January 15th, 2012 by admin
A vaporizer is a device that turns the active ingredients from plant material into vapor without the use of combustion. This article will describe how a vaporizer works, as well as the different types of vaporizers that are available. For more info beyond this article, go over to Wikipedia and read their article on vaporizers.
In the vaporizing process, the active ingredients of the material are turned into vapor, which is then inhaled. Vaporizing is different from smoking. The process of smoking takes place through pyrolysis or combustion of the material. Combustion releases many of the harmful by-products of smoking such as tar and carbon monoxide. Vaporizing a material eliminates virtually all of these harmful by-products. This is because the boiling point of the desired ingredient is significantly lower than the combustion point of the plant material. Thus, the material does not burn, and no secondhand smoke is produced.
Vaporizers come in a variety of different models and are sold at widely different price points. Most vaporizers are meant to be used in the home, but some models are specifically designed to be portable. The in-home models have an external power cord, so they must be used near an electrical outlet. They have also have various accessories such as valves & bags that require a bit of space. The Volcano Vaporizer and the Arizer Extreme are good examples of in-home vaporizers. The Arizer has glass parts, so it is best used in a fixed location.
On the other hand, portable vaporizer models have rechargeable batteries and are fueled by gas such as butane or NO2. These can be discreetly used anywhere. Some portable vaporizers have unique designs – the Iolite line of butane-fueled vaporizers look just like walkie-talkies! This model was recently seen on the Showtime series Bored to Death – Ted Danson’s character enjoyed using the Iolite.
Another difference amongst vaporizers is the method of inhalation. Most often, the vapor is inhaled though a plastic tube called a “whip”. The length of the whip can vary – some are as short as a few inches and others are a few feet long. The whip cools the vapor before it reaches the mouth of the user. A second method of inhalation is through an inflatable bag. In this method, the material is heated and the vapor produced is collected in a plastic bag. The user then detaches the bag and inhales at will. This method allows the user to accurately control or “titrate” the amount of active ingredient delivered. Some popular brands of in-home vaporizers use this method of inhalation – in particular, the flagship Volcano Vaporizer comes shipped with a set of re-usable inflatable bags.
If you are a smoker of any material and are concerned about the health effects of smoking, you may want to consider a vaporizer. Studies have found that the release of the harmful constituents of smoke were dramatically reduced or eliminated with the use of a vaporizer. One review stated that “The final pulmonal uptake of the [active ingredient] is comparable to smoking, while avoiding the respiratory disadvantages of smoking.” Thus, the desired ingredient is efficiently delivered to your lungs, without the harmful by-products of smoking. Your lungs will thank you!
Another reason to buy a vaporizer is that your material can be re-used multiple times. Since no combustion takes place, the plant material itself it not destroyed. Often, there will be additional active material left, which can be run through the vaporizer a second time. Many people who have purchased and used vaporizers have commented on this fact. One user of the Vapir One 5.0 Digital Herbal Vaporizer stated that “the [material] lasts longer… I run quality [material] through the vaporizer two times easily, and sometimes a third time if nothing else is available…it will save you money and pickup time.” Thus, although a vaporizer costs some money up-front, it should be considered an investment – it will allow you to re-use your material, eventually paying for itself.
Clearly, there are many advantages to vaporizing over smoking. Vaporizing is a cleaner and healthier process which prolongs the life of your material. The various types of vaporizers available are becoming increasingly popular in recent years. There are many places to buy a vaporizer, and the internet is a good place to start. Make sure you read our reviews of the different popular models in order to find the best vaporizer for your needs. If you’d like further information, go check out the Wikipedia page for vaporizers.