Vapor residual harder to clean off glass??

[WoodVillain]

Is it just me or does vaping in a bubbler make it harder to clean than just combusting?

Well i guess its both vape and combust makes it harder to clean than just combust. I have never ONLY vaped in a bubbler...

But, use to when i was only combusting in it, i could clean my FC-187 in just a couple minutes. Literally. Id pour the ISO and salt in, shake the hell out of it, then rinse in scolding hot water several times and it would look like new. EVERY TIME.

Now that im also using it to vape occasionally its getting much harder to clean, i go through the same method several times and the tube on the inside still has a "haze" on it and a few black spots that dont want to come off.

I left it soaking with 99% ISO, in a sink full of really hot water, double boiler like, and waited a couple hours, rinsed... still a little dirty in there....

Im far from a genius, but the only conclusion i can come up with is that residual from vaping is harder to break down than the residual from combusting???

OR....With their powers combined....

 

[Walter Bishop]

Can't give you a scientific answer. But my personal observations agree with you.

After vaping, there's always a bit of film or haze which I can't get out no matter what I use. I've used Iso and salt, grunge off, simple green. The haze remains.

When I used to combust, I could get my glass like new spotless with any of those methods.

 

[WoodVillain]

The haze is not white, its brownish. I always use bottled spring water for my pieces, it has never made them harder to clean before. And im still cleaning them just as frequently... well trying to anyways LOL

The only thing added, or done differently is the vapor, so while i didnt want it to be the case... Im thinking its the vapor ???



Walter Bishop. Love the screen name and avatar bud.

 

[WoodVillain]

I have tried salt with ISO. Regular salt, rock salt, even epsom salt. No joke. Usually just table salt and ISO would get them clean with no problems. I wouldnt mind water spots as much, but i dont have any water spots, just an area with a brown haze on the inner tube connecting the perc.

I go through lots of sessions, i change the water and thoroughly rinse out the piece im using every day, and do a deep clean at least once a week. I have done it this way forever. But never had any issues getting a simple glass bubbler like this clean before.. Until vaping through it.

Im sure there is some science to it... Something like vapor is smaller/lighter particles so it penetrates deeper, and into areas not reachable by combustion resin.... Thats my guess... But again, im not the most educated either and im just trying to understand the reason, or if im just crazy LOL...

 

[UnshavenFish]

PBW could help maybe, I don't use it myself but have heard others use it with success.

 

[OF]

Beats me guys, it's been so long since I've combusted and then it wasn't in glass often enough to worry about.

For sure the residue of combustion is entirely different from condensate in your vape. The first is a collection of junk in random lumps the other a film (potentially) laid down layer on layer of the same chemicals. More like paint in that. Which is why I think PBW is superior to solvents and most (if not all) detergents. It's intended to attack just what we're offering, goo, and it uses oxygenator to get in under deposits, buffers to keep the 'acid/base thing' in line (modestly alkaline, FWIW, safe on your skin) and chelation agents to allow the use of quite hard water, harder than you're likely to find this side of well water.

I'd suggest giving it a go. There's a whole lot of guys more picky about their glass than I am that are mighty happy with the results swapping stories and pictures over on T-dub's forum on PBW.

OF

 

[MinnBobber]

Distilled water for best results as spring water still has all it's minerals, which make mineral deposits on your glass.
PBW ( powdered brewery wash) cleans my glass spotless.

not sure if combusting + vaping = worse deposits as I never combust.
Try PBW, easy soak with it dissolved in hot water, 10 minutes and glass is spotless.....

 

[WoodVillain]

Found some PBW on Amazon, and I will give that a try.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[max]

PBW and distilled water. No water spots or film with distilled, and PBW is a very effective, safe cleaner. I have a stainless steel coffee carafe that does get stained on the inside by coffee. I can fill it with water, add PBW and just let it sit. If I don't let it sit long enough I may have to repeat to get it all clean, but no scrubbing is needed. Great stuff.

Found some PBW on Amazon

That's where I got mine. The 4 lb. container is a good buy and will last forever unless you have a lot more uses for it besides cleaning waterpipes and coffee carafes.

 

[OF]

That's where I got mine. The 4 lb. container is a good buy and will last forever unless you have a lot more uses for it besides cleaning waterpipes and coffee carafes.

Amen to that. Depending on your age and specific consumption perhaps even a lifetime supply.......

You can also often get it (in smaller quantities) at 'home brewing shops'.

OF

 

[h3rbalist]

Bottled or tap water would contain dissolved solids and combined with vapor in my opinion may create the stains you are talking about.

I use RO/DI water with a TDS reading of 3 in my glass piece and do not get any staining or streaking. Just resin build up that comes right off with ISO 99%.

You can pick up RO/DI at most aquarium shops few a couple of $$$.

 

[Frederick McGuire]

That's where I got mine. The 4 lb. container is a good buy and will last forever unless you have a lot more uses for it besides cleaning waterpipes and coffee carafes.

I'm on my 2nd 1 lb pack of PBW in like 2/3 years

To say a 4 lb pack would be a 10 year supply is accurate

 

[hafalump]

Unless you been fermenting stuff in the basement. I go through tuns of this. If it ain't working, mix it stronger. This will despooge the nasty of the nasty. Keep glass full, stopper all ends, and rinse the outside.
Hotter watter best, but don't shock the piece

 

[WoodVillain]

Ordered the PBW at 12:08am, should have it TODAY. I hate the city i live in, but i love that Amazon can deliver me stuff same day delivery on a Sunday for only a few bucks more than the standard cheapest shipping option.

Ordered the 1lb. Only have 1 water piece now and its small so this should last a while i hope.

A few questions on the PBW from you experienced fellas,

How much do i use in a little bubbler? (fc-187)

Can i just pour a little powder directly in, or do i need to dissolve it in hot water first or something?

