By 
Some of you are considering making your first herb vaporizer purchase, while others have been using vaporizers for years. This list will appeal to both experienced and new users, covering all aspects of the experience.
Herb Quality
It’s easy to overlook the quality of your flower when trying to get good results with a vaporizer. The quality of your ingredients is just as important, if not more so, than the way you prepare them. This is also true for vaping, especially when using a Herb Vaporizer in NZ.
If your flower isn’t good, it won’t contain as much active material. The visible vapour that you see is all the active material being converted into vapor. If there isn’t much active material in the flower, you won’t be able to see much.
If your flower does not smell great, it will not taste good. In terms of vapour production, if your flower doesn’t smell amazing, it won’t taste great. All it comes down to is quality.
Grinding
It is possible to use any vaporizer with a whole flower. However, grinding your flower properly will produce a superior vapour and flavor. A medium-fine to medium-coarse grind works best for most vaporizers. I’ve found that very few devices work better with a finer grind. A medium-fine grind ensures that enough surface is exposed to heat for all active ingredients to be vaporized.
When you use whole flowers or a coarse grind, the active ingredients are hidden in the larger pieces and will not be exposed to heat. They won’t vaporize. If you grind the material too fine, the material will not sit correctly in the vaporizer when you inhale. It will either get sucked into the intake hole or clump at the top. This will lead to poor vaporization, and your device will need to be maintained frequently.
Moisture Content
It’s like Goldilocks when it comes to moisture. It’s important to get the right balance between being too moist and too dry. If your flower is too wet, it can also be sticky. This makes it more likely to clump when being vaporized. When the flower is very moist, the first few hits are used to dry out the moisture and not to vaporize. Once the moisture has been removed, the active material can be vaporized.
The flower requires moisture to ensure that the pieces stick together. The vapour is harsher when the flower is dry, so I avoid it. Only a really dry flower will produce the best vapour, as there is no need to evaporate moisture while heating the flower. All the heat is directed into the production of vapour.
There aren’t many devices that work well when they’re not fully loaded, because the material will move around like a tornado while you inhale, and it won’t get properly vaporized.
Some vapes come with huge bowls, and I don’t like to fill a large bowl because I want to refresh the flavor often. Instead of half-filling a bowl, you should use a tool to allow you to fill it up to capacity with a smaller bowl. Our vaping through water though, the added cooling power means I usually start at 395degF, and work my way all the way up to 410degF, depending on what vaporizer I’m using.
Remember that the temperature has an impact on both the visible vapour and the effects. At lower temperatures I feel the effects are more cerebral, light and energetic. However, at higher temperatures I get a stony sensation in my body, which I like to call the Family Guy Effect. So experiment with different temperatures until you find what works best for you. When you hear the vaporizer alerting you that the device has reached temperature, the flower may not be there yet. Wait 10 to 30 seconds before hitting your device after it alerts you.
Inhalation Speed
It is this factor that makes many new users have a bad time. Most people who have never used a vaporizer are used to smoking cannabis. They are therefore used to inhaling through a bong, a joint or a glasspipe. The way you inhale from a bong, joint, or glass pipe is very different than how you should use a vaporizer. Some people even try to use their vapes like a regular cigarette.
I imagine hitting a vaporizer as a whisper, compared to the scream that comes from hitting a glasspipe. When using a vape, you should inhale slowly and consistently. When used as intended, the heaters on vapes can produce plenty of heat. However, if you inhale hard enough you will pull out more heat than what is possible for such a short period.
Inhalation Duration
Second, new users tend to take short puffs from the joint. To get the best results, take slow and long draws instead of taking many short and spaced-out hits. It takes time for heat to penetrate the flower, converting the active material into vapour. If you don’t allow the air to circulate through the material long enough, the material won’t vaporize.
It takes some time to build up the heat after each hit. If you use a long, consistent stroke, the material will have enough time to reach the desired temperature and produce plenty of vapour.
You can still achieve great results if you are unable to take a sustained and long hit. Just keep your speed consistent and slow, with the longest length you can manage.
Stirring Mid-Bowl
Stirring your bowl mid-bowl is the best thing you can do to increase the performance of your vape. Stirring your load after each session exposes the surface previously covered by flowers. This new surface will release the active ingredients missed in your previous session when it is heated for the first. You will always have some spots in your bowl that won’t vaporize properly, while other areas may receive too much heat. This can cause some popcorn flavors or even combustion.
Stirring your load is easier when it’s warm and pliable. If you wait until it cools down, it will become crunchy and jumpy. Stirring it just once after the first session should be enough. Once the flower begins to dry, stirring is less beneficial. Don’t forget to give the flower a light tamp after you stirred it. This will maintain its optimal performance.
Cleaning & Maintenance
For a vaporizer to function properly over the long term, it is important to clean and maintain. As the vaporized flower passes, it leaves behind a golden, sticky residue that looks like honey. This will accumulate over time. It is possible to eat the build-up, but it will taste awful. This thick, sticky buildup can clog your components and reduce airflow. It can make using a vaporizer a messy experience if the buildup is too bad. This stuff can end up all over.
You don’t have to do too much to keep your vaporizer working properly. Regular cleaning is easier because the buildup will be less and it will take less time.
Practice
It is rare that your first session with a new vaporizer will be the best. To get the best results out of your device, you will need to experiment, be patient, and take some time. You need to know that even though some vapes are similar, there can also be a lot of differences. Different vaporizers require different techniques.
When you look back at the first joint that you rolled, you probably remember it as being pretty ugly. Over time, it all just clicks into place and you begin to improve your technique. It is the same when using a new vaporizer. Just apply these tips and tricks and you’ll minimize the learning curve and maximize your enjoyment.
You’ll gain a sixth sense as you use different devices. This will make it easier for you to learn how to use a vaporizer. Take your time and practice as much as you can. This is not accounting homework.
Comments