When it comes to enjoying cannabis, we have a lot of options. One of the most convenient ways to enjoy it is through the use of a dry herb vaporizer.
In this article, we’ll answer the question: What is a dry herb vaporizer? We’ll look at their different components, explain their heating methods, analyze their benefits compared with other methods of consumption, and run you through how to care for your product.
A dry herb vaporizer is a gadget that heats cannabis flower until it releases gas. This gas, or vapor, contains cannabinoids and terpenes, which are inhaled through a mouthpiece.
The cannabinoids are responsible for getting you high, and the most psychoactive is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The terpenes are compounds that are responsible for the aroma and flavor that the dry herb produces.
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Why Use Dry Herb Vaporizers: 6 Reasons
Dry herb vaporizers offer cannabis users certain advantages when compared to other consumption methods. Let’s break them down to see how one of these devices might be a useful addition to your cannabis consumption inventory.
1. Efficiency: A study has shown that the gas produced by vaporizing cannabis results in 94.8% of the total volume of vapor being made up of cannabinoids. The same study showed that when you smoke cannabis, only 12% of the total volume of smoke is made up of cannabinoids. This means you are taking in more cannabinoids and wasting less.
2. Flavor: Smoking cannabis results in a harsher taste. Burnt plant matter adds to the number of carcinogenic chemicals you inhale and can leave your throat, lungs, and mouth feeling irritated. Dry herb vaporizers gently heat the terpenes and cannabinoids, producing high-quality flavors and aromas.
3. Control Your High: Any decent dry herb vaporizer comes with the ability to adjust temperatures. This could make them an excellent choice for beginner cannabis users, as the temperature will have a direct effect on how high you become. The lower the temperature is set, the smoother the vapor will be, and ultimately the less high you will become. The higher the temperature, the harsher and thicker the vapor will be, and the more stoned you will feel. This is largely due to the entourage effect. With higher temperatures, more cannabinoids and terpenes are released that work together to get you high. Most people vaporize their cannabis between 170oC – 220oC (338oF – 428oF).
4. Portability: Portable dry herb vaporizers are exceptionally convenient when you want a hit on the go. It is possible to pack your chamber before leaving home for the day, meaning that you start a session with the press of a button. This negates the need to take things with you, like your weed box or grinder. If you want to have multiple sessions while away from home, dry herb vaporizers are generally much easier to pack than, say, rolling a joint.
5. Stealth: Many dry herb vaporizers now fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. That means you can draw on the device without anyone knowing what you are doing. If you grind up your herb before leaving the house, it is possible to discreetly pack the chamber. It is a lot more subtle than rolling a joint or whipping your bong out in the middle of town for a blast. They have the added benefit of not producing too much in the way of attention-attracting vapor clouds. In contrast, when smoked, cannabis odors can be expelled far and wide.
6. Environmentally Friendly: There are other forms of cannabis vaping (which we will come to a little later on) that are a little harder on the environment than dry herb vaporizing. It is possible to buy disposable vape pens that come with cannabis concentrates. When the product has been exhausted, these pens are discarded, which is not a sustainable method of consumption.
Likewise, some vaporizers are compatible with concentrates that can be bought in cartridges. These cartridges are generally non-recyclable and must be discarded after use.
When it comes to dry herb vaporizers, the only waste product is your already vaped bud (AVB). If you vape your cannabis at lower temperatures, this AVB can be collected and used in cooking, which will further extract some of those higher-end cannabinoids and terpenes that were missed in the vaping process.
For those that vape at higher temperatures and have extracted all the cannabinoids already, the AVB has another useful application. The heating process nitrogenizes the bud, meaning that it can be collected and mixed with water, which will create a useful organic fertilizer for your garden.
Types Of Dry Herb Vaporizers: Portable & Desktop
There are two different types of dry herb vaporizers which are categorized based on how mobile they are. Both have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages that we will examine in further detail.
