Dab tech is constantly changing to make the art of dabbing more efficient and a lot more accessible for newcomers. Since so many people avoid dabbing with all the timing and waiting involved with using a torch, or the difficulty of cleaning an e-nail, we’re excited to introduce you to some tech that eliminates the issues, giving you perfect low temp dabs with precision every time. We’re talking about dab thermometers. Below we’re going to break down what they are and how they work, followed by reviewing the pros and cons of the most popular versions: the Terp Timer vs DabRite vs Terpometer. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is a Dab Thermometer?
A dab thermometer, much like the digital thermometers you’d find in a doctor’s office that don’t have to touch your skin to measure your temperature, is a specialized tool designed for getting perfect dabs at the perfect temperature time and time again. Unlike a traditional thermometer, it doesn’t require direct contact with the dab nail to provide an accurate temperature reading. Also known as an infrared temperature gun or a dab temperature reader, these innovative devices utilize infrared technology to measure the temperature of your nail from a distance, offering a safe and precise way to monitor your dabbing experience.
The Benefits of Using a Dab Thermometer
Using a dab thermometer has a lot of perks, especially if you find yourself taking a lot of inconsistent dabs. Dabbing with a torch and timer can be a hit-or-miss endeavor. The time needed to cool a nail before dabbing can vary significantly due to factors like the thickness of your nail, the starting room temperature before you started heating your nail, how long you applied heat to your nail and for how evenly. While there are average times for a guesswork estimate of when it might be in the perfect zone for a good hit, it’s not an exact science.
To solve for this issue, a lot of people might use an e-nail instead. However, some e-nails just aren’t that accurate, and cleaning them after a dab can be kind of a pain. Further, e-nails aren’t very portable, and with dab thermometers being so compact and convenient, they can be used on the go without extensive assembly or maintenance. They also keep your hands at a safe distance from your nail, preventing burns.
Dab thermometers make sure you know the exact temperature of your nail. You can set it to your perfect temperature range and wait for it to beep to let you know it’s hit the right temperature, or you can use it to let you know when it hits the perfect temperature as you start cooling it down. The point is, you’ll know when it’s ready for you to get that perfect dab. If you want to get the best flavors and the highest potency from your dabs, you want to be hitting them in the ideal low temp dab range, around 500 and 650°F. They make for an accurate way to get a perfect flavorful hit every time instead of just sometimes.
How do Infared Dab Thermometers Work?
These things are really cool. Unlike older versions of thermometers which have to touch something directly to read the temperature, these work by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by an object.
Every object emits this radiation, and its intensity depends on how hot or cold something is. Infrared thermometers have a sensor and optics that capture and focus the emitted radiation onto the sensor. They use a reference point called a blackbody radiator to make accurate temperature calculations.
By knowing how well an object emits radiation, the thermometer can measure its temperature without touching it. The sensor converts the radiation intensity into an electrical signal, which is then processed to display the temperature on the thermometer’s screen. These thermometers are non-contact, making them useful for measuring the temperature of objects like dab nails accurately and quickly without running the risk of burning yourself, or the thermometer itself.
These temperature guns come in all shapes in sizes and vary in price, accuracy, speed, and how high or low the temperature gun can read. We’re breaking down the top three models available below.
The Terp Timer
The Terp Timer by OCTAVE is a super accurate tabletop temperature reader. Like the others, it uses an infrared sensor to measure your temperature wirelessly. All you have to do is set it to your favorite temp and it’ll beep when your nail reaches it. With a durable metal body and a nice embossed magnetic base, it’s very table stable. The color changing screen is helpful for accurately reading the screen when it’s go time. Best of all, its made in the USA, comes with a 10-year warranty, and packs a super powerful battery that will last you 2-3 months on a single charge. At $100, it’s an excellent dabbing companion with well-balanced features and functionality.
Pros:
- Long battery life (2-3 months on a single charge)
- 10-year warranty
- Durable metal design with magnetic base to keep it secure.
- Easy to use and clean
- The laser light helps to align the device to the nail.
Cons:
- A little bit bulky, which makes it less portable
- Kind of tall, so it can be tricky to use it with smaller rig setups
- Setup can be kind of tricky to learn, so you’ll want to keep the manual.
How to use it:
- Hold the start button for three seconds to turn it on
- Press both buttons together to toggle between Farenheit or Celcius
- Use the set button and arrows to set it to your ideal temperature (somewhere between 500-650 degrees for low temperature dabs)
- Set the alarm and heat your nail
- Set the Terp Timer under the nail. The laser light will show you where it’ll read your temperature, so you can use it to center the device.
- Prep your dab while you wait for the beep
- When it beeps, drop it in and enjoy
The Terpometer
The Terpometer was one of the first thermometers designed for accurately reading and displaying dab temperatures. It’s a little different than the others on this list since it isn’t actually using infrared, and instead has to be touched to the nail. However, it’s super small and convenient, and no larger than a standard 510 vape battery. With the small size comes a small battery though, and you’ll need to recharge it pretty regularly to make sure it’s reading accurately. Right now, an infrared version is available for pre-order. The original version will run you $100, and comes with a USB charger so you can charge it anywhere you go.
