Dab Rigs

Whether you are looking to buy dab rig or you are scratching your head wondering what is a dab rig, we are going to break everything down from learning how to use a dab rig to understanding all the components such as the dab nail, dab torch, carb cap, quartz banger, and dab wand.

From small dab rigs to cool dab rigs, SmokerBar has every type of dab rig for sale. Click below to skip ahead.

Dab Rigs are filtration devices used to consume concentrates or "dabs". 
Dab rigs are designed specifically for concentrates, and provide better flavor and vapor consistency compared to a bong or dry pipe. 

Dab Rigs have gained popularity in recent years thanks to increasing access to concentrates throughout the USA and internationally. 

What is a Dab Rig - Anatomy of an Dab Pipe

So what is a dab rig, really? It’s usually smaller than standard bongs and water pipes yet holds the same structure as one. It uses the same water filtration process but the only major difference is that instead of a bowl it uses a dab nail (also known as a quartz banger or titanium nail). In order to heat your concentrate, wax, shatter, rosin, or live resin you need to vaporize it and a normal glass bowl cannot withstand such high temperatures.

Understanding how a dab rig work is essential if you are going to buy the right wax rig for yourself or if you are looking to enhance your dabbing experience. Let’s break down all the components of a dab bong and how the dab smoke travels through your wax rig.

HOW DO DAB RIGS WORK?  

Dab Rigs use water to cool the vapor produced by placing a "dab" of concentrates onto a hot "dab nail".

While the dab nail acts as a melting pot, a user places their lips on the mouthpiece and inhales. This suction pulls the vapor into the dab rig, through the downstem, and into the water chamber. The water chamber acts as a radiator and instantly cools the hot vapor to a temperature that is comfortable for your lungs to inhale.

Almost every dab rig features some type of diffusion, which forces the vapor through a series of small, submerged holes -- forming millions of tiny, beautiful bubbles! These tiny bubbles put more vapor into direct contact with water, resulting in a faster cooling time than you'd get with one big vapor bubble. This faster cool prevents the concentrates from overcooling and coating the inside of your glass with unused concentrate.  

MouthPiece of Your Dabglass - The End of Your Dab Journey

Finally, the end of your dabbing journey ends with the mouthpiece of your dab rig. For most of the entire process, you have been inhaling through the mouthpiece and once the vapor enters into your lung you have completed an entire cycle of dabbing with your dab rig! Congratulations!

Buy Dab Rig - Expert Shopping Tips

If you want to buy a dab rig there are a lot of questions you need to ask yourself. Finding the perfect dabbing rig for you is all about preference. Listed below are some of the common questions to ask yourself and provided are solutions for best options of concentrate rigs that would fit these personal needs. Here at SmokerBar we have cool dab rigs and unique dab rigs for sale that will fit your personality and expression.

Are You Smoking Your Dab Rig at Home or On the Go?

This is the big question here! If you are smoking your dab rig behind closed doors mostly then a standard glass dab rig is the perfect option for you. But if you are always on the go and you want to take your oil rig with you then the best option would be to use a silicone dab rig. Silicone dab rigs are shatterproof and most can just fold up and be concealed very easily. So depending on your lifestyle picking the right one can reduce a lot of future headaches!

Do You Need a Wax Bong that Hits Ultra Smooth?

As mentioned above in the journey of how the concentrate vapor travels through a dab rig, cooling is done in the water chamber with the diffuser. If you have sensitive lungs or you just want a much softer experience with your rig but still reap the maximum benefits then buying a dab rig without a diffuser for cooling. If you want maximum cooling you may want to get a recycler dab rig.

What Type of Rig For Wax Do You Need? Analog or Electric rig?

As the cannabis industry progresses so do the products. It’s no surprise that the dab rig has stepped into the field of electric so the big debate for whether classic analog rigs for wax are the best or electric dab rigs are is entirely preference. The major difference with using an electric dab rig is you do not have to use a butane torch to heat your dabs, which is pretty awesome. The only downside is the cost of entry is much higher than buying an entire analog dab rig setup (including the dab wand, dab torch, and other dab accessories).

Are You Using Badder, Budder, Rosin, Live Rosin, Shatter, or Resin?

Using a dab rig can get a bit tricky because dabbing is an umbrella word to a lot of types of concentrates. These concentrates include badder, budder, rosin, live rosin, shatter, and resin. If you have found your perfect concentrate soul-mate such as shatter then it would be best to use a titanium dab nail because the heat distribution is much more optimal for a denser and thicker substance. The titanium nail retains heat much longer so it’s better for dabs such as shatter, wax, and resin. If you prefer live rosin with your dab oil rig then using a quartz banger is better. Quartz bangers are better suited for live rosin, badder, and budder.

