Vaping has become a trendy replacement for smoking. It is healthier, more convenient, smells better, and has more depth as a hobby. The standard approach is to use vaping fluids that are vaporized and turned into vapor, which we inhale. This means that no bad gases are released as we have with burning the herbs and inhaling smoke.
Still, some people don't believe in vaping oils and would prefer to get their hits from the plant directly. This is where dry herb vaporizers come in - they are vaping devices that use dry herb instead of vaping oil. The devices are slightly different from the regular ones so let's see what you should know before you start using one.
Vaping essentials
First things first, you need to know what you need to start vaping dry herbs. There is some extra equipment you'll need to have compared to standard vaping practices.
- Vaporizer - There are two main options to choose from, desktop and portable vaporizers, and which one you should get should depend largely on your habits and needs. Check out Vape Craft Inc for more information.
- Dry herb - This is a wider choice. Some decide to vape tobacco, others go for weed, but even if we consider only these two herbs, there are so many variations out there that it might take you some time to choose. You can buy there online or in specialized shops like dispensaries.
- Grinder - The herb needs to be finely ground to be vaped properly. Doing so by hand will take so much time and effort. A quality grinder will help you avoid this unnecessary work.
- Cleaning equipment - Unlike regular vaping devices, the ones intended for dry herb vaporizers require more regular cleanups. For this, you'll need high-isopropyl alcohol, pipe cleaners, cotton swabs, a brush, and a stirring tool.
Now that we know what you need to vape dry herbs let's take a look at the preparation process itself.
Drying up the herb
When you buy herbs, it will not always be as dry as it should be. This is easy to solve by putting it in a glass jar along with a paper tissue. The tissues serve to absorb the excess moisture so that it doesn't simply get reabsorbed by the plant.
Grinding up the herb
After it is properly dry the herb, grind it down patiently by using your grinder. We do this because a ground-up herb has a bigger impact surface area allowing more consistent hits from your device. Ensure that you get a quality grinder, so you don't have to change it every couple of months since poor quality ones tend to get stuck after a while.
How to fill up the oven
Add the ground up herb to the device and make sure you fill it out correctly. This is an essential step as packing the herb into the vaping oven can result in poor hits. Each vaping device comes with its own set of instructions on filling it up, so make sure you read and follow them.
The heat
Getting the temperature right is a bit tricky. It all depends on your personal preference and will take some tinkering to find an ideal temperature for yourself. Keep in mind, the higher the temperature is, the closest to smoking we come. Furthermore, at higher temperatures, you get less flavor, and the vapor is harsher, so keep that in mind.
The state of the herb after the vape
Not every vape will expand your herb fill 100%. Depending on what temperature you use, one filling of the oven can last multiple vapes. The way to figure out if the "filling" is still usable is to pay attention to the color. If the color is on the dark side, then it's time to change it.
Inhaling properly
Vaping takes some getting used to. Even experienced smokers go through the transitional phase, where they get used to the techniques of vaping. The most stable and recommended way is to take slow, steady draws of between 6 and 10 seconds. Coughing, in the beginning, is quite normal and shouldn't persist. A critical aspect of keeping vaping pleasant is the temperature, which you'll have to experiment with until you find a temperature that suits you.
Well, that's about it. This was a quick guide, and each of these aspects of understanding how a vaporizer for dry herb works is more complicated, but you have enough information to know what you are getting into. Experience is key to getting everything right but getting this experience shouldn't take more than a month. We wish you pleasant vaping and a great day!
Written By: Jessica Johnson
