Why the heck does a terp slurper waste less THC?

Dabs and joints waste the same amount of THC depending on the study cited. Despite the results, both mediums can and have been significantly improved. Thanks Stoner Science! For example, dab rigs come in many forms. Terpene slurpers are a recent innovation that offer a delivery method for extract consumption that wastes even less THC.

quartz

The often-cited studies used red-hot titanium nails to get results. However, high temperature dabs are archaic in today’s technology. Quartz is now common for dab rigs.

A gavel or banger is essentially a quartz bucket connected to a bong. The quartz is heated and then cooled to an optimal temperature for dabbing cannabis extracts. Once the quartz has reached the perfect temperature, the extract is dabbed into the banger before a carb cap is placed on the bucket. Carburetor caps help vaporize concentrate with better airflow.

Keep in mind that vaping THC or CBD, for example, is not the only goal of a dab rig. Cannabinoids need to be transported efficiently in a vapor stream for a dab to work. A quartz banger is bad at drawing vapor from the bottom of the bucket with no movement. Oil puddles will also cool the quartz below the ideal 400° to 600°F range, leaving an incomplete blob.

Balls and better airflow with a terp slurper

Marbles known as terp pearls or banger beads were incorporated into hammers before terp slurpers appeared. A high quality boroglas ball can be stored at the bottom of a spinner style banger. Airflow is still conventionally pushed down from above through a directional carburetor cap, which spins the marble at the bottom of the bucket. This agitates the extract while dabbing and increases the efficiency of the dab.

Terp slurpers redesign this process. The bottom of the hammer is cocked with a cup that protrudes below. Slots at the bottom of the shell create an air path from bottom to top, spinning a boro ball or bead inside the Slurper.

Only pull fresh dabs

A second marble sits inside the teat, which acts as a check valve on top of the extension. Some degraded oil that flows over the bowl, through the slots, and past the first bead is captured by the second boron ball. Degraded oil doesn’t collect on the main course and lets the flavor of the blob in.

A quick warm up or two will destroy any leftover dabs. However, excessive heating leaves a char that is difficult to remove. And burned-in residue damages the quartz and distorts the taste. For this reason, it is recommended to wipe off any oil residue inside the teat after each use. Cue tips should therefore be found in every Slurper kit.

science and innovation

Slurpers were originally released by Toro and loved by Hawaiians back in 2017. (2) After five years, the Slurper has become a popular addition to the glass collections of most intoxicating concentrate users.

The way terpene slurpers waste less THC and improve flavor is by increasing aeration. In fact, the late Morgan Horatio Delbert Sybian noted the need for carbon dioxide to deliver the delicate flavors of terpene champagne. Brewers know this and that nitrogenation helps deliver the flavor of malt more than terpy hops.

How this design affects the dab requires more scientific analysis. Whether terpene lurpers are really more efficient, distribute a better exothermic reaction or how much they increase aerosolization can be measured in the laboratory. Does the literature finally need an update of the science on the glowing titan?

Let us know in the comments if you think bangers or terp slurpers waste less THC. Is ventilation worth it when smoking and vaping cannabis??

Sources

1. Hädener, M., Vieten, S., Weinmann, W., & Mahler, H. (2019). A preliminary study of the lung availability of cannabinoids from smoking marijuana or dabbing BHO and the rate of decarboxylation of THC and CBD acids. Forensic Science International, 295, 207-212.
2. Legrow, K. 2021. The Story of the Terp Slurper. MY