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Spark up your wax or shatter to get a more intense high
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A dab is a concentrated form of cannabis that usually comes in a waxy form. Smoking a dab gives you a quicker and more intense high, and is about as easy as smoking a bong. We’ll tell you more about them, then show you how to smoke dabs with a standard rig, an electric rig, or without any rig at all.
How to Smoke a Dab: Quick Overview
Smoke a dab by heating the dab rig’s nail, or bowl, with a butane torch. Then, place a quarter of a pea-sized amount of concentrate into the nail and let it cool for 30 seconds. Inhale through the mouthpiece while using a carb cap to control the air flow.
Steps
Section 1 of 7:
Dabbing with a Standard Rig
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Add water to your rig and get familiar with its parts. First, add water to the main chamber of your rig, just like you would when smoking a bong—enough to mostly cover the downstem. The most important part of the rig is the nail , which is where the wax is placed and heated. The carb cap goes over the nail after the nail is heated so that smoke goes into the rest of the rig and can be inhaled. [1] X Research source
- Many dab rigs are essentially just like standard bongs, but instead of a bowl they have a dab nail.
- The rig’s base or central chamber holds water and transports vapor.
- The rig’s downstem protrudes down into the chamber, funneling smoke downward.
- The mouthpiece is the top opening, where you’ll inhale the vapor.
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Portion out about 0.02 g of wax. A little goes a long way! Use a metal tool, like a quarter teaspoon or a dabber , to scoop out an amount of wax that’s as large as half a grain of rice. [2] X Research source Set the wax aside for now, while you get the rest of your rig ready.
- Once you have some experience, feel free to use a little more. For now, start small and see where it gets you.
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Attach your nail to your dab rig. This will look a bit different based on what kind of rig you have (and they come in all shapes and sizes). No matter your rig, though, insert or attach the nail to the rig. [3] X Research source On a standard bong-type rig, the nail simply replaces the bowl. Make sure it’s secure!
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Heat up the nail with a butane torch. Hold your torch to the bottom of the nail, aiming it so that the flame just grazes the nail’s bowl. Focus the heat on where you plan to place the wax—in a corner is often best. Heat the nail until it glows red hot, then remove the heat and let it cool for about 30-60 seconds. Otherwise, it’ll be too hot, and you’ll cough up a storm. [4] X Research source
- It may take up to 20-30 seconds to fully heat the nail.
- It helps to use an infrared thermometer to make sure the nail reaches 500–700 °F (260–371 °C), but it’s not totally necessary.
- Pros often recommend butane torches, since they burn hotter and cleaner than other heat sources, like standard lighters, which may not be able to get hot enough, depending on your rig.
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Place the dab into the nail. Carefully take the portion of wax you set aside and lower it into the nail. This is where a dabber comes in handy. Make sure to place the dab directly onto the part of the nail where you focused the heat, so it burns properly. Swirl the nail so that the wax melts evenly. [5] X Research source
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Cover the nail with a carb cap and inhale from the mouthpiece. Once the dab is in the nail, cover the nail with the carb cap so the vapors don’t escape. Then, place your mouth on the rig’s mouthpiece and inhale slowly, for just 2-3 seconds. As you do, briefly remove the nail, then replace, to provide airflow into the rig. Pull away, then exhale. [6] X Research source
- Take 1-2 more hits, then stop to see how you feel. If 2 hours pass and you feel nothing, feel free to take 1-2 more hits.
- You’ll probably feel the effects almost instantly. Note that your high can last anywhere from half an hour to several hours, depending on your tolerance.
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Wash out the nail with a cotton swab and dish soap. It’s important to keep your nail tidy, otherwise you’ll be inhaling old or contaminated wax. Simply wipe the cooled nail with a damp cotton swab. [7] X Research source A little dish soap usually takes care of any stubborn residue.
- Also clean your rig as you would clean a bong . Again, warm water and dish soap go a long way.
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Section 2 of 7:
Dabbing with an Electric Rig
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Fill the rig’s main chamber with cool water. Just like with a bong, you’ll want water in your rig to help cool the smoke as you inhale. Fill your rig so that the water mostly covers the downstem. [8] X Research source Filling it to about ¾ of the way up the downstem is typical.
