If you’ve been in the scene for quite a while now, you’d know that vaporizers are extraordinary devices. They provide you with a mix of complex and straightforward features that you’re in a constant state of understanding and astonishment. There are a lot of varieties of vaporizers and vaporizers can be used with just about anything; from herbs to nicotine, and now – wax concentrates.
Wax pen vaporizers or dab pens have gained steady traction because of how potent and convenient they can be. A single drag from these inconspicuous devices will be enough to put you down for hours, especially if it’s your first time. But because of how discreet and unobtrusive these devices are, one may find it hard to tell one from another. In fact, some of these dab pens are designed to look more like daily objects, like a humble pen, making it harder to tell the difference between a “dab pen” and an average vape pen.
So, if you plan on picking up one of these bad boys, this one’s for you. Here are some of the common questions, guides, and tips concerning dab pens so you’d know if it’s worth your time and investment.
- Are dab pens the same as vape pens?
- How do vape pens work?
- How to use a wax dab pen?
- Can a dab pen be used for vaping other materials?
- Do dab pens smell?
- Does vaping a wax pen get you higher than smoking?
- How long does a dab pen last?
- How much does a dab pen cost?
Are dab pens the same as vape pens?
You might wonder what’s the difference between the two when both devices seem to look similar. Let’s break them into simpler terms. A vape pen is made of three common components; a battery, an atomizer, and a mouthpiece – simple. Now, let’s look at dab pens. It’s also made up of three parts; a battery, an atomizer, and a mouthpiece. Wait, that just made things more confusing. Well, no, it didn’t.
That’s because a vape pen is a variety of vaporizers and a dab pen is a sub-variety of a vape pen that’s intended to be used only for wax concentrates. That’s why dab pens are built in the likeness of vape pens with its unique component being the heating element. The heating element of a dab pen is designed to handle wax concentrates alone while a vape pen may be designed to be used for a dry herb strain, an e-liquid, or thick oils.
How do vape pens work?
Knowing the workings of a vape pen might just help you understand how different these devices are and just how much value each variety brings to the table. Going back to the anatomy we’ve given earlier, vape pens re made up of three parts; a battery, an atomizer, and a mouthpiece. The battery supplies power to the atomizer heating the material which then produces vapor that you inhale through the mouthpiece. And because dab pens are vape pens as well, they do follow the same principle and work the same way.
How to use a wax dab pen?
You’d want to make sure that your batteries are fully charged first. Then, you’d want to load your material into the dab pen. Careful not to pick up the wax concentrates with your hands, it can tarnish or contaminate the wax concentrate so be sure to use a dab tool when loading your materials. Afterward, you’d want to turn your vaporizer on. Finally, wait for a few seconds and you can start inhaling the vapor. Easy, right?
Can a dab pen be used for vaping other materials?
The answer is no. Here’s why. Dab pens were built to be used for wax concentrates alone and its other forms or rather “consistencies” which include shatter and crumble. The heating element used in dab pens are optimized to vaporize these kinds of materials and may not vaporize herbs or runny substances. Careful not to use dry herbs or thick oils in a dab pen as it might leak or burn. There are vape pens that can be used in conjunction with other materials but the best ones are those designed to vaporize one kind of substance alone.
Do dab pens smell?
Yes, in fact, all vaporizers do smell. But if you’re worried about it emitting a pungent smell as lighting up a spliff, then, no. Dab pens will often let out a mild and rather subtle odor compared to that of smoking joints. Bearing a slight waxy smell to it, dab pens and wax pens will have very little odor that will go away in seconds. The lack of smoke particles in vapor allows its lighter gaseous output to dissipate in seconds, and, the smell will go away the moment the vapors do.
Does vaping a wax pen get you higher than smoking?
Well, dab pens are capable of generating potent vapors, to begin with, because of how strong of a material wax concentrate is. Furthermore, in vaporization, almost 95% of the active ingredients found in your materials are extracted compared to smoking which destroys half of the cannabinoids and wipes out 20% more through smoke burn off. So, when you read the numbers, vaping a wax pen or a dab will certainly give you a cleaner and a better high compared to smoking.
How long does a dab pen last?
You’ll be surprised to know that various dab pens offer a wide variety in terms of longevity. Because you’re most likely to be going to shop for a dab pen online, here are some tips you can use when considering dab pen longevity. First, always check the battery capacity. Often measured in Milliamp Hours (mAh), battery capacity will help you tell how long a battery will last in between charges. The higher the numbers indicated, the more power it can store. More power means more stable sessions and longer battery life. Ideally, the average dab pen will run at least around 300-350mAh of battery capacity. This will give you around two hours of real-world use. Also, the kind of atomizer you run plus how often and how long you pull from your vaporizer will be factors that will affect battery life. You should also factor in the potency of the materials you use and your tolerance to the substance. That way you can get a good idea of how much you can squeeze out of it when you take your dab pen with you when you’re out and about.
How much does a dab pen cost?
The answer to your question is subjective as there tends to be a wide variety of products on the market today at different price points. You can get decent dab pens for less than $50.00 but the good ones cost a little under $100.00. Remember a dab pen or a wax pen is an investment and vaporizers will always be a product that gives you exactly what you pay for. So, take your time to check the products on the market and don’t regret spending a good amount of money on a dab pen because sometimes a cheap dab pen can be expensive.
