Everything You Need to Know About Dab Rigs

Dabbing is the process of heating a small amount of cannabis concentrate and inhaling the resulting vapor through a bong or a special dab rig.

What Should I Look For In A Dab Rig?

With a dizzying selection of water pipes to choose from, how do you know which is right for you? Start with the basics: 

• Which type do you need or want? (check out further down where we go over the different types)
• Do you need it to be portable?
• Are you a connoisseur or just like to dabble?
• What is your budget as they all come in a variety of prices
• What size do you want?

Size

When deciding to purchase a new dab rig, size should be at the top of your list of decisions. It boils down to the following: Smaller equals more flavor, larger equals bigger hit. This is a pretty good rule of thumb to follow.

Portability

Do you like to smoke on the go and is this type of cannabis use legal in your jurisdiction? Then you will most likely want to go for something smaller or made of silicone.

On the other hand if you enjoy chilling at home then a large, beautiful glass model could be your best bet.

Why Are Smaller Rigs Better For Dabs?

Smaller rigs are better for dabbing and there’s a few reasons for this. The main reason is that small dabbing rigs are made to be used with one hand. 

It’s difficult to use a large dabbing rig with one hand. While it’s true that you can always learn to use a huge dabbing rig with one hand, the smaller the dabbing rig, the easier it is to use it with one hand. 

So, if you want to dab with one hand, the smaller the rig, the better.

Rigs come in all shapes and sizes, some small, some large, but most people agree that dabs are better enjoyed on a smaller rig. 

If you’re new to cannabis concentrates, the sight of a 10-inch glass toy with a titanium nail might make you wonder if you’re in over your head. But taking dabs on a smaller rig is actually really easy, and the result is one of the most potent highs you’ll ever experience.

What Types Of Accessories Are Available?

Dab rigs are famous for being customizable and often come with a large variety of add ons you can use to create the perfect experience for your needs.

The essentials include:

• A dabber
• A carb cap
• A quartz, titanium, glass, or ceramic nail
• A butane torch (propane torches have the potential to damage nails because the flame burns at much hotter temperatures than butane)
• An electronic nail
• A dab pad
• A clock, timer, or stopwatch
• Cotton swabs

Types Of Dab Rigs

The term dab rig is often used to refer to a water pipe used for smoking cannabis concentrates such as wax, shatter, and crumble, but there is more to a dab rig than just percolation and airflow. 

You can find out more about dab rigs here and see which option is best for you.

There are many variations of the traditional bong and dab rig, and most of them are easily recognizable by their unique features.

When you are first starting out with the dabbing process, you might not be aware of the different types of dab rigs out there. 

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a nice one. In fact, a wide variety of dabbing rigs are available for purchase on the internet. 

You can even find a huge assortment of rigs, bongs, and other dabbing apparatuses online. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned vet, you’ll find what you need.

The following are the most popular forms available:

• Glass Dab Rigs 
• Mini Rigs 
• Silicone Dab Rigs 
• Recycler Rigs 
• E-Rigs

Glass Dab Rig

A glass rig is the most traditional version and one that is most suitable and forgiving for beginners.

The main benefits of a glass rig is that they are easier to accessorize due to the size and accessibility of parts. They are also often the best value for money.

The main downside is that they need regular cleaning in order to preserve the taste of the consumable. You will also want to keep it clean for aesthetic reasons as it is transparent.

Mini Rigs

As we have already mentioned, this type is possibly the best for those with smaller hands and also for one handed usage.

Benefits include being more portable, and wieldy. These mini options are also great for smoking when out and about and with friends.

They are easy to accessorize and also come in lots of wonderful shapes and designs which look amazing.

The biggest downside being that they are far more difficult to keep clean when compared with larger models.

Silicone Dab Rigs

These are the most accessible dab rigs available and for good reason. The silicone means that they are strong and durable without sacrificing quality.

These have many benefits including:

• Easy to transport 
• Easy to clean
• Come in a variety of sizes
• Very strong and durable
• They are even dishwasher safe
• Nice feeling
• Not hot to the touch
• Keeps strong odors at bay

So as you can see there are a variety of upside to using a silicone model.

Nevertheless, with this long list of benefits comes some negatives which can be seen as being dealbreakers for some.

The first negative is that you lose some flavor. This is because the silicone material absorbs some of the vapor. This is not a big deal to some but it can be a big issue to others who really value the flavor profile of their oil.

The second downside is that there are far fewer accessories to choose from. Again some people don’t care, but others who enjoy the customization aspects may find it difficult to justify purchasing a silicone dab rig.

Recycler Rigs 

A recycler is perhaps the most interesting option of all of the different types and one that those who value smoothness will often decide on.

They give the smoothest smoke due to the vapor being “recycled” through several glass tubes before being inhaled.

Benefits include:

• Increased smoothness
• Very good looking and intricate designs
• Surprisingly affordable for their complexity
• Many people collect various models of recycler rigs due to their aesthetic

The biggest negative is that their complexity means that there are fewer accessories ready to use and the ones that do exist are more expensive and difficult to attach.

Electric Dab Rigs

These are the inevitable, electrical versions of dab rigs! This is because they use electricity to heat up the oil and turn it into vapor, rather than fire.

They are beneficial as they allow a very granular level of heat control which invariably affects different oils in different ways. 

The pros include:

• Intricate level of heat control
• Fast to heat up and get first hit
• Usually have great battery lives and are simple to charge
• Portable and easy to use on the go
• They are often very durable due to the fact they have to protect their electronic components

As with most things in life, these good points come with some downsides. Electronic rigs are not that simple to accessorize and can be fiddly to clean.

Summary

Whether you are just getting started or already have some experience. Or if you like to smoke on the go or prefer to sit and contemplate life, there are numerous options of dabbing rigs available.