Yet Another Ultrasonic Atty Cleaning Test

[emus]

--------------Test 1---------

Input:
4 attys w/ proper ohms but low vapor production.
2 attys w/ good vapor production.
All attys smell and taste OK.

Cycles (3 min each):
1. Vinegar : Hot H2O
2. Vinegar : Hot H20 : Dish Soap.
3. H20

Output (All attys dried and primed):
4 attys w/ low vapor production.
1 atty w/ medium vapor production.
1 attys w/ good vapor production.
All attys smell and taste OK.

--------Test 2---------

Input:
2 bottles w/ sludge from steeped cinnamon powder.
Rinsed bottles first.

Cycles:
1. H2Oish soap
2. H2O: Dish soap

Output:
About 50% sludge removed

--------Test 3---------

Input:
3 pairs of old eye glasses.

Cycles:
1. H2Oish soap
2. H2O Dish soap

Output:
3 pairs of glasses w/ about 50% crud removed.


Conclusion: Can I have my money back?

 

[wyojoe]

--------------Test 1---------

Input:
4 attys w/ proper ohms but low vapor production.
2 attys w/ good vapor production.
All attys smell and taste OK.

Cycles (3 min each):
1. Vinegar : Hot H2O
2. Vinegar : Hot H20 : Dish Soap.
3. H20

Output (All attys dried and primed):
4 attys w/ low vapor production.
1 atty w/ medium vapor production.
1 attys w/ good vapor production.
All attys smell and taste OK.

--------Test 2---------

Input:
2 bottles w/ sludge from steeped cinnamon powder.
Rinsed bottles first.

Cycles:
1. H2Oish soap
2. H2O: Dish soap

Output:
About 50% sludge removed

--------Test 3---------

Input:
3 pairs of old eye glasses.

Cycles:
1. H2Oish soap
2. H2O Dish soap

Output:
3 pairs of glasses w/ about 50% crud removed.


Conclusion: Can I have my money back?

I have tried every combo that I know of and my conclusion is, if you can't see the coil and do a dry burn it will never be back like it was. If a carto has filler you can't do a dry burn because it will burn the filler. When I use standard cartomizers and they drop in performance I just throw them, I have been frustrated to many times trying to clean them with no success.

 

[emus]

I have tried every combo that I know of and my conclusion is, if you can't see the coil and do a dry burn it will never be back like it was. If a carto has filler you can't do a dry burn because it will burn the filler. When I use standard cartomizers and they drop in performance I just throw them, I have been frustrated to many times trying to clean them with no success.

I was hoping ultrasonic would be good for daily cleanings.

Guess I'll just go back to alcohol.

 

[wyojoe]

I was hoping ultrasonic would be good for daily cleanings.

Guess I'll just go back to alcohol.

I tried alcohol too and, it is some better and drys quicker. I have taken coils that were gunked up out of the cartomizers so I could see them, and tried cleaning in every SAFE chemical I could think of including boiling and NOTHING cleaned off the coil very well. Thats why I said they need to be dry burned to get them back to like new condition.

 

[hairball]

I just cleaned a bunch of mine in my ultra sonic cleaner. Worked like a charm as always. I also clean my cartomizers in it. Nothing beats it.

I don't dry burn...no need too. I let them dry really well, prime them, and the fire right up.

After cleaning mine, I always have a bunch of gunk in the bottom of my cleaner...so I know it works.

 

[wyojoe]

I just cleaned a bunch of mine in my ultra sonic cleaner. Worked like a charm as always. I also clean my cartomizers in it. Nothing beats it.

I don't dry burn...no need too. I let them dry really well, prime them, and the fire right up.

After cleaning mine, I always have a bunch of gunk in the bottom of my cleaner...so I know it works.

How do you know you don't need to dry burn? Take the filler out of one after you clean it like you do and see if it looks like new again. Bet it doesn't. I have had a bunch of gunk in my cleaning fluid after ultrasonic but they are still not really clean. The cleaning of cartomizers will help some, to limp them along but it won't bring them back to like they were to start with. But It does work Fairly good on atomizers though.

 

[Diablo]

I was thinking of getting one, which make and model was it you used to do this test? Just wondering since some ppl say they work and others say they don't. Seems like maybe certain models work better than others.


D

 

[garyinco]

I have had very good luck with ultrasonic cleaners, including the cheap Harbor Freight one I have now. I've seen how they clean parts, from RC parts, to motorcycles parts, to engine parts. No one will be able to convince me otherwise.

When I'm cleaning vaping stuff I use the cheapest vodka I can get. Works like a charm. Most items come out like new. I don't bother with cartomizers. Trying to clean them with anything (ultrasonic, solvents like alcohol, boiling, steaming, ...) has never seemed to be worth the effort.

