Isopropyl Alcohol vs Ethyl Alcohol as an atty/carto Cleaning Solvent?

[ManicMaurice]

Is isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol better as a solvent when cleaning attys and cartos?

I did some Google searching and it appears that isopropyl alcohol is toxic when accidentally inhaled where as ethyl alcohol isn't and has much milder side effects. Not that I plan on inhaling either, but just trying to go with the safest option that has the cleaning strength needed.

Thanks

 

[WomanOfHeart]

IA is only going to be toxic is you vape quite a bit of it. Believe me, it tastes like hammered crap so you won't make that mistake twice. I use IA all the time and let everything dry overnight before I use it again. It has not caused any problems. If you can get PGA or high grade vodka then you can certainly use that and it's just as effective. I usually recommend the IA because there are quite a few recovering alcoholics here who can't use ethyl alcohol.

 

[NCC]

Isopropyl alcohol is toxic, but it evaporates quickly, leaving no residue. In nooks and crannies where it may be protected from freely circulating air (like inside an atty), it won't evaporate so freely. But, once it has evaporated there is no danger. Just to make sure (if you're worried) you can put the atty on your battery and give it a quick burn (don't inhale!) or just rinse with water and dry it normally. End of any concern.

As to which cleans better... I couldn't say, if both were in the same concentration. But, in most locations you can get a higher percentage of isopropyl and at a MUCH lower price than ethyl. I have little doubt that a higher concentration would be more effective as a solvent. Just my thoughts.

 

[ManicMaurice]

Thanks guys ...

Just got back from the drug store. 70% ethyl rubbing alcohol was $2.99 and 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol was $1.99, so I went with the isopropyl. Just cleaned some cart filler and I am extremely impressed. It is appears to be as good as new.

Now to experiment with cartomizer cleaning.

 

[ManicMaurice]

10 minutes later, polyester cart filler 100% dry.

 

[cozzicon]

Thanks guys ...

Just got back from the drug store. 70% ethyl rubbing alcohol was $2.99 and 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol was $1.99, so I went with the isopropyl. Just cleaned some cart filler and I am extremely impressed. It is appears to be as good as new.

Now to experiment with cartomizer cleaning.

The 90% really does dry quickly and nicely.

 

[ManicMaurice]

The 90% really does dry quickly and nicely.

Thanks for the great instructional videos. They're a huge help for a new vaper like me.

You rock!

 

[FreakyStylie]

IA is only going to be toxic is you vape quite a bit of it. Believe me, it tastes like hammered crap so you won't make that mistake twice. I use IA all the time and let everything dry overnight before I use it again. It has not caused any problems. If you can get PGA or high grade vodka then you can certainly use that and it's just as effective. I usually recommend the IA because there are quite a few recovering alcoholics here who can't use ethyl alcohol.

You just made my day!

 

[devilock76]

I soak my attys in iso then let them sit for a couple of days to dry. A quick dry burn and drip some juice on it and good to go. There is a bit of a nasty taste the first puffs so I don't inhale those.

Ken

 

[zadane]

I tend to use IA fist and then rinse it in hot water, just because I don't like the taste the IA leaves in the wicking material

 

[cozzicon]

Just a couple of tips...

Dry your cleaned items in a place with airflow- like on top of a heating vent.

Another tip: Hair dryer for fast drying. I never thought of this until someone mentioned it to me.

 

[ManicMaurice]

Just a couple of tips...

Dry your cleaned items in a place with airflow- like on top of a heating vent.

Another tip: Hair dryer for fast drying. I never thought of this until someone mentioned it to me.

Picked up the tip about airflow from your YouTube video.

Good call on the hair dryer! Have to try that.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Picked up the tip about airflow from your YouTube video.

Good call on the hair dryer! Have to try that.

I usually just make sure they aren't dripping and sit them on top of my computer fan. I have a 200mm BigBoy on top of my case and it dries them quick! I haven't tried the hair dryer yet.

