Tip – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

In vaping, the Tip—also called a Drip Tip”>drip tip or mouthpiece—is the removable top section of your tank or atomiser that you draw vapour through. Usually made from plastic, resin, metal or glass, it shapes the feel of each inhale and can subtly tweak flavour and throat hit. Tips come in two standard sizes (510 and 810), slotting into place with an O-ring seal so you can swap colours or materials in seconds without tools.

Technical Details

A tip’s bore diameter controls airflow: narrow 510 tips (~8.5 mm base, 4–6 mm bore) tighten draw for mouth-to-lung hits, while wide-bore 810 tips (~12.5 mm base, 8–12 mm bore) open the airway for cloudy direct-lung vaping. Materials matter—stainless steel stays cool under high-wattage coils, Delrin and Ultem resist heat on temperature-control setups, and quartz or ceramic add flavour purity. Some tips include spit-back guards, heat-sink fins or built-in 510-to-810 adapters. Australian retailers stock hybrid tips that swap between sizes, letting vapers future-proof gear as they upgradetop-fill tanks or rebuildable atomisers.

Usage & Tips

Match your tip to vaping style: choose a narrow 510 for higher-nicotine or titanium-wire TC builds, and an 810 for low-resistance cloud chasing. Press straight down to fit—twisting can damage the O-ring. If the tip feels loose, stretch the ring slightly or replace it; if it sticks, warm the tank under tap water first. Wash weekly in warm soapy water, rinse well, and air-dry to avoid e-liquid build-up. Never over-tighten heat-sink tips; finger-tight plus a quarter-turn is enough. Carry a spare in your kit—dropping your mod at the pub usually costs you only a tip, not the whole tank.

History & Context

Drip tips originated in 2008 when Aussie vapers modified atomisers by removing the cartridge and dripping e-liquid straight through a short plastic mouthpiece. As clearomisers evolved, the tip became a fashion statement—resin swirls, laser-etched stab-wood and even 24-karat gold-plated editions—turning a humble spare part into one of the most collected accessories in the vape community.