Build a Starter Dab Kit: Everything You Need to Dab Like a Pro

You’re well-versed in the power of flower. And you want to take the next step in your journey to cannabis nirvana. 

It’s time to explore the wide world of dabs.

"Dabbing" means vaporizing and inhaling strong cannabis concentrates. These concentrates have much higher THC and cannabinoid content than flower, so this consumption method is for more advanced cannabis users.

If you’re ready to uplevel your relationship with herb, here’s a list of everything you'll need to build out your dab rig kit—plus a few extras you may want to consider.

THE DAB RIG

AKA the star of the show

A dab rig is a small water pipe made for smoking dabs. Usually made from borosilicate glass, dab rigs generally have a small water chamber and a simple percolator. Some also have an angled mouthpiece, making them easier to hit when they’re sitting on a flat surface.

While designs vary, dab rigs tend to be on the simple side without lots of chambers or complex percs. The smaller size preserves terpenes and maximizes the flavor of your hit. And less surface area inside means less glass for your vapor to stick to.

Choosing a mini dab rig makes it easier to clear the chamber before your vapor goes stale. They're also usually more affordable than big pieces.

Some glass pieces are designed specifically for dabs. You can also repurpose most bubblers into a dab rig by simply swapping out the bowl for a banger, which we’ll discuss next.

A QUARTZ BANGER OR NAIL

Where the magic happens

A bong or bubbler comes with a bowl to pack with flower. You light the flower to burn it and inhale the resulting smoke.

With a dab rig, the bowl is swapped out for a nail or banger. You'll heat this vessel while it's  empty, before you add any concentrate to it. When it gets hot, you drop in your cannabis extract, which will vaporize on contact. Then you’ll inhale the resulting vapor.

A banger is usually made of quartz, which is heat resistant and doesn’t impart any flavor to your concentrate when it vaporizes. Bangers usually have a 90° or 45° bend in the neck, depending on the design of your dab rig. At one end, the banger has a flat-bottomed bucket which you’ll heat up to receive your concentrate.

A dab nail is usually made of titanium or ceramic, although they can also be made of quartz. The standard dab nail often looks like a drill bit or screw, with a joint at the bottom and a flat recess at the top which you’ll heat to receive your dab.

Whether to choose a nail or a quartz banger is really a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer the durability and heat retention of titanium. Others prioritize the clean flavor of quartz, as titanium can impart a metallic taste to your vapor.  

The most important things to keep in mind with your banger are a) quality and b) cleanliness. You’ll be applying super high heat to your banger, so make sure you get high-quality quartz or grade two or three titanium.

Premium quartz bangers don’t have to be expensive. But if the price is too good to be true, it’s probably made from inferior materials that either can’t withstand the heat or could even leach chemicals into your wax. And make sure to clean your banger thoroughly every time you use it to keep the flavor of your dabs fresh.

Insert a dab rig lifestyle image.

A DAB TOOL OR PICK

To protect those fingies

Your starter dab kit won’t be complete without a dab tool or pick, also sometimes called a dabber. This is a small implement that you’ll use to apply your dab to the heated banger. You don’t want to do this with your fingers—that banger will be HOT (anywhere from 350°F to 700°F) and it will burn the shit out of you.

Dab tools may be made of quartz or titanium, and can look like a little scoop (for oil or wax) or a pick (for wax or shatter). Some are also double-sided, with the tool on one side and a carb cap on the other. (More about carb caps shortly.)

A BUTANE TORCH

To heat things up

To superheat the bucket of your banger or the recess of your titanium nail, you’ll need a small butane torch. A lighter won’t cut it! You need something that emits a steady, hot flame.

You can use a crème brulée or culinary torch if you have one, although it may be a bit underpowered and it could take longer to heat your banger to the proper temperature. For best results, get a torch specifically designed for dabs.

Do not use a propane torch for dabbing. Propane burns far too hot and could damage your quartz banger, or even oxidize a titanium nail. Butane is more refined and burns much more cleanly than propane.

Propane also usually has a stinky additive called ethyl mercaptan, which is what makes gas leaks smell like rotten eggs. Not something you want to be inhaling while you’re trying to hit a tasty dab. Gross.

So leave the propane to Hank Hill. Stick to a butane torch.

Insert a lifestyle pic with a butane torch if you have one

CLEANING SUPPLIES

To keep your dabs tasty

If you're gonna have a pleasant dabbing experience time after time, you need to keep your glass clean.

Pour 99% isopropyl alcohol into your dab rig with some kosher salt, cover the openings with your hand, and give it a careful shake to scour away any stuck-on buildup. Then give it a good rinse with hot water.

You can also use Grunge Off, which is a particular favorite around here. This stuff is powerful and reusable, unlike isopropyl alcohol. Pour it into your rig and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Then pour the liquid back into the bottle, filtering it through a bit of cheesecloth to catch any bigger bits of grime.

To clean your banger and any other glass accessories, just pop them in a shallow dish or zipper bag, add enough Grunge Off to cover them, and let them sit.

Rinse your rig and accessories with warm water and you're done.

A DAB MAT (Optional)

To keep things tidy

You can 100% dab without a dab mat. But it’s a nice accessory that will keep your burn station tidy.

A dab mat is simply a non-stick, heat-resistant mat, usually made of silicone, that you can use to protect the surface around your dab rig. It provides a barrier between your banger and your work surface in case you drop your hot banger or spill any oil. Plus, a silicone mat can absorb the shock if you knock over your glass dab rig.

ACCESSORIES (Optional)

To customize your dab experience

Once you have your basic starter dab rig kit, you can begin customizing it with accessories.

Carb Caps for Heat Retention

One of the most common add-ons is the carb cap. In fact, some might say that the carb cap is more of a necessity, but it's possible to dab without it.

After heating your nail or banger and adding your concentrate, place your carb cap over the top to keep your vapor from just…floating away. It also helps to retain heat, so you get a more thorough vaporization.

Carb caps come in a huge variety of styles, from simple “lids” to more complex pieces that let you control airflow. Our Yo-Yo Carb Cap, for example, can be maneuvered around the top of your banger to aim air for more efficient vaporization.

Banger Inserts for Cooler Dabs

Another accessory is the banger insert. This is a small quartz tray that's designed for low-temp dabbing. To use, add your dab to the insert, heat the banger to temp, and then drop the insert into the banger. The extra layer of quartz between the heat and the concentrate will keep the temperature cooler inside your banger for low-temp evaporation.

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Terp Pearls, Marbles, and Pillars for Better Heat Distribution

Terp pearls are tiny borosilicate glass beads that you drop into your bucket. As you draw through your rig, the pearls will swirl around, distributing heat evenly and ensuring max vaporization. They're tiny and simple, but dabbers swear by them.

Marbles and pillars serve a similar function, usually for a terp slurper banger. The pillar drops into the banger's cylinder chamber where it spins for full vaporization. And the marble sits just on top of the cylinder chamber to condense and direct airflow.

Accessory Bundles for a Bit of Everything

To start building your dab rig kit, you can pick up individual pieces or get a bundle.

GRAV® accessory bundles come with bangers, carb caps, banger inserts, and little extras like terp pearls, marbles, and pillars. 

Just add a torch and a dab tool and you’re ready to go.

BUILD YOUR DABBING SETUP

With a glass rig, a banger, a dabbing tool, and a torch, you're on your way to Dab City. Accessories can elevate your experience, but they're not necessary to get started.

Keep it simple as you work on temperature control and clearing your chamber. Then you can enter the wide world of dabbing accessories and personalize your system.

Contributed by Kate McDermott