Can this stuff be used on/in color glass or will it strip the color? Like could i make a solution and dip pipes to soak that are colorful? For instance...

Thanks everyone. Hopefully this time tomorrow its back sparkling like new

 

[OF]

How much do i use in a little bubbler? (fc-187)

Can i just pour a little powder directly in, or do i need to dissolve it in hot water first or something?

Can this stuff be used on/in color glass or will it strip the color? Like could i make a solution and dip pipes to soak that are colorful? For instance...

I have a small SS scoop, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon. I'd use a 'full but not heaping' scoop as a first pass, adjusting based on results. It usually doesn't take very much.

No, don't dissolve it first, it starts generating Oxygen when it gets wet, best to not waste that action. I dump the PBW and fill it up with hot tap water (run it to get it hot). I usually prefill and dump the WT a time or two as the water heats up to preheat the glass (avoid shocks and keep it hot longer). Heat and time do the deed, keep it hot and don't rush it (say5 or even 10 minutes until it's cool). Don't be shy about 'two washes' if needed.

I know most guys are big on filling the WT completely, but IMO that's not needed anymore than you have to completely fill the dishwasher. As long as the dirty parts are kept wet with the solution you should do fine. Sometimes I cork up the ends and just invert/shake it a few times, letting it soak between shakes and results are good. Play with it some.

Don't forget to try some in the dishwasher, it does a job on the deposits there. No reason not to keep the wife on board?

It 'freely rinses' (meaning no soap film) so I give it a few quick 'small rinses' (partial fills) in hot water and drain as much water as will come the final time before filling it back up.

Great stuff, better down the drain that ISO, not toxic, gentler on the skin, and not a fire/explosion hazard. And it's cheaper. And works better.......what's not to like?

OF

 

[MinnBobber]

I'm similar to OF techinique but I probably use less than 1/8 teaspoon.

I also pre-warm the piece with hottest tap water, to not shock the glass as I get my mixture hotter than tap water.

I premix as I don't want my Mobius in the microwave.
- I fill bubbler with plain water (Ratchett silicone plugs for two holes) and then dump water in microwaveable piece.
- Fill bubbler again with hottest tap water. Gets piece halfway up to temp.
- Microwave my water/PBW mix to very hot but well below boiling.
- Dump hot tap water from bubbler.
- Add hotter PBW mix and let it stand 10 minutes.
- Dump and rinse, rinse, rinse and it is spotless.
- Fill with distilled water and good to go.

At other end of spectrum, those that used way more powder and keep it in there much much longer (like overnight) reported that it leaves white spots.

It is billed as being mild so will it be safe on colored glass? Do you have any cheap cheap colored glass to try it on?
Good luck

 

[t-dub]

The colored glass will be ok as long as the color is part of the glass and not applied to its surface. PBW will help remove cheap labels. I had a Zob diffuser with a cheap label that faded a bit and came off on the towel when drying, however, all of the high quality color work on my glass thats actually "in vitro" has never been harmed by PBW.

More info in my thread here: http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/pbw-the-chemistry-of-clean.7854/

Edit: Definitely use some in the dishwasher . . . works great!!!

 

[WoodVillain]

Got the PBW. Started with 1/4 teaspoon and HOT water and soaked for 5 minutes, timed. Rinsed it multiple times but the brown haze around about 1" of the inner tube was still there. I honestly didnt notice any difference from it and 99% alcohol and salt rinses.

Went up to 1 teaspoon in even hotter water and soaked for 15 minutes, timed. Rinsed multiple times in hot water. This worked a little better.

After this it was still there, but just barely visible in the right light, with water in it. In fact when i emptied it i thought it was completely clean until i filled it back up with water and put it in brighter light.

I believe if i leave it soak longer it will do the job... But after the above it looked good enough to me and i went back to dirtying it again



Also, At the moment me and the wife are the dishwashers.... So ill refrain from pouring any into myself or my wife... That couldnt end well

Thanks everyone for all the info, and i will check out the PBW thread for more info as well!!

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Look into Cranberry Extract. A few drops in the water and you'll only need a hot water rinse to clean your piece out, and keep it shiny. Iso+salt is good for sterilizing the pieces tho, and getting the dry parts that still get vapor stuck to them.

 

[WoodVillain]

Does it alter the taste?

Well... i like cranberry juice, so i guess even if it did a little it wouldnt bother me.. Thanks for the tip, i will indeed give it a try!

 

[Frederick McGuire]

I don't particularly like the taste of cranberry, and I haven't noticed any added taste from cranberry extract.

 

[t-dub]

Well... i like cranberry juice . . .

Do not use cranberry juice its full of sugar and won't work. You need cranberry extract from like Botanic Choice (BC) or Nature's Answer Cranberry Extract (NACE). You can use RezBlock from 420 Science but the extracts are much less expensive and do the same job. The Amazon links are a good place to start but sometimes better deals can be found elsewhere with discount codes etc . . .

See my thread for more info: http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/rezblock-cranberry-extract.8060/

Edit:

Does it alter the taste?

Of your vapor? No . . .

 

[WoodVillain]

LOL, i wont use juice just saying i like the flavor so if it did alter taste it wouldnt bother me much.

 

[PoopMachine]

I bought some stuff out in Denver that had a heavy acetone smell to it. It was for cleaning up really resin'd up rigs. It worked like a champ. Practically ate the stuff off.

I wish I could remember the name but maybe someone else will know.

 

[mrgohamilton]

Cranberry Extract has greatly minimized the cleanings and nasty floaties in my pieces thats for sure.

A hot water rinse gets just about everything thats left as well when I clean them.
Havent noticed a flavor really (you only need a couple drops)