Hemp Wick

Each time you lit a bowl, have you ever taken a moment to think about one little detail? A lighter, blow torch, or match – which do you use? However insignificant you think this is, you would be surprised to know how using hemp wick instead can change the whole cannabis experience. From delivering an even burn to lowering health risks, candle wicks – as it is also called – can do all that.

Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa L. Even as far back as ten millenniums ago, the ancient people have grown and harnessed this plant for different purposes. CBD oil is one. Fibers from the stems have industrial uses – paper, clothes, fabric, building materials, and rope.

The hemp wicks you can use to light bowls are strands of fibers, 1 to 2 mm thick. A coating of beeswax keeps the filaments durable, resistant to water, and can hold flame longer. The natural wax produced by bees gives them a golden-brown shade and pleasant scent of honey.

Why Should You Use Hemp Wick?

In a nutshell, hemp wicks are better alternatives to butane lighters. It’s being touted as safer and healthier are only the tips of the proverbial iceberg.

Organic

Hemp fibers are separated from the stems using the retting method through the actions of microorganisms and moisture. Beeswax, likewise an organic compound, radiates negative ions that eliminate bacteria. It burns cleanly, leaving no traces of soot. There are none of the synthetic compounds which may produce and leave potentially toxic residues.

No Toxins

Under normal circumstances, butane lighters should not pose a danger, with its byproducts being CO2 and water vapor. However, some use synthetic ferrocerium flint, which produces hot sparks reaching more than 5400°F. Unlike hemp wick, it could pose a health risk because of noxious fumes. In low oxygen environments, butane combustion can produce carbon monoxide – an odorless, tasteless toxic gas.

Combustion Temperature

Butane flame can reach 2000 to 4000°F, a temperature that is too high. Consequently, before you could even draw the smoke, the heat has already destroyed terpenes. These aromatic compounds are not only necessary for smell and taste. More importantly, they enhance the effects of THC and other cannabinoids.

Beeswax, when lit, melts and serves as fuel for hemp wick to burn. It produces only 300 to 400°F, which is more than enough to activate THC and other compounds and do not burn away as many terpenes.

Better Control

Flame from Blow torch and lighter are not easy to control. Hemp wick, on the other hand, lets you direct the flame to wherever you want. That makes it easy when cornering. When having a session, the experience is much more fun because everyone in the circle can enjoy more greens.

Environment-friendly

In your own small way, using hemp wick made from renewable sources helps in conservation. You do not add to environmental problems such as disposing of plastic and other materials.

How Do You Light a Bowl Using Hemp Wick?

There really is not much to say about using hemp wicks. It is a little bit different from lighters, but it becomes second nature after a few times. Uncoil the loose end, light up the wick with a lighter, then bring it to the bowl.

For convenience, cut a length of hemp wick and coil it around the lighter. You can also buy a glass or cork dispenser. These are available in many online stores for under $20. One advantage of using one of these specialized dispensers is that they prevent the beeswax from hardening.

Putting out the flame is as easy as blowing or flicking it rapidly. You can even extinguish by using your forefinger and index finger. Whichever way you are comfortable with is fine.

Are All Hemp Wicks the Same?

There is no better time than now for companies manufacturing hemp wicks. It’s rising demand corresponding with increasing cannabis sales is no coincidence. Not surprisingly, the same issues plaguing marijuana buds and smoking paraphernalia is evident here, too – the proliferation of poor-quality products.

For discerning consumers, you want to make sure to buy good quality hemp wicks. Of course, that is easier said than done. The only way to know is to put products to lab tests. As such, it is better to choose a reputable brand.

The hemp wick you want should be made naturally and not bleached. It should also be coated with high-quality beeswax. Inspecting the threads, you should see the fibers wound tightly. It should also hold straight, making it easy to light up bowls or pass around.

The thickness matters also. If you prefer long-lasting flame, then you should choose thick wicks. Thin filaments naturally burn faster.

Choose Hemp Wick for Your Next Smoking Session

Every little bit adds up. That holds true for something most people deem as too trivial – lighting material. After all, is it not more convenient to use a butane lighter? Perhaps you have grown accustomed to it already.

Ideally, though, lighters should be a temporary fix, a solution if you run out of hemp wick.

Industrial hemp has been used for millennia – from ancient to modern times. Hemp wicks, which was used to light up oil lamps and candles, has found good use in cannabis consumption. A tool that merely lits the buds, it also brings many benefits to the table. Unlike plastic (used in lighters), hemp wicks are environment-friendly, being 100% natural. They are also earth-friendly, coming from renewable sources. More importantly, it does not produce or leave toxins that you might inhale. Lastly, it provides just the right heat to not obliterate terpenes for the most aromatic hit.