Using an ultrasonic cleaner for Kanger T3s heads?

[LaziDaze]

I've been using Kanger T3s clearomizers w/replaceable heads for several months now and I'm extremely happy with their performance. I've been cleaning the heads simply by dropping then into super hot boiling water and stirring them around a bit, rinsing under hot running water and then let them dry out. It seems to clean them well enough to give them a "fresh" vape, but the wicks never get the original clean white appearance like when they were new.

My wife has one of these ultrasonic cleaners used for cleaning jewelry and I was wondering if any of you forum members out there have ever tried to use one of these gadgets to clean heads or any of your vaping hardware.

 

[JimSmith94]

I just got one a couple weeks ago and it seems to work well. My rings, glasses, and shaving heads are nice and clean too.

 

[hazozita]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner for my clearomizer heads with excellent results. For the T3's I remove the center post to expose the coils, do a short rinse under running water, then run it through a couple of cycles on an ultrasonic cleaner. I use vodka rather than water in the cleaner.

Take it out of the ultrasonic cleaner, rinse well under running water and let it dry overnight. Give it a dry burn and replace the flavor wicks (the wicks that lay on top of the coil). Push the post back on, and good to go.

Some of my T3 heads are 6 months old and still work as well as they did when new.

I use the same method for iClear 30 heads. I don’t clean ViviNova or Evod heads since it’s faster to just rebuild those than clean them.

 

[Maylar]

Wow. Sounds like mega overkill to me. I just rinse with pga and let them dry.

 

[LaziDaze]

Take it out of the ultrasonic cleaner, rinse well under running water and let it dry overnight. Give it a dry burn and replace the flavor wicks (the wicks that lay on top of the coil). Push the post back on, and good to go.

Some of my T3 heads are 6 months old and still work as well as they did when new.

I have to ask this followup question - you say you remove the flavor wicks and replace them after giving it a dry burn. Any time I have attempted to remove the "flavor wick" it just unravels and becomes a bunch of loose threads. When this happens, what do you replace the wick with? I have a few older long wick T2 top coil heads that I can salvage some wick material from, but they are in short supply.

 

[rasmith1959]

You should be able to get some silica wick from your local vape shop, or any number of online stores have it as well. You won't need much, 3 ft would last you a long time. Just be sure to put in enough wick to fill all the gaps between the coil wick and the silicone gasket. Any gaps will lead to flooding, leaks and gurgling.

 

[State O' Flux]

If anyone here actually rebuilds their own coils...

I replace the original silica wick and flavor wicks with 3mm silica or bamboo... and no flavor wick. In this fashion, if you choose to clean the heads with an ultrasonic, or by what ever other means, you don't have to screw around with flavor wicks again, and the flavor and vapor is excellent. If "vaporlady" can do it, you can too!

 

[hazozita]

I've tried the T3's with and without the "flavor" wicks on top, and I prefer the vape with them. A bit better in terms of flavor and no flooding issues. I tend to vape 70/30 most of the time, so flooding was a problem given the thinness of the juice.

I don't save the old flavor wicks -- just toss and replace, usually with 1mm silica. As an prior poster points out, very easy to get silica from most online vendors. No problems if they don't have 1mm since you can easily unravel thicker silica and use just a portion. Since I need so very little in terms of length, I just save clippings on occasion from other rebuilds and that takes care of my flavor wick needs.

As to rebuilding, I rebuild Vivi Nova heads (although I hardly ever use those anymore), Evod heads and Protank heads. Very easy. The T3's have been a challenge for me due to the recessed nature of the post on the Ego threading. So, I tend to baby my T3s to keep them going. I bought 9 or so of them in January, and have yet had to toss one (except for the one I tried to rebuild).

The only clearo head that, for me, is harder than the T3 to rebuild is the iClear 30s. Those are just impossible! At least for my less than nimble fingers.