What Are Vape Pens and How Do They Work?

Are you new to the world of vape pens and curious how they work? While many people associate vapes with smoking flavored liquid that contains nicotine, this is not the only reason people utilize this convenient method for “smoking.” Marijuana can also be used in many vape pens. 

Vape pens have skyrocketed in popularity for marijuana users in recent years. They’re simple to use, highly discreet, and small enough to easily transport. A quick look at a selection of these pens will show you that they come with a range of features and are offered in a shocking number of styles. Keep reading to learn more about vape pens and why they are so common today.

What Is a Vape Pen?

Vape pens are advanced vaping tools used to consume weed, CBD, and other cannabis products. There are many reasons that modern marijuana consumers choose weed pens. They’re largely inexpensive, endlessly portable, and totally convenient. No matter what design or features you want, there’s likely a vape pen that meets your preferences.

vaporizer-pen

How Does a Vape Pen Work?

People who use a smoke pen are utilizing a battery-operated tool to inhale vaporized plant material or liquid concentrate. It may contain marijuana, nicotine, flavorings, and other additives. While there are different kinds of vape pens, the basic operation is the same in most of them.

When someone uses a vape pen, puffing on it or pushing a button causes the heating device to come on. Once that happens, the person using it inhales the vapor or aerosol to take in the contents inside the vaping device.   

The vaporizer heats the concentrate or flower to the optimal temperature and may flash when it’s ready for someone to inhale. Most vape pens heat the materials to around 355 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This is below the temperature of combustion which makes it smoother than smoking a joint or bowl.

START SHOPPING NOW

Is Smoking a Vape Pen Harmful?

Using a vaporizer pen is generally not considered to be harmful. The products are still fairly new and the research isn’t conclusive. However, many of the existing studies show that vaping tends to be less harmful than smoking. Toxic chemicals are generally not included in concentrates for vaping.

There is no clear evidence that vaping causes cancer or other illnesses. However, some people may experience coughing, headaches, or mouth irritation after using them. Side effects like this often lessen or go away after continued use. At this time, long-term effects are not known.

What Is In a Vape Pen?

You might be familiar with people you know using a vape pen with nicotine. Weed concentrates typically do not contain this substance. The major parts of a vape pen include a heating element, a battery power source, a wick, and a tank or cartridge that contains marijuana or weed-based products. A mouthpiece is also included and lets the user inhale the vapor from the device.

Rather than including nicotine, these pens usually have a mixture of terpenes, cannabinoids, flavoring additives, and solvents that act as thinning agents. It’s important to research what is included in the cannabis oils you choose to purchase. Some may contain more or less of the substances you desire.

vape-pens

Types of Vape Pens

There are several types of vape pens available on the market depending on how you would like to use yours. Vape pen is a term that describes all of them but they all have unique features. Most of them have the parts noted above, but some also have things like temperature control or an LCD screen. 

  • Vape pens – Vape pens have a battery and cartridge for marijuana oil. Some are reusable while others are disposable. When purchasing pens and cartridges, choose high-quality products without fillers or unsafe ingredients for the best experience.
  • Dab pens – Dab pens, sometimes called wax pens, are used for dabs or cannabis concentrates. These are similar to vape pens but require more knowledge to use. You place the wax into the chamber, reassemble, and then use it. These pens can be used with shatter, wax, budder, and badder.
  • Flower vape pens – Flower pens are used to vaporize marijuana flower. These tend to be wider than typical vape pens but have the same components. Users choose pens to avoid the trouble of rolling a joint or packing a bowl. Regular maintenance is required to keep them in good shape.

How to Use a Vape Pen

Most vape pens work in largely the same way. However, different kinds of vapes might have additional features you can use. The first thing to check when choosing a vape pen is whether it is compatible with THC oils and concentrates. If it is, it can be used to vape weed in states where it is legal to do so.

After you have a vape pen available, you’ll want to fill the chamber with oil, flower, or concentrate. The pen will have a power button (often on the side of the device) that you can press to heat the liquid inside the chamber. Be sure you follow any safety instructions that come with your pen, as they get extremely hot while in use.

How to Clean a Vape Pen?

After you’ve used a vape pen, it needs to be cleaned. There are multiple ways to do this but we’ll be sharing the most efficient method. If your pen isn’t working as well as it used to, it likely needs to be cleaned. You can follow the steps below:

  1. Disassemble – Use the vape manual to learn how to disassemble the device. This is important so you can get to all the components for a proper cleaning. If the vape has been leaking, wipe off the concentrate before moving forward.
  2. Clean – Remove any debris on the vape, whether it’s oil or bud. Most parts can soak in plain water, diluted rubbing alcohol, or water with dish soap but check the manual. A vape brush can be useful to get all the grime out of the device. Do not soak any heating elements or electronic parts unless your pen’s instructions say it’s safe to do so.
  3. Rinse – Next, you want to wash off all the parts of the vape. This is important unless you used nothing but clean water to get the debris off your pen.
  4. . Dry and reassemble – Use a paper towel to dry all the components. Make sure they are dry before you reassemble. If water is left inside, it can cause issues.

Are Vape Pens Better Than Disposables?

When choosing between vape types, you need to choose a reusable or a disposable. Rechargeable pens tend to be considered better as they cost less over time. Disposable vapes might last a few days while vape pens can last for years with proper cleaning and maintenance. It also creates less waste to choose a permanent weed pen.

Where to Buy a Vape Pen?

When you need a quality liquid vape pen for your marijuana use, you can trust the experts at Verts Neighborhood Dispensary to provide exactly what you desire. We offer a selection of vape pens, concentrates, and other products for medical and recreational use. You can learn more about our dispensary or step inside one of our physical locations to make a purchase.

Scroll to top