NXT E-Nano

Almost none of the mess ends up in the NXT E-Nano itself. The air path is isolated, so resin builds up inside the glass stem while the shellac finished hardwood shell stays clean, and the only debris the unit collects is loose herb that drops into the well around the ceramic core.

1. Unplug and let it cool: The NXT runs off a detachable 2.5 metre cord with the temperature dial built into it. Pull the cord at the unit and give the heater port time to cool before you touch it.

2. Brush the heater after each session: Sweep loose herb off the metal heater port with a small brush, then tip the unit to empty the well. Left switched on for most of a day, those stray bits cook into a sticky film.

3. Clean the core carefully: A blast of compressed air clears the port, and a cotton swab dampened with isopropyl lifts baked on residue. Keep the swab barely wet and never let alcohol run down into the heater or onto the wood.

4. Never put alcohol or citrus on the body: Epickai finishes the NXT in natural shellac with no lacquer or paint over it, and both alcohol and citrus based cleaners damage that finish. A cloth dampened with plain water is all the exterior and the aluminium base ever need. The body is never soaked or rinsed.

5. Soak the glass stems: The NXT takes standard OG size E-Nano glass, not the larger XL stems. Pull the silicone stem guard off first, then separate any parts that twist apart. Epickai asks for isopropyl at 91 percent or higher, a ten to fifteen minute soak with salt as an abrasive, or half an hour and up for neglected glass. Rinse with water and allow an hour or two of drying before the stem goes back on.

6. Replace the basket screens: The stainless basket screens clog well before they wear out, and swapping one is easiest right after a soak. Push the old screen out with the E-pick, a chopstick or a pencil eraser, then seat the replacement at the depth you want, since screen position sets bowl size on the adjustable stems.

7. Clean gong adapters in a tube: Water pipe adapters clean fastest sealed in a tube with rubbing alcohol, shaken, then rinsed and dried.

Stems want attention every few uses. Keep concentrates to a rice grain on a gong stem rather than the straight glass: oil running down into the heater is one of the few things that will kill an NXT, and the lifetime ceramic heater warranty needs the serial number printed on the base.