Last Updated: November 4, 2022
Tips for Dabbing Wax, Shatter & Rosin
Cannabis enthusiasts are all about dabbing right now– concentrates are becoming almost as popular as the flower itself. People are eager to see what all the buzz is about, and dabbing is surprisingly easy to learn. You may be able to learn from someone with enough experience to show you the ropes, and you can also teach yourself. Here are nine important things to keep in mind as you dab your way to better days.
What Is the Best Temp to Dab At?
Temperature is important for dabbing. If your concentrate gets too hot, the terpenes may burn and create a less enjoyable taste. Excessively hot dabs are also a lot harder on your throat and lungs. If the temperature is too low, though, the concentrate may just bubble on the nail instead of vaporizing correctly. People normally choose temperatures in the range of 600°F to 700°F for smooth, delicious, effective dabs.
If your nail looks red hot, it means the temperature is likely too high. The signs of a perfectly-heated nail will vary depending on the type you use, so talk to an experienced budtender about ways you can get yours just to just the right temperature for dabbing. Once you master heat control with your dab rig, you can start to experiment with low-temperature dabbing and carb caps (more in the fifth tip). You can also consider electronic dabbing as an option, like E-rigs and dab pens.
How Do You Store Wax?
For periods of about a week, you can store your waxes in an appropriately-sized container in a cool, dark place. Choosing the smallest container that’s a good fit is nice because it limits the exposure to air, and you can likely find options wherever you buy cannabis concentrates. The most important thing, though, is keeping your concentrate out of bright light and heat.
For long-term storage, you can wrap portions in parchment paper, put them in a plastic bag, then seal that bag inside of an airtight container. As always, it will be important to keep your concentrates cool and dark. Freezing isn’t a great option, so it’s best to buy concentrates fairly regularly as you use them, especially for more delicate types like wax.
How Can I Clean My Dab Nail?
There are a few good ways to clean your dab nail depending on how much time you have to create a deep clean:
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- Fast and Easy – Simply torch your nail to heat it until excess buildup burns off.
- Moderate – Heat your nail, just like with the torching method, and then use tongs to move it into room-temperature water. Just don’t drop a red-hot nail in a plastic bowl or anything else that could burn.
- Deep Clean – Use rubbing alcohol to give your nail a deep clean. You can either rub it on or just let the nail soak in it. It’s critical to torch all the chemicals off your nail afterward, seasoning it with a concentrate if you have a titanium nail.
How Can I Make Shatter Easier to Handle?
Shatter and some other concentrates will be easier to manipulate if you heat your dabber slightly. Think of how easy it is to cut butter with a hot knife or scoop ice cream with a warm spoon. Just don’t make your dabber so hot that it will start to vaporize the dab too soon, or you could be missing out on some of the THC.
What Does the Carb Cap Do?
A carb cap is great because it allows you to dab at lower temperatures and gets more flavor out of your dab. Carb caps enable successful low-temperature dabbing, which can happen as low as 500°F. Put one on top of your domeless nail once you lower the dab in, and it will contain the heat and restrict airflow. This helps heat everything more evenly for a smooth, delicious dab.
Can I Dab Without a Torch?
A torch is an important tool for operating a traditional dab rig successfully, but you don’t necessarily need one to get your dab on. Here are a few options for dabbing without involving a butane torch lighter:
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- Use a vape pen or desktop vaporizer.
- Top off a bowl of the flower with some concentrates– we recommend adding a little bit more flower on top of the dab so it heats more evenly.
- Line a joint or blunt with some concentrates.
- Use an electric nail.
Can I Smoke Wax Dabs Without a Rig?
Dab rigs are the best way to smoke concentrates like rosin and live resin. If you can’t own a rig you’ll need to use an alternative way. There are a few ways to smoke dabs without a rig. The most popular and best options are things like hash vape pens (AKA hash pens), topping off a bowl, or lining a joint. Another option is to get a Healthstone, which is a small attachment you can put in just about any kind of glass pipe or bong. If you do decide to use a Healthstone and a bong, keep in mind that you’re inhaling concentrates, not a normal flower. Outside of all these options, there aren’t many safe and effective ways to smoke wax dabs without a rig.
What’s a Good Dab Dose?
If you’re not already experienced with dabbing, we highly recommend that you take things easy at the start. Concentrates are normally somewhere in the ballpark of four times more potent than even the strongest cannabis strains. For a concentrate with 80% THC content, one single gram will contain 800mg of THC. Until you get the hang of dose size for concentrates, it will be easier to judge an appropriate dab by splitting your gram up into equal portions.
Running with that example of a gram of concentrate with 800mg of THC, you could split it into eight chunks of equal size. That way, you have 100mg of THC in each piece, which makes it far easier to judge the size of your individual dabs. To get a 10mg dab, just take 10% of your 100mg portion. Don’t let the small size of your dab fool you, a portion about the size of a single piece of Nerds candy could be enough for someone without a high tolerance. Start slow then make adjustments based on your experience and the strength of your specific concentrate.
Get the Best Concentrates for Dabbing in Alaska
Choosing between rosin, shatter, or wax dab is a matter of personal preference. No matter which type of concentrate you choose, look to Bad Gramm3r for purchasing and enjoying premium cannabis extracts. We work with the best growers and extractors in Alaska to supply the purest, tastiest, most potent cannabis concentrates in the Matanuska Valley. Every product on our dispensary menu has been hand-selected for its superior quality because we take pride in serving our customers with the very best.
Our THC concentrate products for sale include shatter, wax, crumble, rosin, oil, and more. To take your dabbing game to the next level, we also offer everything from simple pens to intricate dab rigs and everything in between. We’ve been in business since 2016, and our budtenders have extensive product knowledge. Click here to view our marijuana menu in Palmer, AK. Stop by to shop in person and chat about how to get the best dabs. Click here to see our Wasilla, AK dispensary menu. , or contact us online with any questions.
Image: Mitch M.
Disclaimer:
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- Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming and addictive.
- There are health risks associated with the consumption of marijuana.
- For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
- Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under its influence.