With vaping becoming more and more popular, it’s important to understand how to properly use and care for a vape pen. While it’s mostly self-explanatory, there are some tips that even seasoned vapers can benefit from.
It’s not just proper use, either. You need to know how to care for and clean your vape pen. This is especially important if you vape weed because neglecting cleaning will lead to burnt flavors.
Nobody wants that and you know it.
Check out this guide to better understand how to use a vape pen as well as tips on caring for, charging, and cleaning your vape pen, too. We got you!
get to know the parts and pieces
Alright, before we get started, you need to understand the parts and pieces of a vape pen. There are different types of vape pens, but these terms are generic enough they work across the board. These are the main parts:
Battery or power source
Heating element
Cartridge or vape tank
Mouthpiece
Of course, your vape pen will probably have a power button and some settings that you can adjust, too. We will talk about settings more in a bit, so you can enjoy that vape juice.
The battery will vary. Some models are disposable vape pens, which means they aren’t meant to be charged. Other vape pens are rechargeable for the most part. They have a lithium battery or lithium ion battery that should last a while. Pay attention to the charge and how often you need to charge so you don’t run out of battery juice when you’re out and about.
The heating coil is where the magic happens. This element is sometimes called an atomizer. They mean the same thing. The heating element takes the weed or concentrate oil that you have in your tank and creates vapor production. It’s got a big job.
The cartridge, or tank, is what holds your vape juice. Depending on your preferences, you might have something like delta-8 THC or something totally different like a live rosin.
The truth is there are endless possibilities. Most of the time, the cartridge has an extracted oil form of the cannabis product in it, but there are some larger vape devices that you can put the plant matter in.
And then we have the mouthpiece. It’s where you put your mouth and inhale the vapor. You can find different mouthpieces, including a glass mouthpiece. These might affect your experience, so find something that is comfortable and won’t affect your product or intake.
choose the right vape cartridge
Alright, before you can start vaping, you need to choose a cartridge to put in your vape pen. Make sure you use a cartridge compatible with your vaporizer.
This is sometimes a hard process, especially if you are new to vaping weed. The thing is, there are a wide variety of options, and they can become overwhelming. It’s also ok to experiment and figure out the things you do or do not like.
Cartridges come in various sizes, shapes, and materials. We all have our preferences, so you should know that just because your bestie Joe likes a certain one doesn’t mean you will love it, too. These are some of the different types of cartridges you might come across:
Prefilled cartridge – already contains cannabis oil, the most common choice, so you don’t have to fill your own
Refillable cartridges – if you like DIY you can fill your cartridge as you please with what you please
Disposable cartridges – meant to be used until the oil is gone and then you throw it out and get a new one
This does not take into account different flavors or strains. That’s where your personal preference comes in. You should also know that your vape pen may not work with all of these cartridge options, so make sure you know your device.
charge up the battery
When you buy a vape pen, it might have some charge with it. We recommend you charge it right out the gate to get it fully charged and ready to use. If you use a disposable vape pen, charging won’t be necessary. Otherwise, you likely have a rechargeable vape pen battery that is easy to track.
Most vape pens just connect to a USB port or charger to make it easy. That means you can charge from anywhere. You can plug that USB into a wall port or just a USB port in your car if you want.
All vape pens are going to have different charging needs, but there should be some sort of indicator or light that shows when you are charging and when the battery is fully charged, too.
When you do charge, charging to 100% will ensure you get the best performance when you use your vape pen.
ready for activation
We’re almost there in our journey of how to vape. Let’s walk through activating your vape pen. Don’t roll your eyes, it’s not always just as easy as pressing the power button. Remember that different vape pens work in different ways – there’s magic in the heating chamber!
For example, if you buy a vape pen that is activated by drawing from the mouthpiece, you will never find the power button you are searching for. It’s not defective, it just works differently.
Some people feel the added step of a button is just a nuisance, so push-button vape pens are not for them. Then there are the ones who forget to push the button only to be disappointed when they take a hit. Ultimately, one is not better than the other. It just depends on what you like or prefer.
