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[Updated] Vape Pen 101 - What is a Vape Pen & How to use it?
[Updated] Vape Pen 101 - What is a Vape Pen & How to use it?
The popularity graph for a vape pen is a steep line that refuses to bow down. Evolved from e-cigarettes, vape pens became quite a trending thing in the early 2000s and have just become better with time and technology. From a cannabis enthusiast to a simple nicotine and tobacco lover, everybody finds a common ground when it comes to vaporizers. And it is rightly acclaimed to be so awesome!
In this article, we will be talking about what is a vape pen, its various parts and controls, and a step-by-step guide to use them. By the end of this, you're gonna be a vape expert and can flaunt the knowledge with your homies.
If you have queries like how do vape pen work, how do you use a vape pen, and other similar questions, keep reading on. Cover yourself cause’ we are gonna drop some knowledge bombs today!
Let's get started!
What is a Vape Pen?
Vape pens were an evolution of the good ol' E-cigarette which was designed for a discreet, easy, and portable smoking session. Shaped in a cylindrical style which resembles a pen, it quickly caught on with the smoking enthusiast and the companies kept bringing better technology, longer battery times, and other attractive features to the forefront.
They are a hand held power device which uses a rechargeable battery to heat the content in order to produce a vapour which is then inhaled by the user.
Unlike other ways of smoking which involve burning the material to produce smoke, vaporizers use heat or hot air to heat their material just enough to produce vapour without burning it. They are known as convection and conduction methods and owe a lot to the growing demand of vape. The different types of vape pen have infiltrated the smoking market and there has never been a device more in demand.
Now that we know what is a vape pen, let's move forward and understand its working.
How does a vape pen work?
The first step in the beginners guide to vaping is to understand how these compact devices work.
Vape pens are constructed in a simple way with 4-5 parts that are essential to its working. Making use of a lithium-ion battery, the power is used to heat the chamber or cartridge through the atomizer. This is the place where the herb, tobacco, oil, or dabs are placed. Once the heat is enough to produce vapour, you can use the mouthpiece to inhale it.
Vapes have evolved overtime to accommodate features like better temperature control, precision heat, and a smooth toke but the essence of the working of the vape is as described above.
The vape cartridge is where the magic happens. It is here that you place your green herbs or sticky concentrates, and the hot air/heat vapourize it to create the heavenly cloud of smoke. More on that later!
So far, we have covered what is a vape pen, and it's working; let's look at the different parts which will help you understand it better.
Parts of a Vape Pen
Before we get started with beginners' guide to e cigs and vape pen and their usage, let’s take an in-depth look at their various parts.
Let's get familiar with the individual parts of the vape that make up the unit. Using a vape pen becomes infinitely easier and convenient when we know the different parts.
There are five different parts and these consists of:
- Rechargeable Battery: This is one of the most essential parts since, without this, there would be no heat. Most vaporizers use a lithium-ion battery, similar to that of your phone but the power may differ from one another. These are rechargeable and come with a USB cable.
- Atomizer: This is placed with the battery and the mouthpiece and is responsible for heating the smoking element.
- Tank/Cartridge/chamber: This is the place where your smoking element is placed. If you're using a pre-filled cartridge, this is where you unscrew and add a new one. In the case of e-liquids and oils, this is the tank that holds them. And in case of herbs and wax, vape cartridges are where you load them.
- Sensor and software: The usage and working of this part vary for different vape pens as it is largely dependent on the features of the pen. For example, whether it is an automatic draw or push-button type, and the extent of temperature control, etc.
- Mouthpiece: Attached to the heating chamber, this is from where you inhale the flavoursome vapour.
Types of Vape Pens
We know what is a vape pen, but there are so many types that you may get confused. Let's make this more simple for you. The different types of vapes are divided on the basis of what is being vapes, the battery usage, and the user-interface. It becomes infinitely easier when you understand the various features that the vape pen offers, and how you can distinguish between them.
| Read More: How to use the DynaVap VapCap - The Ultimate Guide |
What is being vaped?