Portable Vaporizers
A portable vaporizer can be taken with you and used on the go. They are relatively small, lightweight, battery-powered, rechargeable, and can generally fit inside your pocket. Some of the larger portable vaporizers may require a small carrying case to move them around safely.
Batteries can normally be charged via a USB port using portable power banks or will charge when plugged into your car. In general, they do not offer the quality vaporizing experience of a desktop vaporizer, although their mobility means that you can use them almost anywhere on Earth.
Some portable vaporizers lose quality as battery levels drop. Some of the more modern and pricier vapes on the market today offer Bluetooth and app compatibility, meaning that temperatures and vapor configurations can be altered using your smartphone.
Desktop Vaporizers
Desktop dry herb vaporizers are not devices that can be carried around with you for use outdoors. They rely on AC or DC power and need to be plugged into the wall to operate. You will never have to worry about your battery dying midway through a session.
They generally offer a superior vaping experience to portable vaporizers. You will have more accurate control over vaping temperatures and, therefore, vapor volume and quality. They are ideal for cannabis users who mostly vaporize at home.
How Dry Herb Vaporizers Work: Convection & Conduction
Many people often ask me; how do dry herb vaporizers work? Let’s discuss that here.
Dry herb vaporizers offer two different heating methods: convection and conduction. Some of the more technologically advanced vaporizers on the market offer a combination of the two to enhance flavor and vapor quality. Below we have a look at the two heating methods in more detail and outline their pros and cons.
Convection
This method relies upon airflow to heat the dry herb. When you draw on your mouthpiece, heated air flows over, through, and around the dried plant matter. It heats quickly, extracting the cannabinoids and terpenes in the form of vapor. This vapor then travels through the device and is cooled before entering your body.
Pure convection vaporizers are often considered to be true vaporizers, as it is nearly impossible to combust the dry herb into a healthier smokey form. They come with a significant advantage in that they only vaporize the plant matter when you are drawing on the device, which means there is very little waste. Convection vaporizers generally offer faster heating times. An example of this is the Firefly 2+, which heats up in just three seconds.
Conduction
Dry herb vaporizers that come with the conduction method rely on a heated surface to transfer the heat through the herb, much like a frying pan sitting on top of a stove or hot plate. The cannabis that is in immediate contact with the oven surface heats rapidly, which then starts a domino effect as the temperature transfers through the herb.
Sometimes this method is not referred to as a pure vaping experience because the cannabis touching the oven surface can burn and combust, producing flavors that are harsher than pure convection vaporizers. As opposed to their convection-operated counterparts, once turned on, the oven chamber is always hot. This means that even if you are not drawing on the device, the cannabinoids will continue to cook.
You may waste a little bit of your weed every session. Not much, mind you, but they are definitely not as efficient as pure convection-operated vaporizers. An example of a purely conduction-heated vaporizer is the Pax 3.
A combination of Convection and Conduction – Some vaporizers feature both heating methods, such as Storz & Bickel’s Mighty. The surface around the chamber is heated as air simultaneously moves amongst the herb. Some companies claim that this technology enhances the smoothness and flavor of your cannabis, although this is a subjective statement.
How To Use A Dry Herb Vaporizer: 7 Steps
All dry herb vaporizers will differ slightly in how they are used, but they all operate under the same principles. You can follow these step-by-step instructions to get yourself started.
This goes without saying, but before you start, fully charge the vaporizer before you put your new toy to work. I know you’re going to want to run a couple of “burn-off” cycles (more information below) before use, so it is better to start with a fully charged device.
You are going to hear false things like: “It is bad for the battery to be fully charged” or “It’ll affect your battery life in the long run.” This is outdated advice, as most modern batteries do not have memory cells. Yet, it is still an important step. And it will give you enough time to…
1. Read The Instruction Manual
I cannot recommend this step enough. You wouldn’t believe some of the useful features I discovered in one of my devices from the instruction manual. And that was after owning it for 4 months. I was oblivious because I didn’t read the manual! Many modern dry herb vaporizers are capable of some pretty nifty things, but you need to know how that happens.
