One of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to wax and thick oil vaporizers are what is the difference between a quartz coil and a ceramic coil? Aside from the obvious physical differences, there are a few big differences that aren't apparent to the beginner or novice vaper. While a quartz coil may have anywhere from 2 to 4 individually wrapped quartz rods inside it, a ceramic coil has none of these rods to speak of. Ceramic coils often will have a small ceramic ring along the bottom of the coil or a ceramic barrel in place of a rod.
Pros of a quartz coil-
- Swift heat-up time. A quartz coil takes 5 to 10 seconds to heat up and cool-down time is minimal.
- A popular choice. Quartz coils are arguably the most popular coil available for most wax devices.
- Medical grade material. This means you won't be inhaling any carcinogenic gases from the material.
- Large vapour production. Getting a good puff off a quartz coil is almost guaranteed.
Cons of a quartz coil-
- Doesn't retain heat well.
- Breakable. Quartz rods tend to crack or become dislodged from use.
- Can leak. High temperatures can cause the product to leak through the bottom of the coil.
- High heat can be overwhelming for beginner users.
Pros of a ceramic coil-
- Superior taste. Ceramic coils are impassive and provide smoother untainted flavour.
- Retains heat well. Because ceramic holds onto heat well, this is better for longer sessions.
- All-purpose. Ceramic coils are suitable for low to high viscosity oils.
Cons of a ceramic coil-
- Longer heat up time. Ceramic coils take at least 30 seconds to heat up.
- Ceramic can fracture after prolonged heat exposure
Flavour chasers tend to agree that ceramic coils are the way to go if you want to preserve taste and smoothness. Cloud chasers typically stick to quartz for the intense hit and fast heat-up time. But no matter what you choose to go with, you now have first-hand knowledge on which product best suits your individual needs.
Written by: JL Porto
True North Vapor - Front of House