 

[devilock76]

I have just been setting them on the kitchen counter on a paper towel. That is it. Might try the hair dryer approach.

Ken

 

[legbuh]

I would use my 1.75 of everclear (the real stuff, not the watered down fake stuff) to clean my attys, but I don't get back to ND enough to want to "Waste" it. So I'll stick with 90% IA.

 

[ManicMaurice]

Ok, here's the cartomizer cleaning process I have settled on.

I take an empty 20 FL OZ soda bottle and drill a small hole in the cap of the bottle. Then I take a 510 battery to 901/KR8 cartomizer adapter and screw it into the hole in the soda bottle cap. Next I fill the bottle with 90% isopropyl alcohol and screw a "dirty" KR8 cartomizer into the adpater. I turn the bottle upside down over a bowl and squeeze the bottle forcing isopropyl alcohol through the cartomizer. I continue until the bottle is empty and then unscrew the cartomizer and place it aside to dry. I then pour the contents of the bowl back into the bottle and repeat the process with my next "dirty" cartomizer until all my cartomizers are clean. I finally allow the cartomizers to dry for 48 to 72 hrs. Seem to be working for me. If I find that it's not working I'll post an update.

 

[cozzicon]

Ok, here's the cartomizer cleaning process I have settled on.

I take an empty 20 FL OZ soda bottle and drill a small hole in the cap of the bottle. Then I take a 510 battery to 901/KR8 cartomizer adapter and screw it into the hole in the soda bottle cap. Next I fill the bottle with 90% isopropyl alcohol and screw a "dirty" KR8 cartomizer into the adpater. I turn the bottle upside down over a bowl and squeeze the bottle forcing isopropyl alcohol through the cartomizer. I continue until the bottle is empty and then unscrew the cartomizer and place it aside to dry. I then pour the contents of the bowl back into the bottle and repeat the process with my next "dirty" cartomizer until all my cartomizers are clean. I finally allow the cartomizers to dry for 48 to 72 hrs. Seem to be working for me. If I find that it's not working I'll post an update.

Nice work....

 

[Java_Az]

I use these small plastic caps that i call alcohol savers. A 510 fits right inside and only takes 1ml of alcohol to fill it up. Then you can do a plunger action on it to get the fluid moving threw it. If i want to soak it for awhile i will use another on top so the alcohol doesn't evaporate. But they come in handy since my last two rinses i use PGA so my atomizers dont taste like .... So 2ml of PGA is a fair trade off in my opinion. I also dont worry about letting them dry after the PGA. they go in the PV and get a good dry burn and then some juice and get used.

 

[ManicMaurice]

Ok, here's the cartomizer cleaning process I have settled on.

I take an empty 20 FL OZ soda bottle and drill a small hole in the cap of the bottle. Then I take a 510 battery to 901/KR8 cartomizer adapter and screw it into the hole in the soda bottle cap. Next I fill the bottle with 90% isopropyl alcohol and screw a "dirty" KR8 cartomizer into the adpater. I turn the bottle upside down over a bowl and squeeze the bottle forcing isopropyl alcohol through the cartomizer. I continue until the bottle is empty and then unscrew the cartomizer and place it aside to dry. I then pour the contents of the bowl back into the bottle and repeat the process with my next "dirty" cartomizer until all my cartomizers are clean. I finally allow the cartomizers to dry for 48 to 72 hrs. Seem to be working for me. If I find that it's not working I'll post an update.

I added a step. Once I've finished cleaning all my cartomizers, I rinse out the bottle. Then I screw the cartos back on the empty bottle and squeeze. This seems to force most of the remaining isopropyl alcohol out of the cartomizers and I feel pretty confident that they should dry much quicker than my usual 48 to 72 hrs.

As with everything, YMMV ...

Now I'm just searching for a softer bottle than a crunchy empty soda bottle. Something like a large juice bottle. Any suggestions?