2. Do A Burn-Off
This is an important step that will remove any unwanted or nasty residues leftover from the manufacturing process. Set your device to the highest temperature and run it through one cycle. How long is a cycle? Well, you will know because you have already read the instruction manual! I would recommend doing a second burn-off, just to make sure. It is the only time you will need to do this, so it is better to do it properly.
3. Grind Up Your Weed
Dry herb vaporizers do not respond well to having large clumps of weed stuffed in their chambers. While this may work fine for someone applying a blow torch to their bong or bowl, it will make it difficult for your device to successfully convert that whole bud to vapor. Most vaporizers operate best when the cannabis flower has been ground down to a medium-coarse size.
4. Fill The Chamber
Next, load your dry herb into the chamber. Fill it to the required level, and tap down gently. You do not want to compress the bud here, as it will hinder airflow and circulation, meaning that you will have to draw extra hard to get anything out.
You may also find that a chamber with too much bud doesn’t vape properly, and you could be left with unused cannabis at the end of the session. Conversely, if you do not put enough bud in the chamber, this too can affect the quality of your vapor. It can mean, particularly for conduction vaporizers, that heat is not transferred efficiently through the plant matter.
5. Set The Temperature
The more vaporizers you use, the more you will realize that the temperature you choose will vary widely. For instance, I vaporize cannabis in my Pax 3 vaporizer at 215oC (419oF), which is the maximum that the device offers. Vaping at that same temperature with another device, such as my Firefly 2+, would have me in an uncontrollable coughing fit.
For a beginner user, I would recommend starting on the lower side. THC has a boiling point of 157oC (315oF), while the cannabinoid mainly associated with medicinal benefits, cannabidiol (CBD), begins boiling at 165oC (329oF) and continues up to about 180oC (356oF).
Therefore, a good place to start your vaporizing experience could be around 175oC (350oF) to extract the THC and any CBD that your bud contains.
6. Heat The Chamber
With the temperature set, it is time to heat the chamber. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, which you have read, turn on your device and watch as it heats. The device should alert you when the chamber has reached your desired temperature. Some devices will have a flashing light that stops blinking. For others, the lights will change color.
Some devices make noises, others vibrate. Or, if your device is app compatible, you can watch on your screen as the temperature climbs. Other devices like the Mighty have inbuilt screens that do the job even better.
7. Take A Draw
Once the temperature has been reached, it is time for your first inhale. Put your lips to the mouthpiece and inhale slowly and smoothly. It can be a little bit counter-intuitive with dry herb vaporizers. When smoking, a longer, faster, harder drag will give you a bigger hit.
However, with a vaporizer, this can place too much strain on the oven, which will result in less of a hit. By taking a slower, smoother, and more controlled drag, you allow the oven to continuously produce fresh vapor, which will, in turn, result in more vapor and a stronger hit.
If you begin to feel the vapor filling your lungs and hitting the back of your throat, that is probably enough. Hold for two seconds before exhaling. It is a myth that holding the vapor in your lungs will get you more stoned, as 95% of the THC is absorbed within the first two seconds of entering the lungs.
Note: Adjust Settings If Required
You can wait for 60 seconds to feel how high that drag is going to make you. If you feel like that temperature is sufficient, you can continue your session without altering the settings. If you did not get enough of a hit, then it could be a good idea to increase the temperature, although I would recommend doing this in small increments at first until you find a good match for you.
Some modern vaporizers come with additional vapor calibration options that allow you to choose between thicker or thinner vapor. It should be noted that generally, the thicker the vapor cloud, the harsher the vapor will taste.
Again, this is all about trial and error, so have a little play around until you find a setting that is right for you. You may also find that you need to change these settings slightly according to certain variables, such as which strain you have chosen to vape or how fresh the dried cannabis flower is.
