Dive in, because things are about to get waxy! And no, we’re not discussing the type that smoothens your legs, gives a shine to your candles, or even recalls the iconic “wax on, wax off” mantra from the Karate Kid. Instead, we’re turning up the heat on a wax that, when pressed, relieves stress just like squeezing a grape.
Enter the realm of cannabis, where ‘wax’ refers to an uber-potent and sought-after concentrate. Cannabis concentrates are the talk of the town, and vaping them? Well, it’s a game-changer. Wax vape cartridges, or the more commonly known weed vape carts, provide a stealthy and efficient way to savor the magic and potential benefits of wax and other cannabis derivatives. But here’s the catch: to truly savor every whiff, you need the right blend of care, upkeep, and a touch of ingenuity.
If you’ve ever been frustrated with wax carts that just won’t give that final hit or you’re just on a mission to extract every last bit from your cartridge, you’ve struck gold. Coming up, we’re diving deep into tactics to maximize your vaping experience, ensuring no drop of wax goes to waste. Ready, set, vape on!
Key Takeaways
- On average, a standard 0.5-gram wax cartridge could provide approximately 100 to 150 hits.
- You can slightly increase the number of hits you can get out of it by applying the proper techniques.
- Each user might have a different way of getting more wax out of an almost-empty cart, though usually, most of these methods involve a bit of heat and gravity or centrifugal force.
- Selecting the ultimate best wax cart out there depends greatly on the preferences, priorities, and specific needs of each user.
How Many Hits Does a Cart Have?
Answering this question with a single exact number can be tricky, as the precise number of hits a wax cartridge can deliver depends on several factors. Characteristics such as the cartridge type, the size, the concentration of the wax that the cart contains, and even the inhalation technique of each user and the duration of each puff can influence the final number of hits each cartridge can deliver. On average, a standard 0.5-gram wax cartridge could provide approximately 100 to 150 hits. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that the later hits may not be as flavorful or potent as the initial hits due to the distribution of the concentrate within the cartridge.
How to Get More Hits Out of a Cart
Getting the most out of your wax cartridge from start to finish involves a combination of proper storage practices and environmental awareness. But yes, it is entirely possible to get a little more out of a wax cartridge than average. You can slightly increase the number of hits you can get out of it by applying the proper techniques.
Store it Upright
Proper storage is crucial to maintain an even distribution of the concentrate within the cartridge. Storing the cartridge upright prevents the wax from setting at the bottom of the cartridge, ensuring that each hit delivers a consistent experience and effects. This practice also minimizes the chance of leakage and clogging issues.
Keep an Eye on Temperature and Humidity
Cannabinoids and terpenes are naturally occurring compounds with a high sensitivity to extreme temperatures, sunlight, and humidity levels, making cannabis concentrates, including wax, delicate substances. Therefore, temperature and humidity changes can significantly impact your wax cartridge’s performance. Extreme temperatures and high humidity levels could alter the viscosity of the wax inside the cartridge, potentially leading to leaks or uneven vaporization. It is ideal to store your carts in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight and excessive moisture, to extend their functional life.
How to Fix a Cart That Is Not Hitting
Finding ourselves with a wax cartridge that is not hitting can be really frustrating, and it is a much more common problem than we would initially think. However, there are several techniques that you can try to troubleshoot the issue.
Use Heat to Melt It
If the remaining concentrate inside your cartridge is too thick to vape effectively, gently applying some heat may help. You could use a hair dryer on a low setting or warm water to slightly melt the wax. Nonetheless, it is crucial to practice caution to avoid overheating as excessive heat could damage the cartridge, alter the flavors of the concentrate, or even further degrade its already depleted quality from previous use.
An effective way to do this would be to use a heating pad for growing weed and throw your leftover cartridges overnight in there. After a few hours, the remaining wax in the cartridges should liquefy, allowing you to get a few more powerful draws out of them.
