Vaping Devices, also called electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), heat liquid to create aerosol that you breathe in. These devices are commonly known as e-cigarettes, vaporizers, vape pens and tank systems.
Discreet pod devices use disposable cartridges that contain liquid nicotine and flavoring. Other devices use tanks that refill with liquid.
E-cigarettes
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that vaporise an E-Liquid to deliver nicotine through inhalation, rather than by releasing harmful smoke. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of carcinogens and other compounds that can cause serious health problems. The longer ENDS are on the market the more we learn about them. However, there is still debate over whether they should be classified as tobacco products or drug-delivery devices.
The vapor produced by these devices contains chemicals that are harmful when inhaled, and it may also cause irritation to the eyes and nose. Moreover, the device’s battery can explode when overheated or misused. Poisoning from e-cigarette liquid can also occur when swallowed or spilled on the skin or when too much of the liquid is inhaled.
Some e-cigarettes are designed to look like conventional combusted cigarettes, cigars, or pipes; others resemble pens or USB flash drives. The more advanced vaporising devices, known as tank systems or mods, bear little resemblance to traditional cigarettes and often have a high-tech appearance.
Vape pens
Vape pens are handheld devices that offer a healthier alternative to smoking. They use a mouthpiece, tank/cartridge and an atomizer to vaporize concentrates. They are small, lightweight and discreet. Many people find them easier to use than more advanced vaporizers, especially if they’re new to cannabis.
The most common type of vape pen uses a disposable cartridge that holds nicotine-infused e-liquids or cannabis oils. These are often designed to connect to a 510 threaded battery. A LED indicator light will typically indicate how much power the device has, green for fully charged, yellow for low battery and red when it is dead.
Some vape pens don’t use cartridges and instead require the user to drip a few drops of concentrate on a heating coil. This is more convenient and environmentally friendly than using a prefilled cartridge, but requires more regular maintenance and cleaning. It also makes the device less portable. Some vape pens are sold with removable tanks, so that they can be replaced when needed.
Tank systems
Tank systems are the bigger, box-shaped parts that sit on top of e-cigarettes and contain both the liquid reservoir and the coil which vaporises it. They’re available in a wide range of shapes and sizes but most follow a basic design.
Generally, they have a base section with the 510 connector that supports a glass tank section from underneath. It has a chimney running down the centre which the air passes over to feed the coil, and the top section (which includes the mouthpiece) is attached to it. The chimney can be open or closed to control the amount of air that reaches the coil.
Mouth-to-lung tanks usually have a more restricted airflow to better suit their intended use, which is a single inhale into your lungs. Some tanks have a system called airflow control, which allows you to adjust how much air reaches the coil to help produce vapour. Some tanks also have a temperature control system which only works with compatible mods.
Mods
A mod is the bottom part of a vape kit, and it houses the battery and other electrical components. It can also be the part that holds the atomizer tank. Some people use multiple mods for different flavors, or they swap them out regularly. It’s important to read the mod author’s instructions before installing one. Mods often have specific requirements, such as having certain files in a particular folder. If two mods alter the same file, they may conflict with each other and cause errors.
The mod subculture began in the late 1950s, and it focused on music and fashion, especially in a period known as Swinging London. Male mods adopted a smooth, sophisticated look that included tailor-made suits with narrow lapels and thin ties. They listened to Modern Jazz and later shifted to rock music, such as bands like the Who and Small Faces. Christine Feldman-Barrett is a senior lecturer at Griffith University and the author of We Are the Mods: A Transnational History of a Youth Subculture.
