The key to making any dry herb vaporizer device work is figuring out the precise method and temperature for heating your specific product. Many vaping devices work best with particular products. If you’re already using dry herb, but you’re just not having a great experience with your vaporizer, you may be using the wrong method or the wrong heat source.
Aside from the perfect source of that heat, you need to make sure your product reaches the optimal temperature. Every product has a specific threshold that you need to meet to make it work correctly.
The heating element is also known as the atomizer. That element is responsible for heating the product to turn it into vapor. Every device has a specific heating element, but vaporizers and vape pens use one of two types of heating technology: conduction or convection.
What Is a Dry Herb Vaporizer?
Dry herb vaporizers or portable vaporizers are some of the most widely used tools on the market today. Dry herb vaporizers are different from vape pens in many ways, including holding dry herb instead of oil or e-liquid. Handheld vaporizers are larger than vape pens and come in several shapes. Many of them have a solid block or square compartment attached to the side. That compartment holds your product and allows you to switch out the product after each use.
For the most part, handheld vaporizers and dry herb vaporizers are relatively inexpensive. They can range in price from around $30 to well over $500. They’re worth the money, though, especially if you’re looking to buy a device to keep around for a while. Dry herb vaporizers can last quite a long time.
With that said, portable vaporizers also come with several parts, and you will need to replace some of those along the way. One of the most essential parts of the vaporizer is the heating element inside.
Portable vaporizers and dry herb vaporizers have a conduction heating system or a convection heating system. Users typically say convection vaporizer technology offers a smoother experience than a vape pen with conduction heat. That’s because the heat travels through the chamber, using convection just like an oven to heat the product. Many people also say vaporizers help make the product taste better than a vape pen, as well. The conduction method is what you’ll find in a vape pen. Conduction heats the product directly, which is what you find most often with vape pens.
What Is a Vape Pen?
Design differences between dry herb vaporizers and vape set them apart. In short, a vape pen is in the shape of a pen, unlike a vaporizer, which may hold the shape of a block. Vape pens tend to be more discreet than vaporizers, but they also don’t offer much variety. Many vape pens are disposable, meaning that whatever product comes with it is what you get. Then, you throw the whole device in the trash.
Vape pens don’t use the same heating technology as vaporizers, and many people say that’s to the vape pen’s detriment. Vape pens are smaller and more compact than vaporizers and other handheld portable devices. The heating ability comes from conduction, which burns a specific part of the product. Whichever part is touching the heat source will get cooked. Many users describe the vape pen experience as less smooth and often harsher than what you get with a vaporizer. You use vape pens for waxy oils most often, but you can find dry herb vape pens on the market, too.
How Does a Dry Herb Vaporizer Work?
Portable dry herb vaporizers heat your product until it becomes vapor. Vaporizers work by heating the product right up to its boiling point. Each device will work differently, but there are a few basic parts and pieces you want to become familiar with on your device.
A portable dry herb vaporizer will have a mouthpiece, chamber connector, filter, connector spring, the heating element inside a heating chamber, and a battery compartment. You never want to overload the battery by choosing a more powerful one. Stick with the battery that comes with your device or batteries designed specifically for use with your vaporizer. Filters, springs, and heating elements are the pieces you will have to replace most often.
Depending on the brand of dry herb vaporizer you choose, the heat function may work differently. If you’re concerned about controlling the temperature, look for a device that offers a heat control feature. Dry herb vaporizers include a button that activates the heating element. Many portable vaporizers will include a dial or a feature where a certain number of button pushes will control the heat and temperature.
What Temperature Is Best for a Dry Herb Vaporizer?
The ideal temperature for dry herb vaporizers lies somewhere between 160 degrees Celsius and 220 degrees Celsius. As mentioned above, the goal is to heat the dry herb to its boiling point. Once that happens, vapor forms and travels up to the mouthpiece.
Heating your dry herb vaporizer to any temperature below 190 degrees Celsius typically produces a head experience. Anything above 210 degrees Celsius is known to lead to more of a body experience. If you can control the temperature on your dry herb vaporizer, you can vape at lower heat levels. Vapor will still form once the herb heats to about 105 degrees Celsius.
One crucial factor is making sure your dry herb vaporizer or portable vaporizer never reaches higher than 220 degrees Celsius. Anything higher than that point can lead to combustion. If that happens, the dry herb may burn. That causes a horrible smell, a waste of dry herb, and a potentially dangerous situation.
Closing Thoughts
Although there is an ideal temperature range for dry herb vaporizers and portable, handheld vaporizers, your personal preference may differ. Depending on what you’re hoping to get from your vaporizer, you may want to adjust the heat up or down. If you’re really looking to branch out, you can find customizable portable handheld dry herb vaporizers, as well.
