# Drip tip materials: Delrin, Ultem, steel or resin > Delrin, Ultem, stainless steel, resin or glass: what each of the drip tip materials changes for heat, flavour and how fast the mouthpiece clogs. Two mouthpieces of identical size can deliver two completely different sensations. The cause is rarely the shape: it hides in the material. The **drip tip materials** on sale in Britain decide how much heat reaches the lips, how flavour comes through and how quickly the tip clogs up. Running through the common options explains why one tank changes character depending on what you screw into it. ## Which drip tip materials do what The choice comes down to a trade off between heat, flavour and upkeep. Delrin and Ultem insulate well and stay cool, which limits any burning sensation. Stainless steel conducts heat and gives a livelier feel in the mouth. Resin trades on looks with a decent thermal compromise. Glass, rarer, puts aromatic clarity first. None is better in the abstract: each serves a particular use. British retailers stock all five in both the 510 and the 810 base, so nothing here restricts your choice of tank. One property separates these materials above all others: thermal conductivity. An insulating material keeps heat away from the lips, a conductive one passes it straight through. That single physical fact structures the whole comparison. ## Delrin, the insulating benchmark Delrin, also sold under its chemical name POM, is an engineering plastic, usually black, prized for its thermal behaviour. It is one of the most insulating options on the shelf. It stays cool even on a powerful setup, which protects the lips from rising heat. Its neutral touch does not interfere with flavour, and its smooth surface holds very little residue. Those qualities make it the default choice for many British sub ohm vapers. Its only real concession is aesthetic. Delrin stays sober, a long way from the colour play other materials offer, and there is not much a manufacturer can do to dress it up. ## Ultem, tough and amber Ultem is a high performance polymer recognisable by its translucent amber tint. It turns up frequently on rebuildable kit, where it has become something of a signature. Like Delrin it copes well with heat and stays comfortable in the mouth. It adds noticeable toughness: it takes knocks and repeated fitting without marking. Its coloured transparency gives it a character Delrin simply does not have. The material therefore suits vapers who want the insulation of an engineering plastic without giving up a worked appearance. In practice it is the closest thing to a compromise candidate among the **drip tip materials** commonly stocked. ## Stainless steel, the deliberate conductor Stainless steel plays the opposite tune to the engineering plastics. It is a metal, therefore a conductor: it passes heat on rather than holding it back. That conduction produces a warmth in the mouth some vapers actively want, particularly on gentler, lower power setups. On a high power tank, though, steel becomes uncomfortable quickly, and British reviewers flag the problem most often for chain vapers whose teeth meet the tip. Its metal finish is durable and easy to wipe clean, so the trade is straightforward: accept a pronounced thermal feel in exchange for a part that will outlive every other one you own. It is as much a matter of taste as of comfort, and our piece on [keeping a mouthpiece cool](/uk/heat-resistant-drip-tip-guide/) sets out when it works and when it does not. ## Resin and glass, the flavour first options These two share a purpose: preserving aromatic delivery. They speak to vapers for whom flavour reproduction comes ahead of everything else. Resin, usually cast and finished by hand, offers unique patterns and a reasonable thermal compromise, sitting between the insulation of a plastic and a slight transfer of heat. No two pieces look quite the same, which is a large part of the appeal. Glass, more fragile, offers a perfectly neutral contact: no material colours the flavour, which suits delicate liquids. Both options ask for a little more care, resin against extreme heat and glass against being dropped on a tiled floor. ## Materials and the film that builds up on the lips One aspect gets skipped in most comparisons: how readily each material collects the greasy film that forms where the lips sit. That detail changes comfort over the course of a day. Very smooth surfaces, such as Delrin, Ultem and glass, hold less of that film. More porous or textured surfaces fix it more readily and call for more frequent cleaning. This factor weighs as much as heat for anyone vaping through a long day, and it ties directly to the routine we set out in our guide to [cleaning a drip tip](/uk/how-to-clean-a-drip-tip/). A material that clogs slowly is a material you clean less often. ## Drip tip materials, durability and mouth contact Beyond heat and flavour, the material also determines how long the tip lasts and what your mouth is in contact with all day. That is not a secondary criterion. Engineering plastics such as Delrin and Ultem are reputed for stability and long term resistance, which explains their presence on demanding kit. Stainless steel fears neither knocks nor wear and will effectively last for ever. Resin and glass need more consideration, the first against sustained extreme heat, the second against drops. For an accessory held to the lips for hours, it is worth choosing among the **drip tip materials** designed for the job rather than an unbranded tip of uncertain origin. Buying from a British retailer that names the material on the listing is the simplest safeguard. A product page that says only "plastic" is telling you it does not know, and that is reason enough to look elsewhere. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which drip tip material runs coolest? Delrin and Ultem are among the most insulating: they keep heat away from the lips even at higher power. Stainless steel sits at the other end, conducting heat and warming fast. For a powerful setup, an insulating material remains the more comfortable choice. ### Does the material really change the taste? Yes, though subtly. Glass and engineering plastics give a neutral contact that does not tint the flavour. A hot metal can, by contrast, emphasise the perception of warm vapour. The effect stays secondary to the liquid and the coil, but it is noticeable. ### Is resin fragile? Resin handles everyday knocks well, better than glass does. Its limit is sustained extreme heat, which can mark it over time. Normal use poses no problem, provided you avoid repeated overheating on very high power setups. ### Should beginners avoid a stainless steel tip? It is not a bad choice, but its thermal feel often surprises people. Someone new to the hardware usually gets on better with an insulating material, which is more forgiving. Steel becomes a sensible pick once you know how much warmth in the mouth you actually want. ### Should the material match the 510 or 810 size? Material and size are independent. Delrin, Ultem and stainless steel are all made in 510 and in 810, as our guide to [the two sizes](/uk/drip-tip-510-vs-810-sizes/) explains. Size follows the well on your tank, material follows the heat and flavour you want. ## Picking the right material for your mouthpiece The **drip tip materials** available today are the quietest and most effective lever for adjusting a vape: a single small part takes you from a lively warmth to a cool contact, or from a neutral delivery to a signature mouthpiece. Delrin and Ultem for insulation, stainless steel for deliberate warmth, resin and glass for flavour: every material has its profile. What remains is to cross that decision with the size your tank takes and with how often you are prepared to clean it. Those are exactly the accessory level details this magazine enjoys taking apart, because they decide daily comfort far more reliably than a headline specification does. Editorial content for adults only. Vaping is for over-18s in the United Kingdom and involves nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Nothing here is a buying recommendation.