Dry Herb Vaporizer

What is a Dry Herb Vaporizer?

A dry herb vaporizer (Known as a weed vaporizer) is a device used to vaporize dry herbs, such as cannabis, tobacco, or other dry herbs, without burning them.

Some people call this kind of weed vaporizer heating not burn (HNB). The vaporizer heats the herbs without burning them, which releases the active compounds which you can inhale.

The operating temperature range of a cannabis vaporizer is between 350°F (approximately 177°C) and 450°F (approximately 232°C). This may vary a little depending on the model and brand. Within this temperature range, a weed vape pen can heat dry herb material to produce vapor instead of smoke.

Many people consider vaping weed healthier than smoking it. This is because it doesn't release the harmful by-products of combustion.

Dry herb vaporizers come in various shapes and sizes, from portable devices to larger tabletop units.

Desktop Herb Vaporizer

A desktop herb vaporizer, or table vaporizer, is an excellent choice for cannabis enthusiasts. These devices allow users to enjoy an outstanding vaping experience at home.

These larger vaporizers, like the Volcano by Storz and Bickel, are great for sharing your weed experience with friends. Desktop vapes are like hookah pipes and can used by groups making them more social. Compared to portable vaporizers, tabletop vapes offer the following advantages:

Power: Power is one of the most significant advantages of desktop herb vaporizers. It can connect to the power outlet directly at home. This provides much higher power for easier control and a better vaping experience.

Higher vapor production: Desktop vaporizers have more power, so they can have larger heat chambers and deliver more vapor. They will usually use a combination of induction and convection heating. This means they can produce significantly more vapor than portable devices, which usually rely on conduction heating. They are the perfect choice for group sessions.

Better Control: Desktop vaporizers are larger and have more specific controls. They also have more precise temperature control settings and may offer several vaping modes to customize your vaping experience.

Durability: A tabletop vaporizer is large enough for better design possibilities and thicker materials, making it much more durable than a smaller portable vaporizer.

Portable Herb Vaporizer

A portable herb vaporizer is small in size and designed for portability. These are usually handheld units and, as such, use conduction heating. These are the main advantages of a handheld dry herb vape. 

Portability: Most people want the ability to vape discreetly anywhere. A portable vape can't be big or cumbersome, as it needs to be easy to use and have a good battery life.

Affordable price: A portable dry herb vape pen is much cheaper than a desktop one. Though prices may vary, you can buy an excellent portable vape for as little as $60. This makes the weed vape pen accessible to those with a limited budget. The Ice Cream vape pen is only $59.99

How Does a Dry Herb Vaporizer Work?

A dry herb vaporizer is comprised of a few main components: A power supply, a heating chamber, and a control circuit.

There are two main methods of heating: Conduction heating and convection heating. Most handheld devices use conduction heating as it is more compact and suitable for battery-powered devices.

Conduction heating: Think of conduction vaping like cooking with a frying pan. When you place an egg in a frying pan it will start to sizzle. The egg is heated through contact with the hot pan.

A conduction vaporizer works similarly. When you place the herbs into the chamber the heat is transferred through contact from the walls of the chamber to the dry herbs.

Convection heating: Convection vaporizer works like baking cake in an oven. The heating element doesn't directly contact the cake. It heats the air around the cake, transferring the heat to it.

Convection vapes are typically bigger and more expensive than conduction devices.

Different usage modes.

Vaporizers will have on-demand vaping or a session mode.

Session vaporizer: This is the most common type of herb vaporizer. You load the weed into the chamber, set the temperature, and the vape goes to work and heats the herb for a set period.

As the herb reaches the set temperature, it releases vapor, which you inhale. It's like lighting a joint; while no combustion is involved, the heating is automatic and continues until the session is finished or canceled. It requires minimal input from the user and is a very intuitive way to vape.

On-demand vaporizer:

On-demand vapes work very differently. The user presses a button, and the vape heats up to release clouds on demand.

On-demand vapes need to have a quick heat-up time. This is because the herbs need to heat for a while before any vapor is produced. On-demand vapes will have a lag between pressing the button and the vapor being produced.

They also require a more significant power source to heat the chamber rapidly. They are more complicated and require more components. This means they are usually not found in handheld devices.

Are Dry Herb Vapes Healthier than Smoking?

Dry herb vaporizers are becoming popular as an alternative to smoking cannabis pipes, bongs, or joints. The main reason for this popularity is vaping has been proven to be significantly healthier than smoking.

When smoking cannabis, you may notice irritation in the throat or lungs from the hot smoke, which often results in a coughing fit. Cannabis starts to burn and combust at temperatures over 450 °F. When smoking, the temperature is likely to be in excess of 600°F.

While this high temperature releases the cannabis compounds, it also creates harmful byproducts. The byproducts are similar to those found in tobacco smoke, such as tar, carbon monoxide, and other carcinogens. They can cause harm to the throat and lungs and may cause cancer.

Weed vaporizers heat the weed to temperatures under 450°F. These lower temperatures are able to release the cannabinoids (the active compounds) without combustion. This process produces fewer harmful byproducts, which makes it healthier than smoking.

Vaporization is also more efficient in extracting the cannabinoids and terpens than smoking. When cannabis is combusted, as much as 40% of these compounds are lost through combustion.

However, when vaping weed, these compounds can be released and preserved in the vapor. This means the vapor quality from a dry herb vape will be more potent than smoking weed. So you can get more from your cannabis with a dry herb vape.

Vaporizers will also preserve the terpenes in the herb, which means your vapor will be more flavorful than smoking. Each strain of cannabis has a unique mixture of terpenes and cannabinoids. By preserving more of these, you can enjoy the flavor and effects of the weed more and get a better, healthier experience.

How to Use a Dry Herb Vaporizer

Using a dry herb pen is easy. This guide will walk you through the process. 

1) Before using, ensure the heating chamber or oven is clean.

If it is your first time using a new device, you should cycle through the heating cycle at the highest temperature setting. This will help clean the device before loading your first lot of cannabis. 

2) You should grind your herb to a reasonably fine consistency. This will improve the airflow and help an even bake.

3) Pack the heating chamber with your herb of choice. Take care not to overload the device, and make sure to pack it evenly.

4) Choose the desired temperature setting for your herb. Then, activate the device and wait for it to heat up.

5) When the set temperature is reached, you can start taking gentle puffs from the mouthpiece. 

6) Adjust the temperature to release and consume the different compounds. You may be able to heat the same weed a couple of times to release all the cannabinoids and flavors.