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Cannabis 101 Vaporizers

Vaping 101: How to Choose The Best Weed Vaporizer

People are looking for fresh and unique ways to consume weed, and the cannabis industry is responding by constantly coming up with innovative ways to do so. In recent years, vaping has become an increasingly popular method of consuming cannabis.

While it still requires inhaling, there are some notable differences that add to its popularity. If you’re looking to test the waters in the vaping world, we broke down all the basics you need to know in this how-to guide.

How Does Vaporizing Work?

Vaping works similarly to the conventional method of smoking cannabis; inhaling and exhaling. The cannabis being consumed is made from a liquid or dry substance heated by an electronic device called an e-cigarette or vaporizer.

different temperatures to heat your dry herb, dab wax or oil. The active ingredients turn into vapour without burning the substance. When you inhale, you are consuming a vapor containing cannabinoids. This is what gives you that sweet buzz.

There are over 100 cannabinoids, terpenes, and dozens of flavonoids in cannabis. Cannabinoids and terpenes combust at different temperatures; THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) at 248°F and CBD (cannabidiol) at 356°F. The added high temperatures mean cannabis found within vapes combust a lot quicker, which may lead to a heightened high. 

What Are the Benefits of Vaping Marijuana Over Smoking?

Vaporizing has been shown to have advantages over smoking.  Vaporizing has grown in popularity over recent years for good reason, it has a host of benefits.  It may even convince you to make the switch (or at least give vaping a try).

Here are just a few benefits of vaporizing:

  • There are less harsh toxins directly ingested 
  • The ease of dose and temperature control
  • Vaporizing can be smoother on the lungs and throat than the conventional spliff
  • It’s handy for travelling on the go (handheld vaporizers)

Choosing the Best Vaporizer for Your Needs

Vaping devices come in lots of shapes and sizes, with some resembling USB flash drives, pens, etc, and some resembling volcanoes that are best for stationary use.

Leaf Lab has got you covered if you’re new to the vaping scene, and we’ll guide you through the selection process, from start to finish. There are two main types of vaporizers, namely, portable and tabletop vaporizers. Both can heat dry herbs or oil in their vessel.

Tabletop or Desktop Vaporizers

As the name suggests, desktop vaporizers are stationary and are best to use for large groups. 

With these vaporizers, cannabis is ground and packed into a small container. This is where the bag pulls from. Once packed, you can select the temperature and fill the bag up. When you pull the air in, the vapour is drawn and inhaled through the bag.

The process is similar to smoking the conventional joint, however in this case air is drawn in through a bag.

Benefits of Stationary Vaporizers

Although not as popular as handheld vaporizers, stationary vaporizers still have a few features that make them the right choice for some. Here are just a few:

  • How long you can vape for. These vaporizers run off of electricity (not batteries) and can be used as long as an outlet is accessible.
  • Temperature control display. Stationary vaporizers are available with two different interfaces. One with a digital display, and the other with a temperature gauge knob. With each device, the user has complete control over the temperature their bud is being heated at.
  • Use for groups. These devices are perfect for large groups and a bag or two can easily be shared with a group of friends. It’s important to remember to clean the mouthpiece after each use.

Portable Concentrate Vaporizers (Vape Pens or Dab Pens)

Vape pens are small, portable devices that feature a battery, atomizer (heating element) and mouthpiece. There are specialized vapes that are designed for each type of concentrate as well as vapes that allow multiple types of concentrate to be used.

The biggest difference between stationary vapes and handheld vapes is the ease of portability. Vape pens are small enough to fit into a pocket or backpack. If you’re new to vaping, we recommend portable vapes because they are so easy to use and are very convenient. 

How Do I Use Concentrates for Vape Pens?

Marijuana concentrates are potent extracts that contain high levels of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD.  They come in many forms, including, waxes, shatters, and oils, to name a few. Concentrates are what is used in these handheld devices.

Dry Herb Vaporizers

These vaporizers resemble a pen and can easily be used on the go (where permitted). They’re similar to concentrate vaporizers, but have one key difference: the atomizer. The atomizer heats and transforms dry herbs or waxes into vapor. Using dry herb vaporizers guarantees a robust and flavourful toke each time.

Types of Concentrates for Vaporizers

With these three types of devices, you can choose your preferred method of vaporizing, as well as  what kind of product you want to put in. You can use: 

  • Dry flower
  • Oil
  • Wax concentrates

There are lots of vaporizers on the market that claim to be able to vaporize all three, however these vapes usually cannot deliver consistent results across different materials; this is due to the fact that dry herbs require specific conditions from oil and wax concentrates. This is why pen-style vapes sometimes can’t fully vape dry products but can with oils if they have the proper design features built-in.

Oil-Based and Wax Vaporizers

An oil-based vaporizer is a simple two-part electronic device used to turn your cannabis oils and wax concentrates into vapor. These vape pens are often shaped like writing pens, hence the name! 

They’re also referred to as cartridge batteries because they house a small battery that heats an atomizer. It contains a coil for your oils or waxes to be broken down enough to release their properties without burning combustion. But they are great at producing beautiful odourless smoke when vaped at low temperatures. 
If you’re new to vaping, we recommend portable vapes because they are so easy to use and are very convenient.

Vape On

Stepping into the vaping world can seem daunting at first, but selecting the right vaporizer for your lifestyle is the first step. 

