Cannabis Crash Course: How to Dab

Dabbing has become an increasingly popular way to consume cannabis concentrates. Still, the process might feel intimidating at first. With torches, glass rigs, and specialized tools often involved, it’s easy to see why some people hesitate to try it.

The good news is that dabbing has come a long way. New tools and techniques have made it simpler, safer, and more accessible than ever — so even beginners can learn how to dab confidently and enjoy the experience responsibly.

What Is Dabbing?

Dabbing helped revolutionize cannabis through its innovative consumption methods. The fire used to smoke cannabis through consumption methods like joints, bongs, or pipes uses combustion to deliver the smoke to the consumer. With dabbing, if done correctly at the proper temperature, combustion is replaced with vaporization. That means no smoke enters the body during the process. 

The intended purpose of dabbing is to heat the concentrate just enough so that it becomes vapor without reaching combustion points or catching fire. This process is achieved through a dab rig or a concentrate vaporizer. 

While dab rigs used to be exclusively associated with large glass apparatuses, today a number of options exist, ranging from water pipes to pocket-sized pens and many other styles in between. 

While these pieces and the oil used to dab vary, the consistent through line is that dabs will produce stronger and potentially prolonged effects than smoked cannabis.

How To Dab Cannabis Concentrates

To dab, just drop your head into a bent elbow while extending your other arm out. 

Nah, just kidding. We're talking about high-potency cannabis concentration, not a dated trend. 

In all seriousness, dabbing can feel complicated for the inexperienced. But once you have a grasp of the basics, it's a rather straightforward process.

Step 1: Get Your Gear Together

To start, gather up the following essentials:

• A dab rig, e-rig, pen, or other preferred dabbing device (more on these in a section below)
• A nail or banger (usually quartz, titanium, or ceramic)
• A torch (not needed for e-rigs)
• A dab tool for handling the sticky concentrates
• A carb cap to control the airflow
• Your preferred concentrate (more on these in a section below)

Step 2: Heat the Nail

A traditional rig will need a torch aimed at its nail to get things going. Heat the nail until it begins to glow a faint red. Once it does, stop heating and allow it to cool for 30 to 60 seconds. This step is important because it allows the nail to cool and prevents the concentrate from scorching once it's added to the nail.

This step is much simpler with an electronic rig, which helps better regulate temperature and device consistency.

Step 3: Apply the Dab

Take a small rice-sized portion of your concentrate. Place it onto the hot nail surface. Once on the surface, cover the area with the carb cap to trap heat and help control airflow.

Step 4: Inhale the Vapor

Here's where the real fun begins. As vapor forms in the rig, begin inhaling through the mouthpiece. 

Inexperienced and low-tolerance consumers should take a 1 to 2-second pull, at most. Those with higher tolerances and more experience are likely to be able to take longer hits without feeling overwhelmed or overly intoxicated. However, short hits are often best to avoid negative outcomes.

Step 5: Clean After Finishing

Proper cleaning is important with just about any device, especially dab rigs. It may seem tedious, but cleaning a rig after every use is the best way to go. 

Not only does this keep the device functional, but it also keeps it tasting its best. Without cleaning the device, old residue will continue to heat and burn, creating unpleasant tastes, foul aromas, and hard-to-clean gunk inside the device.

Keep in mind that the steps above apply to the traditional dab rig options. Additional options can have a different dabbing process. 

Choosing the Ideal Dab Rig

Dab rigs come in a few different forms, and what you pick depends on your preferences and budget.

• Traditional Rigs: These are the classic glass setups that use a torch and a nail. They give you total control over heating and airflow, but it takes practice to get them right.
• Electric Rigs (E-Rigs): An electric rig uses batteries to digitally control the device's temperature, providing consumers greater temperature consistency while eliminating the need for torches, which can sometimes overwhelm or concern some consumers.
• Nectar Collectors: These are smaller, straw-like tools. You heat the tip and vaporize directly from your concentrate container. They're simple, but they can produce much harsher hits if you're not careful.

Nail material matters, too. Quartz is often the recommended choice for flavor and durability. For top durability, however, titanium is basically indestructible. On the other hand, ceramic is known for evenly distributing heat and providing a clean cannabis taste. 

In the end, the choice boils down to consumer preferences, budget, and the best fit for the rig — among other factors.

Choosing the Ideal Concentrate

Concentrates come in a ton of different textures, potencies, and flavors. Choosing which is best for dabbing comes down to the desired experience and the level of clean-up potentially needed. 

• Wax: Soft and sticky. It's pretty easy to handle and has a full-bodied flavor.
• Shatter: Looks like glass. It's stable and often chosen by those seeking purity.
• Rosin: A solvent-free option, made with only heat and pressure.
• Live Resin: Made from freshly frozen plants, live resin preserves a massive amount of terpenes, creating a strong aroma and rich flavor.

Extracts aren’t all the same. Each is known to create a different experience. As such, experimenting with small amounts is likely the best way to figure out your ideal option. 

Advantages of Dabbing

• Efficiency: You get a lot more cannabinoids in a single inhalation than you ever could from flower.
• Flavor: The process saves all those delicate terpenes that just get destroyed by the flame when you smoke.
• Clean Experience: You're inhaling vapor, not smoke. It contains far less plant material, and many people find it's much smoother on the throat.
• Rapid Effects Onset: Effects hit fast–much faster than edibles, and more on par with smoked cannabis, but with more substantial effects. 

Possible Disadvantages of Dabbing

Dabbing isn’t for everyone. There are several potential drawbacks worth considering before starting or making any purchases.

• Potency: Concentrates are extremely potent, hovering in the 70-90 percentile of cannabis potency in most cases. If you use too much, you run the risk of cannabis overintoxication. 
• Complexity: Dab tools require regular maintenance. Keeping them clean ensures functionality lasts as long as possible, but that isn’t ideal for every consumer.
• Cost: A quality setup is often a sound investment. Rigs and concentrates can both be expensive, especially when starting out, often totaling several hundred dollars to begin.

Dabbing Pro Tips and Tricks

A few tips and tricks can help improve your dabbing experience and extend your device’s functionality for as long as possible.

• It’s important to start small. Inexperienced and lightweight consumers can easily become overwhelmed or overintoxicated by the high potency associated with dabbing. The famous start low, go slow method suggests starting with a small amount, possibly one dab with a short inhalation period, then waiting 30 to 60 minutes before deciding if another is needed. 
• Keep the temperatures low to avoid combustion. Temperatures below 500 or 600 degrees usually yield the smoothest, most flavorful experience, though opinions vary. 
• Be sure to clean your rig. If the rig isn’t wiped free of residue, it can lead to buildup and reduced functionality. That diminished experience may start with blocked airflow when pulling and can eventually lead to full system malfunctions if neglected long enough. When your rig isn’t in use, store it in a safe place where the glass can’t be broken. 
• Store cannabis extracts in a cool, dark place when not in use. Exposure to sunlight, air, and other elements speeds up the degradation process of your concentrates. If this occurs with THC, it can lead to THC converting to the non-intoxicating, sleep-inducing cannabinoid CBN.

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.