How To Smoke Dabs with a Dab Rig or Vape Pen?

More and more people are wheezing on dab rigs, e-rigs and vape pens full of weed concentrates. Yet dab smoking is not as easy as it seems. It turns out to be quite difficult to get your tools working properly in practice. That's why we want to teach you how to dab. A blog full of information and instructions, so you can dab as powerfully and efficiently as possible with a dab rig, e-rig or vape pen.

how to smoke dabs

Before we tell you how to dab, we want to provide you with some vital information. What types of dabs are there, for example, and how can you make them? What is the difference between a banger and a nail? What things do you need to dab with a dab rig, e-rig or vape pen? Once we've given you a glimpse of the answers to these questions, let's move on to the instructions. In the end, you'll be able to dab as powerfully and efficiently as possible and get the most out of your concentrates.

What is Dabbing?

Dabbing is smoking a strong concentrate made from cannabis. This new way of smoking cannabis originated in the United States, after which it has spread to Europe and other parts of the world. In most European countries, dabs are not legally for sale. In parts of the United States they are. Fortunately, you can also make cannabis concentrates yourself. The advantage of dabbing is that the stuff is so strong that a single hit is enough. On the other hand, you have to buy a lot of tools. Especially when you look at the costs of purchase, it is an expensive hobby.

How to make Dabs?

There are many types of dabs. They all vary in structure, strength and the process of making them. To see the advantages and disadvantages of all types of cannabis concentrates, you should take a look at our blog series "Course on Making Dabs". In this four-part series we tell you all about rosin, BHO, shatter, crumble, wax, ice-o-lator and other types. Also, in each part you can find clear instructions on how to make the particular concentrate. It doesn't get any easier than this!

Want to make dabs with your own homegrown weed? Some appropriate strains are Auto Glueberry OG, Girl Scout Cookies and Blue Gelato 41. These are examples of strains that are bursting with THC and have a strong taste. With these kinds of strains you will get the strongest and most flavourful dabs.

weed dabben

Dabbing this little bit of weed will get you incredibly stoned!

Weed dabbing with a Dab Rig, E-Rig or Vape Pen

You can dab by using a dab rig. This is a special bong, where the bowl is substituted by a nail or banger (more about that in a moment). There are also special e-rigs. These are electronic dab rigs that heat themselves so you can dab quicker, easier and more efficiently. You can also vaporize dabs by using a vape pen or vaporizer that is suitable for weed concentrates. Some people rub the dabs on their joint. But by doing this, the essence of smoking a pure concentrate is lost.

Choosing Bangers and Nails

Basically, a dab rig is a bong where the bowl is replaced with a banger or nail. These are attachments to bongs on which you can place dabs, and then smoke them. Nails and bangers are essential for smoking dab. Without these items, you simply won't succeed. They are made of special materials such as quartz glass, ceramic or titanium. These materials are extremely heat resistant and retain heat longer than normal. Quartz gives the purest flavour. Titanium gets hot faster and retains heat longer. Ceramic does not break easily and has a little of both.

Different Bangers

A banger is a type of glass bowl. If you want to dab with a banger, you have to heat the bottom. There are many different varieties. The difference is mainly in the material. Also, some bangers have a hollow space, which helps to guide the smoke. Others have a core. This is a fortification at the bottom of the bowl that helps retain the heat better. Then there are the e-bangers. These can be heated electrically and maintain the same temperature constantly. A short explanation.

Different Nails

Nails are a type of small pins that you leave sticking out of the bong. If you want to dab with a nail, you have to heat the top. You put dabs on a heated nail to smoke it. The material, as well as the shape, can vary. There are two varieties: domeless or normal. Domeless nails are often firmer and easier to use. You don't have to touch the nail to smoke it. Nails with dome contain a glass casing, which you slide over the nail. It catches the smoke so you can dab more efficiently and you don't need a carb cap. Finally, there are e-nails that can be heated electrically and maintain a constant temperature. A short explanation.

Tools you need to smoke dab

Before we explain how to dab, we'll tell you all the supplies you need for smoking dab. Of course you have to provide dabs yourself. A list of other essentials can be found below. Both for dab rigs, e-rigs and vape pens. The supplies can be found in our dabbing shop.

