Is there a better, easier, safer way of cleaning glass? I don't think so.

[Spy Car]

Perhaps others have co-invented this idea (and apologies to those who may have already struck on this technique), but I could not find my "method" in a site search here, so for those who might wish to experiment, here goes.

It does take one piece of specialized hardware, but this is a gear-oriented forum, right?

The almost magical tool? A Sous Vide circulator device (also known as a Precision Cooker).

The Sous Vide circulator allows one to create a temperature controlled water bath. Into the "water-bath" one can place glassware like bongs filled with Iso (and 93 works fine) and/or smaller glassware sealed in ziplocks or vac bags with Iso and that goes into the water-bath.

Keep the water-bath below the boiling point of Iso (which is around 180 f) and the warm Iso melts the buildup away effortlessly, thoroughly, and safely. I use 160 f to good effect.

Sous Vide devices are a great kitchen item to have in any case, including many vape/cannabis uses. Perhaps you already one one?

I think this method is just the thing is one enjoys shiny clean glass with the least possible effort.

See what you think. Or if you do the same (or similar) please add your thoughts.

Bill

 

[Perfect_Speed4069]

Also dank Dulce de Leche is the best Christmas gift ever

 

[bulllee]

Sous Vide is an incredible asset to anyone making edibles. It will decarb and extract all at an exact temperature and time . I had heard about warming my iso, but hadn't even thought about using my Sous Vide . Works like a charm . Wide range of pricing, I use an Anova ,
https://anovaculinary.com/products/anova-precision-cooker-mini?variant=44473619185853&currency=USD.

 

[TigoleBitties]

Perhaps others have co-invented this idea (and apologies to those who may have already struck on this technique), but I could not find my "method" in a site search here, so for those who might wish to experiment, here goes.

It does take one piece of specialized hardware, but this is a gear-oriented forum, right?

The almost magical tool? A Sous Vide circulator device (also known as a Precision Cooker).

The Sous Vide circulator allows one to create a temperature controlled water bath. Into the "water-bath" one can place glassware like bongs filled with Iso (and 93 works fine) and/or smaller glassware sealed in ziplocks or vac bags with Iso and that goes into the water-bath.

Keep the water-bath below the boiling point of Iso (which is around 180 f) and the warm Iso melts the buildup away effortlessly, thoroughly, and safely. I use 160 f to good effect.

Sous Vide devices are a great kitchen item to have in any case, including many vape/cannabis uses. Perhaps you already one one?

I think this method is just the thing is one enjoys shiny clean glass with the least possible effort.

See what you think. Or if you do the same (or similar) please add your thoughts.

Bill

Yep! I can believe that.

I use iso inside of ziplocs and immerse the bags in shallow containers with hot water. Same method but I don't have a temperature controlled heater for the hot water so I just use my kitchen tap at full temp and change out the water if necessary. Usually it's so effective that I don't need a water change.

 

[Spy Car]

Yep! I can believe that.

I use iso inside of ziplocs and immerse the bags in shallow containers with hot water. Same method but I don't have a temperature controlled heater for the hot water so I just use my kitchen tap at full temp and change out the water if necessary. Usually it's so effective that I don't need a water change.

Essentially the same idea. The water-bath is just so effective (and I already had a Sous Vide circulator) that I consider it a major upgrade.

Sous Vide is an incredible asset to anyone making edibles. It will decarb and extract all at an exact temperature and time . I had heard about warming my iso, but hadn't even thought about using my Sous Vide . Works like a charm . Wide range of pricing, I use an Anova ,
https://anovaculinary.com/products/anova-precision-cooker-mini?variant=44473619185853&currency=USD.

Sous Vide circulators are useful for culinary purposes and for our own specialty purposes, as you rightly suggest.

Being able to safely warm (and maintaining the warmth) of Iso when cleaning glass with the circulator makes life so easy.

I also have an Anova, but many cheaper options now available.

It is one of those "I will never go back" methods that I will stick with unless something better comes along, which is somewhat hard to imagine.


Bill

 

[badbee]

The only better way is a heated ultrasonic cleaner, maybe. The precision of the temp control isn't really important for cleaning, you just need warmth.

 

[Spy Car]

The only better way is a heated ultrasonic cleaner, maybe. The precision of the temp control isn't really important for cleaning, you just need warmth.

I'm not sure an ultrasonic cleaner could be "better," as ISO heated by Sous Vide leaves glass sparkling clean with zero effort beyond setting up.

And ultrasonic cleaners tend to be either way too small or industrially over-sized and quite expensive vs a precision circulator.

I agree that the precision of the temp of the water-bath is unlikely to be critical. The Iso needs to be warm. But picking an effective temp (like 160 F) is super easy with a Sous Vide, needs no babtsitting, and the device has a multitude of other uses beyond bong cleaning.

I would have little purpose for an ultrasonic cleaner myself, but others might find one a multi-purpose tool. Options.

Bill

 

[Rodney]

for smaller glass I put them in a zip bag and put some iso in then put the zip bag in hot water.

