How to Smoke Concentrates: A Beginner's Guide to Dabbing
By Morgan Worley
Dabbing is the act of heating concentrates and inhaling the resulting vapors.
Concentrates pack a much larger punch than flower, so keep in mind that a little goes a long way. It’s always best to start low and go slow.
Dabbing can be done with 7 different types of rigs, each of them providing a means to heat the concentrate and inhale its vapors.
Types of Dab Rigs:
1. Standard Glass Dab Rigs
Standard glass dab rigs are perfect for anyone who dabs at home, whether occasionally or semi-regularly. They function like small bongs but with a banger or nail instead of a bowl. Many dabbers love collecting them because of the endless artistic designs available.
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Pros: Glass dab rigs come in a wide variety of styles and are generally easy to clean.
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Cons: They're fragile and can break easily if not handled carefully.
To use a standard glass dab rig:
- Fill the rig with enough water to cover the base of the down-stem, but not enough to splash water into your mouth
- Heat the banger or nail to your desired temperature using a torch
- Place a small dab of concentrate onto the banger or nail using a dab tool
- Cover the nail or banger with a carb cap to keep the vaporized concentrate inside the rig
- Inhale through the mouthpiece, lightly lifting the carb cap to increase airflow as needed
- Exhale away from the mouthpiece
- Clean the nail/banger, carb cap and dab tool with a cotton swab
- Repeat until you’ve peaked
Related Article: How To Clean A Bong, Bowl or Bubbler! Pro Tips and More!
2. Standard Silicone Dab Rigs
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Pros: Silicone rigs are super durable, making them ideal for travel and outdoor use. They're also easy to clean and usually come in fun, vibrant colors.
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Cons: Since you can't see inside a silicone rig, it can be tricky to know when it needs cleaning.
To use a standard silicone dab rig, follow the instructions for using a standard glass dab rig.
3. Recycler Dab Rigs
Recycler dab rigs are perfect for terpene lovers, daily dabbers, or those who don't clean their rig often. They work similarly to standard rigs, but the unique design causes the water to spiral inside, creating a whirlpool effect. This recycling motion keeps the water fresh and helps preserve the flavor of delicate terpenes.
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Pros: There's a wide variety of recycler dab rigs available, offering plenty of artistic and functional options.
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Cons: Like other glass rigs, recyclers can be fragile. The two-chamber design also makes them harder to clean compared to standard glass dab rigs.
To use a recycler dab rig, follow the instructions for using a standard glass dab rig.
4. Dab collectors (concentrate straws)
Dab collectors (also known as concentrate straws) are super portable, making them great for travelers who want to dab on the go but aren’t ready to invest in a portable electronic dab rig. They’re also ideal for those who don't like cleaning and can handle waterless hits, as some models are designed for dry use.
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Pros: Dab collectors are easy to use, clean, and store.
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Cons: Since they function like straws, it’s easy to spill water from the mouthpiece if you don’t have a spill-proof cap.
To use a dab collector:
- Fill the collector with water to the manufacturer/designer’s instructions, if applicable
- Place the desired amount of concentrate onto a dab tray or heat resistant rolling tray using a dab tool
- Heat the tip of the collector using a torch
- While inhaling through the mouthpiece of the collector, drag the collector’s hot tip over the concentrate to vaporize it
- Exhale away from the mouthpiece
- Clean the collector tip, the dab tool and the dab tray with a cotton swap and/or rubbing alcohol wipes (for your safety: when cleaning dab gear with rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes, always allow the dab gear to cool first)
- Repeat until you’ve peaked
5. Portable electronic dab rigs
Portable electronic dab rigs are perfect for dedicated dabbers who want to take their sessions on the go, as well as for those who need reliable rigs for party settings. These rigs combine a compact water chamber with a battery-powered atomizer that heats the concentrates, eliminating the need for a torch. They heat quickly, offer various temperature settings, and often include a session mode for multiple re-heats, making them great for group sessions.
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Pros: No need for a torch, portable, easy to clean, and quick to use.
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Cons: They require regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them functioning smoothly.
To use a portable electronic dab rig:
- Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as usage may vary.
- Fill the water chamber according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Use a dab tool to place the desired amount of concentrate into the bowl.
- Place the carb cap on top of the bowl.
- Select your preferred temperature.
- Initiate heat mode as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Inhale through the mouthpiece once the rig reaches the desired temperature, lightly lifting the carb cap to increase airflow if needed. Note: some rigs light up or vibrate when they reach the set temperature.
- Exhale away from the mouthpiece.
- Clean the bowl, carb cap, and dab tool with a cotton swab.
- Repeat the process until you're satisfied with your session.
Note: Every electronic dab rig requires regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure reliable functionality. The atomizer (the heater) will often need to be replaced, and replacing it should be considered part of your routine upkeep. Always clean your electronic dab rig according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as neglecting this can void any warranty options.
6. Wax Pens
Wax pens are a popular choice for adventurers, travelers, and anyone looking to consume discreetly. They resemble vape pens but use a small atomizer to heat concentrates instead of a cartridge.
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Pros: Portable, discreet, and quick to use.
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Cons: They tend to waste more concentrates compared to a banger or nail, and they’re not very durable—extreme heat or cold can affect their performance.
To use a wax pen:
- Always read and follow the directions provided with your wax pen, as some may vary
- Unscrew the top of the wax pen to reveal the bowl or atomizer coils
- Place the desired amount of concentrate onto the bowl or atomizer coils using a dab tool
- Replace the top of the wax pen
- Select the desired temperature, if applicable
- While inhaling, initiate heat-up according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- Exhale away from the mouthpiece
- Clean the bowl or atomizer coils and dab tool using a cotton swap lightly soaked in rubbing alcohol
- Repeat until you’ve peaked
E-Nails (electronic nails)
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Pros: Quick and easy to use, highly reliable and durable, and easy to clean.
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Cons: Not portable and larger than most rigs, so they take up more space.
To use an e-nail:
- Always read and follow the directions provided with your e-nail rig
- Fill the water chamber according to the manufacturer’s directions
- Choose your desired temperature setting and turn the e-nail on to heat up
- When the desired temperature is reached, place the desired amount of concentrate onto the nail or banger using a dab tool
- Place a carb cap on top of the nail or banger
- Inhale through the mouthpiece while lightly lifting the carb cap to increase airflow as needed
- Exhale away from the mouthpiece
- Clean the nail or banger, carb cap and dab tool using a cotton swab
- Repeat until you’ve peaked (always turn off the e-nail rig once finished)
To browse options for each of the 7 types of dab rigs, check out our inventory at our online smoke shop. We have everything you need to get dabbing! For help choosing concentrates, check out Your Guide to the 7 Most Popular Types of Concentrates.
About the author
Morgan Worley is a business development professional with a passion for the cannabis industry. After seeing the medicinal benefits cannabinoids can have, she transitioned from opening new restaurants and coffee shops to working in the cannabis industry. Since 2018, Morgan has gained experience as a medical consultant, dispensary manager, cannabis trade show producer, and traceability software saleswoman. Outside of work, Morgan strives to live a healthy lifestyle modeled after Blue Zones.LinkedIn