How to Use a Dab Rig in 4 Easy Steps

Learning how to use a dab rig is easy although it may not seem so easy at first glance. The trick to understanding how to use your wax rig is by first understanding that just about everything is the same with your dabber rig as it is with your bong. You light the flower and inhale, the smoke gets filtered through the water, and that’s that! Using a dab rig is only different because the substance you are lighting is not flower but instead concentrates. Concentrates need to be heated to 350°F to 400°F and once you place the dab inside these temperatures the dab vaporizes allowing you to inhale the vapor into your wax bong rig. Let’s go over all the steps on how to use a dab rig!

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU BUY A DAB RIG ONLINE: 

1. Pick a style, any style! Popular options include Classic Dab Rigs, Mini Rigs, Nectar Collectors, E-Rigs, Silicone Dab Rigs, and Dab Pens. Read more about the styles we offer below. 
   

2. Analog or Digital? It's 2019, and the age of Bluetooth dabs is here. While many dabbers savor the classic process of heating a quartz banger nail with a dab torch and carefully timing their dabs, many modern dabbers are taking full advantage of the convenience, efficiency, and portability offered by digital E-Rig solutions like the Puffco Peak, Pulsar RoK, and G-Pen Connect.
   

3. At home or portable? Whether you like to dab on the couch, in the park, on the beach, or on a windy mountain, we have a dab rig that will fit your needs. If you're dabbin' at home the options are virtually endless. A classic dab rig with a quartz banger nail makes be a great addition to any living room. Clumsier dabbers may want to stick to silicone dab rigs, as they're virtually unbreakable no matter how many times "your dog" knocks them off the coffee table ;) 
   Those who dab on the go may prefer the convenience of a nectar collector or E-Rig. A nectar collector acts as a long, dab straw that can be used to take dabs right out of a silicone jar.  An E-Rig on the other hand offers a complete digital dabbing experience, complete with low or high temp dabbing, water filtration, and simple breakdown for cleaning. 
   

4. How often do you dab? If you're a daily user, you'll want something that can withstand the inevitable "oopsie" that happens to any daily driver. If you dab often you'll also want a dab rig you can clean easily, because dabbing from a dirty rig is unsanitary and just generally gross. SmokerBar offers a wide assortment of glass cleaning solutions to keep your dab rig clean.
   Keep in mind, that glass is fragile no matter how thick or well built. Be sure to protect your investment with our Glass Warranty Program, Piece Protect. 
   

WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED TO DAB?  

Unlike smoking dry herbs -- which requires little more than some herb and a lighter, dabbing requires a few accessories to get started. Unless you're using an E-Rig, you'll need the following items for a complete dabbing experience. 

Dab Nail

For starters, you'll need a dab nail. Dab Nails are available in a variety of styles and materials, the most common being the "Quartz Banger Nail". 

Shop Dab Nails

Dab Torch

Dab Torches are used to heat up your quartz, titanium ceramic, or glass dab nail before use. Pick the perfect size, color, and flame style from our selection of top brand Dab Torches! 

Shop Torches

Carb Cab

A carb cap contains the vapor inside the dab nail and helps take advantage of low temp dabbing. Using a carb cap enables you to get the maximum flavor and terpene profile from your concentrates. 

Shop Carb Caps

Dabber

Dabbers are used as a want to transfer concentrates from their container to your dab nail. Dabbers are available in a variety of sizes, colors, and tip styles to work with any consistency of concentrates. 

Shop Dabbers

Cleaner

Keeping your rig (and especially your dab nail) clean is an essential part of a health dabbing experience. You'll want to make sure you q-tip a banger nail after each dab to extend the life of your quartz banger nail. 

Shop Dab Rig Cleaners

WHY USE A DAB RIG? HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM BONGS? 

The first thing you'll notice about the average dab rig is its compact size. When it comes to dab rigs, the old saying is true: It's not the size that counts! 

Dab rigs tend to be on the smaller side for good reason. Since dabs don't use combustion, the vapor they produced requires a specific range of temperature for consumption. If the vapor is too hot, you'll burn off the terpenes in your concentrate ruining the flavor. If the vapor is too cold, it'll solidify before you can inhale it, covering the inside of your glass with wasted concentrate and robbing you of a dab. A smaller rig ensures quick airflow and a faster cooling time, so the vapor moves and cools quickly, but can't sit still long enough to cool.

In fact, some brands, such as MJ Arsenal specifically create miniature rigs only a few inches tall. Thanks to the scientifically calculated designs used in the water chambers and pathways, mini dab rigs provide a ton of flavor through a thick, dense vapor consistency. 

