How to Take the Perfect Dab

What makes a perfect dab? Timing, temperature, and technique are at the top of the list. Other essential ingredients for properly taking dabs include quality concentrates and a clean banger. But don’t worry, kid, you’ll know it when you experience it — and we’re here to help you get there. Here’s everything you need to know about how to dab properly.

How to take a dab like a concentrate connoisseur

When taking a dab, there are a few essentials you need to get right to achieve the best, more flavorful hits,

1. Stick to high-quality concentrates

Before you start thinking about how to take dabs, the first thing you need to do is ensure you have quality concentrates to begin with. Just like you wouldn’t smoke some moldy bud, you shouldn’t dab low-quality extracts. Unfortunately, the quality of concentrates is notoriously hard to assess. To avoid second-rate concentrates, buy your extracts from a licensed dispensary, not some dude who might blow his house up next week thanks to his shotty blasting technique.

Sure, you might be able to score some shatter at a bargain, but is saving a few bucks worth more than your health? Not to mention the undetermined effects from long-term consumption of concentrates riddled with solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

Now that we’ve scared you straight, look for high quality concentrates that have been lab-tested by a third party. If necessary, ask for lab results from a dispensary or the brand. Concentrate quality varies based on the extracts starting material, the extraction process, and storage methods.

Consume only high-quality dabs to avoid anything riddled with solvents, pesticides, and other contaminants.

For the ultimate dabbing experience, look for high-terpene full-spectrum extracts (HTFSE) or, if none are available, traditional full-spectrum extracts (FSE) from a solid company are a safe bet.

Full-spectrum extracts are the gold standard. Not only do they contain a high amount of cannabinoids, the therapeutic building blocks of marijuana, but are also rich in terpenes, the aromatic compounds that sting and delight your nose all at once with a bouquet of sweet, sour, earthy, skunky, or gassy aromas.

Some research suggests that whole-flower products — that is, products containing the strain’s entire, original chemical profile — contain compounds that work synergistically to elevate the health benefits of cannabis.

Solvent-based concentrates aren’t the only high-quality dabs in town. Solventless concentrates are some of the terpiest and tastiest dabs around.

2. Make sure you’re equipped with the right dab tools

Now that you know which concentrates to scope out at your local dispensary, it’s time to talk about what type of dabbing tools you need to get the job done. Essentials include a dab rig, nail, carb cap, and dabber.

Dab Rig and Nail

For optimal flavor, a small rig with a quartz nail is your best bet. Giant bongs are great for cooling and filtering smoke when you’re ripping some flower, but dabbing is all about milky vapor — and you want to taste it. Click here for a complete rundown of how to use a dab rig.

Dabbers

Concentrates are expensive and notoriously hard to handle. Pro tip: don’t touch, use a dabber. Choose from shovel, scoop, pick, spatula and other dabber tips designed to handle all the different consistencies of concentrates. Choosing the right dabber can prevent you from dropping crumble by mistakenly using a pick-style instead of a shovel tip.

eNails

Advanced accessories such as eNails let you maintain a consistent temperature without fumbling around with a blowtorch and braving the learning curve of heating your nail. eNails may cost a pretty penny, but they’re more than worth the upfront investment because they eliminate the trickiest element in perfecting your dab session.

Carb cap

A carb cap is an essential dabbing tool. Don’t sleep on it, and don’t try to pass off your Gatorade cap, that won’t cut it. You can choose a simple flat top carb cap, but ideally, you’ll want to buy a directional carb cap or bubble carb cap to guide the airflow within your nail chamber and help you obtain a solid session at the lowest possible temperature.

The Cyclone Carb Cap creates a vortex of air that allows for more efficient vaporizing of your concentrates.

Advanced accessories

So, these aren’t essential but they’ll definitely help you on your quest to perfection. Some of our favorite dab accessories include terp pearls and quartz inserts. Terp pearls swirl in the bucket of your banger, distributing heat evenly for efficient consumption of your concentrates. With terp pearls, you can dab every last drop of your concentrate without leaving a puddle in those hard to reach places. A perfect dab is definitely a low-temperature dab, and terp pearls will help you reach an effective but low temp.

Quartz inserts create a barrier between the wax and banger, making hot temperatures much more forgiving. If you are still perfecting your heat-up and cool-down times, an insert is a huge help. They are also a must for cold-start dabs. Plus, they keep your banger like new and are super easy to deep clean.

3. Know the optimal dabbing temperature

Speaking of temperatures, reaching the optimal temperature for your dab is the holy grail. Low-temperature dabs are the most beneficial because they preserve terpenes and are easy on the lungs.

Knowing the dimensions (bowl size and wall thickness) of your nail can help you determine how to heat your nail just right. We go into detail on the different heat up and cool down times for different bangers here. It definitely takes some trial and error, but no one reaches perfection without practice.

If you don’t want to mess around with a blowtorch, a timer and a thermometer gun, invest in an eNail for complete temperature precision. Simply set your eNail to your desired temperature and let the machine do the rest. All you need to do is avoid burning yourself with the hot coil.

4. Clean your dab tools regularly

We hate to sound like a nag, but there’s absolutely no way you can take the perfect dab with a dirty setup. Everyday maintenance is the best (and easiest) way to keep your tools clean. Simply swab your nail out after each use with a q-tip. This will ensure a tasty dab every time.

How often you clean your rig depends on how often you use it, but monthly deep-clean should get the job done. Cleaning your dab rig ensures you inhale the unadulterated flavor and aroma of your concentrate without any whiff of reclaim.

5. Master the advanced dabbing techniques

There are some techniques for advanced users that do beyond simply how to do a dab. Cold-start dabs, for example, are when you add the dabs into the nail first and use the tip of the torch flame to lightly heat the bottom of the nail until your extract starts to bubble and condense into a vapor.

As mentioned before, dabbing tools such as quartz inserts and terp pearls can take your dabbing game to the big leagues. Knowing how to use these takes time and practice. If practicing means more dabs, we’re not complaining. Let our guides on terp pearls and quartz inserts help you beat the learning curve.

6. Enroll in Dab University to become a true dabbing connoisseur

Yo Dabba Dabba’s Dab University gives a whole new meaning to higher education. Whether you’re new to dabbing or you want to refresh your memory on old concepts, our professors, Lit Britt and Terp Tina can take you through five jam-packed courses on dabbing tools, joint sizes, temperature control, and eNails. Best of all: it’s free!

If you can go complete our “boot camp” on dabbing, you’ll be well on your way to taking perfect dabs in no time.