Types of Herbal Vaporizers
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Vaporizers are available in many varieties.

Simple vaporizers use a lighter as heat source. Simple vaporizers are inexpensive and have expanded awareness of safer smoking alternatives.

Precise vaporizers use an electric heating element often featuring a temperature control. Some vaporizers even have a dynamic temperature control as seen with systems that use thermocoupled hot air guns. High-end models may cost several hundred dollars.

Broadly, vaporizers can be classified by how they heat the substance:

• by conduction

• by convection

With conduction heating, the substance is placed on a metal plate that is then heated to release the active constituents. The direct contact between hot metal and the herbs can cause them to burn.

With convection heating, the substance itself never touches a heating element. Instead, hot air passes through it heating it rapidly and allowing the release of the active constituents. This method of heating releases far more active constituents than conduction heating, especially if the extraction chamber utilizes Venturi effect design.^{[citation needed]}

Many vaporizers use a tube (called a "whip") that is held to the heat source, and through which the user inhales the vapors. Some vaporizers have a bag or balloon attachment: vapor is blown into the bag, and the user detaches the bag and inhales the contents. Others are more direct extraction and delivery, such as the modular Vaporization "Tools" or "System" approach put forth by VripTech Int. with their VripMaster line which uses a direct venturi or sequential venturi extraction and delivery for maximum potency with delivery via a water pipe or, specialized "Vaporization Water Tool" which is basically a vapor specific water pipe that also holds ice for cooling and condensing the vapor, whilst minimizing oxidation, prior to delivery.

Perhaps the most important classifications for vaporizers include the type of materials used in the heating element, the extraction chambers, and delivery means. Most common "wood box and whip" type vaporizers use a ceramic soldering iron element with a glass extraction chamber and a plastic hose for delivery. This is a low cost and effective approach; however, there are concerns about off-gassing of mercury gas from the solder that is present in wiring of the box and many enthusiasts cringe at the idea of inhaling aromatic vapors through a petroleum based hose for delivery. Some companies, such as VaporBrothers, are now using a higher-grade plastic hose while the makers of the higher end Vapezilla have opted for a silicone hose. The high end Volcano vaporizer uses an aluminum element that works quite well and a metallic extraction chamber with a food grade plastic bag for storage and delivery. Although the FDA considers aluminum heating elements that have not been anodized with a pigment to be compliant, there are concerns about using aluminum in any thermally sensitive application for long durations. The use of metal, a highly conductive material, in the extraction chamber means that to get consistent subsequent vapor extractions one must incrementally dial down the heat to compensate for the heat that is collected in the metal; the upside is that it is very durable. High end thermocoupled heat guns used for vaporization, such as those made by the German company Steinel and sold with the VripTech systems use a medical grade nichrome element encapsulated in ceramic and enclosed in stainless steel.