Conduction Vaporizers
If you’re new to the world of vaping - maybe you’re trying to quit smoking, or you’re just a bit curious - then you may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of
If you’re new to the world of vaping - maybe you’re trying to quit smoking, or you’re just a bit curious - then you may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of vaporizers available to you. You may have also come across some terms you’re not familiar when reading the descriptions of certain products, such as conduction vaporizers.
This refers to the heating method that is used to heat up the contents of the vape, with the other main type being convection vaporizers. There are also an increasing number of hybrid heating vaporizers which use a combination of the two methods.
But what exactly is a conduction vaporizer? And is it the right type of vape for me? Find out here.
What is a conduction vaporizer and how does it work?
A conduction vaporizer refers to any type of vape that uses a heat source to warm up your materials via direct contact.
This heating element will usually be a small metal coil which glows as it heats up, and will need replacing from time to time. This works similarly to a frying pan or cooker, and as it relies on direct contact, you will need to place your dry herbs or concentrate directly onto the heat source.
Theoretically, the heating element should heat up your materials to just below the combustion point, thus extracting the active ingredients you want from the material in the form of vapour, without actually burning it and producing any of the harmful toxins that smoking does.
The term ‘conduction vaporizer’ refers only to the heating method, and is to differentiate them from convection or hybrid vaporizers. They could be either dry herb vaporizer, concentrate vaporizers, and even dual-use vaporizers. They could also be desktop units or portable vapes. Overall, there are many different types of conduction vapes to choose from.
Are conduction vaporizers worth it?
There are a few benefits of using conduction vaporizers over devices that use convection heating methods, but there are many drawbacks too.
Pros of conduction vaporizers
- Vaporizers with a conduction heating element are much more common than those with a convection heating method, so you have a wider choice of devices.
- While prices can vary quite significantly depending on the make and model, conduction vapes are generally cheaper than convection vaporizers.
- They tend to be highly versatile, with many conduction vaporizers being dual-use, meaning you can vape both dry herbs and concentrates.
- Conduction vapes are generally less complex devices than convection vaporizers, and this means they’re often much easier to use, especially for beginners.
- Less space is required in conduction devices, meaning you’re more likely to find compact, portable vaporizers that you can use on the go.
Cons of conduction vaporizers
- Generally less efficient that convection vaporizers, meaning your dry herbs or concentrate will be used up more quickly.
- Sometimes the heating element might heat your materials to above their combustion point, which will negatively affect the flavour of your vapour and leave a burnt taste in your mouth.
- This risk of combustion also mean that residue and ash is more likely to be left in the heating chamber, meaning you have to be more thorough with your regular cleaning.
- The original vaporizers used conduction heating methods, but their added simplicity means they generally don’t come with the precise temperature controls that many convection vapes do.
How to use a conduction vape effectively
As we mentioned previously, some conduction vaporizers have combustion issues, where the heating element actually heats up your materials too much and causes it to burn. This is especially true for cheaper and off-brand products, but can also happen to reliable devices should you not use it responsibly.
To prevent this from happening, you should carefully follow these steps when using your conduction vape:
- Make sure to grind your dry herbs before placing them in the heating chamber. This will allow your herbs to heat up more evenly, reducing the risk of the parts touching the heating element from burning. If using concentrate, you can pack it more tightly than you would with a convection vape, but make sure not to put too much in the chamber, as this will also affect the evenness of the spread of heat.
- You should also get in to the practice of stirring your dry herbs around the chamber a bit in the middle of your sessions. This helps to move your herbs around the chamber and expose parts of the material to the heat that haven’t yet been exposed, and prevent bits at the bottom from burning.
- Finally, it’s hugely important to maintain your conduction vaporizer by cleaning it after each session. This may be quite fiddly due to their often small size, and you should also be careful not to do clean while the device is still hot. Once it’s cooled down, however, you can clean it by first clearing any debris from the chamber, then wiping it with a swab doused in isopropyl alcohol, rinsing it out with water, then leaving it to dry before you pack in your herbs or concentrate for the next session.
Which type of conduction vaporizer should I get?
You should now be aware the conduction vaporizers refer to any type of vaporizer that uses conduction as its method of heating up your materials. But they come in all shapes, sizes, and fundamentally different types, so you should consider what you want out of your vape before knowing which kind to get.
- Desktop vaporizers: Also called tabletop vaporizers or desktop units, these are the gold standard of vaping devices. As their name suggests, they must be placed on a flat surface to be used, while they also typically need to be plugged in to the mains. Desktop vapes are ideal for long, group sessions.
- Portable vaporizers: These are much smaller than desktop vaporizers, often being compact enough to fit snugly in your pocket. They are ideal for regular vapers and those that like to vape on the go. Portable vaporizers are often much cheaper than desktop vapes in general, too.
- Dry herb vaporizers: These are intended for use with dry herbs only, and won’t work with concentrates or wax, if that’s your thing. They’re often less efficient than concentrate vaporizers due to the nature of the material, but on the other hand, they’re a lot easier to clean and maintain.
- Concentrate vaporizers: Often called dab pens, or wax pens, these are intended for use with concentrates as opposed to dry herbs. This could be in the form of wax, oils, shatter, or dabs, but it’s best to consult the manual before using to see which type of material any particular model is best for.
- Dual-use vaporizers: As the name suggests, these can be used for either dry herbs or wax concentrates. Some can even be used with e-liquids and other oils. These are ideal for regular vapers and those who like a bit of variety in their life, but they’re often pretty expensive compared to vaporizers designed for one specific material.
What is the best conduction vaporizer?
Again, this comes down to your own personal preferences. At Everyone Does It, however, we stock all the best conduction vaporizers from a wide range of the most trusted brands and manufacturers in the UK, so after a quick search you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. These include:
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