Dabs have come a long way since their open-blasting roots in homespun set-ups. Today’s innovative extraction technology allows manufacturers to produce a vast array of mind-melting dabs in various consistencies with a powerful punch of aroma.
Learning to navigate the viscous waters of the dabbing world can be difficult, especially for first-timers. Fret not, our consistently updated dabbing glossary will keep you in the know so you can make more educated purchasing decisions.
710
Upside-down, the numbers resemble the word oil. 710 is synonomus with dabbing like 420 is with smoking weed.
Bangers
Quartz banger, or simply ‘banger’, attaches to a dab rig and is heated with either a torch or an eNail to vaporize concentrates. Bangers are available in various styles and sizes with either a 45º or 90º angled neck. Flat-top bangers are the most popular style of banger.
Boro
Boro refers to borosilicate glassware like bongs, water pipes and rigs. Borosilicate glass has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning it can handle the extremely hot temperatures used when dabbing without experiencing any cracks or breakage.
Butane Hash Oil (BHO)
Butane hash oil (BHO) is a type of high-potency concentrate made using butane as a solvent. Liquid butane is passed through cannabis matter, extracted, and purged of any residual solvent during post-processing. BHO comes in various consistencies such as oil, wax, shatter, live resin, and plenty more forms.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids, of which there are more than 100, are the compounds found in cannabis and hemp plants. The two most abundant cannabinoids are THC and CBD. Most marijuana plants have high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, while hemp is rich in cannabidiol (CBD). THC can produce a cerebral euphoria while CBD induces a clear-headed and relaxing experience.
Carb Cap
A carb cap is a tool used to restrict and control airflow around domeless nails and bangers. A carb cap acts as a lid to a boiling pot and allows the dab to vaporize at lower temperatures. Standard carb caps have a simple rounded end. Other carb caps can circulate air.
Cold-Start Dab
See “Reverse Dab” below.
Dab Rig
A dab rig is typically made out of heat-resistant glass. It looks like a bong, but instead of a bowl, it has a nail made from quartz, titanium, or ceramic. A butane torch heats the bottom of the nail and users can take a dab on the hot nail inhaling the vaporized cannabinoids and terpenes.
Dabber
A dabber is a long and thin tool used to handle cannabis concentrates. It can help users dose their supply and apply it to a hot nail. Dabbers are made out of stainless steel, glass, or titanium and come in different shapes designed for different types of concentrates.
Dabs/Concentrate
Concentrate types such as shatter, wax, live resin, and other forms of extracted marijuana resin are informally called dabs. The act of consuming is known as dabbing. Users inhale the vapor from a rig.
Downstem
The downstem is a tube that funnels vapor from the nail to the chamber of the rig.
E-Nail
An electronic nail, also known as an eNail heats the banger to a set temperature. Instead of using a torch, users can plug in a digital control box that electronically heats a coil. E-nails are safe to use and enable users to maintain consistent temperatures for low or high-temperature dabbing.
Extraction
Cannabis extraction is the process of removing the cannabis trichome resin from the inactive plant material. Solvent-based extractions use solvents such as ethanol, butane or carbon dioxide to strip the psychoactive compounds from cannabis or hemp. The result is a resin that varies in potency, texture, consistency and form.
Grade 2 Titanium
Grade 2 titanium is the best and safest type of titanium to use for dab nails. Titanium is produced in various grades of quality.
Ground Joint
Ground joints refer to a set of a male inner piece and a female outer piece that form an airtight seal and help funnel vapor into the dab rig.
High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract (HTFSE)
High-terpene full-spectrum extracts (HTFSE) are the highest grade of concentrates available. HTFSE takes out more psychoactive compounds from a strain including a high amount of its cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. HTFSE are thought to produce more balanced effects with fewer side effects and more relief. HTFSE have a syrupy and crystallized mixture of consistencies.
