REELY? DUDE?
People down, down under use IPA to soak their hoppers....
What a novel idea, I use it to soak myself.
Haha, really.
IPA is colloquial for craft beer but internationally regarded in the chemistry and hopper world as isopropyl alcohol
Obviously contextually I'm talking about chemicals, and if I wasn't I'd need to reference a drink for IPA to be relevant. But enjoy your beverage
Does it really void the warranty?
Well, technically, if you follow the wording of the included manual it voids the warranty.
However the online version currently makes it a grey area as long as the device is off.
Whilst that's still referenced by HL I guess it won't be risky, but it's a risky procedure (there would be no other reason for the OEM to cease recommending it to users)
That film of residue that you talked about should actually be all over the heater area, and I would assume even on the led light, even without the deep IPA cleaning... This might be how a mulfunction comes up in the first place. Herbs are vaped, vapor can enter every crevice around heater area with the slightest blow-back, film is formed while cooling down. Unfortynatelly on the sensor as well! This film though should be the first thing evaporated aroind the heater when it engages. I can't see how it could cause problems.
Yes there is resin created during normal device use, though most of it is contained on the chamber walls and extremities of the heater. Internally there shouldn't be much residue, although it would build up over time as it is totally enclosed.
If you dissolve all the large deposits of resin and then force the liquid through the device, then more resin will make it further through the complex heater (which is cold) condensing it and trapping it.
This adds extra thermal mass and restricts airflow.
Normally empty hits at full temp removes and clears that up.
It might be the same, better or worse after an IPA soak but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that alcohol and the GH inside do not match well. Even official company communication declares this
When using IPA to clean circuit boards, a rag is needed to wipe away residue. Liquefying that residue and dispersing it could easily cause problems, that's why it's removed.
Without being able to see into, and not knowing what's there, when the only people who do don't recommend IPA soaking, it's just not best practice and if not currently will soon properly void warranty