
Commercially sold vaporizers are popular. They make vaping more convenient and enjoyable because of their cool features, such as varying heat elements and temperature settings to suit every cannabis user. It’s no wonder many medicinal and recreational marijuana users prefer vaping over smoking and other methods.
Vaping enables cannabis users to enjoy inhaling the vapor of cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Many users start with disposable vape pens before upgrading to an atomizer.
But the upfront cost of buying a new vaporizer can be expensive for some people. While using commercial vaporizers is the best for safety reasons, it’s good to know that there are homemade alternatives to cannabis vaporizers. Learn how to make a cannabis vaporizer with the information below.
- Homemade Lightbulb Cannabis Vaporizer
Yes, you can use a malfunctioning lightbulb to create a homemade cannabis vaporizer. You’ll need a transparent glass lightbulb, screwdriver, a drill or corkscrew, pliers, empty pen tubes, tape, a plastic bottle cap, and a candle or lighter.
Here’s how to make a cannabis vaporizer using a lightbulb:
- Remove The Base
This step aims to hollow the lightbulb. Pull and twist to remove the light bulb’s bottom ring using pliers. Next, stick through and move the screwdriver back and forth to remove the plastic base glass insulator. Use the pliers to remove the filament, glass mount, and other inner parts.
- Create Bottle Cap Holes
This step aims to make two holes in a soda bottle cap using a corkscrew or drill. The cap must fit the lightbulb’s base, and the holes must be large enough to allow the empty pens to enter inside the lightbulb.
- Insert The Empty Pens

Insert the two empty pens after creating two holes into the soda bottle cap, and use the tape to secure them. One pen tube is for vapor inhalation. The other serves as a carb to clear out the vaporizer during inhalation.
- Grind Cannabis
Grind cannabis to prepare for heating. Next, place finely ground weed in the lightbulb. Seal the bottom of the lightbulb by fitting in the bottle cap with the empty pen tubes.
- Heat The Lightbulb
Heat the lightbulb’s head using a candle or lighter. Wait until the homemade cannabis vaporizer generates cannabis vapor. Once the vapor is released, gently inhale via the empty pen tubes.
- Shot Glass Cannabis Vaporizer
Shot glasses are small and durable, making them an excellent alternative to commercial vaporizers. The same concept applies to making homemade lightbulb cannabis vaporizers. But you must create a cap to seal the shot glass since a soda bottle cap is too small.
Use pliers to alter the shape and size of sandwich spread covers, which are larger than soda caps. Drill two holes on the repurposed cover for the pen tubes to fit through. Secure the pen tubes in place using a duct or electrical tape.
If your vaporizer has stopped working, then a homemade shot glass cannabis vaporizer may work for you to benefit from the cannabis effects in no time.
- Paper Towel Tube Weed Vaporizer
Paper towel tubes are hollow. Hence, they make a perfect material for a homemade weed vaporizer. The things you need for this project include two paper towel tubes, an oven or turkey bag, aluminum foil, twist ties, a teal ball, a funnel, and a heat gun.
Here’s how to make a weed vaporizer out of paper towel tubes:
- Line The Paper Towel Tubes
You need two toilet paper towel tubes for this project. One tube goes to the funnel and the other to the heat gun. Use a ruler or pen to wrap the foil around to quickly line the paper towel tubes inside. Leave an inch of foil in excess to secure the foil on the outside edge of the paper towel tube.
- Secure The Funnel
Place the funnel over the toilet paper tube, pointing outward. Use duct tape to create a tight seal on the tube before you secure it with foil.
- Wrap The Bag Around The Funnel
Wrap the oven or turkey bag around the funnel using twist ties. Subsequently, fold the bag edges over the ties and use another tie to secure it. This step ensures the oven or turkey bag rests snugly against the funnel nozzle.
- Fit The Heat Gun
Assemble the improvised vaporizer. Aim the heat gun up in the air and the bottom paper towel tube over the heat gun’s nozzle. Place weed in the tea ball and nestle on the top of the tube.
- Vaporize
Turn on the heat gun. Wait until the oven or turkey bag is filled with vapor, and switch the heat gun off. Remove the improvised upper paper towel tube vaporizer from the heat gun and inhale the vapor. Enjoy vaporizing cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes.
Conclusion
You can make a cannabis vaporizer using available supplies at home. Generally, the base must be made of glass, and you need a cap or cover to seal the homemade cannabis vaporizer. You also need mouthpiece alternatives, such as pen tubes or straws. So, you can easily make your authentic weed vaporizer with a bit of resourcefulness and creativity.