In 2014, the Oxford Dictionary declared Vape as its word of the year. This came after vaping started to gain popularity in the mainstream and has continued to grow into the huge industry it is today.
Newcomers to vaping culture can feel a little overwhelming at first. There are a lot of new terms and techniques to learn and there can be a bit of a learning curve when starting out. If you find yourself feeling this way, fear not, this guide aims to educate you on the terminology and components that comprise the world of vaping.
All vaping devices have 3 main components, the E-JUICE (the liquid you vape), the tank (where you put the e-juice), and the inside of the device/battery (the power source).
Vape Explained
Now that we know all about e-juice, it’s time to talk about what you use it with.
I’m not talking about the giant metal vape machines, in vaping culture, the tank is the part of the vaping device where you load the e-juice and inhale it. It usually consists of 3 parts:
The drip tip is the part of the vaporizer that you actually place your lips on. It is usually made of heat-resistant plastic or metal, although some third-party companies also offer wood. It is usually removable and interchangeable if you want to customize the look of your vaporizer. Some people prefer drip tips with larger holes to get a bigger draw. Others prefer a smaller hole for a smoother, more controlled hit.
Tank chamber
Tank
This is the part of the vaporizer where the e-liquid is loaded. These tanks are generally made of glass, stainless steel, or titanium. Some tanks are top-filled, while others are bottom-filled.
Top-fill tanks are generally much easier to fill because you don’t have to remove the tank from the mod or battery to refill it, making it more convenient.
Most tanks also have an airflow control ring near the base of the tank. This allows you to manually adjust the airflow resistance to your own preferences.
Vaporizers
The vaporizer, often referred to as the , is the part that actually causes the vaporization. Inside every vaporizer is a coil wrapped around a piece of cotton. During a draw, the e-liquid is drawn from the tank chamber into the cotton and heated coil inside the vaporizer to cause vaporization. The coils are disposable and will need to be replaced every couple of weeks.
The coils are calibrated in terms of ohms. OHMS is a measure of resistance and I could give you a long technical explanation, but the easiest way to explain it is that the lower the OHM, the more power (watts) it takes to heat the coil, which ultimately results in more vapor being produced.
If you are new to vaping, you may want to look for a unit that offers a range of coil calibrations and more specifically a unit that offers coils with a resistance of 1 ohm or higher. I find that coils with higher ohm resistance are smoother and easier to get started with.
Preparing the Coil
You should also prepare the coils before using them for the first time. This is something that a lot of new users overlook when first filling up their vaporizer. If the coil is not properly primed before use, it will struggle to get the juice flowing from the tank to the coil, resulting in a “dry hit.”
A dry hit is when the cotton wick just burns without soaking the e-liquid in. This can happen from letting the juice get too low before refilling or from not priming the coil before use. You’ll know you’ve had a dry hit by the harsh burnt vape taste you’ll experience.
To avoid this, before using the coil for the first time, take your e-liquid and drip it onto the airflow holes in the coil and also onto the cotton in the middle of the coil. Make sure the cotton is saturated; it may take a few times to apply the e-liquid. Once you see that the cotton is nice and damp, it’s now ready to be installed onto the rest of the tank.
Once the tank is assembled, I recommend letting the tank sit with the juice and new coil inside for about a minute. This will allow the juice to soak into the coil further. After that, take a few drags without any heating to promote the flow of e-liquid. Once you’ve done this, you should be ready to turn on your unit and start your first session.
Mods/Batteries
A mod refers to the part of the vaporizer that powers the tank and the atomizer. It also controls the wattage and temperature you use. Pen-style vaporizers use a battery instead of a mod and typically offer limited wattage control.
Why would I want to control wattage?
You will need wattage control if you want to customize your vaping experience. The higher the wattage you set, the denser the vapor you produce. Power control is also important if you intend to use different coils with different ohm ratings. Low resistance coils (.2 ohm – .5 ohm) require more power while high resistance coils (1 ohm – 2 ohm) require less power.
Temperature Control Mods
Many newer mods come with the addition of temperature control (TC). Temperature controlled mods allow you to set a specific temperature range for smoking instead of wattage and only allow the unit to reach the set temperature. They work by monitoring the coil’s resistance while you smoke. As the coils heat up, the coil resistance begins to fluctuate, which in a normal wattage smoker will result in smoking at higher temperatures as the session goes on. Temperature controlled units detect the change in resistance and adjust the unit voltage accordingly to keep it at the same temperature throughout.
Chemical Composition of Vegetable GlycerinWhat is it commonly used for?
Sweeteners
Cosmetic emollients (palm oils, coconut oils, etc.)
Baking products (helps increase moisture)
Toothpaste
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol, also known as PG, is a petroleum by-product. The liquid is colorless, odorless, thinner than its VG counterpart, and also produces a less noticeable vapor. It is used during vaping to more efficiently transfer flavor and nicotine into the e-liquid. PG can also cause a “throat hit,” a slight throat irritation similar to smoking. Some former smokers prefer a liquid with a higher PG content because the sensation is more like smoking.
Chemical Composition of PGWhat is it commonly used for?
Asthma inhalers
Medical products
Pet foods
Beauty products
Some people may find ingesting a solution like PG to be concerning, as it is a chemical compound. Most of the concerns stem from the fact that most studies point to synthetic propylene glycol, however the vaping community is following suit with the medical community by using pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol. The FDA recognizes pharmaceutical grade propylene glycol as safe and has listed it on its GRAS list. The only problem with propylene glycol is that some people may have a natural sensitivity to the substance; this can lead to a slight throat irritation. For those who suspect they may be allergic to propylene glycol, we recommend Max VG juices.
E-juice companies often offer different ratios of propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin in their juices. The different ratios can directly impact how you enjoy your vaping.
E-juices with a higher propylene glycol content will produce thinner clouds, have a more distinct flavor, but will also cause more throat irritation. This is usually preferred by those who have quit smoking but still want the feeling of smoking in their throat.
E-juices with a higher percentage of vegetable glycerin will taste sweeter, have thicker clouds, and will cause less throat irritation. This is preferred by most new users who are looking to switch to vaping because it is easier to draw. It is also preferred by those looking to produce large clouds.
Commonly used PG/VG ratios
50PG/50VG
40PG/60VG
30PG/70VG
20PG/80VG
15PG/85VG
10PG/90VG
Maximum VG ratio
Finding the right ratio for you is entirely subjective and it is recommended to try a few brands with different ratios to see what you enjoy. Newcomers will want to try a liquid with a higher percentage of vegetable glycerin because it is much easier on your throat and will cause less irritation. If you’re trying to quit smoking and are looking for something that produces a similar sensation to smoking, you may want to consider a liquid with a slightly higher percentage of vegetable glycerin.
Nicotine
Chemical composition of nicotine
Nicotine is the addictive chemical that keeps smokers smoking. It is added to e-juice in liquid form and can be found in a variety of strengths. We do not recommend using juices that contain nicotine and encourage users to consider nicotine-free juices.
Flavors
E-juice companies use natural and artificial edible flavors in their juices. These are the same flavoring ingredients found in soft drinks, candy, etc.
Flavor is very subjective, not everyone will enjoy the same taste. That’s why companies offer a wide range of flavors to appeal to users’ tastes. Flavors can range from baked goods, coffee, soda, fruit, candy, mint, etc. There is even tobacco and flavors that taste like traditional cigarettes. It is the world of electronic vaping.
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