Ultrasonic cleaning question

[BallSweater]

I stumbled across people talking about using Ultrasonics to clean their tanks.
Until now I didn't even know what they were but after some quick searches they seem pretty useful.
Do people just put the whole tank in, o-rings and all?

Would you clean anything else in them (related to e-cigs) or that's it?

Lastly is any old cheap ultrasonic good enough?

Thanks in advance.

 

[alicewonderland]

arent ultrasonic cleaners just a water solution that uses ultrasonic waves to break apart the dirt/particles. If its just water I see no harm in just putting in the dissambled tank in there, unless you use some kind of cleaning solution with it also.

 

[Mad Scientist]

I'm no expert on the topic but what I do for a new tank is disassemble the basic parts (not down to every o-ring, just take it apart "normally"), hot water and a drop or two of dish soap and five minutes in the ultrasonic. Then two more cycles of just hot water, changing the water for each cycle. It works very well at removing any machine oil or other contaminants and the two final plain water ultrasonic rinses remove any of the dish soap.

I've actually had atty post screws loosen and fall out into the ultrasonic tank so it seems ultrasonic is definitely doing something more than a basic wash and rinse would do. It also gets contaminants out from places a plain wash and rinse would not reach.

 

[alicewonderland]

ultrasonic cleaners supposedly use soundwaves to 'knock contaminants loose'. just a bunch of water that goes into nooks and crannies and vibrates the crap out of the dirt in there and knocks it loose.

 

[nvadasz]

I kinda figure a good rinse and maybe a soft tooth brush might work just as well. Then again I only use simple atty's and change coils not clean them. (Nautilus Mini, and CE5's)

 

[alicewonderland]

I kinda figure a good rinse and maybe a soft tooth brush might work just as well. Then again I only use simple atty's and change coils not clean them. (Nautilus Mini, and CE5's)

yeah usually just a good hand wash a toothbrush works, but then everybody goes overboard with vaping and gets a ultrasonic cleaner sooner or later I actually looked at some a few days ago because I didnt have any more actual vape stuff to purchase , you can get some pretty basic ultrasonic cleaners for like 20-30 bucks

 

[nvadasz]

yeah usually just a good hand wash a toothbrush works, but then everybody goes overboard with vaping and gets a ultrasonic cleaner sooner or later I actually looked at some a few days ago because I didnt have any more actual vape stuff to purchase , you can get some pretty basic ultrasonic cleaners for like 20-30 bucks

Wondering if I use carb cleaner in it, if I can clean my weed eater carb................just kidding!!!

 

[Mad Scientist]

I kinda figure a good rinse and maybe a soft tooth brush might work just as well. Then again I only use simple atty's and change coils not clean them. (Nautilus Mini, and CE5's)

Agreed, as a practical matter, a little soapy water to emulsify any machine oil and a soft toothbrush do the job just fine.

The ultrasonic creates cavitation in the water where a tiny vacuum bubbles are formed on the surfaces and then collapse in excess of supersonic speed. Given enough time, the effect will erode even metal like it is cardboard. It gets things really, really clean.

 

[Rixsta]

Sounds like over kill to me

 

[nvadasz]

Agreed, as a practical matter, a little soapy water to emulsify any machine oil and a soft toothbrush do the job just fine.

The ultrasonic creates cavitation in the water where a tiny vacuum bubbles are formed on the surfaces and then collapse in excess of supersonic speed. Given enough time, the effect will erode even metal like it is cardboard. It gets things really, really clean.

That's kinda what I thought too. A bit overboard IMO. I guess if you wanted to clean a coil or something like that it would really help, I'm thinking though it might beat the ceramic wicks to death . If I'm having a flooding issue, I just run my atty under some HOT water, blow it out with compressed air and throw a new coil in and I'm good to go for another 2-3 weeks.

 

[CliffCavin]

I have a $30, 35 watt cheapo model. Works great. I throw in attys, tanks, drip tips.
I do *not* recommend using any kind of soap, solvent, or any kind of cleaning solution. Just use luke warm water.

 

[Underwhelmed]

I love mine for both cleaning gear and steeping my liquids.

I had a couple attys that no amount of soaking would get rid of smell/aftertaste of a particularly nasty juice ( I mean it was fine when I was using it, but the smell lingered and the aftertaste put me off that juice for good). A few runs through the ulrasonic cleaner and they were as good as new.

 

[Mike 586]

For most atties, I wouldn't bother with an ultra sonic cleaner, but there are some that are just so poorly designed from a maintenance standpoint that an ultrasonic cleaner is the only way to ever thoroughly clean it. Svoemesto's Kayfun 4 is a prime example of a lousy design despite a lot of the hype. Although there are more issues than just cleaning and maintenance, we're talking about cleaning and on that count it is, bar none, the most horrendously bad RTA I've ever seen when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.

For anyone that likes using them, an ultrasonic cleaner would make life way easier.

 

[Alien Traveler]

For most atties, I wouldn't bother with an ultra sonic cleaner, but there are some that are just so poorly designed from a maintenance standpoint that an ultrasonic cleaner is the only way to ever thoroughly clean it. Svoemesto's Kayfun 4 is a prime example of a lousy design despite a lot of the hype. Although there are more issues than just cleaning and maintenance, we're talking about cleaning and on that count it is, bar none, the most horrendously bad RTA I've ever seen when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.

For anyone that likes using them, an ultrasonic cleaner would make life way easier.

I do not see how ultrasonic cleaner can help me in cleaning Kayfun 4 (or other tanks). It is too much for me. Rinsing in warm water is all that needed. (I should mention that I am pretty familiar with these cleaners, use them often at my work).

 

[GinnyTx]

Wondering if I use carb cleaner in it, if I can clean my weed eater carb................just kidding!!!

I've found stainless and chrome nuts and bolts in mine..js. Hands off Mister!!

they just "beat" the crud off of whatever you put in there that won't be harmed by water...and mine's for my jewelry..and ok drip tips.

 

[BallSweater]

Well as always thanks for all the information ECF =)

 

[dhood]

I've heard of people using the cleaners to clean older pre-made coils to give them new life. I want to get one to help with aging my juices. I hear a couple of hours in a cleaner can add weeks to the age of a juice.