This is an important question while looking for a vaping device. There are some devices which are compatible with multiple types, but more often than not, you will find vaporizers that are built for specific smoking material. Decide whether you want to smoke dry herbs, dabs, oils, or simple e-liquids and then look for the compatible vape pen. The different types of vape pen will involve different types of skills - For example, with a wax pen, you would have to know how to put wax in a cartridge whereas with oil pens, there would be another mechanism.
Rechargeable & disposable vape pens
The heading makes the distinction pretty clear. A rechargeable vape pen is powered by a rechargeable battery which can be used again and again by powering it up, plugging it in. On the other hand, disposable vapes are an all-in-one unit which makes use of a battery(non-rechargeable), a pre-filled tank, and a coil for heating it. Once you're done using it, you will have to discard it as it is of no further use.
Push-button and draw-activated vape pens
Draw activated vapes do not make use of any button while the user is inhaling the vapour, which is why it is also called a buttonless vape(vape pen without button). The no-button vape pen makes use of the following mechanism -when the user takes a puff or "draw" through the mouthpiece, the air inside the vape alerts the atomizer which then starts heating the material. Once you are done inhaling, it will stop heating and turn off. For all those who were curious about how to use push button vape pens- it is just that simple.
A push-button vape makes use of a button which has to be pressed while inhaling in order to awaken the atomizer. This is also used to vape at different temperatures and gives the freedom to the user. The buttons are also used to turn the vape on and off.
At Olivastu, the best online vape shop in the UK, we stock all kinds of vape pen for a seamless and authentic experience.
How to use vape pen- A step by step guide
With so many different types of vape pens in the market, it becomes difficult to know the functioning of each one of them. Here we will be discussing the most basic way to use a vape pen which will help you ease the vaping journey.
Step 1: Charge Your Pen
When you unbox your equipment, it needs to be charged before you can toke it. The USB cable is always provided with the vape pen and you can simply plug it in the socket and charge it completely. Use the laptop socket or a wall adapter. Make sure you use the original charger and keep it safe, as other chargers can hamper the battery or its life.
Wait until it is completely charged; this might take a while.
Step 2: Instructions!
There is a reason why every smoking equipment comes with a manual. It's because nobody knows it better than the manufacturer. Even though you're going to learn how to use the vape pen in this article, it is always a good idea to give the instruction paper a look as there may be specific dos and don'ts that you shouldn't miss out on.
The manual will also guide you on how to care for the vape pen when to replace the parts and other intricate details. Using a vape pen doesn’t involve much technical knowledge but it is always a good idea to take a look at the manual.
Step 3: Dry it
This step involves heating your vaporizer without any vape element or material. This is done to burn off any residue which may have been left behind during the manufacturing process. You will be assured to have a clean and pure vapour. To do this, simply turn on the unit, set it at the highest temperature, and leave it for about 30-60 seconds.
Step 4: It's time to load
If you're using a wax vape pen, you want to make use of a dabbing tool or a scoop to place the material from the container to the coil. In the case of oils, you will be required to pour it into the oil tank. Similarly, your dry herbs also go into the heating chamber/vape cartridge but make sure you shred it finely before doing so.
Make sure you don't pack it too tightly as it needs the air to breathe. Additionally, you can refer to the manual for directions.
Step 5: It's ready to be used
We have already discussed the two types of vaporizers. One will involve pushing down a button while inhaling, while the other will simply ask you to place the mouthpiece on your lips and inhale it in or popularly known as the no button vape pen.
To switch on and off, you need to click the button 5 times, and to adjust the temperature, click it 3 times. This is the standard process but make sure you read the instruction to know if it differs from the stated method.
Once you're in the moment and vaping, make sure you give yourself break and allow the material to take over you. Go slow and wait for the effect as it may take more time than usual.
FAQs
How to use the push button vape pen?
Push Button Vape Pen are very simple to use. You just need to push the button 5 times, and when the light is flashing, you can push and hold the button as you inhale. To switch it off, you can click the button 5 times to turn it off.
How long does it take for a vape to charge?
There is no certain answer to this question as every model will have different charging time. It depends on the type of battery that has been used in the vape. Generally, it shouldn’t take more than 4-5 hours to charge.
This brings us to the end of our article. You know what is a vape pen, its various types, and how to use it. Hope you liked this crash course on vape pens. Leave your comments below if you have any doubts and questions.
Till then, keep toking with Olivastu.