method / solvent which restores an easy draw. About all I seem to manage is to get the old flavor out of them, but evidently not the gunk which plugs up the like-new easy draw. I've tried the jewelry cleaner with warm water, turkey baster alternating hot water and PGA, soaking in PGA then turkey baster, squirting through them with a syringe.

 

[mostlyclassics]

After thorough cleaning (alcohol, boiling, syringe/turkey baster, whatever your favorite method), I've found it helps to poke out the center tube with an unbent smooth paperclip. Very often, there's a little plug of vaping gradoo blocking that path. If you're very careful, you won't foul or snap the little wire. I've cleaned some Boge cartos four times and had them survive. (I kill about one of every ten I clean.)

Cleaned Boges are never quite the same as when they're brand new. In my experience, they're like they've had a couple of milliliters of e-liquid run through them. But brand new Boges rapidly reach that state, anyway.

 

[Uncle Willie]

I get an average of 7-10 days out of a properly filled carto .. the cost per day is minimal .. cleaning is a crap shoot and time is money as well .. the cost of one days former ciggy habit pays for cartos that last more than a month if properly used ..

and I'll add that cleaning and reusing does increase your chance of buring the filler further ..

 

[mostlyclassics]

the cost per day is minimal

This is true, Uncle Willie, but if the FDA manages to "deem" PVs and vaping as something they can regulate (i.e., eliminate), then most vaping hardware will become like certain hardware for illicit drugs, in terms of availability. It may well be the case that effectively cleaning cartos will become an essential skill.

 

[LadyWeeps]

I don't clean cartos anymore because I don't like the feel and taste of them afterwards. IMO, juice is the money sink and I want the best possible carto to run it through.

 

[5vz]

Experimented with cleaning when I first started using them. As everyone else has said, they are not the same. The vape is off, the flavor is not good after cleaning imo, and they only make it another day or two before the sudden death for some reason.

I find it is best to just toss them and enjoy a fresh carto than to play with the ones that are on the way out anyhow.

 

[Uncle Willie]

This is true, Uncle Willie, but if the FDA manages to "deem" PVs and vaping as something they can regulate (i.e., eliminate), then most vaping hardware will become like certain hardware for illicit drugs, in terms of availability. It may well be the case that effectively cleaning cartos will become an essential skill.

Unlikely anything but nic and nic laced liquid would fall into a ban ..

 

[mostlyclassics]

Remember, this is the FDA we're talking about, the folks who are trying to redefine an apple as being a mouse via their "deeming" ploy. I can see acquiring nicquid as becoming highly problematic fairly soon, if the FDA has their way.

I'm also worried about vaping-specific hardware also being "regulated" out of existence. This means principally attys and cartos. What else can they be used for?

Rechargeable batteries and box-mod parts will always be available, since they're used for many other things. Same for flavorings.

 

[nanovapr]

I slushed them out with PGA and a syringe, my first few weeks with them. It was summertime, and hot/humid Midwest USA had the possiblity of water making them moldy, unless you dried them with warmth. PGA won't mold. You can get them "better", but dark liquids gunk them up worse.

Perhaps I have just gotten better at using them, but I get 7-10 days from one as well. At USD $1.33 apiece, it is still so much cheaper than smoking, I can afford it.

It seems like cartos *should* be exempt from bans, because they are just little heating elements. Conversely, a pipe is just a piece of wood/glass/ceramic, and in some areas they are illegal to own, even if there is no illegal residue. Rebuildable attys, and stocking up on wire might be the safest for the Vaping Zombie Apocalypse.

 

[Natalia]

I'm afraid of the FDA ban too, so I do clean my cartos. I only run 3 to 4 ml. of liquid through a new carto. I then fill it with plain VG or PG, put condoms on it and set it aside to await "cleaning day". (I've found plain VG and PG are good at loosening the gunk on the coil). I would say I lose one out of ten after cleaning. The other 9 work well and after another 3-4 ml. of liquid... I clean them again. I repeat until they die.

Here is a video. If you jump to 4:48 it will explain and show you a quick cleaning method using a turkey baster. I then put them in the oven on a oven safe plate for drying. About 170° for 1 hr. Turn oven off and leave over night.

I use this method sometimes, but lately I've been using this cleaning kit, using a high proof vodka last rinse. Works quite well, and they dry overnight sitting battery side down on a paper towel... no oven needed. Here's link to SmokTek's thread.


Hope this helps.

 

[Uncle Willie]

It seems like cartos *should* be exempt from bans, because they are just little heating elements. Conversely, a pipe is just a piece of wood/glass/ceramic, and in some areas they are illegal to own, even if there is no illegal residue. Rebuildable attys, and stocking up on wire might be the safest for the Vaping Zombie Apocalypse.

Where is it against the law to own a pipe .. ?

 

[mostlyclassics]

It's illegal to own or sell pipes that are plainly meant for or altered for illicit substances. Just ask Tommy Chong, of "Cheech and Chong" fame, about how the Feds landed on him like Batman and Robin.

You can read all about drug paraphernalia here.

 

[yo vapo]

Seems like atties, cartos, &c. could be marketed as vaporizing devices intended to be used to vaporize flavored liquids (aroma therapy &c.). Not intended to be used for illicit activity. It's all about intent, right?

You can buy herb vaporizers easily enough...

 

[kilgoretrout]

Nope, I don't clean cartos. I attempted it once..... and I failed miserably. LOL...
Then I decided that there was no way that it was worth it, even if it "worked" because the taste still wouldn't be quite right.

 

[KeysBum]

Experimented with cleaning when I first started using them. As everyone else has said, they are not the same. The vape is off, the flavor is not good after cleaning imo, and they only make it another day or two before the sudden death for some reason.

I find it is best to just toss them and enjoy a fresh carto than to play with the ones that are on the way out anyhow.

I couldn't have said it better. 2 days and then the trash can.

 

[Lethalp]

Thank u everyone for all your comments. This is what I was afraid of, that most ppl have undesirable results with cleaning. Like I said I wanted to know if anyone was successful before I tried. Hopefully the cartos and clearos of the future will have better results...

 

[KeysBum]

Thank u everyone for all your comments. This is what I was afraid of, that most ppl have undesirable results with cleaning. Like I said I wanted to know if anyone was successful before I tried. Hopefully the cartos and clearos of the future will have better results...

You can buy Boge 510 cartos from Health Cabin right now on sale for $3.60 / 5 pack ($.72 each) It's just not worth trying to clean them.