10 things that you should never do with portable vaporizers
Vape devices that are portable offer a wide range of benefits that can be hard to turn down, especially in such a fast-paced world, when we’re always on the go and rarely left with enough time to roll or lavish in the pungent aromas. We need fast, easy, less smelly options, and vape pens are it, but they do come with a few flaws that every consumer should know about.
The alternative is going in blissfully unaware, which could, unfortunately, lead to dangerous or outright disastrous situations that could easily be avoided with the help of a few tips.
1. Never store a vape pen in a vehicle
Vapes are incredibly handy because once they’re charged, you can take them anywhere with you, plus it negates the need for a lighter, paper, or any other rolling or toking accessories that could weigh you down, but because of this, it’s easy to forget them in places like our cars. Some even choose to leave them there in hopes of avoiding leaving home without it, but this is a terrible idea for a few reasons.
If you’re using concentrates, they can run and even spoil in the hot smoldering heat that builds up behind the glass of vehicles, and this is one of the best and bad scenarios you could face. Since most portable vaporizers come equipped with lithium batteries which are sensitive to high temperatures, you could wreck the battery or worse; you could be the victim of a vape explosion, so it’s best to avoid it.
2. Don’t forget a vape in your pocket
Portable vaporizers provide convenience, which makes it really easy to keep one on you at all times, be it while lounging around at home, out on the trails, or even at work. The trouble is that these devices aren’t something that you can leave just lying around, which is why it’s not uncommon for people to go about their days with theirs in a pant or shirt pocket.
This seems like a great idea because you can feel it there, and it’s always ready at a moment's notice, but these vapes tend to come with push-button action which makes it easy to accidentally set one off with just the smallest amount of pressure. Prolonged pocket pressing could, in the very least, ruin the product within, and at worse, cause devastating burns. It’s much safer to carry them in a purse or a specially made pouch that can be carried or tossed over the shoulder instead.
3. Try not to cheap out on a case
Portable vapes and pens can be a hefty investment, and even when they’re not, you don’t want yours breaking before you’re good and ready to replace it, which is why it’s so important to invest in a hard-shelled good quality case. This will work to protect both your cannabis products and the vape from the elements or accidental bouncing around, potentially adding years to its life.
4. Using the wrong charger
Every reusable, portable vape pen comes with a battery that will need a powerful charge at some point to keep working. It’s not uncommon to need to recharge even the best, longest-lasting vapes at least once a day with heavy use, making it a necessity to travel with its charger in tow for day-long or overnight excursions.
Unlike our phones, which are quite often compatible as long as the cords fit the device, vaporizers come with a variety of different-sized batteries, and each one comes with its own requirements. A charge cord that’s too small might take hours to produce enough electricity to get you going again, and one that’s too strong brings us back to that pesky risk of vape explosion which we’ve touched on, which is why it’s so important to use the right one.
5. Avoid refilling carts that aren’t designed for it
These days refillable carts are quite affordable and easy to access with an internet connection. Still, many are tempted to refill an old vape cartridge that was only designed for one-time use, and this can be incredibly dangerous. Any modification to a vape cartridge could result in burns, leaking, and damage to the vape device, so save yourself the trouble, and avoid making this common mistake.
6. Attaching the wrong sized accessories
There are several different standard sizes of vape pens, but it’s still really easy to get them mixed up, which leaves consumers frustrated and conflicted, facing two options. Either take it or send it back to wherever you bought it from, or you can try to make it work. Though the latter might be tempting we highly recommend not attaching the wrong sized pieces to your vape for two reasons.
The first is that even if the parts do seem to fit together, seals might not line up, or something else might be off just enough to make using them together impossible and maybe even dangerous. The second reason is due to the threading, which is on most vapes, to hold the various parts together, which can become stripped just like a screw, ruining your whole device in an instant.
7. Never use a pot product that is not compatible with your vape
Vape devices are designed with care and precision to deliver the ultimate experience with specific cannabis products. Some come equipped with all of the tools and accessories to be compatible with all of them, while the majority focus on either concentrates or flower. It is important to pay attention to and stick to the instructions that come with your device, otherwise, there could be consequences.
Your vape might not heat up enough to vaporize the cannabis within, or it might get so hot that it scalds everything inside in an instant, neither of which is overly productive for consumers. Using the wrong products can also plug up your vape, rending the whole thing useless and not easily fixed, so save yourself the grief, and stick to the stuff that yours is specifically made to handle.
8. Sharing isn’t always caring
Many will disagree with this thought, but the truth is that vaporizers aren’t exactly designed with shared sanitary experiences in mind. With portable vapes, you’re always using the same mouthpiece, which is really difficult to clean when you’re out and about, or on the go, and it traps saliva amongst other things that you might not want to be sharing with a big group of friends.
9. Buying used vaporizers
Vaporizers can be a really expensive investment, so it’s understandable that some might be tempted to save a few dollars by picking up one that’s been gently used by a consumer who decided that vaping just wasn’t for them. It seems like a win-win situation, you save some hard-earned cash, and they get back some of the money they spend on a disappointing purchase, but you’re the one that’s left holding the bag.
Not only are portable vapes not the most sterile things, as previously mentioned, because the pieces tend to go in our mouths, but they also aren’t exactly known for taking excessive use, abuse, or handling very well, so even if it looks new, it might not work the way that you’d expect, and even if it does, you won’t have perks like a warranty to fall back on, something that’s more than worthwhile with purchases this big.
10. Don’t leave vaporizers charging overnight
After a long day of vaping, your device is probably dead and in serious need of some charge, as you’re probably going to want it by morning, but this is not something you should do while you sleep because it is a fire risk. Far too many vaporizers have exploded or singed surrounding materials or carpets from getting too hot, in particular, cheaper versions. Though most vapes are relatively safe, they should always be supervised during charging to avoid potential risks.