- Electric rigs, or e-rigs, eliminate the need for an open flame, making dabbing safer and more convenient.
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Turn on the rig and set your temperature. Power on your rig. Then, use the buttons and display to set a temperature of about 750 °F (399 °C) degrees. [9] X Research source Consult your owner’s manual for operating instructions, since this varies by model.
- Some dabs indicate their required temperature on their packaging. Typically, use a higher temperature for a larger dab.
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Set about 0.02 g of dab into the nail. Start small. Use a dabber or another metal tool to portion out an amount of concentrate that’s about a quarter the size of a pea. Then, set the concentrate into the nail, taking care not burn yourself on the hot rig. [10] X Research source
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Place the carb cap on the nail and inhale from the mouthpiece. The carb cap goes over the nail to trap the vapors. Once it’s on, slowly inhale from the mouthpiece for about 2-3 seconds, lifting the carb cap so that air can flow through the rig. Then breathe out, and enjoy the effects. [11] X Research source
- Take 1-2 more hits, then stop to see how you feel. If 2 hours pass and you feel nothing, feel free to take 1-2 more hits.
- You’ll usually feel the effects almost instantly. Note that your high can last anywhere from half an hour to several hours, depending on your tolerance.
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Wash out the nail with a cotton swab and dish soap. It’s important to keep your nail tidy, otherwise you’ll be inhaling old or contaminated wax. Simply wipe the cooled nail with a damp cotton swab. [12] X Research source A little dish soap usually takes care of any stubborn residue.
- Also clean your rig as you would clean a bong. Again, warm water and dish soap go a long way.
- Make sure to follow any cleaning instructions included in your rig’s packaging. E-rigs tend to be a bit more particular.
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Warnings
- Make sure to research your local marijuana laws before consuming dabs.Thanks
- Never drive or operate heavy machinery after smoking marijuana.Thanks
- Some sources recommend using car lighters or aluminum foil to smoke dabs without a rig. These are extremely dangerous methods and should not be attempted. [29] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://collegian.com/articles/featured/2022/12/category-cannabis-how-to-hit-a-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://collegian.com/articles/featured/2022/12/category-cannabis-how-to-hit-a-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://extractionmagazine.com/2020/07/24/dabbing/
- ↑ https://www.happyvalley.org/resources/how-to-use-a-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://extractionmagazine.com/2020/07/24/dabbing/
- ↑ https://collegian.com/articles/featured/2022/12/category-cannabis-how-to-hit-a-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://www.happyvalley.org/resources/how-to-use-a-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://extractionmagazine.com/2020/07/24/dabbing/
- ↑ https://www.thecalmleaf.com/blog/how-to-use-an-electric-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://www.nuggmd.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-electric-dab-rigs
- ↑ https://www.nuggmd.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-electric-dab-rigs
- ↑ https://www.happyvalley.org/resources/how-to-use-a-dab-rig/
- ↑ https://earthmed.com/blog/take-dab-without-rig
- ↑ https://dailyhighclub.com/blogs/news/dabbing-without-a-rig
- ↑ https://earthmed.com/blog/take-dab-without-rig
- ↑ https://vocal.media/potent/how-to-smoke-dabs-without-a-rig
- ↑ https://www.420science.com/blogs/learning-center/how-to-smoke-dabs-without-a-rig
- ↑ https://dailyhighclub.com/blogs/news/dabbing-without-a-rig
- ↑ https://earthmed.com/blog/take-dab-without-rig
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/personal-use/accessories-inhalation.html#a4
- ↑ https://www.kitsap.gov/hs/Documents/Dabbing%20Flyer%202016.pdf
- ↑ https://www.leafly.com/learn/consume/dabs
- ↑ https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00065-1
- ↑ https://extractionmagazine.com/2020/07/24/dabbing/
- ↑ https://www.420science.com/blogs/learning-center/how-to-use-dab-rig
- ↑ https://www.420science.com/blogs/learning-center/how-to-use-dab-rig
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/personal-use/accessories-inhalation.html#a4
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8078006/
- ↑ https://vocal.media/potent/how-to-smoke-dabs-without-a-rig
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