Quartz Inserts: What Are They And How Do You Use Them?

Customizing your dab setup is kind of like souping up a car. When you add accessories to your rig you increase its functionality and effectiveness without breaking the bank. A standard production rig that’ll run you about $60 has the possibility to function like a pricey heady piece when quality accessories like quartz inserts and terp pearls are utilized.

It’s quite a time to be a dabber. We’ve quickly evolved from the early days when titanium or ceramic nails were the only options. Today, new and innovative designs are being turned out constantly to offer the ultimate dabbing experience.

You’ve likely seen terp pearls spinning in melt shots on the gram. But, are you familiar with their lesser-known counter piece — inserts? All inserts function to add mass and surface area to increase heat retention and distribution. Bonus points if they support achieving the best flavor. Technically, any tool you add to your banger’s bucket is an insert, rubies, pearls and diamonds included. But, for the sake of this article, we’ll focus on drop-in quartz inserts.

What are quartz inserts?

Quartz inserts are bucket-shaped dishes made to fit inside your banger. Common sizes include 20 and 25mm dishes while classic styles include traditional quartz and opaque-bottom quartz. In addition to increasing mass and surface area, using a quartz insert comes with some serious benefits. Its addition can kick your dab sessions functionality up a notch…and get your technique to pro status.

Pros of using a quartz insert

Keeps your banger clean.

When using a quartz insert dish, you load the insert with concentrates instead of the banger. This keeps your banger like new.

Supports low-temperature dabs.

The insert creates a thick barrier of quartz between the bottom of your banger and your concentrates to take on the direct heat and help with temperature control. With this barrier in place, your concentrates are being vaporized by induction instead of direct-contact heat. In fact, you can skip your ‘cool-down’ time all together and place the insert into your banger right after hitting it with a torch, and still get a super low-temp dab.

More affordable to replace than a banger. 

Because the insert is getting most of the wear and tear, you can extend the longevity of your quartz banger and instead replace inserts to keep your set up fresh. They are also typically much cheaper than a banger which is a plus.

Forgiving if you go in too hot. 

If you heat your banger too hot or are impatient and rush the cool-down time, a quartz banger will take the brunt of the heat for your concentrates and you’ll likely waste less cannabinoids and terps in the process. Even when using an banger insert, never, ever heat your nail to red-hot.

Cons of using a quartz insert 

There’s a slight learning curve. 

Like anything new, it may take a few tries to get your process totally dialed in. But, honestly, you can easily recover with a cold start dab and completely avoid wasting your concentrates.

It adds a few extra steps to your dabbing process. 

You have to drop the insert in and remove it once it has cooled, which adds to the typical steps needed to take a dab.

You have to wait for the insert to cool before you remove it. 

Some may not consider this a ‘con’, but it’s worth mentioning. If your rig is in the rotation, whoever’s next will need to wait for the insert to cool before taking their dab. Or, if you’re doing multiple dabs yourself, you’ll have to wait.

How to use quartz inserts

Wondering how to use quartz inserts? There are a few different ways to do it. Each way helps you achieve the benefits this tool was designed to deliver, with varying results. The difference in techniques is all about temperature. It’s no secret that lower temperatures preserve the cannabinoids and terpenes that are boiled off at far lower temperatures than THC, highlighting the taste and potency of your concentrates.

The quartz insert dish can be placed into a banger before or after it is heated, depending on the method used.

Method 1: Drop-In Technique

1. Load your insert up with a dab and set it aside.
2. Heat your banger with a torch or eNail for the appropriate amount of time based on your style of banger and style of dabbing.
3. Cut your cool-down time to 10 seconds.
4. Drop your insert into the banger with your hand or reverse tweezers. Be careful not to touch the banger.
5. Place the carb cap on the banger.
6. Keep an eye on your concentrates, and when they begin to bubble it’s time to take your dab.
7. Q-tip the leftovers and wait for the banger with insert to fully cool before removing the insert. We recommend waiting at least a few minutes.

Method 2: Reverse or “Cold Start” Dabbing / Re-Heat Technique 

1. Put your concentrates inside the insert
2. Drop the insert into a fully-cooled banger.
3. Hit the bottom of the banger with a torch or heat source until the extracts begin to bubble.
4. Stop heating, quickly place your carb cap on and take a hit.

Note: This method can be used to salvage concentrates left over from a drop-in technique gone wrong. 

Video demonstration: Quartz banger and insert Set

Watch the video below to learn how to use and clean quartz inserts.

How to clean quartz inserts 

Just like the other tools in your dab setup, qz inserts function best with constant maintenance. And if you’re familiar with cleaning other pieces of quartz from your dabbing setup, you’ll already have a good idea of how to clean quartz inserts. So, swab it out with a q-tip like you would (or should) do with your banger after every use, now that the insert is taking on the terps.

Cleaning the insert with q-tip after each use really helps to prevent the build-up of residue.

For a deep cleaning, soak the insert in a bowl or bag of a 420 cleaner or mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. Cleaning quartz inserts at least once a month (or more frequent if you use it daily) helps maintain a like-new insert. Keeping it clean will help preserve the taste of your concentrates and keep up the convenience of use. A sticky insert covered in residuals is much more likely to get stuck in your banger and be annoying to handle.

Quartz insert size guide

Just like quartz bangers and nails, inserts come in standard universal sizes. These sizes include: 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm. The number reflects the diameter of the dish in millimeters. As simple math would suggest, 20mm insert dishes are compatible with 25mm nails, and 25mm dishes fit 30mm nails. A rule of thumb is to use an insert that is 5mm smaller in diameter than the nail. But, you could always use a 20mm insert with a 30mm nail if you want to get crazy. Basically, if the insert can be dropped in and easily removed, you’re good to go.

Accessories that complement quartz inserts

There are a few must-haves when it comes to using a dab insert. They include a compatible sized banger, a rig, a carb cap, and tweezers. Compatibility between these accessories are pretty straight forward (as we discussed above) but we’ve also created this handy compatibility tool to help.

Note: The only unforeseen issue you might encounter comes with the height of the insert. Height varies among different brands and styles, and sometimes the insert is a bit too tall, blocking the airflow from the neck, or preventing the carb cap from sitting flush. But generally, you’ll be good to go with any carb cap that fits a flat top banger. 

Dab rig with matching carb cap, quartz insert and tweezers.

Quartz insert pricing 

Like bangers, the price of quartz inserts vary between brands…but, the style and use remain synonymous. There are very minimal differences between a $100 insert and a $30 one. The naked eye wouldn’t even notice. As long as a quality quartz is used in the construction, a high-end name brand and a more affordable option will bring the same benefits.

There you have it. If you’re into low-temp dabs, looking to enhance the functionality of your dab setup, want to preserve the life of your banger, or are just interested in trying something new, a quartz insert could be the perfect option for you. At a seriously reasonable price, scooping up a pack of inserts is a win-win. Hit us in the comments below with any questions, or tell us about your experience using an insert.