Dab Rigs: What Is, And How To Use Them?

Dab rigs are specifically designed for smoking cannabis concentrates. If you are looking for a powerful high with almost no effort, dab rigs are a great option for you. But, what exactly are dab rigs, and how do they work? Don’t worry, we have got you covered with all the information you need on dab rigs.

What are dabs and dab rigs?

Dabs are essentially concentrated doses of cannabis. These concentrated materials are made by using a solvent (such as butane or carbon dioxide) to extract the active ingredients within the cannabis plant.

Once the THC, CBD, and other desired cannabinoids have been extracted effectively, the result is a sticky and oily residue. Depending on the extraction method used, these residual materials can be referred to as:

• Shatter
• Budder
• Wax
• Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

If you are a fan of concentrates or want to try them out, dab rigs are the best way to go about it. A dab rig is a special type of bong or water pipe. They are specifically designed to smoke dense concentrates through water vapour. They are most often made of glass and contain a small heating plate where the concentrates should be placed.

Since dab rigs make use of concentrates rather than dry herbs, they are naturally more potent and will give you a stronger and faster high. You will need a much smaller dose of concentrates than dry herbs to experience the full effect of your product. 

What is dabbing?

In order to use dabs, you will need to heat your concentrates on a very hot surface. This is most often referred to as the “nail” of your dab rig, which can be made from glass, ceramic, or quartz. Once the nail is heated, you can start inhaling the smoke and vapour that is produced.

How dabbing works: convective heating

Dabbing allows you to smoke concentrates via convective heating as opposed to conductive heating. Convective heating is essentially the transfer of heat from one material to another using a moving fluid as a conductor.

Convective heating provides a more effective, healthier, and smoother experience since they do not burn the essential active ingredients within the concentrates. As dabbing involves heating concentrates up at a lower temperature, you will experience its effects quicker and get a purer hit.

How to set up your dab rig

Although there are a few variations when it comes to dab rigs, they usually have the same basic setup. 

The nail sits at the top piece of the main bowl and is the area where you will place your concentrates. You can buy nails separate from the rig, just make sure you choose the right size for your setup.

Dab rigs usually have a dome piece, which you can use to cover your nail. The dome helps to keep vapour, THC, and CBD in one place so that you do not lose any of the compounds when heating up the dab. 

Regular water pipes, on the other hand, have a 45 degree angled joint, while dab rigs have 90 degree joints. This is the part of your device that leads vapour to your bowl and ensures that the vapour stays concentrated.

The bowl contains a recycler to create a closed loop for vapour and water to flow through. This keeps smoke and water in a loop where it can turn into vapour and repeat the process. 

It is also a good idea to get a dabber – a small tool used to apply your dab material to the hot surface of the nail. You will need a dab torch as well to heat up the nail.

Different types of dab concentrates

Concentrates come in many different forms, and although they are all very strong and functional, their consistency and user-friendliness varies. Here are some of the most common types of concentrates that are perfect for dabbing:

• Shatter – This dab material is brittle and has a distinguishing amber colour. It can be difficult to work with due to its high density and hardness. Once you start to break it apart, it breaks into pieces similarly to shattering glass.

• Wax and budder – This concentrate is malleable and can be spread quite easily. It is a good option for new users as it is so easy to work with.

• Oils – Although they can be quite messy, oils are very versatile and can be consumed in a variety of ways. 

• Crumble – The texture of crumble is similar to sugar. It is a type of wax that has been dried out to provide a powdery substance.

• Resin – Resin is found on freshly harvested marijuana buds. They are very dense and sticky.

It is important to note that any type of legitimate concentrate is incredibly strong. You should always use these in moderation, especially those who are new to dabbing or cannabis in general. Start with a small dose and wait for about an hour to assess the potency and effect of your dab. You can always take some more at a later stage, rather than taking too much on the first go and potentially having a trip that is too intense.

Finding the right rig

If you are looking for a dab rig, you will need to make sure that you can identify dab rigs from regular pipes. You can do this by checking out the gender of the joint. If the joint is male and comes with a dome, it is appropriate for dabbing. If, however, it is a female-jointed piece, it is most likely just a normal water pipe.

If you already have a normal water pipe, you can buy add-ons to convert it into a dab rig. All you will need is a nail and some attachments to turn your favourite pipe into a dab-appropriate device.

How to use your dab

Once you have set up your rig with the concentrate of your choice, you can place a small amount of concentrate on or in the dabber. Get comfortably seated to make sure that you do not drop or spill anything (remember, dabbing hits much quicker).

Next, you can turn on your torch and aim it towards the centre of the nail. You should heat your nail up until the point where it has started to turn red. The heating time will vary depending on the size of your nail, the material it is made from, and your room temperature. The ideal range is anywhere between 157 °C and 232 °C.

Once your nail has reached optimal temperature, you can take away the torch and place your dome over the nail to keep the heat contained. Let the nail cool for around 30 seconds if it is quartz, or for about 10 seconds if it is made from other materials. Use the dabber to place your concentrate on the hot nail and inhale slowly with a consistent force and wait briefly to enjoy your high!

Start off slowly and experience a great high through dabbing. Concentrates and dabbing go hand in hand – this is one of the best ways to get an impactful high when compared to other methods of consuming cannabis. Be sure to check out Cannarite for cannabis paraphernalia and products. Whatever you need – we’ve got you covered!