Can you not put a bong and glass in dish washer with special dish washer stuff that gets rid of tobacco stains?

Just checking and you can get small dish washers cheap so could get one just for vaping stuff.

I might actually do this and report back as I have loads of dirty glass and is am too tight to be buying loads of iso.

Actually this might be a bad idea and end up with broken glass.... not sure how a dish washer works

 

[Spy Car]

for smaller glass I put them in a zip bag and put some iso in then put the zip bag in hot water.

Can you not put a bong and glass in dish washer with special dish washer stuff that gets rid of tobacco stains?

Just checking and you can get small dish washers cheap so could get one just for vaping stuff.

I might actually do this and report back as I have loads of dirty glass and is am too tight to be buying loads of iso.

Actually this might be a bad idea and end up with broken glass.... not sure how a dish washer works

Are you pulling my leg?

A separate dishwasher for bongs? LOL

The Sous Vide method would save you on Iso. The Iso can be reused. I do so.

And a Sous Vide circulator is small and increasingly inexpensive. Did I mention that Sous Vide is the bomb for cooking steaks and fish.

Or a second dishwasher. LOL

Bill

 

[LesPlenty]

not sure how a dish washer works

I use the dishwasher all the time for my bongs that pull apart like this one,

All the rest get cleaned by jamming a hose off my hot water tap in the laundry sink to flush out.

If the flush does not work (it usually does as I use citric acid and cranberry extract in my bong water) I will resort to my ultrasonic cleaner full of water set to whatever temp I want and fill the bong with iso and suspend in the UC that cost me less than a hundred bucks.
That said, my UC gets used a lot more for smaller vaping items than bongs, usually in plastic test tubes filled with iso in the UC water bath.

 

[Spy Car]

I use the dishwasher all the time for my bongs that pull apart like this one,

All the rest get cleaned by jamming a hose off my hot water tap in the laundry sink to flush out.

If the flush does not work (it usually does as I use citric acid and cranberry extract in my bong water) I will resort to my ultrasonic cleaner full of water set to whatever temp I want and fill the bong with iso and suspend in the UC that cost me less than a hundred bucks.
That said, my UC gets used a lot more for smaller vaping items than bongs, usually in plastic test tubes filled with iso in the UC water bath.

What is the purpose of the citric acid and cranberry extract in the bong water? Is it primarily to help keep the bong clean, or is there a higher purpose?

I do have a supply of citric (and malic) acids for making SuperJuice/PseudoJuice for cocktails, but for bongs?

Bill

 

[Bakin4Life]

Yes... for ease of cleaning. Here's a page on this site that details the why / how.

I found it a couple of months ago, and it works *very* well, IMO. You use this with distilled water, btw.

 

[Cheebsy]

I always combine hot water, iso and an ultrasonic cleaner too. The cleaner maintains the temp while it's operating so you don't need a heated one. All my pieces are small so they fit in the cleaner no problem. Then I use the same hot water for a UC rinse, then dry with my airizer EQ! Sparkling glass in around 15 mins!

 

[Spy Car]

Yes... for ease of cleaning. Here's a page on this site that details the why / how.

I found it a couple of months ago, and it works *very* well, IMO. You use this with distilled water, btw.

I don't think I'd want to take whatever risks might come with inhaling cranberry extract and citric acid, no matter how minute the amount, into my lungs.

YMMV.

Bill

 

[LesPlenty]

I don't think I'd want to take whatever risks might come with inhaling cranberry extract and citric acid, no matter how minute the amount, into my lungs.

About as dangerous as breathing in while sipping a cup of cranberry tea with a twist of lemon, only the bong water will be much cooler and give off less vapor.

 

[Spy Car]

About as dangerous as breathing in while sipping a cup of cranberry tea with a twist of lemon, only the bong water will be much cooler and give off less vapor.

Reasonable people can reach different conclusions, and this seems like one of those cases.

I don't think I'd wish to breath in aerosolized cranberry/lemon tisane vapor into my lungs either, and will personally stick with plain H20 myself.

Cleaning glass with precision heated Iso via the Sous Vide method is so easy, effective, and safe that the cranberry/citric acid laced bong water just doesn't appeal to me.

No judgement on those who make different choices. If I were handed a bong with "pink water" I would certainly give it a try just for the experience.

Bill

 

[buford]

PBW ("Powdered Brewery Wash"- i had to look that up) is the standard cleaner in the brewing business, and works wonders on dirty bongs. Non-toxic, environmentally safe, VERY powerful. Available wherever brewing supplies are sold.

Fill bong with hot water, add PBW, wait 15-40 minutes, rinse- sparkling clean, zero effort.

 

[666Honeybadger]

Reasonable people can reach different conclusions, and this seems like one of those cases.

I don't think I'd wish to breath in aerosolized cranberry/lemon tisane vapor into my lungs either, and will personally stick with plain H20 myself.

Fair enough, i for one never use any water so to each their own.
But to be clear:
when you vape thru water it's not like you are vaping H2O is it?
I mean: your water isn't being vaporised, it's there for the cooling/filtration.
The water isn't turning into steam mixing in with the vapor, is it?

