How to make sure your vape is safe

Vaping is popularly regarded as the lesser of all evils for all cannabis users around the world. However, nothing can be 100% secure.

Today the market is littered with different types of vaporizers with different atomizers and cartridges. Not surprisingly, choosing a vaporizer could be a dilemma for both consumers and cannabis entrepreneurs — particularly new investors.

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Safety is the most important thing to watch out for

Not all vaporizers have the same level of safety. Some are safer than others. Thanks to the ever-evolving technology, many unique types of vaporizers have been created. Most brands prioritize profit over the health of their customers, so always check the components of your vaporizer before making a purchase, including:

seals

Silicone seals are of the best quality. These gaskets maintain low odor, supreme flexibility, low molding pressures, minimal toxicity and very low leachable properties. They have the ability to offer both low and high temperatures.

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The function of the seal in a vape is to prevent leakage of the vaporized cannabis while securing the other components in their proper places.

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These silicone seals are also of different types. Each has an operating temperature that ranged from -55°C to 200°C.

cartridge tube

This component has the largest surface area in contact with the extract. It is more or less the most important aspect of the vaporizer; one more reason why you should always check how it performs in the healthy range.

When purchasing a valve, you need to know the material from which the cartridge tube is made.

One of the safest materials that can be used for this tube is Glass – Fused Borosilicate Quartz. This glass can withstand temperatures of up to 1,100 °C. Also, it cannot be leached out. This material is also popular because it is used to stir nuclear waste.

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Glass is an inert material that is not dangerous. In fact, the heating material is not made entirely of molten borosilicate quartz, it is made of ceramic or aluminum and then finished with the glass material for its non-leaching properties.

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In addition to safe heating properties, they also preserve the flavors of the extracts and improve the quality of the inhaled output.

If you find the cartridge tube is made of polycarbonate materials, don’t buy it. These plastic materials can leach base products at very high temperatures. Presents a very high health risk to users.

Kitchen sink

Have you ever wondered where the “vaporization” takes place in a vape? It’s here in the coil.

When voltage is passed through the device, the heater provides a certain temperature. This heat reaches the already absorbed oil in the wicking material and vaporizes it into an aerosol.

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All materials used in this coil must be of a uniform material and the purity of these materials must be ensured.

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cartridge cotton

This is the non-woven viscose that creates the rocking effect of the spirals.

The cotton absorbs the extract and transports it to the core of the cartridge in record time. When inspecting the cotton, make sure that the material used never reaches burning temperatures during use.

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Also, check if the core of the cartridge is made of ceramic, as this allows for faster absorption of the extract.

mouthpiece

This is the component that comes in contact with the mouth. The inner mouthpiece is most likely to be leached if the material used is unsuitable for harsh temperatures.

The brass alloy called H59 is commonly used in most vaporizers on the market. There is a misconception that this material is lead free. H59 contains a small amount of lead, just over 2%. Manufacturers sometimes use other brass alloys such as H59-B1 and B2, but these can also be leached – they contain 0.05% lead.

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The healthiest material that can be used to make the inner mouthpiece is medical-grade 304 stainless steel. This material is proven to be lead-free. Also, make sure that the material used in finishing materials may also contain lead. Do not buy vaporizers that have been finished with gold or black electroplating.

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Care for your vaporizer

Initial Burn-Off: This is the process of heating an empty vaporizer to burn off any gas, residual oils and any form of factory residue that is left behind.

To keep your vaporizer in a healthy state, I would suggest that you undergo a burn-off cycle every time you clean your vaporizer. This would ensure that there are no residues of cleaning solutions in your vaporizers. Inhaling these solutions can have negative effects on your health.

During a burn-off cycle, a process called “outgassing” takes place.

This is a brief moment in which vapor is released from the unsuitable materials in a vape. This event can produce toxins or harmful chemicals. The more common this is in a vape, the more reasons you should consider replacing the vape. It indicates that very good materials have been used in the making of the vape product.

Disregarding this outgassing effect can cause more damage to the user. It is commonly said that smoking is better than using a vape that continuously outgasses.

Keep in mind

Quality vapes with healthy components aren’t always expensive, just as expensive vapes aren’t always of the best quality.

Using a price tag to determine how safe a vape is can be a costly and expensive mistake. Instead of leaving it to chance, check the components yourself. Find and buy the safest vape you can find.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.