Pros:
- Works with most quartz nail styles, including slurpers
- Extremely small and portable
- Highly accurate since it touches your nail instead of using infrared tech
- Can be used hands free, but only if the nail is the same height from the table as the device itself. It can be propped up between the nail and the table.
- Durable body, and decent battery life for its size
- Micro USB charger that you can take with you on the go.
Cons:
- Since it’s not completely hands-free, it can be a little annoying to get your dab ready while waiting for it to come to the right temperature
- No alarm to let you know when its ready, you have to keep your eyes on the screen.
- The parts tend to wear out after a while
- While they make way for their new infrared models, the originals are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
How to use it:
- Press the button on the Terpometer three times to turn it on or off
- Hold the button for three seconds to toggle between Farenheit and Celcius
- Heat your nail
- Touch the sensor tip to the bottom of your banger and wait for it to come to your ideal temperature.
- It’ll display temperatures with numbers, but the backlighting will change from red to green to blue. Green is the best zone for a low temp dab.
- When you hit the perfect temperature, remove the Terpometer and drop your dab in.
The DabRite
DabRite is like the swiss army knife of dab thermometers. It comes with everything you need and has a really smoothe interface that gives you complete control over your dab. It accounts for details like what your banger is made of, how high or low it might be positioned on your dab rig, and comes with two different alarm versions so you never miss the perfect temperature. It works with every quartz or opaque quartz nail, including slurpers and has a super solid battery life that will get you through about a month of use without having to recharge. While it’s on the bigger side, it’s not bulky or in the way thanks to the swiveling arm. It also comes with a carrying case that keeps it safe and secure if you choose to take it with you on the go. It is on the pricier side at $170, though for its features it’s well worth it. Their upgraded model is available for pre-order, and comes with a few new UI fixes including lights, user profiles, and volume control.
Pros:
- Works with most quartz nail styles, including slurpers
- Comes with a convenient carrying case that keeps it safe with your accessories, perfectly portable
- Compatible with most rig heights thanks to the swiveling arm
- Built in carb cap holder makes it easy to keep all of your dabbing accessories handy
- Accurate temperature readings with LED screen alerts and sound alerts so you always know when it’s time to hit it
- LED laser guide light to help you position it accurately.
- Auto shut off
Cons:
- It may struggle with accuracy depending how far you position the arm from your nail
- While convenient, it’s on the pricy side and works the same way as other thermometer guns that are much more affordable
- The LED display is finicky and sometimes doesn’t display properly, especially on a low battery
How to use it:
- Press the middle button to turn it on, and hold it for three seconds to turn it off
- Position the sensor (attached to the swiveling arm) 1-½” away from your nail
- Press the middle button to adjust temperature, and use the smaller buttons to adjust it
- Press the middle button to toggle between Farenheit and Celcius
- Press the middle button again and use the left or right buttons to toggle the LED light alert on or off
- Press the middle button again and use the left or right buttons to toggle the sound alert on or off
- Press the middle button again and use the left or right buttons to toggle the banger type.
- Hit the button three times to turn the laser on to help you lign up the sensor to your nail
Other IR Dab Thermometers
While there are a lot of different IR thermometers out there, not all of them are built to sense the emissivity of specific materials used to dab— like titanium, ceramic, or quartz. That said, you can look on Amazon and find several infrared thermometers for like $20 that use the IR technology, but since they’re not designed specifically for measuring the emissivity of quartz or other materials, the temperatures they show may be wildly inaccurate. If you’re looking for a solid version that works well, the three we mentioned above are our top three picks.
The Best Dab Thermometer: Our Verdict
At the end of the day, all three versions work pretty well. But out of the three we’ve tested, the Terp Timer is the most accurate at the best price point— which is part of the reason we sell them. While it might be a little big, it works well with most setups and the size issue can be worked around easily by propping your smaller rig up on a book or other surface. It’s an all around good and accurate device that’s as sturdy as it is long-lasting. It also comes with one of the best warranties we’ve seen on a device like this, so it’s a winner in our book.
That’s not to say the other versions are bad, though. If you like a sleek setup with a lot of bells and whistles, Dab Rite definitely has a wow factor. It’s a good model with a lot of nice features, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Further, the swiveling arm can make it difficult to accurately position and read inaccurate temperatures.
On the other hand, the Terpometer is simply becoming increasingly difficult to find, and seems like a step back compared to the Terp Timer and the Dab Rite since it doesn’t use infrared. The company is working on putting out an infrared version, but it’ll be more expensive than the others at $180, and we won’t know if it’s worth the price until we can try it for ourselves.
Ultimately, any dab thermometer is a great addition to your setup if you’re looking for an accurate way to read temperatures without having to use the wrist check, timers, or an e-nail. Take a look at all the pros and cons above and choose one that will work best for you and your personal dabbing style and setup.
