Vape products, whether disposables or in cartridge form, are affordable, convenient, and easy to use. It’s no wonder why roughly 1 in every 20 Americans use vape as part of their lifestyle.

If you’re planning to join the bandwagon, you would want to fully take advantage of what you just bought. To do that, you need to know how to properly use your vape. This is what this article is here for.

What is Vaping?

Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor from a vaping device or electronic cigarette. Vaping is said to have lesser health risks than smoking actual tobacco or regular cigarettes. A vaping device contains a liquid called vape juice or in the case of cannabinoid-based products – distillates.

What is A Vape?

Vapes are handheld devices capable of producing inhalable vapor in different flavors, potency, and active ingredients like delta 9 THC or CBD.

The first vape designed by Hon Lik was mass-produced by a China-based company, Ruyan in 2000. The product reached Europe and America around 2007. Now that the whole world has heard of this groundbreaking technology, vapes of varying designs and power emerged in existence.

How Does a Vape Work?

A vape’s mechanism is quite simple. The sample principle works for almost any conventional vape: The vape mod or battery powers up the coil, heating it in the process. The heat from the coil vaporizes the juice in a small chamber called the atomizer. Once the user turns it on and inhales through the mouthpiece, the vapor will instantly come out.

Experienced vapers mix and match ala carte vape components to form a complete set of vape devices. On the other hand, beginners are advised to stick to purchasing a pre-built vape device in a complete package (including chargers, e-juices, adapters, etc.).

How to Inhale Vape Properly?

The way you inhale is critical to your vaping experience. Incorrect inhaling could make you cough or even gag but the proper way gives you the smoothest and most exhilarating experience. There are two types of inhalation methods: the mouth-to-lung method and direct-lung draw.

Mouth-to-lung (MTL)

Mouth-to-lung or MTL works best in small vapes, high-resistance coils, and higher distillate potencies. MTL should feel like you’re sucking vapor from a small straw. Your lips should form a tight hole.

MTL is what cigarette smokers do. It’s a simple technique that yields a small amount of vapor but hits you strong.

Here is a more descriptive instruction you can follow:

1. Slowly suck the vapor through the mouthpiece for a few seconds.
2. Stop and hold the vapor in your mouth for about two seconds.
3. Open your mouth and slowly breathe in the vapor, feeling it enter your lungs.
4. Exhale.

Direct lung (DL)

The direct lung or DL technique is ideal for larger vapes, low-resistance coils, and low distillate potencies. Instead of a small straw, DL should feel like you’re sucking air from a huge straw (imagine sucking through a milkshake straw).

The vapor you drag from DL almost looks like a cloud (reminiscent of the vapor produced by bongs).

1. Quickly inhale vapor directly into your lungs.
2. Exhale the contents immediately.

How long should you wait between puffs?

It’s important to gauge what you’re feeling before you take another puff. If the feeling seems to wane and is gentle enough for you to handle, you’re good to take the next puff. You’ll most likely feel the effects 30 seconds after your last draw. Wait for at least 5 minutes before your next puff.

How to Purchase Vapes?

As the saying goes, “keep it simple.” You have a better chance of satisfying your vapor craving with a simple vape device compared to the ones with complicated contraptions. Having known that, let’s get you set up:

Step 1: If you don’t have a device on hand, get a vape starter kit ASAP. The price starts between $20 to $60. You don’t need a pricey vape for a beginner. Save the fancy ones after experimenting with basic ones. You can buy them online. Some brands deliver their products door-to-door.

These are the three major types of vapes for cannabinoid distillates to choose from:

1. Pods: Can either be pre-filled with juice or refillable; the cartridge can be disposed
2. AIOs or all-in-one vape: Refillable and the coil can be replaced
3. Disposables: Pre-filled; the whole thing is discarded after the juice runs out.

Step 2: Refine your purchasing options. Choose the flavor, type of cannabinoid, and potency level that appeals to you. At this point, you’ll be experimenting a lot but it’s best you start imagining what you’ll potentially like.

If it’s your first time, you’ll most likely be under the category of “light user.” Lower cannabinoid concentrations take a bit longer to work and the experience will be less intense but as a beginner this will suit you well.

Step 3: Start reading instructions. There will be helpful diagrams inside. Prefilled vapes have ready-made distillates inside but if your vape is refillable, you would need to know how to fill one. If you need more help with your vape, scrolling for instructions in Google will be your new hobby.

How to Maintain Your Vapes?

It’s imperative you take the time to maintain your vape so you could use the device for a long time. Before anything else, read the packaging’s instruction sheet. Vape products include manuals inside their boxes detailing how you should clean and maintain the product.

In case there’s no manual or if the packet simply got lost, this is how the cleaning is done:

• Know your vape’s model: Get to know your vape as best as you can. By doing this, you’re ensuring you don’t damage the device during the cleaning process. Search your vape model online and look at how other users clean theirs.

Research your vape brand’s website too. Some brands dedicate a page solely informing their customers on how to clean their products.

• Disassemble: If the vape can be disassembled, separate the battery, cartridge, and mouthpiece. The separation process may mean unscrewing pieces. Some vape designs can be snapped or unsnapped. Look up how to disassemble vape parts online.
• Gently scrub: Gently scrub the inside and outside of the vape’s mouthpiece with cotton dampened by alcohol.

Next, gently swipe the externals of your cartridge with cotton dampened in alcohol. Dry the cartridge completely using a paper towel.

What if the cartridge gets clogged?

You can use the point of a safety pin to remove what’s clogging the cartridge. If the clog seems thick, gently warm the cartridge using a hair dryer.

Next, clean the battery. The battery may leak so be extra careful handling this one. Clean the exterior with cotton swabs. Do not soak or submerge your batter in any type of liquid, doing so could be dangerous.

• Dry the parts completely before use: Make sure the parts you disassembled are completely dry before putting them all back together.

The Wrap

Vaping is one of the best ways to experience the power of cannabis’s cannabinoids. It provides the highest bioavailability and is lauded for the quick onset of effects. With vapes, you can adjust the amount of cannabinoid you’re consuming even in the most minute concentrations.

If you’re new to vaping, you have to check out The Hemp Doctor’s vape line in various strains, flavors, and vape types. We offer cartridges, disposables, glass syringes, and even vape cart oils as well. Honestly, no need for fancy persuasive words. Let our products speak for our brand, try them now.