When we say “proper way to dab” we are referring to the safest way to smoke extracts and the best way to get the most flavor at the same time. There is a lot of misinformation and outdated info out there about dabbing which makes it a bit of a hard thing to master if you’re unsure of what you need or if you’re flipping through the terrible Youtube videos that always end up with a hot dab or giving bad advice on outdated equipment. We will do our best to simplify the process in this blog by telling you what you will need, what a low temp vs high temp dab is, whether you should use titanium or quartz, and the benefits of using a dab rig vs using a bong for smoking extracts! We’re not dissing anyone for taking hot tabs or having outdated equipment, so don’t take this the wrong way at all. We are simply trying to better the cannabis and glass community every way that we can with our collective knowledge and combined years of experience!
To start off, the most outdated and unsafe way to dab is with a titanium nail on a male joint rig. Hybrid Quartz/Titanium Nails are a better alternative but as we see the market growing, Male joints are slowly being phased out of American Made glass and titanium nails are typically used for taking a high temp/hot dab, which is really not good for your lungs at all and a reason why the cannabis community is moving to quartz bangers. Female joints are also more universal in style and allow the glass collector to easily switch between smoking flower or concentrates out of the same rig! What you will need (for a modern way of dabbing that is here to stay for the foreseeable future) is a butane torch, a 10mm or 14mm Dab Rig with a Female Joint, a 10mm or 14mm Quartz Banger, a Carb Cap, a Dabber, and a Timmer. Q-tips are essential for moping up the mess in your banger afterward, just make sure to get the paper handle ones and not the plastic ones that will melt into the banger! You can have a dab mat also to help with the stickiness of concentrates, but that’s optional and we have those for sale as well.
It is a fact that inhaling hot oil is very unhealthy for your lungs and can cause some damage after years of heavy and when you’re taking a hot temp dab, you’re pretty much inhaling burning oil along with some dangerous carcinogens that come with it. Portland State University actually did a study on the Toxicant of Dabbing here if you’re interested in reading the study! This is one of the key reasons why we have switched to using quartz since you can take you dab at a much lower temp than vaporizing the whole dab immediately like you have to with titanium nails. Using quartz to dab at a lower temperature is known as a “low temp dab”, and you can very well make the most out of your extract by using this method despite what some uneducated people may say. We also recommend using a smaller to medium sized rig for dabs rather than a largely sized bong because the lower water level and smaller space will provide the best flavor and you can really enjoy the function of your rig right under your eyes!
Now for heating up and taking your dab: We suggest using a butane torch because propane burns hotter and will oxidize or “chaz” your banger much quicker. Heat up your quartz banger for about 30 seconds at all angles, concentrating on the bottom last, be sure not to hit the glass with your flame or you’ll definitely give it a crack! Get your dab on your dabber, or scooper if you have crumble, and your carb cap ready to dab at about 1 minute and 5 seconds to get a good feel for your temp. If the oil turns black and disappears quickly, you need to wait about 10 seconds longer. If the oil is too golden at the end, then you can take your dab about 10 seconds earlier. You can adjust timing after this but in general, this is the best timing to start out with. The thickness of your banger and consistency of your extract will also determine what timing that you need. The important part is to get a preferred timing down and not to roast your oil in an instant! You can always reheat your quartz if your dab temp was too low, just torch the bottom again for about 5 seconds, put your carb cap on and you’re good to go! All of this will ensure a longer life of your concentrate, banger, and healthier lungs so that we can keep indulging in our favorite plant!
