I waited until I was quite comfortable and experienced with cannabis consumption before moving onto dabbing.
There’s a learning curve involved with the process, and it includes high temperatures and extreme THC potency.
I not only wanted to be confident in my own knowledge but have someone with experience show me how it’s done. I am fortunate that my cannabis dispensary includes a dab bar. I am able to rent the necessary equipment and take advantage of the expertise of the budtenders. Dabbing uses a concentrated form of cannabis that offers somewhere between sixty to ninety percent THC. It only takes a very small amount to achieve the desired effects. It’s important that the nail isn’t too hot so as not to scorch the terpenes. The dab rig is a water pipe that looks a lot like a bong. It has a chamber that holds water for cooling vapor, but rather than a bowl to hold dried flower, a dab rig features a nail for concentrates. There are lots of styles of nails available. The one that I prefer and the most common is a banger that is made of quartz and resembles a bucket. For the dabbing process, the nail of the banger is heated with a torch and then allowed to cool to the perfect temperature. Cannabis concentrate is placed in the nail. The high heat vaporizes the concentrate. The consumer places a carb cap over the nail to control airflow while inhaling. Vapor travels from the nail into the main chamber of the rig. It is cooled by the water before being inhaled and reaching the lungs. There is a great deal of equipment required for dabbing. I’ve gradually invested into buying the banger, nail and carb cap. I also use a kitchen torch for heating nails and need to keep an inventory of butane cans on hand. Eventually, I hope to purchase an e-nail, which would eliminate the need for a torch and provide consistent heat. However, an e-nail is a considerable investment. Because dabs are sticky, it’s helpful to have a tool that works to remove the concentrate out of the container and onto the hot nail. The nail is extremely hot and the concentrate can easily make a mess.