Dabbing is the flash vaporization of dabs, also called concentrates, at high temperatures, and it is done through a dab rig, e-rig, or dab pen. We’ll focus on traditional dabbing with a dab rig in this guide. Check out our other resources on e-rigs and dab pens. There’s a bit of a learning curve with dabbing, so if you’ve never done it before, it can be helpful to have someone experienced with it to show you how it’s done. Some important things to remember when dabbing:

• Dabs are concentrated forms of cannabis, so a little goes a long way—flower is between 15-25% THC, while dabs are between 60-90% THC.
• Temperature is key when dabbing: If the nail is too hot, you’ll scorch terpenes and likely induce a coughing fit.
• Steer clear of a hot nail—it’ll be exceptionally hotter than a hot bowl or lighter.

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What is a dab rig?

A dab rig is a water pipe used to inhale dabs. It looks like a bong, with a chamber that holds water for cooling vapor, but instead of a bowl for flower as in a bong, a dab rig has a nail for concentrates. There are many styles of nails and one of the most common is a banger, which looks like a bucket and is usually made of quartz or borosilicate. A terp slurper is another type of nail. Nails must be able to withstand high temperatures, in the 400-600°F range, in order to vaporize dabs.

How does a dab rig work?

To take a dab, the nail of a dab rig is heated with a torch, and allowed to cool to the correct temperature. Cannabis concentrate is placed in the nail and the extreme heat vaporizes it. A carb cap is placed over the nail and the dabber inhales, controlling the airflow with the carb cap. Vapor travels from the nail into the main chamber of the rig, and is cooled by water before hitting the dabber’s lungs.

Dab rig setup: Tools you need to dab shatter and wax

Traditional dabbing with a torch requires several accessories to get a concentrate out of its container and into your lungs. Dab technology is constantly evolving and new products and accessories are always coming out, but a traditional dab setup requires the following core items.

Dab rig

A dab rig is a water pipe that cools dab vapor before entering your lungs. It looks like a bong except it will have a fitting for a nail instead of a bowl. Dab rigs come in all shapes and sizes, but they are usually less than 1’ tall.

Nail

Similar to a bowl for a bong, a nail fits into a dab rig and is where dabs or concentrates are vaporized for inhalation. The standard nail is a quartz banger, which has a bucket shape. Nails need to withstand high temperatures, so they are made out of quartz, borosilicate, ceramic, or titanium. Nails have different joint sizes, where it slides into the dab rig: If your rig has a 14mm stem, you’ll need a 14mm nail. They also have male and female connections—you’ll need a male nail for a female rig, and vice versa. E-nails, or electronic nails, are devices that attach to a dab rig that heat through electricity, cutting out the need for a torch.

Carb cap

A carb cap is placed on top of a hot nail after the dab is dropped in to help regulate airflow when inhaling. To use a bong analogy: Most bong bowls can be pulled out to let in or close off air when inhaling, to regulate airflow; a carp cap does the same, allowing you to cover or uncover the nail when inhaling a dab. Because the nail gets extremely hot when dabbing and you never want to touch it, a separate device is needed to make contact with the nail, hence a carb cap. Although not necessary, we highly recommend using a carb cap to help regulate airflow. Combination carb cap/dab tools are great for cutting down on the amount of dab gear.

Torch

Many people use a crème brûlée torch or other kitchen torch for heating nails. Keep in mind that you’ll need to stock up on butane cans for it. E-nails cut out the need for a torch and provide consistent heat, but are an investment.

Dab tool/dabber

All dabs are sticky, so you’ll need a tool to get the dab out of its container and into the hot nail without making a mess. Also, you want to keep your hand away from the hot nail, so you don’t want to drop a dab in with your hand. Dab tools can be metal, glass, or ceramic, and have many shapes: scoop, spatula, pick, shovel, blade, paddle, and more. Pick a shape depending on the texture and consistency of the concentrate you’re dabbing—runny dabs will need more of a scoop, while thicker ones may benefit from a paddle.

Dab mat and dab timer (optional)

Again, dabs are sticky, so a dab mat can help keep your dabbing area clean and gunk-free—it goes under your rig or dab container. It’s not required but can be nice. Many dabbers use a dab timer to get the correct temperature and ensure the nail is heated up consistently dab after dab (more below). But some dabbers just use feel to gauge the correct temperature, so a timer isn’t necessary.

How to make dabs

Before you get dabbing, it’s important to note that solvent concentrates, such as shatter, wax, crumble, honey, jelly, and much more, are made using a chemical solvent such as butane. As such, these concentrates must be made by a licensed technician with the proper equipment, and cannot be made at home. Solvents must be purged from an extraction so it is safe to consume, and only a technician licensed in a legal market will know how to do this. Incorrect solvent extraction practices can be dangerous and lead to the release of harmful fumes or even explosions.