How to smoke dabs? The best methods? With or without a dab rig

Cannabis concentrates, or “dabs” as they are more commonly called, are becoming increasingly popular in today’s market.

Fortunately, you can smoke wax dabs in a variety of ways, including: on a dab rig or e-rig, using a nectar collector, using a dab pen, or even adding them to a joint.

Stippling effectively and safely usually requires a few key steps, so we'll explain some of the simplest and easiest ways to do stippling, even if you don't have the right equipment.

Learning how to smoke dabs can seem daunting at first, but it will be easy once you learn the ropes.

What are dabs?

Dabs are hits of a potent cannabis concentrate. They get their name from the fact that you usually only need a small dab of the concentrated extract to feel its effects.

While the THC content in marijuana flowers ranges from an average of 15% to over 30%, the THC content in dabs ranges on average from 50% to over 90%.

Using a solvent such as butane or carbon dioxide, the THC and other cannabinoids are extracted, resulting in a sticky, oily texture.

There are different forms of dabs, but the most commonly used for dabbing are shatter, budder, crumble, wax, butane hash oil (BHO), and solventless extracts such as rosin.

What is dabbing? And the benefits

Smoking dabs, also known as dabbing, has gained considerable popularity in recent years.

This concentrated form of cannabis offers a strong and powerful experience for those looking for a more intense high.

1. Better taste

A dab rig does not produce any chemicals, so it does not add anything to the concentrate. This purity means that the vapor produced when dabbing weed tastes better, making it more enjoyable for many people.

2. Healthier

Since dabbing does not produce smoke and does not add any additional substances, fewer carcinogens are produced and the vapor is healthier to inhale.

Additionally, extracts contain much less plant material, so you inhale more cannabinoids and less resin.

However, it is important to note that this is only true if it is done correctly. If you smear at too high a temperature, something bad can happen, so you want to make sure your procedure is right.

How to smoke dabs with a dab rig? Step-by-step guide

Of all the different ways to smoke dabs, dab rigs are the preferred method. You can choose between a standard dab rig setup or an e-rig (electric dab rig).

A standard dab rig allows you to vaporize your cannabis concentrates without the need for combustion.

There are all sorts of fancy setups, but these devices usually consist of the same components: a chamber for filtering water, a mouthpiece for inhaling, a nail for heating the dabs, and a carb cap for encapsulating the vapor.

Using a butane torch is usually an essential part of dabbing. The torch is used to heat up your nail so you can melt your oil and vaporize your concentrate. Thankfully, there are now e-nails instead.

When you place the Heat Nail on it, it turns your concentrate into a cannabinoid-filled vapor.

When you inhale through the mouthpiece, the vapor is pulled through your dab rig, usually through a water chamber, and inhaled into your lungs.

Step 1: Add water to the chamber

Fill the chamber with water and check the level by blowing into the shaft.

The water should bubble without any effort. If the water splashes back into your mouth, pour some out.

Step 2: Heat the nail

Insert the dab nail into the rig. Heat the banger with your torch until it turns red.

You want to place the burner on the outside and bottom because that is where you will be applying the concentrate.

If you are using an e-nail, set it to 311-388 degrees depending on the type of cannabis you are smoking.

3. Let the nail cool down

Once the cracker is hot, wait 30-45 seconds for it to cool down.

If it's too hot, your cannabis concentrates will burn and that's not how you make dabs.

You can measure the time with your watch or phone to optimize the taste.

4. Apply the swab to the nail and inhale

Apply the wax to the banger with your dabber and inhale it slowly through the mouthpiece.

Rotate the swab tip on the hot banger to avoid wasting any wax stuck to it.

Inhale long and slowly, as most of the concentrate does not evaporate immediately.

If you have a carb cap, you can quickly slip it over your nail after adding your dab. Experiment with adjusting your carb cap as needed to get an ideal temperature.

6. Clean the nail

When you have finished inhaling, use a cotton swab to remove excess concentrate from the nail.

How to use an e-rig to smoke dabs?

The electric dab rig works essentially the same as a traditional dab rig, but has one major advantage: the device heats the nail using electricity, so you don't have to heat it manually with a torch.

One of the advantages of an e-rig with an e-nail is the fact that you have better control over the temperature.

