Priming – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Priming is the act of pre-saturating a fresh coil or pod’s wicking material—usually Cotton“>organic cotton—with e-liquid before the first power application. By manually drawing liquid into the wick, priming prevents the dry, burnt taste known as a “Hit“>dry hit” and extends coil life. The process is essential in any vaping device, from simple pod systems to high-wattage sub-ohm tanks, ensuring the heating element is surrounded by sufficient PG (Propylene Gly/Qlycol) and Glycerin)”>VG (Vegetable Glycerin) blend before current is supplied. In short, priming protects the coil, maximises flavour, and guarantees a smooth puff count from the very first inhale.

Technical Details

Inside every replaceable coil head, a length of braided or pad-style cotton threads through the wire coil. Capillary action draws e-liquid from surrounding ports; however, fresh cotton is bone-dry and offers high resistance to flow. Priming accelerates saturation by depositing 2–3 drops directly onto the exposed cotton until surface sheen appears but liquid no longer pools. For tanks, fill the reservoir, wait 5–10 min, then take five to six “primer puffs” (airflow without firing) to lower internal pressure and pull liquid upward. High-VG juices (>70 %) move slowly; warm the tank gently (hand heat) or choose lower-VG blends for faster wicking. Pod systems with integrated coils require the same wait time but rarely need manual drops because wlliquid channels are narrower. Variations include: pulse priming (repeated 5 W bursts in Power Mode), vacuum priming (drawing through a sealed tip), and auto-prime pods that use spring-loaded valves.

Usage & Tips

• Always confirm coil compatibility with your VG/PG ratio; thick juices starve wicks if ports are small.
• After filling, wait 5–10 min; patience is cheaper than replacing a scorched coil.
• Start at the lowest recommended wattage, take 3–4 short puffs, then increase by 5 W increments to desired setting.
• If you taste burnt cotton, stop firing; reopen the tank, add juice to the wick, and re-prime to avoid shortening puff count.
• Keep spare coils in a sealed bag to prevent cotton drying out in Australia’s low-humidity climate.

History & Context

Priming became standard practice around 2013 when sub-ohm clearomisers replaced cartomisers. Early silica wicks tolerated dry hits, but flavour-focused cotton coils demanded saturation discipline. Today, manufacturers laser-etch “Prime Before Use” on coil sleeves, acknowledging that proper priming remains the simplest safeguard against coil returns and vaper dissatisfaction.