Extra Pro Tips
- Stir the chamber: You will find that some vaporizers can go an entire session without needing to be stirred. This is, unfortunately, not the case for all vaporizers, which will need a good stir halfway through your session to maximize the number of cannabinoids you inhale.
- Clean your device: You will find that vaped cannabis flower produces a thick, sticky resin that will accumulate on certain parts of your vaporizer. This will need to be cleaned regularly to prevent build-up. It will stop your vaporizer from becoming clogged and will make your cannabis taste the best that it possibly can.
Some vaporizers are exceptionally easy to clean, and so should be done after every use. For other vaporizers, you will find that this is simply not practical or unnecessary, and therefore they can go a couple of sessions without being cleaned. If your device starts underperforming, or if your cannabis suddenly does not taste as good as it should, then it is time to use those cleaning implements. Below, we offer some cleaning tips to take the hard work out of keeping your device spotless.
Can You Only Use Cannabis In A Dry Herb Vaporizer?
You can use an array of different herbs or flowers in a vaporizer to achieve a variety of different effects. Some of the more common herbs that people use are lavender, damiana, catnip, passionflower, chamomile flower, lemon balm, and peppermint.
Can You Vaporize Cannabis Without A Vaporizer?
It is possible to vaporize cannabis using two knives that have been super-heated. This method is known colloquially as “hot knives” or “blades.” Heat two knives on a stove or with a blow torch. Once red-hot, sprinkle your dried herb onto one of the knives.
Pressing the two knives together will rapidly heat the plant matter, turning it into a gas. You should try to inhale this vapor with the help of a cut-in-half bottle or something hollow and cylindrical, such as a paper towel roll.
Vaping vs Edibles
Consuming cannabis in edible form is generally considered the healthiest way to get high from THC. However, not all cannabis consumers enjoy this method. Firstly, it causes a different type of high to weed that is smoked or vaporized. It often comes with a couch-lock effect, meaning that consumers cannot go about their daily lives, losing valuable time and productivity.
It can be difficult to get the dosage right, particularly if you have made them yourself. Whereas a longtime smoker or vaper may know they need two hits from a bong or three drags of their vaporizer to get them where they want to be, it is all too easy to overdo it on edibles.
As the cannabinoids need to be digested before they enter the bloodstream, there is also a significant delay between ingestion of edibles and getting high. This delay is increased based on what the user has consumed beforehand. Conversely, a hit from a vaporizer can take just 60 seconds to enter your blood, meaning almost instantaneous gratification.
Vaping Vs. Smoking
There are many ways to smoke cannabis, including joints, bongs, bowls, and blunts. And within these methods, there are countless variations. Anyone who has ever rolled a cross joint or blazed their weed through an apple will know what I’m talking about. However, smoking your herb can come with greater health risks when compared with vaporizing it through something like a dab pen.
I have firsthand experience with the negative effects of smoking too much cannabis. I first noticed that my lungs were becoming congested and that I had developed a chronic cough and shortness of breath, which was more prevalent in the mornings. It was something that I had only previously associated with tobacco smokers.
Not prepared to give up my beautiful weed, I knew that a change was necessary, so I started researching dry herb vaporizers.
What I discovered was that combusted cannabis smoke contains five “polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.” Included in these carcinogens are carbon monoxide and benzene.
It is little wonder, then, that over-consumption of cannabis smoke can have significant negative respiratory effects on certain people. And I do mean certain people. I know many iron-lunged cannabis smokers that haven’t coughed more than twice in their entire lives, despite consuming far greater quantities of the stuff than I ever had. But certain people are more genetically exposed to respiratory symptoms, and it seemed I was one of them.
It has been three years since I stopped smoking and started vaping, and I have noticed a drastic improvement in my lung capacity and overall respiratory health.
Dry Herb Vaporizer Maintenance and Cleaning
Empty the chamber immediately after use – As mentioned before, do this every single time, without fail. This will go a long way to improving your vapor quality and flavor.
