Vapor pens are everywhere in the public eye. If you’ve seen them advertised, or heard them mentioned in news stories, you might be interested in them, but are unsure exactly how they work. Many references to vapor pens assume that you already know all about them, and start out immediately touting the virtues of one brand of portable vaporizers over another without ever stopping to explain exactly how to use one.

Handheld Vaporizers Are Easy to Use

Handheld vaporizers are sophisticated devices, but their operation is not that difficult to understand when it’s explained in clear language. If you’ve seen advertisements for vapor pens like the Atmos Orbit, or the Arizer Air, they contain a lot of information that would be essential when you’re thinking of making a purchase, but don’t explain anything about how to load, use, or clean them. While the instructions for different vaporizer pens will vary, most units work in about the same way. Here’s rundown on how to use most vaporizer pens:

Vapor Pens Have Only a Few Components

First, make sure you have all the components that come with the vape pen. Now unscrew the tank from the battery. The tank on most portable vaporizers normally has some sort of screw lid that also need to be removed. Now activate the battery. The batteries of portable vaporizers have buttons that need to be pressed once, or several times in succession. It’s sometimes necessary to hold them down for a certain amount of time to activate the devices.

Always Shake the E-Liquid

Shake the e-liquid. The ingredients in most e-liquids can settle when not in use. You can now use a dropper to pour the liquid into the tank. The tanks are quite small, so be careful not to overfill. It’s time to push on the mouthpiece, or tighten it by screwing if it has threads. Attach the battery, and press the button to begin drawing vapor.

It’s important to turn off the battery when the vape pen is not in use. Whether you’re using a pencil unit like the Atmos Raw or cartridge-shaped units like the Iolite vaporizer, you can usually charge the battery whether the unit is on or off.

Vapor Pen Parts Are Delicate When Disassembled

Remember to be careful when handling the vapor pen parts when the unit is disassembled. Some parts are very delicate, and you should guard against cross-threading any of the parts during assembly. Once the unit is assembled, it’s much sturdier.

Don’t Forget Cleaning

Once you find the best pen vape for you, it’s going to be important that you maintain it by properly cleaning it. It will improve the lifespan of the unit, and it will make sure you’re getting the cleanest, most flavorful vapor possible. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning your vapor pens two or three times a week, but if you’re an infrequent vaper, once a week should keep the unit in tiptop shape. Cleaning is easy, and requires only Q-Tips and some isopropyl alcohol. Lots of handheld vaporizers are sold in kits, and come with cleaning tools specifically designed for the unit. Don’t ignore the contact points where the battery connects, but be careful not to damage them.