Over recent years, glass blowers have discovered ways to make highly functional, fast cooling dabs rigs in an assortment of sizes, shapes, materials, designs, attachments, themes, and smoke styles. SmokerBar aims to offer a large selection of dab rigs online to be sure we have something to fit any consumption style.

WHAT'S A RECYCLER RIG? 

Recycler Rigs are a type of dab rig that uses carefully placed water chambers and pathways to create a feedback loop, re-filtering the same vapor several times before it's inhaled without overcooling.

Glassblowers have found ways to utilize everything from venturi chambers to propellor percs in their recycler designs, all in an effort to deliver a more potent and flavorful dab. We've collected our favorite recycler rigs from glass blowers, manufacturers, and designers all over the world to create a premium assortment of recycler rigs available online.

View our selection of Recycler Dab Rigs.  

WHAT'S AN E-RIG?

E-Rigs, or "Smart Rigs" are all-in-one, battery powered dab rigs. E-Rigs replace your glass dab rig, dab nail, and dab torch combo with one portable, rechargeable device. 

Pioneered by the Puffco Peak, Electronic Dab Rigs, or "E-Rigs", have taken the market by storm in recent years. Following the overwhelming success of the Puffco Peak, dozens of similar devices have been launched since with a variety of features and price points. 

Looking back, E-Rigs feel like a natural evolution to "E-Nails". A/C powered "Electronic Dab Nails" replace your dab torch with a digital, temperature controlled heating element that's ready when you need it. E-Nails are great for at-home use and are super convenient on your coffee table. However, you may be better off with a complete E-Rig solution if you plan on taking dabs on the go. 

Some of the most popular options today  include Puffco Peak, Pulsar RoK, and G-Pen Connect. SmokerBar offers all major brands of E-Nails, E-Rigs, and their accessories such as replacement atomizers and e-nail coils. 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN PARTS OF A DAB RIG? 

1. Mouthpiece - This is where you will inhale from. Different styles and shapes are available to create an airtight seal regardless of your mouth or face shape.

 2. Dab Nail - This is heated up using a dab torch to create a melting dish for your concentrates. Dabs are placed in the nail and instantly vaporized, and the resulting vapor is pulled through the joint, through the percolator, and up the mouthpiece for your enjoyment... 

3. Joint - This is the connection between a dab rig and a dab nail. You'll notice "joint sizes" and "joint genders" referred to on certain products such as bongs, dab rigs, and glass attachments, as they are used to tell if two products are compatible to create an airtight connection.

Popular joint sizes include 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm, and all in both male and female varieties. You'll need to insert a dab nail or dry herb bowl into the joint to use it as a water pipe. 

4. Diffusion - Diffusion is the effect produced by a "Percolator", or a strategically placed series of openings along a glass tube through which smoke or vapor is filtered in the water chamber of a bong or dab rig. This breaks up your vapor into tiny bubbles, cooling them faster than they would through a single opening. 

DAB RIG FAQ

Q: How do I reclaim the dried concentrate from my rig?

A: Depending on your rig, you may not be able to reclaim your unused concentrates. We recommend always using a Reclaim Catcher to salvage as much reclaim wax as possible, while also keeping your rig from getting clogged with unused concentrates. 
 Q: How do I clean my dab rig? 

A: Keeping your rig clean is easy, but an important part of the dabbing process. Unlike a bowl, a dirty banger nail will become virtually unusable if you don't clean it after each use. 

While it may seem tedious, cleaning your dab rig and banger nail is easy. For the nail, keep a stack of q-tips nearby, preferably with some 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. After each dab, dip a q-tip in alcohol and clean the inside of the banger nail. 

Be sure to change the water in your dab rig after every use. After a while, you will notice a residue build-up on the walls of your glass or silicone dab rig. This resin coating is easily removable using the same 99% Isopropyl Alcohol, or a wide variety of dedicated glass and quartz cleaners. Popular options are Resolution Cleaner, Randys Glass Cleaner, and Klear 420 Kryptonite Cleaner. SmokerBar offers dozens of options to clean your dab rig including cleaning caps and plugs.

Learn more in our video on How to Clean Your Dab Rig. 

Q: Are E-Rigs as good as Glass Dab Rigs?  

A: Absolutely! An E-Rigs is a great solution to portable dabbing as they eliminate the need for a torch and dab nail. High-quality e-rigs provide a thick, consistent vapor when paired with high-quality concentrates. Use them anywhere - even on a beach! 

Read our blog to learn about the advantages of Silicone Dab Rigs vs Acrylic.

Have a question about dab rigs? 

Take a look at our Beginners Guide to Dab Rigs for a more comprehensive overview, or visit our Learning Center to learn more about all of the smoking devices available at SmokerBar.