Ultimately, cannabis is an organic substance, and a hemp wick is an ideal method to enjoy your weed as a natural alternative to plastic, disposable lighters. After all, shouldn’t we respect where our cannabis comes from by doing all that we can to ensure it’s protected?
Sparking up joints and lighting up blunts has been a favourite pastime of many cannabis users worldwide. Whether you’re looking to get a light cannabis buzz on your own or get baked to a crisp with a group, lighting the joint is always the first step.
Typically, for a joint, a standard lighter will suffice. But what happens when you’re not working joints but pipes and bongs instead? And what if you want to do your part to protect the planet by cutting down on your plastic use?
If you’ve ever had the chance to use a spoon pipe before, you’ll know the device itself is spoon-shaped. Unsurprising, hence the name. That said, cannabis is meant to be loaded into the pipe bowl, which can be rather deep and hard to light at times. Especially with a plastic butane lighter.
So, if you’re planning on switching to a pipe or bong, how are you going to ignite the cannabis?
With a standard butane lighter being an awkward tool to use for a pipe, the answer lies in the hemp wick, an essential tool that should be in every stoner’s weed kit. Hemp wicks excel especially in reaching nooks and crannies and have a nice flavour that will work with any type of cannabis, whether it is used in a joint, pipe, or bong.
If you’re interested in learning more about hemp wicks and how they are used in conjunction with lighters and matches, keep reading.
What is a Hemp Wick?
A hemp wick is a long line of twine made up of hemp fibres and coated in a layer of beeswax.
The hemp wick itself functions similar to a fuse or candlewick, although it burns much faster. It has a malleable body that can be manipulated and bent to a suitable desired lighting position. Many people who use hemp wicks usually have them wrapped and ready to go near their lighter or bowl.
While hemp wicks have no built-in mechanism to light themselves, they are used in conjunction with butane lighters and matches to help cannabis lovers reach areas of their pipes and bongs that they would not otherwise be able to.
Why are They Used? Are Hemp Wicks Better?
The use of hemp goes as far back as Ancient Egypt. Back then, animal fat in lieu of beeswax was melted and poured over twisted fibres of hemp, flax, and cotton, resembling an early version of a candle. Through further development, they were eventually made into candles during the Roman Empire.
That said, hemp wicks are reliable slow-burn tools that can hold a flame for extended periods of time where it would be unsuitable or unsafe for a butane lighter or match.
Many people believe that inhaling the butane from a lighter is much worse than the natural hemp and beeswax from a raw hemp wick. It is also essential to consider that a hemp wick is cannabis, so using hemp wicks keeps everything within the same family.
Convenience and reliability are also other reasons why people tend to gravitate towards the hemp wick. Butane lighters are great for an instant flame. They’re useful in short bursts and usually excel when a quick burst of heat is needed. On the other hand, a hemp wick allows the flame to burn in its spot for several minutes at a time if necessary.
Whether or not a hemp wick is a better way to burn is also dependent on your method of smoking cannabis. For those of us who use pipes or bongs, standard butane lighters might be awkward to position and may even potentially burn us while attempting to light. A hemp wick has something that lighters do not. It has malleability and flexibility.
While a plastic lighter may only project the flame in a clunky manner, usually with our fingers in the way thanks to its snub ending, a hemp wick may bend and adjust to where we need to place the flame, like the deep bowl of a spoon pipe.
How to Use a Hemp Wick
To use a hemp wick, you’ll first have to unwind it enough so that you have enough length at one end of the twine to work with. Hemp wicks also come in varying lengths, with some clocking in at upwards of 500 feet, so unwinding the entire roll is usually unnecessary. Keep in mind that the actual hemp wick may be sticky due to the beeswax coating.
Next, grab your butane lighter or match and light your hemp wick in an area that is away from any wind or interference that might put out the flame. It is generally considered ideal to use matches. Still, if you only have a lighter or butane torch, the difference is negligible as the portion of the wick that touches the gas will burn off almost immediately.
Allow the flame to burn for a little bit and settle before grabbing your joint, pipe, or bong. Once you’re ready, grab your joint, pipe, or bong and aim the hemp wick at the location in which you desire to burn. For pipes and bongs, this may require you to bend the hemp wick and insert it into the bowl to light your cannabis.
How to Make a Hemp Wick
Materials Needed:
- Glass jar or container used to hold melted beeswax
- A grabbing tool to take the hemp out of the wax
- Beeswax
- Hemp cord
- A sheet of paper or cloth
- An item to wrap the hemp wick around
1) Measure the Cord
To start, measure the amount of hemp wick you are looking to make by measuring your hemp cord.
Most people start with anywhere between 5 to 10 feet worth of hemp cord, although you could opt to make it even longer.
2) Melt the Beeswax
Grab your glass jar or container and put enough beeswax inside to ensure that you will be able to submerge your hemp wick fully.
Once your jar is filled without wax, microwave it for at least 2 minutes until it reaches a liquid consistency. After the initial 2 minute heat-up, it may require additional increments to liquefy the wax further.
3) Dip the Hemp Cord
With your wax now melted, place the hot jar on top of a towel or heat resistant pad and ensure it is in a stable position. Now, grab your hemp cord and dip it into the wax and ensure it is fully submerged for at least 30 seconds.
Once it has been soaked for long enough, remove the hemp wick from the wax with your grabbing tool or utensil and place it on a sheet, piece of paper or cloth to dry.
4) Wrap the Hemp Wick
Once your newly made hemp wick is cooled off and dry, tie a slip knot on one end and begin wrapping it around any item with a cylindrical shape. This item will be used to hold the hemp wick for the duration of its lifetime.
Once it’s all wrapped, you’ll be ready and good to go!
Alternatives to Lighting up Your Cannabis
Creating or purchasing a hemp wick is undoubtedly a more environmentally-friendly and conscious option. Still, there is something to be said for overall convenience. Particularly if you don’t wish to take your entire weed kit with you should you choose to enjoy your cannabis outside your home.
However, suppose you’re looking to move away from smoking altogether due to the potential dangers and harmful carcinogens it produces. In that case, there are healthier and safer options to enjoy your cannabis. One such example is a vape pen.
What makes vaporizers so useful, and the primary reason they are skyrocketing in popularity is that they do not combust the cannabis plant matter like traditional smoking methods, such as joints or blunts.
Instead, they heat the cannabis to the optimal temperature without actually burning it so that users can reap the benefits of their weed without inhaling any harmful smoke. Alternatively, rather than combusting and turning it into smoke, a vaporizer converts the material into a vapour, providing a smoother overall experience.
Hooti THC Distillate Vaporizer Kits are made with our premium, state of the art THC distillate and reintroduced strain-specific terpenes. They pose the perfect solution for users looking to medicate on the go and discreetly.
The convenience comes with the fact that you simply pop the pen in your pocket, purse or bag and take it with you wherever you’re going. There is no need for loose, dry flower or rolling papers. Everything you have comes in one convenient product.
Hemp Wick – Just in the Wick of Time
A hemp wick is an amazingly versatile tool to keep in any toker’s weed kit. If you’re an avid user of pipes and bongs and have had trouble with standard lighters, an investment in a hemp wick might be something worth considering.
Whether you choose to make your own or purchase from a retailer or dispensary, using a hemp wick is one of the best ways to ensure that the only flavours you are experiencing are unique to the cannabis plant.
Not only that, a hemp wick is one of the most environmentally-friendly options for igniting your weed. They are also versatile products in their own right and can also be used to light candles, start a campfire, or create crafts.
There’s no reason not to give them a try!
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