Can you clean out atomizers with 70-proof Rubbing Alcohol?

[GODDESS]

I have about 20 atomizers / tanks that have gooked up, but otherwise still vape and in pretty good condition. How can I possibly clean them out so that I can use them/vape with them again (instead of buying even MORE atomizers/tanks)?

I don't drink or buy drinking alcohol, so no Vodka. I also tried warm distilled water to clean one of them and it never vaped right again, so that's not an option either.

1. Can I use 70-proof Rubbing Alcohol to clean/refresh atomizers?
   
2. If so, how do I do it?
   
3. Is there any danger in vaping the small amount of rubbing alcohol left in the tank after cleaning?

 

[twgbonehead]

1. Yes
2. Completely disassemble the atomizer, and soak all the pieces in the alcohol for a while. If they are really gunked up, you might have to repeat the process. Rinse with water, and let everything dry thoroughly.
3. It's not particularly good for you, but in the tiny amounts present (if any) it should do no real harm. You wind up inhaling a fair amount of rubbing alcohol in many doctor's offices.

ETA: If these use the kanger-style coils, you can pop off the top stem of the coil head, which will expose the coil and wick and allow them to clean better. Also, there's no reason why a warm-water rinse should have killed your atty, so you might want to try that again.

 

[ElConquistador]

Sure, just rinse it all out with water when you're finished soaking and let everything dry out. I have used a tall shot glass as my soaking tank in the past.

 

[Bunnykiller]

70 proof is 35%... you may want to get 90% IPA ( rubbing alcohol).... soak/rinse then let dry for a couple of hours, all the alcohol will evaporate... no need to use water

 

[Jimi D.]

I use 91% Isopropyl alcohol.

Isopropyl alcohol (C3H8O), also known as rubbing alcohol, is an alcoholic mixture intended for external use as an antiseptic; it usually contains 70% by volume of absolute alcohol or isopropyl alcohol; the remainder consists of water, denaturants, and perfume oils; used as a rubefacient for muscle and joints aches and pains.

 

[440BB]

As long as you do a good hot water rinse and shake/blow and dry it, there should be no residue. Pretty cost effective too!

 

[philoshop]

If these are atomizers with replaceable coil/wick assemblies (aka heads) there is no need to purchase a whole new tank, or even to clean the old coils. You can put a brand new coil head in them and basically make them new again.

 

[GODDESS]

Thanks everyone!! I took about 5 of them apart, put them in a jar and added enough rubbing alcohol in to saturate all of the parts. They've been soaking about an hour and they already look sparkling clean and shiny!

Thank you for all of the awesome tips.

 

[tj99959]

I agree with the others EXCEPT the drying part.
Now think about it, if the juice can be cleaned away by the alcohol, the alcohol can also be cleaned away by the juice.

If you rinse & let dry, the coil will begin to oxidize almost immediately. Instead just blow the access alcohol out. Then drip a couple of drops of juice, and blow that out (along with the alcohol residue), and then vape away.

 

[twgbonehead]

I agree with the others EXCEPT the drying part.
Now think about it, if the juice can be cleaned away by the alcohol, the alcohol can also be cleaned away by the juice.

If you rinse & let dry, the coil will begin to oxidize almost immediately. Instead just blow the access alcohol out. Then drip a couple of drops of juice, and blow that out (along with the alcohol residue), and then vape away.

Sorry, but the coils are already oxidized, at least by the first time you fire them. Letting them dry out doesn't hurt anything, and prevents you from inhaling a slug of isopropyl.

 

[psychoreo]

I usually just use water and dish soap. If you use alcohol just rinse it after.

 

[twgbonehead]

I usually just use water and dish soap. If you use alcohol just rinse it after.

I always had a hard time getting the soap out, particularly on the wicks. If you're just doing the tanks, that might not be so much of an issue.

 

[tj99959]

Sorry, but the coils are already oxidized, at least by the first time you fire them. Letting them dry out doesn't hurt anything, and prevents you from inhaling a slug of isopropyl.

Disagree, but that's OK, their your coils do as you wish.

I can just say that I had far more ole 510 atty coils go bad stored dry than I ever had go bad when using them. (learned the hard way to always "prime" them for storage)

 

[Warpigs]

I just rinse my coils off with hot water. Then fill a coffee cup up with very hot tap water. Drop my coil in for 15 min. Every 5 min. I stir the water and move the coil around. Then take it out dry all the outside and put the coil on my Silver Bullet without the tank and push the fire button for 3 sec, wait 5 sec, push fire button for 3 sec etc etc. And blow on it every 3rd fire on/off. When the wicks/coil are dry I put a drop of liquid on the coil and on the wicks. Screw the coil off the Silver Bullet and fill tank with liquid and screw it back on the tank.

 

[440BB]

Disagree, but that's OK, their your coils do as you wish.

I can just say that I had far more ole 510 atty coils go bad stored dry than I ever had go bad when using them. (learned the hard way to always "prime" them for storage)

After a hot water rinse, I think leaving it to dry is not beneficial, and does leave room for corrosion. I typically put a freshly rinsed head back into immediate use, letting the first few vapes clear out remaining water. If you're doing a batch of heads, a couple drops of PG on the coil is a simple way to keep them in good shape.

 

[GODDESS]

Okay -- I have another question -- has anyone ever used a hair blow dryer to dry them out quickly after cleaning them?


I wondered if the heat would cause damage. Do you think that would hurt them or would it be fine to give them a quick dry that way?

 

[GODDESS]

All of my atomizers worked after cleaning and letting them sit to dry overnight!

 

[twgbonehead]

Okay -- I have another question -- has anyone ever used a hair blow dryer to dry them out quickly after cleaning them? I wondered if the heat would cause damage. Do you think that would hurt them or would it be fine to give them a quick dry that way?

A hair dryer won't hurt anything. The head gets a lot hotter than that when it's firing!

 

[zahzoo]

After a hot water rinse, I think leaving it to dry is not beneficial, and does leave room for corrosion. I typically put a freshly rinsed head back into immediate use, letting the first few vapes clear out remaining water. If you're doing a batch of heads, a couple drops of PG on the coil is a simple way to keep them in good shape.

I don't think a coil lasts long enough to be concerned with corrosion... even if you have cleaned one multiple times. A dry burn would remove any corrosion if there is any... after a half dozen cleanings and use most coils are shot.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

My I soak in Everclear 190-proof for 5-10 minutes or until they look clean. Remove, shake off excess and prime with clear juice, store in a Ziplock.