White sand like crystal build up in mouthpiece safe/normal?

[Ally Gilmore]

Hello,
I just started vaping and came across something strange which my mother, an experienced vaper, has never seen. I use slightly dated, maybe 4th or 5th generation ego. I purchased the menthol P-38 from aroma juice online and a tabacco flavored NikQuid from the local smoke shop. From day one I noticed occasionally I would feel a sandy texture on my tongue as I vaped. At the end of the day I noticed a small amount of build up inside the tip of my mouthpiece. . I cleaned it out and thought nothing of it until the next day it became a denser build up. So I cleared the tip and rubbed it in between my fingers. This off white substance had a rough sand like texture. This has worried me a little, only because my online juice didn't arrive with no tamper seal and the site assured it would. However; I only ordered the small sample bottle (maybe seal is not included). Anyway, I was hoping a vet has experienced this or may know what it is. My only guess is it is non dissolved menthol crystals.
Long story short, has anyone experienced these odd sand like crystals in their mouthpiece?
Thanks
Happy vaping

 

[MarkD77]

I haven't used any menthol flavors, but first thing I thought of was crystals that didn't dissolve properly. Do you have any crystals forming in the the bottle? I guess they'd have to dissolve to be wicked and vaporized.

I found this thread talking about having issues with crystals reforming in the bottle. From what's stated there, I wonder if maybe yours used alcohol in the mix to keep them dissolved, and then they reform once the alcohol is evaporated, or just when the liquid itself dried, like residue from salt water.

Based on no real experience with it on my part, and that limited info, sounds like it could be that the mix had too much menthol crystal. If it were me, I might just try a different liquid and avoid grit on my tongue. Maybe my bump will help get you noticed by someone else who has actually experienced this.

 

[happydave]

some people have reported finding desiccant in there device... all of them agreed they never washed out the device before use.
i rinse everything i get besides coil heads. the heads should be ready to go.
but the tank, base and tip all get washed out well with hot water and then i use my lung power to blow out most of the water droplets then let it air dry.

 

[CreepyLady]

Hi Ally and Welcome to ECF. I have seen this happen before. In addition to menthol crystals it can also be the sweetener Ethyl Maltol. It is a crystal sweetener mixed with PG and heated. If it is not super - duper- thoroughly dissolved - it causes this as well.

You see a lot on both menthol and EM crystals forming in the tank/drip tip in the DIY forum. My SO's favorite tobacco does it from time to time.

 

[Renkrik]

I had a similar thing happening and it turned out to be little pieces of silica wick and or residue from an extremely dirty coil on a PT2

 

[postembr2]

I never experienced such, but im pretty noob, the only menthol i use is halo subzero, its very strong, but i never got this issue. Guess is more related to DYI liquid.

 

[Ally Gilmore]

Thanks so much for the replies. I feel a lot better to continue vaping with ease. The little biochemist in me was shouting something isn't right. I was also thinking it may be due to the fact that I was mixing the two flavors. Ill give er a good clean and retry with a new added menthol flavor.