Dabbing is one of the best ways to enjoy everything that cannabis extracts and concentrates have to offer. Dabs are packed with hard-hitting cannabinoids and mouthwatering terpenes that are sure to blow you away. While it can take a minute to get the hang of things, doing dabs out of a dab rig or a wax pen is one of the most fun and effective ways of enjoying cannabis.
What Are Dabs And Why Are They So Awesome?
Dabs are hits of cannabis concentrates. Not only do they get you way higher than smoking or vaping flower, but they can produce much more flavorful hits as well. Why take 5 puffs when 1 will do?
Doing Dabs
Dabs can be enjoyed in several different ways. They can be smoked out of bowls and joints just like flower, but fire tends to destroy some of the terpenes and produce harsh hits. As a result, most people prefer to vape dabs either through a compatible vaporizer, a wax pen, or a dab rig.
Dab rigs are glass waterpipes adapted for doing dabs. Dab rigs produce bigger and tastier hits than vaporizers and vape pens, really allowing you to enjoy the flavorful terpenes in each dab. Dabbing concentrates through a dab rig is a lot like enjoying cannabis flower from a bong, but with vapor instead of smoke.
Many conventional vaporizers, both desktop and handheld, are designed to work with concentrates as well as dry herb. But it’s always important to check compatibility beforehand in order to prevent any potential damage to your vaporizer.
Wax pens are small handheld vaporizers designed exclusively for doing dabs of wax-based concentrates. The vapor quality of a wax pen is just not as good as that from a dab rig, but they are simple, convenient, and perfect for on-the-go vaping.
Getting Ready: Dabbing Equipment
Before getting down to how to dab through a dab rig, its worth taking a quick minute to go over the equipment you’ll need to properly use your rig. Apart from the rig itself, you’ll also need: a torch, a nail, a carb cap, and a dab tool.
A nail, also known as a banger, is the rig attachment on which the dab is placed while being vaporized. Think of it kind of like a bowl just for concentrates. And if you’re using a domeless nail, a carb cap can be used to trap vapor and control airflow. A handheld butane torch will also be needed to heat up the nail and a dab tool will be needed in order to scoop and handle your dabs.
How To Dab Using A Dab Rig: Step By Step
Once you’ve got all of your dabbing equipment ready you can focus on how to dab. Here’s how to take a dab from a dab rig:
- Use your torch to heat up your rig’s nail/banger for about 30-45 seconds or until it’s red hot.
- Let the nail cool down for about 30-60 seconds, depending on how high of a temperature you want to dab at. Quartz nails can be left to cool for about 45 seconds and titanium nails can be left to cool for about 10-15 seconds.
- Using your dab tool, scoop up a dab of your chosen concentrate and apply it to your nail.
- Cover the hit with a carb cap while inhaling slowly. Use the carb cap to control airflow and vapor volume.
- Exhale (eventually).
Feeling lazy? You can simplify this process using an e-nail (electronic dab rig) that heats up and cools down on its own.
Ready to try dabs for yourself? Check out our Venice Beach dispensary menu now.