So it's the same for the water that's spiked with cranberry/lemon: the cranberrywater (or the lemonwater) is not being heated to a vaporising point so there is no "aerosolized cranberry" in that vapor.

 

[Spy Car]

Fair enough, i for one never use any water so to each their own.
But to be clear:
when you vape thru water it's not like you are vaping H2O is it?
I mean: your water isn't being vaporised, it's there for the cooling/filtration.
The water isn't turning into steam mixing in with the vapor, is it?

So it's the same for the water that's spiked with cranberry/lemon: the cranberrywater (or the lemonwater) is not being heated to a vaporising point so there is no "aerosolized cranberry" in that vapor.

I believe that when one vapes through water that the bubbling action effectively aerosolizes some of the water in the bong and puts some (small) amount of water vapor into one's lungs. Am I incorrect in this impression?

I would also assume that any other fluid, pink water included, would be the same. Some, albeit small, amount of aerosolized bong fluid is likely to be taken into the lungs. No?

So I think it is "the same," for either fluid being present in the vapor, not as "steam" due to heat, but rather as aerosolized vapor that's been produced by the bubbling action of the bong.

Bill

 

[hirmando]

...
The Sous Vide circulator allows one to create a temperature controlled water bath. Into the "water-bath" one can place glassware like bongs filled with Iso (and 93 works fine) and/or smaller glassware sealed in ziplocks or vac bags with Iso and that goes into the water-bath.
...

Have an sous vide cooker and have used it for edibles but never considered it for cleaning! Iso and salt have been fine but this is a great alternative, thanks Spy Car!

 

[Spy Car]

Try it. I think you will like it.

I'm finding that vape is producing far less crud than combusting (no duh!) and that I can reclaim the Iso for reuse a few time and the glass still comes out sparkling clean.

I'd appreciate feedback if you decide to give the Sous Vide method a go.

Bill

 

[TigoleBitties]

So I think it is "the same," for either fluid being present in the vapor, not as "steam" due to heat, but rather as aerosolized vapor that's been produced by the bubbling action of the bong.

I don't know if I would use the word "aerosolized" but rather simple evaporation. The bubbling action doesn't do anything special but some citrus in the water and the air within the bong will cling to the evaporated water molecules and present a miniscule amount of citrus (lemon, berry, whatever...) molecules in the vapor.

I don't think this lemon or berry evaporate poses any health risk. As vaporists, we're already ready to accept aerosolized trichomes coating our lungs so I think some tiny amount of lemon or berry isn't going to prove hazardous. Just my opinion.

 

[Spy Car]

I don't know if I would use the word "aerosolized" but rather simple evaporation. The bubbling action doesn't do anything special but some citrus in the water will cling to the evaporated water molecules and present a miniscule amount of citrus (lemon, berry, whatever...) molecules in the vapor.

I don't think this lemon or berry evaporate poses any health risk. As vaporists, we're already ready to accept aerosolized trichomes coating our lungs so I think some tiny amount of lemon or berry isn't going to prove hazardous. Just my opinion.

I believe that "aerosolized" is the correct term in this case.

Drawing on a bong causes liquid to go into the air as suspension due to the bubbling action and those particulates are then inhaled.

It isn't a matter of (passive) evaporate, but rather the action of gurgling actively aerosolizing small/minute amounts of bong water.

I can't evaluate the risks. Perhaps thay are nil to none? But I'm fairly certain one would be aerosolizing some amount of pink liquid into one's lungs using a bong, and I'd rather not.

As I said previously, reasonable people can reach different conclusions. In this case, I'm feling more risk-averse that some of you all. Which is fine by me.

Bill

 

[TigoleBitties]

I believe that "aerosolized" is the correct term in this case.

Drawing on a bong causes liquid to go into the air as suspension due to the bubbling action and those particulates are then inhaled.

It isn't a matter of (passive) evaporate, but rather the action of gurgling actively aerosolizing small/minute amounts of bong water.

I can't evaluate the risks. Perhaps thay are nil to none? But I'm fairly certain one would be aerosolizing some amount of pink liquid into one's lungs using a bong, and I'd rather not.

As I said previously, reasonable people can reach different conclusions. In this case, I'm feling more risk-averse that some of you all. Which is fine by me.

Bill

I'm no expert but there's no difference to me between lemon water vapor that's evaporated or aerosolized. I think it's essentially water vapor with some lemon mixed in. I wouldn't be afraid to inhale steam from a kettle filled with lemon water for example.

It's interesting that the aerosolized oils (under high heat as well) from the trichomes bothers you less than the citrus.

 

[Spy Car]

Taking in oils (or whatever) from vaping herb is inherent to consuming (barring whatever mitigation efforts one can take in the process), where adding citric acid and cranberry extract to bong water is controllable. Yes?

I don't assume that vaping is without any risk (but better than combustion, for sure).

Color me cautious on the pink water.

Bill