1. Disassemble Your Vaporizer
Following the manufacturer’s instructions, take your vaporizer apart. There will be parts of your vaporizer that you do not have access to, and for good reason. These areas are meant to be dry and will be free from gunk build-up. You will normally be able to disassemble the mouthpiece, giving you better access to clean this and the chamber. Remove any steel gauze parts and removable rubber seals or O-rings.
2. Prepare Your Tools
If there is a long, thin cylindrical shaft to be cleaned, you can use either a long-handled wire brush or a pipe cleaner. Lightly dip your tool of choice into the cleaning liquid, and run it through the shaft until it is spotless. You can run a dry pipe cleaner through at the end to make sure no cleaning products are left in the device.
Use Q-tips or isopropyl wipes – Chambers can be attacked with your Q-tips, isopropyl alcohol wipes, or any cleaning cloth that has been dipped in a cleaning liquid. Q-tips are designed to get into all kinds of hard-to-reach places, so they are ideal for cleaning mouthpieces and chambers.
3. Clean The Gauze And O-rings
You can soak the gauze for 10 minutes in your cleaning liquid, which should remove most of the resin buildup. Remove from cleaning liquid and use a light bristled brush to finish the cleaning process. You can also soak your O-rings in certain cleaning liquids, just make sure that it is a rubber-friendly product. Alternatively, you can use a little bit of hot water with detergent.
4. Dry Out The Device
Now that your device is clean make sure everything is dry. Run a dry Q-tip over every surface of the mouthpiece and chamber. Use a dry cloth to take care of the gauze and O-rings.
5. Reassemble If Needed
Now that your device is clean put everything back together. If you have used isopropyl alcohol to clean, I would recommend running a quick burn-off cycle to get rid of that alcohol aroma. Isopropyl evaporates efficiently, but when mixed with cannabis resin, it tends to stick around. A quick burn-off will eliminate the chances of unpleasant flavors when you start your first session after cleaning.
Consequences Of Not Cleaning:
If you do not keep your vaporizer in tip-top condition, it will begin to affect the quality of your vaping experience. Residue build-up can have a detrimental effect on the quality and taste of your vapor. It will not matter how good the quality of your bud is or how wonderfully aromatic it is.
It can also lead to other issues like blockages, which will be frustrating, and can put a lot of unnecessary strain on your vaporizer. In the long run, this is likely to diminish its longevity.
The most important thing you can do to keep your dry herb vaporizer in good working order is to empty it after every use. It may be tempting to just switch the device off and put it away with that AVB still in the chamber. I have done this many times, believe me! And I have regretted it every single time. When you next come to use your vaporizer, you will find that the AVB has solidified and left the device with an unpleasant odor.
Most devices come with a selection of appropriate cleaning tools, which may include a wire brush, a soft-bristled brush, pipe cleaners, Q-tips, or disposable isopropyl alcohol wipes. There are also all kinds of nifty vaporizer-cleaning inventions out there, such as pre-filled isopropyl Q-tips.
If you have bought a basic vaporizer kit that does not come with cleaning utensils, then you will need to purchase these separately. It is also recommended to purchase a small bottle of vape cleaner, whether it be isopropyl alcohol or something a little more environmentally friendly.
Some vaporizers come with plastic mouthpieces and light-grade rubber seals that may begin to deteriorate following repeated exposure to tough chemicals. If this is the case for your vaporizer, then you could purchase a water-soluble cleaning product, such as Dr. Green’s Chalice Cleaner. As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions as these products may need to be watered down before use.
You can follow these steps to ensure that your vaporizer stays sparkling clean, leaving you with nothing but the highest quality vaping experience possible.
What Are Other Methods To Vaporize Cannabis?
As mentioned earlier, there are other ways to vaporize cannabis. Vape pens can be bought that are prefilled with cannabis concentrates and liquids. Concentrates are also known as waxes, shatters, or crumbles and are highly refined. This makes them much stronger than dry herbs, so only a very small amount is required to get you high. Concentrates and liquids can also be consumed in a compatible portable vaporizer.