Leaf lab has a wide range of vaporizers to choose from. Our staff will guide you through the best options for you to ensure you buy a vaporizer that fits your lifestyle.

If you are looking to pick up your order from Leaf Lab Dispensary, we are located at 1961 Avenue Road, ON, M5M 4A3. If you have any questions regarding vaporizers, please contact us on 416-488-8239 or email us at info@leaflabcannabis.com

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Cannabis 101 Vaporizers

All You Need To Know About 510 Vape Cartridges: A Comprehensive Guide

What is a 510 Vape Cartridge?

510-thread cartridges are the most common type of vape cartridge. The name comes from the type of threading at the bottom of the cartridge where the vaporizer battery screws into. 510 vape cartridges are made up of a mouthpiece, a small tank filled with extract, and an atomizer steel wick. These parts all come together in a simple process to turn your cannabis oil into inhalable vapour.


First, the atomizer acts as the primary heat source for the vaporization process. This atomizer then comes into contact with the tank or chamber filled with extract, which then “vaporizes” the extract into an inhalable mist. This mist or vapor is then sent or pulled into the mouthpiece of the cartridge.

Let’s Get The Basics Out The Way

Vape cartridges are small units of any kind of extract, in particular, cannabis extract oil. When these oils are heated, they release active ingredients into a fine vapour that can be inhaled. These cartridges are simple and come in a standard rod-like shape that consists of three parts which include:

  • The mouthpiece – Found at the top of the cartridge, this is the piece you place on your lips to draw in air and vapour
  • The chamber – this is the part of the cartridge that comes pre-filled with cannabis oil to vaporized
  • The atomizer – the heating element that’s used to vaporize the cannabis oil or concentrate.

Another important part of the vape is the battery layout. These are rechargeable batteries that can be fastened into the cartridges and they can be bought separately, but other cartridges may come with a disposable battery attached to them.

How To Use a Vape Cartridge

Vape cartridges have become increasingly popular since being legalized, mainly because they are easy to use. However, it’s always important to use vape-related cannabis products correctly.

While most cartridges operate in the same way, it’s always best to carefully read through the instructions that come with your vaporizer and cartridges so that you avoid any potential safety hazards.

After purchasing your 510 vape cartridge, you should follow the following steps before putting it to use. Before you thread the cartridge into your vape pen, you may want to first take off the cover (either rubber, metal, or plastic) and take probably two-three long pulls so that the air passes through the cartridge and saturates the atomizer coil with the concentrated liquid.

This practice, known as “priming the cartridge,” helps to prevent the metal coil from getting burnt on your first time. Even though this may seem like a tedious extra step, not doing this leads to higher chances of getting a burnt taste from the cartridge.

Once you’ve properly primed the cartridge, you’ll need to carefully screw the 510 vape cartridge onto your 510 battery pen. Make sure you don’t use too much force with the cartridge when putting it onto the threads, as doing so may damage the threading strips. Also, note that you don’t want to screw the cartridge very tight, as that might lead to connection issues.

Before you take your first draw, remember that the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil in your vape cartridge is highly concentrated. This means you don’t have to inhale as much as you might when smoking to feel the desired psychoactive effects.


Because of how much “stronger” each inhalation is when using a vape, it’s best to only take small amounts with each draw and to wait at least a few minutes before you take another. The THC compounds may also take some time to set in when vaping, which makes the experience more relaxing and delivers a gradual high.

What To Do If Your 510 Vape Cartridge Stops Working?

What happens if all of a sudden your 510 vape stops working properly? First of all, don’t panic! More often than not, it’s a common issue that you’ve run into, that would have an easy fix. Here’s how you might go about fixing them:

  • If you’re not drawing out any vapour but the airflow doesn’t seem blocked, there may be a connection problem with the battery power. Check to see if the battery is properly charged, as some batteries come only with a partial charge when sold.
  • If there’s no issues with the battery and you’re still not seeing any vapor when you inhale, your power may simply be turned off. Check the button on your vaporizer and try clicking it 3-4 times simultaneously to toggle it either ON/OFF. You will often see a light coming on as you make your draw.
  • If you’ve checked and confirmed all the above issues and you’re sure that the battery is charged and the vape is on, then there might be some connection problem with the battery itself. Try unscrewing the cartridge to clean both contacts with smooth wet cotton, then leave it for a few minutes for the parts to dry off. Once the battery is dry again, try reconnecting it.
  • If you notice that the airflow is blocked when you try to inhale, the cartridge may be clogged with dried oil. In this case, simply try to draw harder and the blockage should release itself.

To Vape Or Not To Vape?

There are several advantages to using vape cartridges for your cannabis consumption as compared to smoking. Many research studies have shown over the years that vaping is better than smoking and tends to be less harmful due to the fact that byproducts of combustion are not part of the process. With vaping the user can regulate the heating and dosing of the vapor as opposed to smoking, which adds a layer of control that gives the user a better cannabis experience.

Other benefits of the 510 cannabis vape cartridges are that they are very convenient and easy to use. This makes it possible for users to inhale vapor and experience instant effects at the push of a button. On top of that, vape devices are often small and help for a discrete experience with a mild odor being produced for a few minutes when in use.

If you want to find out more about cannabis vape cartridges or you are or are a new cannabis user, we’re happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have. Feel free to visit our main website here and get in touch with us.


If you’re interested in learning more about 510 Vape Cartridges or anything else about cannabis, please check out our blog.