If you’re a true aficionado of herbal vaping, a wax pen is definitely the device you want to have. Wax vaping is the quickest way to get yourself seriously elevated in a hurry – with just a few puffs, you’ll reach the same state that you would have achieved after a lengthy smoking session.
There is something to be said, though, for the reliability of rolling your herbs up and smoking them. Unless you can’t find a lighter, you’re guaranteed to have a good time – and you can always find a lighter somewhere.
Using a wax pen, on the other hand, may occasionally require a little troubleshooting and maintenance – and that’s where this article is going to help. Is your wax pen not working correctly? We’re going to provide the steps that can fix the problem.
Wax Pen Not Hitting and Not Blinking
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If your wax pen isn’t hitting and isn’t doing anything at all when you try to vape, the most likely problem is that the battery is completely dead and doesn’t even have enough power remaining to display a low battery warning. In that case, you should attempt to charge the battery. If your wax pen lights up when you connect it to power, the issue should be resolved. Wait for the light to change color or turn off, and at that point, you can resume vaping.
If nothing happens when you connect your wax pen to a power source, the device’s problem is that the battery isn’t charging. Here’s what you should do to troubleshoot a wax pen that isn’t charging.
- Make sure that you’re charging your wax pen by connecting it to your computer. Don’t use a wall adapter unless you’re certain that the adapter is approved by the device’s manufacturer.
- Clean the device’s charging port. You can remove dust and pocket lint from a USB port with a toothpick. If your wax pen charges through the threading at the top of the device, it may be necessary to clean the threading. We’ll cover that in greater detail in the next section.
- Use a different charging cable. The charging cable for your wax pen is probably one of the most commonly used USB cables in your house, and it’s likely to break down over time with repeated use. Replacing the charging cable may be all that you need to do to get your wax pen working again.
Wax Pen Blinking and Not Hitting
If your wax pen isn’t hitting when you try to vape – and the indicator light is blinking – the problem has two possible causes. Either the battery is dead – in which case, you can fix the issue by charging the battery – or the wax cartridge or coil isn’t making a solid connection with the contact pin in the device’s threading. Here’s what you should do to troubleshoot a blinking wax pen.
- Charge the battery fully. If your wax pen isn’t charging when you connect it to your computer, scroll up to the previous section to troubleshoot that issue.
- Remove the wax cartridge or atomizer from the device and check for leaked wax in the device’s threading. If wax is preventing the cartridge from making a solid electrical connection with the device, your wax pen won’t work. To dissolve the residue, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and spin it around inside the threading. Repeat the process until a cotton swab comes out clean. It may be necessary to clean your cartridge or atomizer as well. Dry the cartridge and the device completely before attempting to vape again.
- If cleaning your device doesn’t resolve the issue, it could be that the cartridge you’re trying to use has developed an internal fault. Try replacing the cartridge.
If you’re unable to get your wax pen working using any of the steps suggested above, it could be necessary to replace the device. If you’re using a cheap 510 battery from a gas station, it might be time to step up to a real wax pen for true connoisseurs. Rokin Vapes, for example, offers a one-year warranty on their devices.
Wax Pen Tastes Burnt or Isn’t Producing Much Vapor
In order for your wax pen to produce a satisfying and tasty puff of vapor, the wax needs to be melted and completely absorbed into the coil. If the wax isn’t fully absorbed, your wax pen will either produce a very harsh “burnt hit,” or it’ll produce almost no vapor at all.
If you’re using a wax atomizer with an exposed coil and use your device by putting the wax directly on the coil, you should follow the steps in this section. If you’re using an enclosed wax cartridge, scroll down to the next section for additional troubleshooting tips.
The most important thing to know about using a wax atomizer with an exposed coil is that you can’t just put a glob of wax on the coil and start vaping. The wax needs to soften and melt into the coil, or the part of the coil that doesn’t have any wax touching it will start to overheat and glow. That’s what produces a harsh burnt hit. Melt the wax by pressing your device’s fire button a few times in brief pulses. When the wax melts fully and soaks into the coil, you can start vaping.
Wax Pen Is Clogged or Has a Very Tight Draw
If your wax pen isn’t producing vapor – or isn’t producing a satisfying amount of vapor – with an enclosed wax cartridge, it’s likely that the cartridge has an airflow issue or that the wick isn’t fully saturated with wax.
If the cartridge’s wick isn’t saturated, you’ll find that the airflow feels smooth when you puff on the cartridge, but the wax pen tastes burnt or produces little vapor. In this case, the wax might be a little too hard for the cartridge you’re using. If the wax isn’t close to the heat source, it can’t soften and soak into the wick. Try sealing the cartridge in a plastic bag and running it under hot water. After several minutes, remove the cartridge from the bag and try vaping again.
If the airflow doesn’t feel smooth when you try to vape, it’s likely that the cartridge’s airway is clogged with dry wax. In that case, it’ll probably be necessary to physically remove the blockage. You can do that by pushing a paperclip through the cartridge’s center air chimney. Don’t push too firmly; you don’t want to damage the cartridge’s wick or coil. Once you’ve pushed the blockage out of the way, the cartridge should resume working.