Related Article: Best Voltage for Live Resin Carts
Add a Few Drops of Vape Juice
Another way to improve the viscosity of the concentrate and thus facilitate better vaporization could be to add a couple of drops of a thinning agent, such as propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), or some non-nicotine vape juice. Adding the proper amount of thinning agent to your almost-finished wax cart may help restore its functionality and allow you to use the last few drops of concentrate it contains. But, be mindful of the amount you add, as using too much thinning agent could dilute the potency of the wax, thus altering its effectiveness.
Carefully Open It
Carefully opening the cartridge could be a viable option for those comfortable with handling the mechanics of the cartridge. This allows you to access the concentrate that the cartridge contains. It is essential to exercise caution to avoid damaging the cartridge during the process. Once you open the cartridge, you can transfer the remaining wax to another device for further consumption.
How to Get Wax to the Bottom of the Cart
Sometimes the wax cartridges stop hitting but still have remnants of wax stuck to the walls of the cartridge or somewhere that the hitting element cannot vaporize. Wax usually needs to be at the bottom of the vape cart to be vaporized, and there are a few ways you can get the remaining concentrate to the bottom of the cartridge. Each user might have a different way of getting more wax out of an almost-empty cart, though usually, most of these methods involve a bit of heat and gravity or centrifugal force.
One of the most common ways to get that extra couple of puffs from your empty wax cartridge is to gently apply heat with a lighter or warm water to melt the concentrate a bit and then tap smoothly on a solid surface while holding the cart upright. This tapping action causes the concentrate to settle at the bottom and removes any air pockets that could hinder vaporization.
How to Get Last Hits Out of a Cart
Extracting the last bit of wax from your cartridge requires creativity and resourcefulness. In fact, by doing a little research on the web, you will find many debates between users discussing different techniques to get the last hits from the remaining extract from those old used cartridges. But, if the cartridge is very old, has very little remaining concentrate, or simply doesn’t hit anymore, it is best to open the cartridge to extract the last drops of concentrate and be able to use it with other consumption methods. Among the most popular methods to consider are the following.
Infuse a Joint
You can enhance your joint-smoking experience by applying a thin layer of the remaining wax to the rolling paper before adding the cannabis. This is an effective way to take advantage of your wax cart’s last bit of concentrate and add an extra punch of power to your regular joint.
Dab It
If you have a dab rig, you can simply remove the wax from the old or damaged cartridge and use the dab rig to smoke the wax, just as you would any concentrate. Dabbing the wax provides powerful, flavorful hits and, when used properly, allows you to harness the full potential of your concentrates.
Related Article: What is Dab Weed?
Make Edibles
You could also use the remaining wax by infusing it with butter or oil to prepare homemade edibles. This method ensures a longer-lasting and gradual effect when consumed.
Add It to a Bowl
Similar to the joint, you can sprinkle the last traces of wax onto a bowl of flowers before lighting. This will take the power of your regular bowl to new heights and give your smoking session a power boost.
Hereโs a video that does a great job of explaining everything we just said.
What Is the Best Wax Cartridge?
The reality is that there is no single universal answer to this question that works for all users equally. Selecting the ultimate best wax cart out there depends greatly on each user’s preferences, priorities, and specific needs. What works for some may not be ideal for others.
It is also important to clarify that when talking about wax carts, people usually refer to weed carts, which actually contain some type of cannabis concentrate in the form of oil. Wax is a cannabis concentrate with a semi-solid consistency that generally requires a dab rig, dab pen, or wax pen to consume. On the other hand, weed carts or cannabis vaping cartridges contain a predetermined amount of cannabis concentrate with a runny or honey-like consistency that makes it easily vaporizable. These devices require a battery or vape pen to function, and most are disposable.
It is also essential to prioritize the safety of your experience. One way to get a better idea of what your wax cartridge can exactly provide you is to check the third-party lab test results to verify that your wax cart is free of impurities. The lab reports can also give you a good idea of the actual power that the wax cart can provide.