Everything About Dab Carts and Vape Pens

Currently we are not selling vape products because of the PACT Act that prevents us from selling any product that could be used to vaporize tobacco or tobacco related substances. It goes without saying that this is super lame and we're fighting hard to be able to carry vaporizers and vape pens again so you can have the best selection and quality.

Concentrate vape cartridges are super popular. With good reason, they are affordable, readily available, and come in as many types and varieties as the dry herb that is used to make them. We also have options for using concentrate pen cartridges so we'd like to give you an in-depth rundown on how these cartridges work, and what differentiates them from dab pens and dry-herb vaporizers.

Although vape pens are meant to be easy to use, it doesn’t hurt to know a bit more about them when you’re just getting started. If you’re unboxing your new gadget right now, this post will help you sort out that ultimate question – how to use a vape pen correctly? It doesn’t matter if it’s a concentrate pen or a dry herb pen the systems are fundamentally the same.

But first, a very quick recap on some vape basics for the beginners.

What is a Vape Pen?

A weed vape pen is a small, pocket-sized device that consists of a battery attached to a vape cartridge that is filled with cannabis concentrate. Vape pens are named after their function to vaporize rather than burn cannabis - instead of smoke, this results in vapor which is often more discrete than smoking from another device.

Dab Pen vs Vape Pen: What's the Difference, and Is One Better than the Other?

While dab pens and vape pens may look very similar and are both portable devices that vaporize concentrates, they are distinctly different in terms of design and functionality. Vape pens use smaller in size than dap pens that use oil cartridges. The concentrates in the oil cartridges require lower temperatures and less power to heat up, and vape pens therefore use less powerful batteries.

Dabbing often provides a higher potency than vaping. While perhaps not preferable for those who don't smoke or consume cannabis on a regular basis, dabbing or using a dab pen can be preferable for people with sensitive lungs.

The reason? A dab pen can provide users with the full effect of THC using a single dab. It often takes multiple hits through a vape pen to get the desired high or effect. But, this does provide more control for those who want to reach a certain level.

What to do First with Your New Vape Pen

Well, you’ve unboxed your vape pen, but now what? It’s pretty tempting to plug it that fancy gadget and immediately have fun with it once it’s charged, but hold off. Here are a few tips on how to use a vape as a pro from day one.

How to Use a Vape Pen

Read the Manual

Sometimes the manual is just a pamphlet, sometimes its a twenty-page booklet written in broken English. Either way, dig in and read it cover to cover because there is always something that you didn't know about your vape pen, but is essential to its use and maintenance. Charging cables are a subject that varies greatly, and you should be aware of the best connection and charger to use with your vape.

What are you Vaping?

There are three distinct materials you can use: vape juices and oils, dry herbs, and concentrates. Generally, you can’t use one pen for every ingredient, at least, not without some additional equipment. You might think that vape juice and hemp oil are interchangeable, but you would be mistaken.

It's important to remember to use your vape pen only to heat the material it supports. In other words, if you have a dry herb vape, don't try and load it with wax or dabs, it will wreak havoc on it and waste your stash. Some vaporizers have swappable parts that allow you to switch between loose leaf and concentrates. Make sure you know what needs to be done when you’re switching between modes.

Charge it, and Load it

Make sure that your pen is fully charged before you hit that go button. Most vape pens use built-in batteries so you will have to connect them to a charger until they are fully loaded. Use the charging cord that came with the package – some pens don’t take kindly to other charging cables and will short out if charged incorrectly. Also, remember to re-charge on a cycle, let your pen charge go down, and then put it on the charger until it is fully charged, and then pull it off.

Tips for Using Your First Vape Pen

Vape Mindfully

Regardless of what you vape on, it’s vital that you have control over it and use common sense. If you’re vaporizing dry herbs or concentrates, you need to be extremely conscious of your usage rate and amount of intake when you vape.

Just because it’s acceptable and available doesn’t mean you should abuse it. You can always have too much of a good thing. Use common sense and go slow and low until you reach a comfortable place and try and stay there.

For the best tasting and best quality sessions be sure to keep your pen clean at all times. Most of life is upkeep, that's especially true with the tools you use to enjoy your life. Keep it clean and functioning well and it will keep you blazed.

Use Fresh Herbs

The better quality your herbs, the better your vape session will be. If you are using dry herbs, an adequately cured but still fresh bud is best. And make sure to grind it as finely as you can.

The Right Temp

Your vape temperature is another critical part of the mix. This will depend on your style and what effect you prefer. Different cannabinoids evaporate at various temperatures (producing different levels of high). Experiment a bit until you find a sweet spot that works for you.

Avoid Burning Your Herbs

You aren't going through all this trouble just to combust by accident. Generally, you should never need to use your vape on its highest settings. Vapes have an upper and the lower temperature but for most, it's the middle settings that are ideal for vaporizing.

Pack That Oven Right

Get the finest ground you can use so that your oven walls and airflow can make contact with the most substantial amount of bud. This might sound like you need to cram in as much weed as you can, however, what you need to do is pack very finely ground bud evenly without condensing it so much to cut off airflow.

Take a measured hit

Don't take long hard hits from your vape pen; it's not a joint. If you hit it too hard, then it cannot heat the air as it passes through the oven, or you may suck up more concentrate fluid than can be vaporized and waste some valuable dabs.

The trick here is to take even, short puffs the way you would a cigarette or cigar. These short quick puffs will build up to the big draw you want without overheating the vape or the mouthpiece.

Where are the cartridges?

Pre-loaded cannabis oil vape cartridges, hash oil vape pens, or even disposable wax pens can be found in every legal dispensary all over the country and even a few states they shouldn't be. These devices have saturated the cannabis concentrate market over the last few years and are popular with both experienced consumers and first-time users.

How do Vape Pens Work?

It's simple. The cartridge (or dab cart) is the top part of the vape pen that is a chamber that contains the cannabis oil and a mouthpiece that you’ll use to inhale. The bottom part of a vape pen is called the battery. The two parts screw together (it’s known as a 510 thread).

Some batteries have a button that you press to activate the cartridge. This heats up the oil and creates the vapor that you’ll inhale.

Other batteries are activated simply by inhaling. These “auto-draw” vape pen batteries sense the air being pulled by your inhale and turn on to heat up the concentrate.

Refillable vape cartidge pens