We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more
Dab Pens & Wax Pens
A Dab Pen is designed to vaporize concentrates or CBD isolates efficiently and without a flame. Vaporizing concentrates, rather than smoking them, reduces the number of toxins inhaled. Wax pens are usually shaped like a pen offering an easy on-the-go solution for concentrate consumers. Read More...
1234567891011G Pen Micro+£71.99121314151617181920212223What is a Wax Pen?
A Wax Pen is a device designed to vaporize herbal extracts like CBD isolates or concentrates. Wax pens, which are also referred to as dab pens or wax vapes, are small, pocketable, and usually the size of a generic pen. These devices allow the user to avoid the toxins and lousy flavour of smoke.
They are a portable alternative to larger rigs and free you from needing a flame. Three main components make up any dab pen are; the battery, the heating chamber, and the mouthpiece. We've put together an article compiling the best dab pens available on the market to give you a place to start learning and make browsing easier.
In essence, wax pens are to extracts, what portable vaporizers are to dry herbs.
What is the difference between a Dab Pen, Wax Pen, Shatter Pen & Concentrate Pen?
For the most part, these words are just synonyms. In jurisdictions where Cannabis is legal, either medically or recreationally, concentrates and wax derivatives are sold or prescribed. CBD isolate is another derivative that is commonly used with wax pens.
Depending on what concentrate is consumed, the patient or user may refer to the hardware differently. Such derivatives can range from shatter, live resin, crumble, caviar, and diamonds to many other names. As a result, the individuals may refer to the device as a shatter, wax, or dab pen. These pens are all the same, designed to function well with any solid wax.
How Do You Use a Wax Pen?
- Place your dab or concentrate into the heating chamber.
- Press the button 5 times to turn on the dab pen.
- Press the power button 2 or 3 times, depending on the brand of the device, to select your desired temperature or wattage setting. Lower settings create more flavour, while higher settings generate larger clouds.
- Press to engage the heat by holding the button for 2-4 seconds.
- While holding the button down, inhale from the mouthpiece.
- Hold the vapor for as long as you wish before exhaling.
For more detail, feel free to watch the “How To Use a Wax Pen” Video above on this page.
How Do You Clean a Wax Pen?
- Pour some ZEUS Purify solution or rubbing alcohol into a small container.
- Soak parts like mouthpieces after ensuring that the part is resistant to the cleaning solution.
- Soak the bucket and coil atomizers in alcohol and give them ample time to dry. Soak such components for less than 20 minutes.
- The heating chamber should be heated while empty and dry to burn off leftover residue.
ZEUS Grime Wipes and Sticks can be used to make this process faster and more convenient.
It is best to replace the heating element or chamber periodically. Purchasing a new part is sometimes a better option and less time-consuming than cleaning. A new heating chamber will provide the most optimum flavour. If you want more detail on cleaning a wax pen, review our guide and video on this subject.
What is a Dab Pen Atomizer or Coil?
Every dab pen vaporizes the extract inside a heating chamber. An atomizer, also known as a coil, is the heating element that vaporizes your dry herb or CBD concentrates.
Pressing the power button on the concentrate pen induces the atomizer or coil to heat up. This heat converts wax or CBD isolate into vapor.
Atomizers come in various configurations but usually fall into two categories, Exposed Coil or Coil Atomizers and Bucket Atomizers. Bucket Atomizers are generally best for easy maintenance and focus on flavourful vapor. In contrast, coil-based atomizers are usually better at producing massive clouds.
If you want to learn more about the differences between wax atomizers, our wax pen buyers guide breaks them down.
Coil vs Bucket Heating Chamber
In an Exposed Coil Heater, a coil is wrapped around a rod at the bottom of a heating chamber. Pressing the power button will heat the coil. The heat generated turns the concentrate into vapor.
This atomizer type is common because they do not require much battery power. They heat up faster and generate more significant clouds than bucket-style heating chambers.
Bucket Heaters simulate the typical “banger” on a glass rig. Your extract is vaporized by placing a dab in the bucket. You can either hot load it for the best vapor or cold load it for more convenience. The heating element does not directly touch the concentrate.
It heats the bucket within which the concentrate is placed. This technology heats the concentrates slower and more evenly, resulting in less but more flavourful vapor. Bucket styler heaters are also much easier to clean and can therefore generate tasty flavour for longer.
What Temperature Should I Set for my Wax Pen?
Shatter or wax pens, generally range from low to high temperature or voltage. Voltage references the power pushed into the atomizer instead of the temperature achieved. The rule of thumb is that lower temperature creates less dense but more flavourful vapor. Lower temperatures will also allow for longer sessions and more draws per dabbing session.
A wax pen that is set to a higher temperature will generate more significant clouds with a duller flavour profile. Higher temperatures will consume extracts more quickly. Wax pens are limited due to the form factor and are most suitable as "daily drivers." However, if you want the best flavour and vapor thickness combination, you would be more pleased with an Electronic Dab Rig. You can also tune your dab pen by combining it with a bubbler or an IceBorn.
If you are interested in learning about the best vaporization temperatures for terpenes and what temperatures you should use, our article goes into more depth.
