A Beginner's Guide to Dabbing
Dabbing is the method to consume cannabis concentrates such as oils, waxes, shatter, distillate, and rosin at high temperatures. These concentrates are extracted from cannabis using a variety of methods. The variety of the concentrates depends upon the method of extraction. Just knowing how to dab is not enough for you. Before dabbing, you should have equipment such as a dab rig, the actual concentrate, a dab tool and dab nail, and your electric nail. If you're new to dabbing and just heard about it, then this article is for you. In this article, you'll know everything you need to get started, including equipment and a step-by-step guide.
1 WHICH EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED BEFORE DABBING?
If you're new in the world of dabbing, then you'll have to purchase some dabbing equipment as listed below:
You can't do dabbing without a dab rig, unless you want to go portable and use a dab pen. So, if you’re looking to dab like a pro at home, then getting a quality dab rig is essential dabbing gear. A dab rig is a water pipe or bong used to consume the dabs, and it is available in various designs.
The nail is also known as a heating element because it can withstand high temperatures. The nail serves the same function as a bowl would for a flower pipe or bong except you load it with dabs. It is made up of quartz, ceramic, titanium or other materials. You can find a variety of different nails that can be used with a torch and specific nails to be used with your electric nail. Make sure to check what size the nail is so it fits your dab rig and the coil size of your e-nail.
iii. CONCENTRATE
The concentrate is of course the essential requirement of dabbing. You can’t dab without actual dabs! There is a variety of dabbing concentrates depending upon your requirements so ask your local budtenders about all of the options.
iv. THE DABBER
Dabbing concentrates have a different consistency. Most of them are viscous and sticky, so you don’t want to touch them with your hands. Sometimes it’s easy to break off a piece of specific concentrates like shatter or crumble with your hands but it’s almost always better to use a dab tool. A dabber is a little tool used to move and gather your concentrates and apply it to a hot nail.
v. TORCH
If you like to look like a crackhead, then you can use a torch. A regular lighter is not suggested because this mechanism of heat system requires something more powerful. It would be best to have a torch to heat the nail or banger for dabbing if you like going crackhead style. However, if you are a pro dabber and want to dab like a champion you get a Bee-Nail.
vi. CARB CAP
The carb cap covers the dab and seals in the vapor before you release it to inhale.
An electric nail or e-nail for short is the most accurate and convenient way to dab. A e-nail is an electric control box that plugs into the wall and heats up a heating coil that wraps around your quartz, ceramic, or titanium nail. Once the coil is secure around the nail you switch the enail on to an exact temperature and it heats up your nail. E-nails require no torches and therefore you will not look like a crackhead doing hard drugs when you use an e-nail. E-nails are used in conjunction with a dab rig and dab nail as mentioned.
2 WHAT ARE THE COMMON CONCENTRATES FOR DABBING?
Before dabbing, the vital thing that you should have is cannabis concentrate. Concentrates are now available to purchase by recreational users, and their popularity is growing day by day. There is a wide variety of dabbing concentrates depending upon their number of consistencies, method of extraction, and ranging from oil to glass-like waxes. In addition, the concentrates have different levels of purity and are smoked differently. Here are the most common types of concentrates:
i. OILS
Oils are one of the primary concentrates used for dabbing or vaporizing. Oils are pure and favorable to be used to satisfy your craving and enjoy the experience of dabbing. Oils are consumed at low temperatures to preserve the terpenes and flavors. Many oils used as concentrates are extracted through the CO2 extraction process or butane method. Its consistency remains the same as other oil products. Concentrate consumers can consume oils in a oil pen or dab pen when they come in cartridges and also dab them off of an electric nail if they come in a syringe.
ii. WAXES
Waxes are another popular and available concentrate to use in dabbing. The waxes contain the highest tetrahydrocannabinol chemicals compared to other concentrates and are extracted through the BHO extraction process. Wax concentrates are slightly darker, sticky, and come from failed shatter extract. Wax concentrates have soft consistency, kind of like a watery peanut butter or honey.
iii. SHATTER
Shatter is malleable, fairly stable, smooth, solid and clear, but sometimes yellow or orange hue. Recently, shatter has been one of the most used concentrates in dabbing due to its honey-like texture. It looks like toffee or opaque glass and employs a vacuum. It is similar to wax and is extracted through the BHO extraction process.
iv. DISTILLATE
The distillate is the concentrated form of the oil, and in appearance, it looks like wax. Distillate concentrate is highly desirable in dabbing and vaporizing due to its potency and versatility. The pure distillate concentrate only consists of that portion of the cannabis plants that contain tetrahydrocannabinol chemicals and are devoid of their substances.
v. ROSIN
Rosin is the unique and popular concentrate to use in the dabbing process. Rosin is obtained by squeezing the pieces of the cannabis plants under high temperature and pressure. Therefore, it is pure and more flavorful than other concentrates. If you want to experience the flavor of your own choice, then rosin is highly suggested. However, rosin concentrate is very limited and tend to be expensive.
3 HOW TO TAKE A DAB STEP BY STEP?
Once you have all the equipment in place, then you start dabbing by following the given steps:
3.1 STEP 1: GATHER A DAB
Ready your concentrate by opening the lid of your concentrate container and gathering a bit onto your dab tool.
3.2 STEP 2: HEAT THE NAIL
Now, heat the nail with the use of a torch if you are a crackhead. If you are a champ dabber, go ahead and just turn on your e-nail to the desired temperature and of course make sure your coil is secured to your nail and enjoy your enail dab. For our crackheads using a torch…the torch's flame should be hottest at the tip of the inner jet so that it can heat up to the bottom of your nail. Once your nail turns red hot, remove the flame until it cools down. Experiment a little bit to see how hot you like your dabs. Hottest dabbing may cause coughing and can spoil your dabbing experience. At the same time, the cooler dab allows you to fulfil your desire while providing a smoother hit.
3.3 STEP 3: APPLY A DAB TO THE NAIL AND INHALE
Once the nail is at the desired temperature, apply some concentrate to your hot nail and start to inhale from the mouthpiece. It's time to use the carb cap to cover up the vapors. Make sure to inhale it slowly if you're new in the world of dabbing.
When you're done with dabbing, clean up your nail regularly to keep it clean and safe to use next time. Most of the time you can use a q tip to wipe down the residue left over after you finish taking your dab.
4 FEW TIPS FOR DABBERS
You should never touch the tip of your dabber because the dirt, oil and other dust particles from your hand can transfer to the clean concentrates and cause mush and contaminated concentrate. When your dabber is not in use for a particular time, you should use the non-stick silicone. In this way, it will be sure that your concentrate is clean and pure to be used in the future anytime without any contamination.
5 CONCLUSION
There you go. Now you know how to dab as a beginner with all the instructions. You can follow the given steps to enjoy your favorite concentrate if you want to jump into the world of dabbing. Bee Your Best!
