How to Dab Cannabis Concentrates
There’s a good chance cannabis concentrates will be the most popular products on dispensary menus within the next few years. Smoking flower won’t go out of style anytime soon, but it’s hard to beat the experience you can get from cannabis concentrates. Now is the perfect time to learn more about cannabis concentrates, why people love them, and how to dab.
Why Is Dabbing so Popular?
There are a lot of reasons to love cannabis concentrates, but THC content is the biggest one. Experts can create these substances with highly concentrated levels of the most desirable natural components in cannabis by making an extraction with or without a solvent. (Hence the name “cannabis concentrates.”)
Some concentrates are also known for having great flavor, but high THC levels are the single biggest reason dabbing has become so popular. With that in mind, we strongly recommend that you exercise caution the first time you try cannabis concentrates. Ideally, have someone experienced show you the ropes. A little dab will do, so don’t be too heavy-handed with the concentrates until you know what to expect.
Some Different Dabbing Options
Some purists might say that using a dab rig is the only pure way to dab. Investing in a dab rig and all related accessories is undoubtedly one way to get the most out of your concentrates, but it isn’t the only way to enjoy them. We’ve heard of people doing all kinds of things with extracts, but the following four dab methods are the most common.
1 – Dabbing With a Dab Rig
If you want to get the most intense dabbing experience, this is the way to go. You’ll have to get the dab rig itself, a torch, and a few other accessories, but that’s all well worth it for people who love cannabis concentrates. We’ll get more into the tools later, but it will help to understand the process first. In a nutshell, here’s what you do:
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- Prepare your cannabis concentrate so you can apply it to the dab nail quickly.
- Get the nail hot by using a torch lighter.
- Get your concentrate on the nail and inhale the vapor it creates.
- Try not to cough– your first dab might feel as harsh as your first hit from a bong if you don’t take it slow.
2 – Dabbing With a Health Stone
A health stone, also known as a vapor stone, is a porous stone you can insert into a standard pipe. Some people might also refer to these as lava plates. You still need a torch lighter to consume cannabis concentrates in this way, but you can use your standard bowl instead of a specialized dab rig. It’s a good option for people on the go or just don’t want to spend the money on a full dab rig.
3 – Mix Cannabis Concentrates with Flower
Concentrates and cannabis flower don’t burn at the same rate, so this isn’t necessarily the way to get the most from your concentrates. That said, though, adding a little bit of cannabis concentrates to your flower can take your smoking experience to the next level. Add some to a bowl, mix it with ground material before rolling, or even apply cannabis concentrates to the outside of your joint. There are plenty of ways to do this, and you don’t need to buy a bunch of different accessories.
4 – Dab Pens
This might be the most convenient way to vaporize cannabis concentrates. It’s still not quite the same as using a dab rig, but it’s so easy. Some companies make pens that you can fill with the cannabis concentrates of your choice. Alternatively, you can buy cannabis cartridges that are already filled and ready to be vaporized with a pen battery.
Dab Equipment – Rigs, Nails & Bangers Oh My!
The equipment required for most of the methods mentioned above is fairly straightforward, so this section will focus on dabbing with a dab rig. First and foremost, you’ll need the rig itself. Some people find that it’s not too hard to convert a bong into a dab rig, while others prefer to buy a dedicated dab rig so they don’t have to mess with it. Either way works.
You’ll also need a dab tool, which may also be referred to as a dab wand. This is what you use to prepare your cannabis concentrates to be deployed onto the hot nail. Some find that shatter is the best concentrate for this because it sticks to the dab tool, while others say they don’t have a problem getting any concentrate on the wand.
The nail, sometimes called a banger, is the part of the dab rig where the cannabis concentrates will ultimately be vaporized. It’s basically where the bowl would be on a traditional glass pipe, but you put concentrates on it instead of filling it with flower. The nail will be made of quartz, titanium, ceramic, or glass– it has to be able to get extremely hot (up to 800°F).
To get the nail that hot, you need a torch lighter. A normal lighter won’t get the nail hot enough to vaporize the concentrates very well, but the torch can get your nail red hot within a few seconds. As a safety precaution, we definitely recommend turning the torch off before you actually dab your concentrate. You can use other accessories to get even more from your dabbing experience, but these basics will be enough to get you started.
A Word About the Different Types of Concentrates
Depending on how you’re going to dab and the type of experience you want, you should pick a concentrate that seems to fit. Consider all of the following types of cannabis concentrates:
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- Shatter – This stiff concentrate is hard to work with unless you have a dab tool, but it has a relatively long shelf life and is great for dab rigs.
- Wax – Wax is almost identical to shatter except for in texture. It’s a little bit softer and less sticky.
- Live Sauce – Also called terp sauce, live resin, or sugar, this concentrate is produced at low temperatures to preserve terpenes. By preserving more of the original cannabis plant’s essence, these concentrates often offer the best flavor.
- Water Hash – If you’re interested in solventless concentrates, water hash is an option for you. This is one of the most traditional types of cannabis concentrates, and it’s easy to mix with flower if you don’t want to use a dab rig.
- Cannabis Concentrate Syringe – The concentrates in these syringes are very similar to shatter, but packaging them like these makes them more convenient for some people to work with.
- Cannabis Cartridges – This is only an option if you’re planning to use a dab pen, also called a cannabis vape pen.
Ready to Try It Out? Get Cannabis Concentrates in Federal Heights at Green Sativa Today!
At Green Sativa in Federal Heights, we’re proud to offer a broad selection that contains all types of cannabis concentrates. If you’re not sure which one appeals to you most, an experienced member of our staff can talk you through the options. Browse our dispensary menu today and place your order online or stop by today.
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