 

[alldayvape]

yeh mine come out like new. Just have to dry burn & they're like new!

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

 

[emus]

I just cleaned a bunch of mine in my ultra sonic cleaner. Worked like a charm as always. I also clean my cartomizers in it. Nothing beats it.

I don't dry burn...no need too. I let them dry really well, prime them, and the fire right up.

After cleaning mine, I always have a bunch of gunk in the bottom of my cleaner...so I know it works.

I wonder if it work as good as:
1. PGA syringe flush.
2. PGA soak.
3. PGA syringe flush.
4, Blow out.
5. Dry burn.
I keep some attys for months using this method which uses minimal PGA.

I have Harbor Freight $30 unit.
It does make pin holes in aluminum foil (proof it works).

If ultrasonic clean frequently w/ alcohol it will cost more to clean than to buy new attys.

 

[emus]

Some good news.
Soaked attys in alcohol overnight.
Ran ultrasonic w/ alcohol.
The original two good attys are both working good again; brought one from medium to good (reference test 1).

Not a miracle worker but ultrasonic may come in handy.

 

[junquedujour]

I have had very good luck with ultrasonic cleaners, including the cheap Harbor Freight one I have now. I've seen how they clean parts, from RC parts, to motorcycles parts, to engine parts. No one will be able to convince me otherwise.

When I'm cleaning vaping stuff I use the cheapest vodka I can get. Works like a charm. Most items come out like new. I don't bother with cartomizers. Trying to clean them with anything (ultrasonic, solvents like alcohol, boiling, steaming, ...) has never seemed to be worth the effort.

just so i understand, are you using vodka in the ultrasonic cleaner?

 

[emus]

I suppose different alcohols will work.
Just be careful about flammability and poison.

 

[junquedujour]

I suppose different alcohols will work.
Just be careful about flammability and poison.

gotcha. i was just clarifying that it was booze and not rubbing alcohol. thanks!

 

[tonyorion]

Isopropyl will peel the paint off of a lot of the attys out there. It can also strip the paint and attack the surface and seals of some US cleaners. However, on a chrome atty, it won't make a difference.

Your effort to try to add some empirical study to this bag of worms topic called atty cleaning is commendable. With all of the variables that need to be considered ( voltage, vaping style, type of atty--open tube, de wicked de bridged--resistance, and juice),you may never reach a consensus.

 

[wyojoe]

I have had very good luck with ultrasonic cleaners, including the cheap Harbor Freight one I have now. I've seen how they clean parts, from RC parts, to motorcycles parts, to engine parts. No one will be able to convince me otherwise.

When I'm cleaning vaping stuff I use the cheapest vodka I can get. Works like a charm. Most items come out like new. I don't bother with cartomizers. Trying to clean them with anything (ultrasonic, solvents like alcohol, boiling, steaming, ...) has never seemed to be worth the effort.

I agree the ultrasonic cleaners work VERY good on most anything, including jewelry and just about anything else, they clean better than anything else you could use. But when it comes to cartomizers, Like you said, Its not worth the effort, because everything in a carto is all closed up and tightly packed inside the metal tube and the fluid just can't get to the coil very well.

 

[Brewlady]

I tried this method, and it really works well for me. I use mostly 306's, so I just put about 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a deli container along with the attys, then pour in enough vinegar to dilute the baking soda, and just shake it until it stops foaming. Rinse out the attys in really hot water a few times, blow out and I'm good to go. I tried this on 510's, and it works just as well.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo.../177570-novel-way-clean-atty.html#post2977827

 

[Nomoreash]

I recently got one because of the hype and have run similar comparison test with just soaking in ISO which was/is my usual method and don't see much of a difference other than it might speed up the process a bit.

I'll continue to use it because I've already spent money on it but imo it doesn't do any better than rinsing, then soaking in your preferred solution, blowing it out and doing a dry burn.

 

[emus]

--------------Test 4---------

Input:
4 attys w/ low vapor production.
1 attys w/ medium vapor production (ref test 1).
1 attys w/ good vapor production.
Flavored juice in the good attys.

Cycles :
1. Alcohol 3 min cycle.
2. Overnight soak in alcohol.
3. Alcohol 3 min cycle.

Output (All attys dried and primed):
4 attys w/ low vapor production.
2 attys w/ good vapor production.
All attys taste crystal clear.

Coments: Did not harm atty. Removed all traces of old flavor. More convenient than syringe flush. Can filter and reuse alcohol for economy.

 

[wyojoe]

Brewlady,
I am going to try that, sounds fun. When I was a kid I used that mix in a glass bottle and capped it and ran. It did break the bottle with all the gas inside.