Concentrate Pen Guide

concentrate pen guide

 

Concentrate pen vaporizers (also known as "dab pens" or "wax pens") are the fastest and easiest way to enjoy botanical extracts and concentrates on the go. Small enough to fit in your pocket, concentrate pens allow you to discreetly medicate at a moment's notice while you're out and about.

Concentrate pen vaporizers have come a long way since their introduction back in 2009. Today many of them are considered some of the best portable vaporizers available. While the way in which these units function has more or less stayed the same, the technology utilized and materials they're constructed from have drastically changed. New features like advanced atomizers, variable voltage batteries and improved build quality have made the latest generation of concentrate pen vapes more versatile, reliable, and powerful than ever before.

To better understand and appreciate recent concentrate pen improvements and innovations, let's first take a look at how these units function.

How Does A Concentrate Pen Work?

For the most part, all concentrate pens consist of three components: a battery, an atomizer (heating chamber), and a mouthpiece. These parts are threaded (universal 510 threading is typically utilized), which allows them to be connected and disconnected from each other by simply twisting them on or off.

Concentrate Pen Breakdown

Unscrewing a dab pen's mouthpiece reveals the atomizer, which includes the chamber (or dish) in which concentrate is placed, as well as the heating coil. A dab tool is used to place material on and around the heating element, being careful not to scrape or damage the coil during the loading process.

Once loaded, replace the mouthpiece and turn the unit on by clicking the power button five times consecutively (all vape pens utilize this 5-click locking mechanism to prevent accidental pocket firing). At this point, the pen is ready to be used. Inhale while pressing the power button (as this activates the heating coil). The size of the draw is easy to govern, as it's controlled by the length of time the power button is held as the pen is hit.

Different Types Of Atomizers

Concentrate atomizers come in three varieties: wicked, wickless (which refers to the material that the heating coil is wrapped around), and flat (also referred to as "donut", "terra", or "halo" style). Even though each type of atomizer is designed differently, they all employ a coil as the heat source.

Wicked Atomizers

Ideal for lower viscosity (runny/liquidy) waxy concentrates, these types of atomizers utilize a heating coil wrapped around some sort of absorbent fiber wick material that soaks up oils and thicker concentrates, creating smooth, flavorful draws. Wicked atomizers come in the following varieties:

Wicked Atomizers

 

Wickless Atomizers 

Best when used with higher viscosity (thicker/solid) concentrates, wickless rod atomizers are typically used by users seeing more power at higher temperatures. Wickless rod atomizers come in the following varieties: 

Wickless Atomizers

 

Flat Ceramic Dish 

These newer style atomizers feature a flat ceramic dish, have no exposed wicks or coils, and are ideal for low temperature vaping. Since concentrates don't come in direct contact with the heating coil - it burns much slower and tastes better - which makes donut style ceramic atomizers like this idea lfor conserving your concentrates. 

Ceramic Dish Atomizers

Advanced Atomizers 

One of the biggest complaints about early concentrate vape pens was the "burnt" or "charred" taste you would sometimes experience, which could often be attributed to the residual burn-off that occurs once material has melted and the coil is directly heating the ceramic rod (which is not a pleasant taste). This led to the recent introduction of higher quality materials like titanium coils and quartz crystal rods, which help improve flavor and taste. 

Advanced Concentrate Pen Atomizers

  • Titanium Coils: While once rare, most manufacturers including KandyPens now construct atomizer coils from Titanium, which has a higher resistance than lower-grade materials used in the past. This allows coils to maintain a lower temperature while heating, resulting in less of a "burnt" taste and improved flavor.

  • Quartz Crystal Rods: While ceramic rods were the industry standard for quite a while, manufacturers are now replacing standard ceramic with quartz crystal rods. Glass is more of an inert material than ceramic, which means material burns cleaner and tastes better.

  • Triple Coils: For extreme concentrate enthusiasts looking for the ultimate in portable pen power, some manufacturers are now producing atomizers with three coils. The more coils, the faster material will burn, and the more intense draws will be. Similar to an electric eNail in performance and efficiency, triple coil atomizers welt max almost instantaneously, which is ideal for dabbers seeking the ultimate hit - but not the best option for those looking to conserve their concentrates.

Types of Concentrate Pen Batteries

Concentrate Pen Battery

Like atomizers, the batteries utilized by dab pens commonly feature 510 threading, meaning they can be interchanged and used with multiple different atomizers and attachments (even outside of their specific brand/model). Aside from slight variations in voltage level and amperage (900mAh, 1100mAh, and 1300mAh), as well as different colors options, all batteries are designed to serve the same purpose: to power the pen's heating element. 

Variable Voltage Batteries 

Concentrate Pen Variable Voltage Battery

Vape pen batteries that give users the ability to choose between multiple heat settings and voltage options are becoming more and more popular. Depending on the manufacturer, temperature/voltage settings can be toggled by pressing the power button consecutively three times, or controlled through a dial located at the base of the battery. Variable voltage batteries can typically be set between 2.7v - 4.8v, or between 350°F - 430°F on temperature controlled units. 

Other Portable Devices For Concentrates

Traditional concentrate pens are now being joined by a whole new class of devices that can best be described as concentrate pen/portable vaporizer hybrids. Breaking the mold of traditional vape pens, the latest generation of these devices (while difficult to categorize) feature fantastic functionality, and offer new ways to enjoy your favorite concentrates.

E-Rig

Boasting the same type of high-powered performance one would expect from a electric eNail, the term "eRig" describes battery powered, portable units that feature a titanium nail in which wax is placed. Able to reach temperatures upwards of 700°F, concentrates melt on contact, which are then inhaled through an included water attachment, allowing you to moisturize and cool your hits. eRig's are an awesome alternative to traditional means of concentrate consumption, and are certain to become more common as time progresses.

Non-Pen Portables

These units have more in common aesthetically with true portable vaporizers than pen-style vapes. Instead of utilizing an atomizer to heat your concentrate, these battery-powered portable units like Magic Flight's Muad-Dib employ more of a "skillet" design, which is completely free of wicks and coils. Concentrate is placed on the skillet, which heats instantly once activated. Vapor is then inhaled through a whip-draw delivery system. These non-pen portables offer familiar functionality for those more accustomed to herb vaporizers, and offer to nice change of pace from standard wax pens.