Inserts
Quartz inserts are small dish-like containers that go inside of a dab nail. Quartz inserts add a degree of separation between the oil and heat for a more even distribution of heat.
Joint Size
Joint size refers to the diameter of the joint on either a nail or rig. The three most common joint sizes are 10mm, 14mm, and 19mm. Learn more here.
Live Resin
Live resin is a type of terpene-rich cannabis concentrate made with frozen and fresh cannabis buds. Instead of undergoing a drying and curing process before extraction, buds are immediately frozen after harvest to keep more of its volatile terpenes. Live resin has a high-terpene level but doesn’t count as a HTFSE. Live resin has a viscous consistency.
Low-Temp Dabs
Low-temperature dabs are arguably the best method. Dabbing at temperatures between 500º and 650ºF allows users to vaporize more of the terpenes than compared to higher temperatures, which can instead burn off these aromatic compounds and waste the wax.
Nails
Dab nails attach to a dab rig and are meant to be heated before applying the concentrate for vaporization. Nails come in many different styles and sizes and are commonly made from quartz, titanium, and ceramic.
Oil
Oil covers a wide range of cannabis products including vape oils, tinctures and other runny and liquid cannabis concentrates. Oils can be vaporized or ingested in food or drink.
Percolator
A percolator, also called a perc or diffuser, is housed within a dab rig and is meant to diffuse the vapor into smaller bubbles for better water filtration, allowing for smoother, cooler hits.
Showerhead Perc
A showerhead perc is a vertical tube with a bottom flare featuring slits or holes.
Honeycomb Perc
Honeycomb percs are shaped like a flat horizontal disk with evenly-spaced holes resembling a honeycomb.
Disk Perc
Disk percs are shaped like disks with holes in different patterns.
Propane Hash Oil (PHO)
Propane hash oil (PHO) refers to concentrates made using propane during the hydrocarbon extraction. Propane has a lower boiling point than butane, making it a worthwhile choice for terpene extraction. Blending propane and butane solvent can also improve the extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Quartz
Quartz is the king of dab materials. Quartz is heat-resistant, durable, and looks great. Quartz bangers, carb caps, and inserts can take your dabbing to another level.
QWISO
Quick was isopropyl alcohol (QWISO) is an extraction technique that uses isopropyl alcohol to produce a quick extract. Isopropyl alcohol has high polarity and is water-soluble. Only pure isopropyl alcohol must be used with dried flower.
QWET
Quick wash ethanol (QWET) is an extraction technique that uses ethanol to produce a resin extract. Ethanol is a polar and water-soluble solvent capable of removing trichomes from the plant, even with a quick wash involving agitation of ethanol and cannabis in an airtight jar.
Reverse Dab
Reverse dabs refer to dabs done in… reverse. Instead of heating the nail before applying the concentrate, you load the nail first and heat it with the concentrates already inside.
Rosin
Rosin is a type of solventless concentrate made using cannabis flower, hash or kief. Cannabis material is placed in between a machine that uses heat and pressure to compress the material and separate the thick and gooey cannabis resin from the plant matter. People have even used flat irons to produce decent rosin.
Shatter
Shatter is a type of cannabis concentrate that has a glass-like consistency and a translucent amber appearance.
Terp Pearls
Terp pearls are small balls commonly made from quartz or ruby that spin inside a dab nail to help disperse concentrates and ensure even heating distribution.
Terpenes
Terpenes are found throughout the plant kingdom and play a massive evolutionary role to ward off predators and attract pollinators. For us, terpenes are what we smell when we break apart a sticky and dense bud. While they only make up a small percentage of the total amount of compounds, they produce an array of aromas ranging from skunky to fruity to spicy to diesel.
Titanium
Titanium is a common metal used for dab tools including nails, carb caps, and dabbers. Titanium is able to handle very high temperatures without breaking. Grade 2 titanium is the most common and safest type of titanium used for dabbing tools.
Wax
Cannabis wax is a type of concentrate that has a sticky and wax-like texture.
