If you’re just starting out with vaping, it can be very confusing with all of the terminology and acronyms thrown about, especially over the internet. We hope that we can help spruce up your knowledge on some of the common terms used in the vaping world.
ADV – All Day Vape; a term given to an e-liquid which is ideal for vaping all day.
AFC – Air Flow Control; typically a ring or part of the chamber/top cap that allows the user to adjust the amount of air entering and hitting the coil.
ALIEN –
ATTY – Atomiser; part of an e-cig/vaping device that houses the coil and wick that is heated to produce vapor from e-liquid.
AWG – American Wire Gauge; this is the U.S. standard for wire sizes that determines a coil’s resistance when rebuilding—the thicker the wire, the less resistance.
BOTTOM AIRFLOW – a design configuration of an atomiser of which the airflow is directed to the coil from underneath.
BOX MOD –
CLAPTON – A type of coil configuration. A clapton coil has a thin wire wrapped around a thicker wire that forms the main coil to offer more surface area to the wick.
CLOUD CHASING – The pursuit of blowing massive clouds. (Person: Cloud Chaser).
CONICAL DESIGN –
DECK – part of the atomiser where coils are placed. A variety of different deck designs can be found in different atomisers but ultimately offer the same function.
DELRIN –
DNA –
DRIPPER – another name given to an “RDA”
DRIP TIP – mouthpiece used to inhale vapour produced by an atomiser.
DRY BURN – This refers to the firing of an atomizer, without any e-juice, until the coil glows red to burn off dried e-juice residue.
DRY HIT – A term that describes taking a drag off your atomiser that’s run out of e-juice.
DTL – Direct to Lung; In contrast to Mouth to Lung vaping, in Direct to Lung vaping the vapour is inhaled to the lung without being held in the mouth first.
DUAL COIL – Atomizers, cartomizers or clearomizers with two coils instead of one. This gives off more vapor at the expense of reduced battery life.
FLAVOUR CHASER – A person who prioritises flavour over clouds form their vaping experience.
FRAMED STAPLE –
FUSED CLAPTON – A type of coil configuration. A fused clapton coil has a thin wire wrapped around two thicker wires that forms the main coil to offer more surface area to the wick.
GTA – Genesis Tank Atomiser; may also be referred to as Genny or Genesis. An RBA design whereby the wick would hang from coil to tank. Users would tend to tilt their vaping device at an angle before inhaling in order to provide the wick with e-liquid.
HOT SPOTS – refers to a hot spot on the coil which can cause burning or bad taste. Some regulated mods have features to avoid this.
HYBRID – a mechanical mod designed without standard ego or 510 connection. The tank is essentially screwed directly onto the battery.
ID – Inner Diameter; diameter measurement of which a coil is wrapped around
KANTHAL A1 – commonly used for electric heating elements in large industrial furnaces and is often found in glass, ceramics, electronics, and steel industries. Its high resistivity and ability to withstand elements without oxidation makes it a popular choice when dealing with large-scale heating elements. Maximum operating temperature of 1400°C and used in power mode only.
MECH MOD – Mechanical Mod; a device which has a battery and a switch with no functionality adjustment or protection.
MTL – Mouth to Lung; in mouth to lung vaping, the vapour is inhaled into the mouth and held there before being drawn into the lung. To some, a preferred way of vaping to mimic smoking and is often preferable by those transitioning from smoking.
Ni80 –
Ni200 –
OHMS –
PARALLEL – used in reference to the battery setup of a mod (i.e. both positive facing same direction), as opposed to “SERIES”.
PEEK – Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a colourless organic thermoplastic polymer in the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family, used in engineering applications. For the vaping world, Peek can be found to be typically used for insulators of connection posts in atomisers.
PG – Propylene Glycol;
PRIMING – The process of soaking your new coil prior to use. This reduces the chances of dry burn and burnt out coils and is essential when using more powerful set ups.
RBA – Rebuildable Atomiser;
RDA – Rebuildable Dripper Atomiser;
RDTA – Rebuildable Dripper Tank Atomiser;
REGULATED MOD –
RTA – Rebuildable Tank Atomiser;
SERIES – used in reference to the battery setup of a mod (i.e. one positive facing up combined with one negative facing up), as opposed to “PARALLEL”.
SIDE AIRFLOW – a design configuration of an atomiser of which the airflow is directed to the coil from the side.
SINGLE COIL – Atomizers, cartomizers or clearomizers with one coil instead of two or more.
SPIT BACK – name given to when an atomiser spits juice toward you lips when vaping. This can often be hot and uncomfortable.
SQUONKER – name of a vaping device (“REGULATED” or “MECHANICAL”) containing a bottle which is directly attached to the atomiser.
SQUONKING – refers to the action of the squeezing a bottle of e-liquid which is directly attached to the atomiser in your mod.
SQUONKING PIN – typically a 510 pin with a hole running through the centre (detachable part of an atomiser) to allow the transfer of juice contained within a bottle in your mod to the atomiser via means of “SQUONKING”
SS – Stainless Steel;
STAB WOOD – Stabalised Wood;
STEEPING – much like the process of maturing whisky or wine, this is the name of the process for allowing your DIY e-liquid to sit and mature its flavours before use. Typically placed in a cool dark space over the period of 2 weeks.
SUB-OHM – vaping with a coil with a resistance set below one ohm.
TC – Temperature Control; When you set the temperature you want your atomiser to run at rather than the voltage or wattage.
THROAT HIT – some refer to this as the feeling achieved from vaping higher nicotine juices providing a similar effect at the back of your throat to smoking.
TOP AIRFLOW – a design configuration of an atomiser of which the airflow is directed to the coil from above.
ULTEM – Polyetherimide (PEI) is an amorphous, amber-to-transparent thermoplastic with characteristics similar to the related plastic PEEK. Relative to PEEK, PEI is cheaper, but is lower in impact strength and usable temperature. Can be found to be used for “DRIP TIPS”, tank sections and other parts of an atomiser.
VAPER’S TONGUE – Refers to a loss of taste, from suddenly going off a flavour to losing all taste for flavours.
VELOCITY STYLE – an “RBA” deck style originally used in the Velocity “RDA”, used in many other atomisers due to it’s ease of use. A two post design, each with 2 holes and 2 screws for coil lead inserts.
VENTING –
VG – Vegetable Glycerine; is a clear, colourless, odourless but very sweet liquid used as an alternative/in combination with Propylene Glycol in the production of e-Liquid. Some vapers maintain it increases vapour production.
VOLTAGE DROP –
WICK –
