How to Use a Hemp Wick
Light the trimmed tip of a hemp wick with a lighter, let the flame settle for a second, then blow it out so a small orange ember stays on the tip. Hold that ember just above the bowl and inhale slowly. The flower catches from the heat of the ember rather than from a direct lighter flame, so no butane reaches the bowl. Snuff the wick when you finish and keep the rest of the length inside its spool or holder.
Hemp wick burns cooler than a standard lighter and leaves a light char at the top of the bowl. You can control the size of the ember by how long you let the flame run before you blow it out.
What You Need
- One roll of hemp wick, beeswax coated or plain
- A lighter for the initial light
- A wick holder or dispenser, optional
- Scissors or a small wick cutter
- A filled bowl and a small metal snuffer or ashtray
Steps
- Pull about 3 inches of wick out of the roll or dispenser.
- Trim the tip to roughly 1/4 inch with scissors or cutters.
- Hold the tip away from your face and away from the bowl.
- Click the lighter once and bring the flame to the end of the wick until the fibers catch.
- Let the flame burn for one or two seconds so the wax or fiber settles.
- Blow the flame out gently so only a glowing ember remains.
- Hold the wick at a 45 degree angle about half an inch above the flower.
- Draw slowly and steadily through the mouthpiece while the ember hovers over the bowl.
- Lift the wick away the moment the flower starts to glow at the edges.
- Press the ember against a metal snuffer or the lip of an ashtray to put it out.
- Roll the remaining length back into the spool and set the wick down on a heat safe surface.
Using a Wick Holder
A metal or silicone holder keeps the burning tip away from your fingers and cuts down on ash. Thread the loose end of the wick through the small hole at the top of the holder, then pull about 2 inches past the nozzle. The holder also acts as a snuffer: drop the ember onto the metal edge and it goes out on its own.
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Troubleshooting
- The wick keeps going out. The tip is too short or the ember is too small. Trim back to fresh fiber and give the flame two full seconds before you blow it out.
- The bowl tastes harsh. The ember is touching the flower. Raise the wick and let the heat do the work.
- A long ash forms. Tap the tip over the ashtray, then trim again. Ash means the last half inch is spent.
- The roll unravels. Wind the loose end back around the spool and tuck it under the final loop.
Storage and Safety
Keep the roll in a cool, dry place away from direct sun. Beeswax coated wick can soften in a hot car and stick to itself. Never leave a burning wick unattended, and set it on metal or glass rather than fabric or paper. Hemp wick is defined as cannabis with no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis, so the wick itself is not a psychoactive product. Burning any plant material still creates smoke and irritants, so ventilate the room and inhale less if you notice coughing or throat irritation.