Smoking is bad. Every time your cigarette stick burns, so does your health. Yet, you can’t help but run to your pockets for a smoke when you’re feeling bored, or if you’re in need of a stress reliever.
If you’re looking for an alternative to your box of deadly tobacco cigarettes, look no further, fam. Vaporizers are here to save the day. Take a seat and lend us your attention as we share everything you need to know about vaporizers and why it’s worth the worldwide hype.
What is a vaporizer
A vaporizer is an electronic device allowing you to vaporize cannabis or other materials instead of burning, which happens with smoking. It’s important to use an online resource like Zamnesia to learn the correct vaporizer temperature for cannabis. A vaporizer is usually made up of these ingredients:
- Nicotine
- Water
- Propylene glycol
- Flavoring
It was originally introduced as a “healthier” alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Through time, people have found more use for these devices. Vaporizers today are mostly used for recreational and medicinal purposes.
The Anatomy of a Vaporizer
No matter the type of vaporizer you have or planning to purchase, here are the common parts you can find on a unit:
Mouth Piece
Commonly called the drip tank, this is where you inhale the vapor produced by your vaporizer. This part is customizable too.
Atomizer Tank
This is where the e-liquid is stored and where the heating magic happens.
Coil and Wick
This duo is found inside the Atomizer Tank, and they’re the ones responsible for heating your material to create vapor.
Battery
When triggered, the battery brings the process of vaporizing to life. Batteries can be charged threaded or through a USB charger.
How does a vaporizer work?
Vaporizer produces water vapor instead of smoke by heating materials such as herbs (weeds, marijuana, etc.) or flavored e-liquids. This vapor you inhale gives you that kick of nicotine similar to tobacco cigarettes, minus the smoke and the harmful chemicals.
There are two ways a vaporizer heats the material or liquid substance inside the tank: conduction and convection. These two affect the quality of the vapor produced.
Conduction
Conduction is the traditional method used in earlier versions of vaporizers in the market. In this method, the vaporizer burns the material directly with heat, converting the material into vapor first. Think of it as a frying pan on top of a stove.
To heat the materials, conduction vaporizers use open-flame heating plates, or butane-powered or battery-powered heating chambers.
Conduction vaporizers are easier and faster to use. It’s more affordable too, but the quality of the vapor is not that great.
Convection
Most of the newer models of vaporizers today uses the convection method in producing vapor. This method relies on transferring heat through a medium, particularly a moving fluid like steam. This means your materials get evenly heated instead of being directly burnt, producing more quality vapor.
This transfer of heat requires having some extra parts on the unit, though. There’s a separate chamber for your e-liquids or herbs and another for the heating coil. The steam needs room to move around the chamber with the materials to heat them evenly.
The vaporization process of convection units is slower, so if you’re looking for some quick smoking sessions, they’re not ideal for you. These units are pricey as well and might not be the ideal units for beginner vapers.
The Pros and Cons of Vaporizers
Here are the common reasons why vaping is favored mostly today by smokers all over the world:
- Healthier than smoking tobacco cigarettes
In their 2016 report, The Royal College of Physicians stated that vaping’s 95% safer than smoking. Since there’s no ash or combustion involved with vaping, the smoker enjoys more health benefits like better oral hygiene and lung and skin health.
- Plenty of customization options available
Most vaporizer units today allow you to choose the nicotine amount and flavoring you prefer. If you’re customizing the unit itself, make sure to ask a professional or long-time user first.
- Secondhand vapor won’t affect bystanders
When you smoke tobacco cigarettes, you burn 4000 chemicals in the stick, which are carried in the smoke and affects everyone who inhales it. That’s not the case with vaporizers. With the lack of tobacco and its harmful chemicals, the vapor produced contains little to no harmful chemicals at all. Even if other people inhale the vapor, it won’t affect them much.
- There’s a vaporizer for you, no matter your budget
Thanks to the growing demand for vaping, plenty of varieties have popped up – from sophisticated mods to cheap e-cigarettes. Whether you’re looking to experience quality vapor or just looking for a quick nicotine fix, there’s a vaporizer available for you.
But like any man-made devices, vaporizers are still risky. Here are the common “cons” associated with vaping:
- Vaporizers still contain nicotine
Nicotine doesn’t cause cancer to smokers directly, but it still causes addiction. It’s only an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, but not the solution if you’re looking to quit completely.
- Vaporizers can explode
Like any other electronic device. But unless you use a different or substandard charger or battery, leave them overcharged, or store the batteries and your vaporizer in the same place, you’re safe from an unexpected explosion.
- They can trigger allergic reactions
Some users said they experienced allergic reactions to propylene glycol content of their vaporizer. You can still substitute this with vegetable glycol.
- Laws around the world are still not in favor of vaporizers.
Although the legality of vaporizer UK today sways more on the pro side, there are still restrictions you need to consider. For instance, companies have different rules and guidelines on vaping during work. Precaution is still important, so research first before you bring out your vaporizer out, especially in public places.
Different states in the US are still debating about the legality of vaping, though. The local government has been given the final say in terms of banning vaporizers in their premises. Unfortunately, most of them are still against vaping.
Where to buy a vaporizer?
Good news is, there are vape shops everywhere – in the mall, your favorite cigarette seller, or on the internet. With the growing demand for vaporizers and the rise of potential earnings from a vaping business, expect more shops popping up in the future!
