E-Cigarettes Simplified
E-Cigarettes Simplified
So, you are thinking about vaping? Fortunately, we have this article that tackles all you need to know about vaping.
What exactly is vaping? Vaping is inhaling and exhaling vapor that is created by a vape device such as an electronic cigarette (e-cig) or a vape pen. Vape juice is heated to produce vapor which has nicotine in the mix. With vaping, you get your nicotine dose minus the smoke.
An E-cigarette’s Anatomy
First came the electronic cigarettes, and then it has gone on to inspire other devices for vaping. People who saw its potential found ways to improve it. These experiments led to the hundreds of options on how to customize them to cater to anyone’s wants or needs. New vapers will find it hard to navigate all the available options, so we’ve come up with a short breakdown of what makes up an e-cig.
Batteries
E-cigs are run on batteries. They supply the needed energy to superheat and vaporize the e-juice or e-liquid. You’ll find internal batteries in small-sized e-cigs. Those e-cigs that resemble the traditional cigarettes in appearance are usually equipped with a small battery due to their size. Bigger vaping devices are usually with rechargeable or replaceable batteries.
The battery’s size will determine its lifespan. Bigger batteries can last longer for interrupted vaping sessions. It’s common for rechargeable batteries to need USB cords or outlets.
Atomizer, Wick, and Coil
The atomizer is the part of the vape where the magic happens. It’s got a wick and a heating coil. Simpler designs have the atomizer inside the tank. Advanced vapers have it good as they have more options: RBAs, RDAs, stand-alone atomizers.
Inside the atomizer are the wick and coil that transforms juices into vapor. A wick is the connection that brings juice to the coil from the tank. There are different types of wicks depending on what it is made of. It is of twisted silica cords, steel mesh, eko-wool, ceramic, or cotton.
Coils look like springs. This resistance wire is available in various diameters and number of wraps which can also result in different levels of resistance. The resistance will have an impact on how much energy your e-cigarette needs to produce enough heat.
Coils were either just made of NiChrome or Kantal, but recently ones made of Nickel made their debut.
Tanks, Cartomizer, and Clearomizer
Tanks are the compartment for e-liquids in an e-cig and have three subsets namely cartridges, cartomizers, and clearomizers.
Cartomizers are very similar to clearomizer in the sense that both of them can be detached from the main body of the device when the tank needs to be refilled. Cartomizers are equipped with a polyfill to transfer e-liquid. They’re quite troublesome as they need priming before use.
Clearomizers are pretty convenient for having a transparent body that makes it a lot easier to check how much juice is left in the tank. They have silica wicks to carry e-juice to the coil. Plus, cleaning and maintenance is guaranteed no-sweat.
E-liquid/ E-Juice/ Vape Juice/ Vape Liquid
Whatever you want to call it, it’s that thing inside the tank that gets vaporized when it reaches the atomizer. Disposable e-cigs are exempted, but e-liquid bottles are bought together with vaporizers. There are over a hundred kinds of vape juice varying in flavors, types, and strengths. The primary ingredients include nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), and food flavoring.
PG is an additive and plastic and food preservative. As an ingredient to vape liquids, it makes puffs with throat hits. It doesn’t produce thick vapor but instead focuses on the flavor. And I should mention that not everyone can use PG, some people are sensitive and allergic to it.
VG is a good alternative for people with PG sensitivity since it’s 100% hypoallergenic. VG e-juice is denser and sweeter compared to PG.
Most e-juices available on the market have PG/VG ratios to make varying vape experience.
Nicotine in e-liquids also come in different doses. You can definitely find ones without any nicotine content, too. 6mg is considered as a low density, 12mg is medium, 18mg is high, but there’s 24mg which has very high density. If you want higher a higher dose than that it’ll already be considered beyond the recommended nicotine level.
The fun part of e-liquids is that it’s available in many flavors. They are sweet, juicy, sour, savory, and more.
E-Cigarette Types
- Cig-a-likes
Yes, you’ve guessed it right. These ones take after traditional cigarettes. It’s in a comfortable size that can be kept in pockets and pouches. They’re usually disposable and cheap. The two main components are the cartridge-atomizer combo and the battery. It’s a very user-friendly type of e-cig.
- Vape Pen
Bulkier than a cig-a-like but still compact and portable. The three parts are the atomizer+battery, mouthpiece, and clearomizer. It’s cost-effective as it is refillable. Intermediate vapers with limited experience with e-cigs take delight in using vape pens. The highlight of this type is the fact that it is used with a-juices.
- APVs and Box Mods
Advanced Personal Vaporizers (APVs) and box mods feature huge coils and batteries. Thanks to those upgrades, they can produce more vapor and last longer between charges. These are recommended for vape experts and enthusiasts as they have the skills to beautify and customize their vape devices with precautions.
Safety
Vape devices are safer in comparison to cigarettes and cigar, but it doesn’t mean that all e-cigs are made the same. You should always use a compatible battery charger and unplug it immediately when the battery is fully charged. If you have two or more batteries, it’s best to have separate containers to avoid short-circuit. Finally, keep batteries away from extreme temperatures.
E-juices are best kept in dark and cool places to preserve their flavors. Keep them away from children or pet’s reach. Watch out for possible allergic reactions when using PG for the first time. And do consult the doctor when you have concerns about your health.