Dab Rig

Dab rig with a banger or nail
Dabber tool*
Torch or storm lighter**
Carb Cap (optional)***

E-Rig

E-Rig with electronic nail or banger
Dabber tool
Carb Cap (optional)

Vape Pen or Concentrates Vaporizer

Vape pen suitable for concentrates
Dabber tool
With a vaporizer that is suitable for concentrates as well as weed and herbs, you need to use a special oven, drip pad or pod. Often these are supplied with the vaporizer. If not, you will have to purchase these yourself.

* A dabber or dabber tool is a heat-resistant wand that allows you to pick up sticky and hot dabs and place them in your vape pen, banger or nail.
** Torch or storm lighters can be recognized by their blue flame. You need these to heat bangers and nails properly. Normal lighters will not do the job.
*** A carb cap helps you handle your dabs more efficiently. While you smoke you put the carb cap on your banger or nail. This ensures that no smoke is being spilled. With some carb caps you can also regulate the air supply.

dab rig

Dab rig with different kinds of concentrates and a dabber tool. Are you ready?

How to Dab? Clear instructions

Now that you know what dabbing is and what gear to use to do it, it's time for the "How To Dab" instructions. Again, we're going to break it down by tool. So you'll get instructions for how to dab with a dab rig, e-rig or vape pen.

Dab Rig

Take your dab rig, fill it with a layer of water and put the banger or nail on it.
Heat the nail or banger with a torch or storm lighter. You do this by holding the end of the blue flame against the bottom of the banger or the top of the nail. Do not hold the flame too close! If you hold them too close to the lighter, the banger or nail will not heat properly. Gently move the lighter back and forth until the glass, titanium or ceramic changes colour*.
If you have a dome, now gently place it on the nail.
A moment of patience! After you have heated the banger or nail, it must cool down a bit. Otherwise the smoke will be so hot, that it will hurt your throat and make you cough. In addition, the flavour is better at lower temperatures. For ceramics or glass, wait 30-45 seconds. With titanium, 10-30 seconds.
With your dabber tool, grab a small amount of dabs. Put your mouth on the mouthpiece of the bong and get ready to inhale. Then, using your dabber, place the concentrate on the heated banger or continue to rotate the dabber as you inhale.
Inhale as deeply as possible and then put the dabber down. If you are using a carb cap, after you take your mouth off the bong, place it on the banger or nail to contain and preserve the smoke.
Blow out the smoke. If you haven't run out of concentrate or there is still smoke in the bong, repeat steps 5 and 6.
When you have finished the concentrate and are not finished smoking, start again at step 1. Repeat the entire process, including heating, for best results.

* Some bangers or nails will not change colour if you heat them. Often this has to do with the material the tools are made of. In that case you can expect 60 to 90 seconds of heating.

E-Rig

Take your e-rig and fill it with a layer of water. Connect the electricity to the banger or nail according to the instructions you get when you buy the e-rig.
Set the temperature. Stay around 160 degrees Celsius if you want to get the most out of the flavour. Turn up the temperature (to 230 degrees Celsius) if you want more powerful hits. Note: an e-rig keeps the temperature constant, so you don't have to wait for the dabber or nail to cool down.
Go through steps 5 through 7 of the dab rig instructions.
When you want to smoke another dose of dabs, you can leave the e-rig on, which will keep the banger or nail at temperature. Are you done after the first dose? Don't forget to turn off the e-rig.

Vape Pen or Concentrates Vaporizer

With a vape pen you are going to vaporize the concentrates instead of burning them. So you are vaping instead of smoking. The effect is slightly different than smoking. Vaporizing is also less harmful to your health than smoking.

Grab your vape pen, turn it on and set the temperature. Again, for the best flavour, stay around 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Are you using a concentrates vaporizer that is also suitable for weed and herbs? Prepare the oven for concentrates by using a special pod or drip pad.
Has the set temperature been reached? Then make sure the oven is open. So remove the mouthpiece.
With your dabber tool, grab a small amount of concentrate. Keep the mouthpiece of your vape pen or concentrates vaporizer close at hand.
Place the dabs in the oven and put the mouthpiece back on the device as soon as possible. Inhale immediately and for as long as possible. Blow out and repeat until no more vapour comes out of the vaporizer.
Want more? Check if the vaporizer is still at temperature and repeat all steps.

A quick summary of everything? Watch this video to see how to dab in a nutshell.