Fill the water chamber with water to the desired level.

Turn on the electric dab rig and adjust the temperature.

Wait until the heating element reaches the desired temperature.

Apply the concentrate to the nail.

Inhale the vapor through the mouthpiece.

Turn off the electric dab rig and let it cool down.

How to smoke dabs without a dab rig? 6 best alternatives

Dabbing has become a modern phenomenon and with it the means and methods of dabbing have also evolved.

Smoking a dab essentially involves heating the concentrate to its vapor point and then inhaling the vapor to harness the effects of the cannabinoids and terpenes.

As long as you follow a few simple tips, there are several ways to smoke dabs without a rig.

1. Use a nectar collector

Nectar collectors or dab straws are perfect for quick and easy dabbing. These simple and affordable devices make it easy to dab precise amounts and achieve powerful hits.

Nowadays, nectar collectors can be divided into two main categories: traditional nectar collectors and electric nectar collectors.

The former, as the name suggests, use traditional methods to heat and vaporize your chosen wax concentrates.

In the latter case, electricity is used to bring the heating tip to vaporization temperature so that you can use up your materials.

Nectar collectors use heated tips that you dip into a wax jar or container. All you need is a good butane torch or just press the button!

How to use a nectar collector for smoking dabs?

First, apply your wax oil or concentrate to a heat-resistant surface. Glass or silicone are the most commonly used.

Then heat the tip with a butane torch until it is very hot.

For low temperature dabs, it is important to wait 7-10 seconds for the tip to cool down.

When you are ready to dab, slowly press the tip of the nectar collector against the concentrate on a dabbing mat or in the dabbing jar.

You can control the draft by letting too much steam escape or by not pressing too hard.

2. Vaporizing with a dab pen

Dab pens, also called wax pens, are small, portable devices used to consume concentrates such as wax and oil.

Due to their convenience, discretion and ease of use, they are becoming increasingly popular among cannabis users.

Dab pens are battery-powered and use a heating element (called an atomizer) to vaporize concentrates, making them a healthier and more efficient alternative to traditional dabbing methods.

How to use a dab pen to smoke dabs?

To smoke dabs with a vape pen, make sure to fill the appropriate amount of concentrate into the pen's chamber, activate the heating element, and inhale the vapor.

3. Roll it into a joint

If you prefer to roll a blunt or a joint, go for it!

Once you have your weed placed and are ready to roll, cover it with some of your favorite oils.

This allows even buds and dabs to burn while you smoke your joint!

4. Drop it into a bong bowl

This method is quite simple and straightforward.

Filling a bowl (part of a bong or hand pipe) with dabs is exactly what it sounds like.

Fill your favorite bowl with your most beautiful flowers and then crumble or drizzle your favorite concentrate over it.

When you light the bowl, the wax burns into the flower, creating a wonderful vaporization and effect.

5. Hot knife method

In the early days of dabbing, before modern technology entered the dabbing world, a hot knife was used for dabbing.

You heat a butter knife over a hot stove, place your swab on the hot knife or between two hot knives and inhale the resulting steam.

This method is a little tricky because it is easier to burn yourself and the swabs can be hotter and more violent.

However, this can be quite wasteful as it quickly dissipates in the open air. You can avoid this by inhaling the smoke through a straw, funnel or the top half of a plastic soda bottle.

6. Health Stone

A Healthstone is a specially designed stone that you can place in the bowl of a bong or in a regular pipe.

The Healthstone is porous, so that the smoke from the fired dab passes through the stone, through the pipe or bong and out through the mouthpiece.

You simply place the stone in your bowl, heat your Healthstone to the right temperature, add your dab, puff and enjoy.

Diploma

Smoking dabs or dabbing is faster and more intense than any other method of consuming cannabis flowers.

If you are looking for instant relief or a quick, intense high, dabbing is the best method of consumption.

It's worth learning how to dab properly, and with a little practice it's quite easy.

We've compiled a comprehensive list of all the different ways you can smoke dabs, so whether you prefer dab rigs or something else, you'll have all the options in one place.

So grab your swabs and equipment and have fun. Safety always comes first.

Remember to start with small doses and gradually increase as needed, as the dabs are highly concentrated.