Vaper – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A vaper is the person who uses an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) to inhale flavoured VapeJuice“>vape juice that has been heated into an aerosol. Rather than burning tobacco, the device—commonly called a vape—vaporises liquid, so the user is technically inhaling vapor, not smoke. In Australia the term distinguishes someone who has switched from combustible cigarettes to battery-powered systems, whether they choose Nicotine“>freebase nicotine, nicotine salts or zero-nicotine e-liquids. A vaper may be a casual “social” user, a dual user still cutting down on cigarettes, or a fully ex-smoker who now relies on the device for nicotine delivery and flavour enjoyment.

Technical Details

There is no single “vaper unit”; instead, the word describes the operator of a device that usually contains:

  • A rechargeable lithium-ion battery (internal or removable 18650/21700 cells)
  • A chip-set offering Wattage (VW)”>Variable Wattage (VW) or Variable Voltage (VV) control (5–230 W, 3.2–6.0 V)
  • A tank, pod or rebuildable atomiser with resistance between 0.08 Ω and 1.8 Ω
  • Organic-cotton wicks that draw vape juice to a metal coil
  • Activation via button or auto-draw sensor

When the fire button is pressed, the coil heats to 180 °C–280 °C, turning liquid into 1–5 μm droplets that form visible vapor. Sub-ohm vapers favour high-wattage DL (direct-lung) hits for dense clouds, whereas MTL (mouth-to-lung) vapers replicate a cigarette draw at 8–18 W. Temperature-control (TC) and smart-mode chips prevent dry hits by monitoring coil resistance fluctuations in real time.

Usage & Tips

  • Prime coils: drip 3-5 drops of vape juice onto a fresh coil and wait 5 min to avoid burning cotton.
  • Match PG/VG ratio: 50/50 for MTL pods; 70 VG+ for high-wattage sub-ohm tanks.
  • Battery safety: marry paired 18650s, check wraps for nicks, and never exceed the CDR (continuous discharge rating).
  • Legal nicotine: Australians require a prescription to import liquid nicotine; keep a copy on your phone when travelling interstate.
  • Common fix for leaks: close airflow slots before filling, keep the tank upright in hot cars, and replace worn O-rings.

History & Context

Although “vape” entered the Oxford Dictionary in 2014, Australians were already calling themselves vapers after the 2008 arrival of first-generation cig-a-likes. The community grew through online forums and local vape shops, lobbying for fair regulation and adopting the term to separate themselves from tobacco smokers. Today, Australian vapers range from cloud-chasing hobbyists to medicinally-minded ex-smokers using the device as a cessation tool.

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