The world of vaporizers has grown tremendously over the past decade. We are living in a future where smoking our favorite products has taken a large shift towards a healthier alternative known as vaping. A portable vaporizer replaces the need for smoke, which is riddled with toxins and carcinogens, and allows us to enjoy our herbs and oils in a similar but healthier way.
The main function of every vaporizer is to heat a chamber and turn the contents into a smooth, inhalable vapor. This chamber is known as an atomizer or a coil, depending on the type of vaporizer. To date, there is a vaporizer for almost every kind of consumable that we could otherwise smoke or consume through heat, including dry herbs, wax concentrates, oils, and e-juice.
Each of these substances will vaporize at different temperatures, and in the world of vaping, one of the biggest questions is: which temperature is best for each? Though there are some guidelines to follow when selecting an appropriate temperature, in the end it comes down to preference and a little know-how.
What Is The Best Temperature For A Dry Herb Vaporizer?
Dry herb vaporizers are one of the most popular devices on the market. They have been making the rounds for well over a decade and have shifted from small, simple devices to full fledged vaporizers with temperature control and LED screens. The best dry herb vaporizers will come with two types of temperature controls. Simpler devices will have only a few options to change between, while others will allow you to adjust the temperature by a single degree.
The best temperature for dry herbs will vary depending on the type of herb. Other factors include how finely you grind it and how tightly you pack it into the chamber. Fresh herbs will also require different temperatures compared to dryer herbs.
If you have a simpler device with only a few settings, it is best to begin with the lowest temperature setting and then work your way up. This will allow you to get a feel for the taste and amount of the vapor before going to a higher temperature. The same goes for the more advanced vaporizers. Turn the temperature down to the lowest setting, then as you vape, work your way up higher until you find the sweet spot.
You also want to keep an eye on the herbs after you empty the chamber to ensure they didn’t burn in the process. The herbs should be a slight toasted brown color, but not burned or charred. If they are burnt, try using a lower temperature.
What Is The Best Temperature For A Wax Vaporizer?
Wax vaporizers are a somewhat new convention for vaporizing concentrates that otherwise require special kinds of rigs. These portable vape pens use a special type of chamber designed to turn wax into vapor with the click of a button. As with all vaporizers, many wax vapes allow you to adjust the temperature that the coil reaches. The best temperature will depend on the type of wax you are using, the style of coil inside the chamber, and whether you want a massive hit or a smooth, mellow hit.
There are three main styles of coils for wax vapes: titanium, quartz, and ceramic. Each one handles temperature differently. Ceramic and titanium coils take slightly longer to heat up but are able to hold in heat for longer periods of time. Quartz coils take less time to get hot, but they also lose heat quicker.
In many wax vaporizers, you adjust the watts sent to the coil rather than the specific temperature. Watts are a measure of the electricity the battery sends to the coil. More watts will result in higher temperatures, while fewer watts result in lower temperatures.
To begin, it is always best to start with a low temperature or watts, and then slowly make your way up. Lower wattages and temperatures will slowly simmer the wax and put off a smooth stream of vapor. Higher temps and wattages will put of large clouds of hot vapor, similar to a rig. Depending on the style of coil, it may take several seconds for the coil to get hot enough to put off vapor.
What Is The Best Temperature For An Oil Vaporizer?
Oil vaporizers are very similar to the other styles of vapes on the market. They usually come as pre-filled cartridges that can attach to almost any kind of battery or box mod. With the correct battery or mod, you can adjust the watts at which you vape oil.
In general, oil atomizers tend to be on the smaller side and tend to have a small coil that is wrapped around an absorbent wick. These small coils can only handle a small number of watts. Too much and they may burn out and become unusable.
Similar to wax vaporizers, you want to start your oil vape at the lowest setting possible. As you begin going up in watts, you can get a feel for the amount of vapor each setting gives you. If the vapor starts to taste burned or dry, you may be pushing the coil to its limits and will want to go back down. The wicking material in these vapes also take a bit longer to absorb thick oils, so you want to give it a little time to rest between hits.
Box mods are versatile vaping devices. They can handle all varieties of attachments, from dry herb atomizers to sub ohm e-liquid tanks and RDAs. Most box mods adjust the temperature by using watts, though some devices also have full temperature control options. Higher watts mean more heat, while lower watts produce lower temperatures.
The best temperature for you box mod will depend on the type of attachment you put on it. Tanks and RDAs will be able to take the most number of watts and will also put off the largest clouds. The coil or wire you use will have its own limits written on the packaging. Some sub ohm e-liquid attachments can handle up to 100 watts or more, though most handle between 30 and 70 watts. If you go above the limits, you risk burning out the coil.
Wax atomizers go well with box mods. They can usually handle quite a bit of watts and will put off more vapor the higher you go. Oil attachments work similarly to wax. In either case, it is always best to start low and to not try and push the attachment past its limits.
Dry herb attachments also pair nicely with box mods. These kinds of atomizers require the least number of watts or temperature. Since the idea is to vaporize the beneficial compounds off the dry herb, you want to use a temperature low enough that it does not burn herbs in the process, but also warm enough that it properly vaporizes all the beneficial compounds.
Choosing the right temperature for your vaporizer comes down to experimenting and finding what works best for you. Everyone’s preferences will be different depending on whether they like a smooth, mellow vapor or a thick, hot vapor. In the end, it comes down to what you want from your vaporizer.
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One of the main factors of choosing a good temperature depends on the material you are vaporizing, and the kind of attachment or atomizer you are using. Dry herbs will vaporize better with a lower temperature spectrum, oil and e-liquids require a mid to high temperature gradient, while wax and other concentrates perform better under higher temperatures.
Some people enjoy pulling giant clouds when they vape and are sometimes referred to as “cloud chasers”. These people like their vapor to be warm and thick, and will run their vapes at higher temperatures. Others enjoy subtler clouds and prefer their vapor to be cool and smooth. These people will use lower temperatures. After you have been vaping and experimenting for a while, you will get a feel for what kind of temperatures are best for you.
High Temperature Vs. Low Temperature
Now it is time to go over the main differences between high and low temperatures. There will always be people who enjoy higher temperatures over lower temperatures and vice versa, but here we will elaborate on what makes each option unique.
At high temperatures, cloud production is cranked to the max. The vapor you exhale will be thick and easy to see. Many people enjoy blowing out large clouds that only high temps can produce.
At lower temperatures, your vape will produce thin, harder to detect clouds. Some people don’t like blowing out huge clouds, especially in places where stealth may be more important than showing off.
With high temperatures, some materials will taste stronger. This is true for e-liquids and some wax concentrates, though you can over do it as well, which may cause a burned or foul taste.
With lower temperatures, you’re less likely to burn what you are vaping. Some things, like dry herbs, will deliver more consistent, flavorful clouds at lower temps.
By using high temperatures, you are able to draw a larger amount of vapor, thus increasing the beneficial effects from the material you are vaping. This means it will hit you harder and faster.
By using lower temperatures, but not too low, the effects of the material will be subtler. Some people prefer this approach because they do not want overly powerful effects.
When using high temperatures, the material you are vaping is going to get used up very fast. You will likely find yourself having to refill or repack the vape often.
When using lower temperatures, you will expand how long the material will last. Less of the material will get used up each time you take a hit, which may be better for making it last longer.
High temperatures take a lot more energy and will drain your vape’s battery fairly fast. This means you will need to recharge it more often, which may be inconvenient if you are taking it on the go.
Lower temperatures will use up much less battery. Since being portable is one of the greatest things about vaporizers, you may want to use lower temps when you bring your vaporizer on trips.