Introduction to Vaping

Vaping has been steadily rising into popularity for its benefits. And we also see it on the news from time to time, but not everyone knows what it really is. This article aims to shed light on it and clear some misconceptions about it.

Vaping is defined as the inhalation of vapor, which resembles smoke, from a vape device or an electronic cigarette. Vaping is comparable to smoking but with less negative consequences and negative effects on the body.

Vape Juice refers to a liquid that may or may not have nicotine and flavorings. Not all vape juices have nicotine in their ingredient list. Some people vape for the fun flavors and not to take in active ingredients. With all the flavors available and varying nicotine levels, vapers are not short on choices.

Vape devices, electronic cigarettes or simply called vapes are portable and compact electronic devices that are intended to vaporize vape juice. It’s a breakthrough that is seen as a solution to tobacco and nicotine dependency. Vapers, people who vape, have the choice to stave off or control their nicotine intake by sticking with the familiar sensations and acts of smoking. It can be a much better substitute for chewing nicotine gums or sticking nicotine patches.

Not so long ago, Hon Lik invented electronic cigarettes that really looked like the normal cigarette. It was made available to the public by a China-based company, Ruyan. It did not take a lot of years for America and Europe to catch up, and now we have assortments of vape devices. The basic functions are the same but there has been a continuing competition for the best design, ability, and power.

Parts of a Vape

All vapes follow the same principle to work. There’s a battery that provides the power needed by the coil to superheat and vaporize the vape juice. The coil is in a separate chamber called the tank for safety reasons. And there’s a mouthpiece where the vapor is drawn or puffed from.

A vape is a system made up of different components that will not work when one part is missing. Experts have fun tweaking their mods and customizing to achieve better vaping experience. But no one can be an expert that easily. Beginners should stick with commercial starter kits for their convenience and safety.

Vape’s Power Source

Batteries are the life of vapes. They’re typically equipped with a lithium-ion battery. Vape mods come in a variety of sizes and shapes which you can easily guess by their names: e-cigs, vape pens, box mods, tube mods, and pod vapes.

Innovation has introduced a wide range of products in power limits and features. Newer models usually beat older ones, but not all the time. There are ones where watts and temperature can be adjusted to the liking of the vaper. And the market also has convenient models that don’t offer adjustability for users who don’t have technological understanding.

A vape with many power levels is usually a tool yield only by enthusiasts and experts. Beginners will have little to no luck of having good vaping experience with them.

∙        Low-Power Vapes include all-in-ones (AIOs), e-cigs, vape pens, and pod vapes. They require no experience making them very suitable for beginners. They offer convenience by having pre-programmed power settings. They usually have a rechargeable battery except for some e-cigs which are disposable. All of them are very portable and take very little space. In fact, you can put a low-power vape in your pocket and discreetly vape anywhere.

∙        Medium-Power Vapes are some AIOs, box mods, and tube mods. After you’ve mastered low-power vapes, you can move up the ladder and get a medium-power one. By that time you already have knowledge about battery safety which you will need because these ones have a bigger battery. Most often than not, you can adjust the power which is at 100w at max. They can still fit inside your pocket.

∙        High-Power Vapes are either box mods or mechanical mods. You will need a lot of experience to have fun using them. Batteries are rarely built-in, so it’s a must to know battery safety. You might need a pouch for them because they are bulkier and heavier. The power can be adjusted up to more than 200w.

Vapor Source

To make the vapor, the vape has a part called the atomizer/tank. This self-contained chamber is electrically attached to the mod. Inside it is the coil, the heating element, and a wick which is soaked with vape juice. Automated vapes start producing vapor when you inhale from the mouthpiece. The coil gives off heat to vaporize the vape juice on the wick.

Every atomizer contains the e-liquid. They may vary in design from simple ones to very complex ones. Here are the four types according to build.

∙        Prefilled types are non-replaceable, so they are disposed of after getting emptied. Belonging to this category are cartridges, pods, and cartomizers.

∙        Refillable ones are also non-replaceable disposable type but can be used multiple times. Again cartridges, pods, and cartomizers can also be refillable.

∙        Refillable, but with coils that are replaceable, can be reused. They’re either subohm tanks or clearomizers.

∙        Rebuidlable atomizers require the user to manually install the coils and wicks and they can also be reused. All atomizers with R at the beginning of their acronym belong here: RDA, RDTA, RTA, etc.

Same as vape mods, atomizers also come in different types. The important thing to keep in mind is that your vape mod and vape atomizer or tank must be compatible with each other. Aside from being physically compatible, vape mods work best when the proper coil resistance and power are used with it.

Coils are available in different resistance ranges. If you want to vape on voluminous clouds, choose a coil with less than 1ohm resistance. If you want to vape discreetly, select one with more than 1ohm. But no matter what resistance you prefer or what atomizer you use, remember that coils need to be replaced regularly.