Vape pens have become one of the most popular options when it comes to the consumption of cannabis. These reusable pens are an excellent alternative to rolling joints or consuming cannabis through other methods. However, vape pens can be difficult to understand if you’ve never used one before. Many of them come in kits with a number of components that must be put together and may need to be replaced at certain points. The following will explain the various parts and the roles they play in your vaping experience.
Mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is the part of the vape pen through which you inhale the vapors, as the name suggests. These pieces are typically made from glass, plastic or silicone and are often replaceable. You can find mouthpieces in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes so you can find the one that’s most comfortable for you and gives your vape pen that touch of flare and personality.
Cartridge or Tank
The cannabis oil is placed into the cartridge or tank part of the vape pen. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, they are two different types for this part of the pen. A cartridge is generally pre-filled with cannabis oil to help eliminate the need for messy refills, while tanks are usually refillable and require you to purchase cannabis oil separately. If you do use tanks, take note of the fill line on the tank and take care not to overfill it.
Atomizer
The atomizer is typically a part located inside the cartridge or tank. This component is responsible for generating the heat needed to turn the cannabis oil into its vapor form so you can inhale it. It’s typically housed in a ceramic or steel housing in order to protect it. There are several materials from which the atomizer can be made so you will need to do your research and try them out to find out which one works best for yo. Atomizers can be made from ceramic, quartz or cotton wick. The cotton wick atomizer is wrapped in a metal coil. Cannabis oil is absorbed into the cotton and heated by the wire coil. While these atomizers are typically cheaper than other types, they can burn a bit, leaving a burnt taste when you inhale the vapors. Wire-wrapped ceramic atomizers have grown in popularity because they have good heat retention, but they do use higher voltages. Quartz atomizers heat up quickly but don’t retain their heat as well as ceramic ones.
Power Button and Sensor
Some vape pens require you to push and hold a power button while you inhale, triggering the sensor that tells the atomizer to heat up to release vapors. Others are activated by drawing on the mouthpiece. If you choose a vape pen that features a power button, it typically needs to be pressed five times to turn it on and another five times to turn it off in order to prevent accidental activation if your vape pen is in your pocket or another location where it may be pressed unintentionally. Some pens also allow you to choose a temperature.
Battery
The final component of most vape pens is a battery that provides the power the atomizer needs to heat up. Most include a lithium ion battery that can be recharged via USB cable or other power cable. Some vape pens include power options so you can select how much power the vape pen gets, impacting the potency of the cannabis you inhale.