Dabbing is a method of inhaling cannabis concentrate. The concentrate sits on a heated surface, turns to vapor, and the vapor is inhaled. A dab rig has four parts: a banger (nail), a dab tool, a carb cap, and a heat source. A butane torch works. An e-nail or a wax pen holds a steady temperature and removes the guesswork.
What you need
- Dab rig, wax pen, or e-nail
- Quartz, titanium, or ceramic banger
- Dab tool (metal or glass)
- Carb cap
- Butane torch or a heating coil
- Concentrate: shatter, wax, budder, live resin, or CBD distillate
- Isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs
Set the temperature
Low temp dabs run 315°F to 450°F (157°C to 232°C). High temp dabs run 480°F to 600°F. Low temp keeps more terpenes and leaves more residue in the banger. High temp chars the material and the hit tastes harsh.
A quartz banger under a torch needs a cooldown. Heat the floor for 30 to 45 seconds, then wait 30 to 45 seconds before you load. A titanium nail holds heat longer and needs a longer wait. An infrared thermometer pointed at the banger floor gives a real number.
Taking a Dab: A Beginner's Guide to CBD Dabs
Load and inhale
- Pick up a piece the size of a grain of rice. 25 mg to 50 mg is a normal single dab.
- Touch the tool to the banger floor. The concentrate melts and vaporizes.
- Put the carb cap on. It restricts airflow and pulls vapor off the floor.
- Inhale over 3 to 5 seconds. Stop when the vapor thins.
- Exhale and wait 10 to 15 minutes before the next dab.
A carb cap with a small air hole gives denser vapor than an open banger. A dab that smokes and turns black was loaded too hot.
How to Dab: A Beginner's Guide to CBD Concentrates
Clean the banger
Swab the banger with a dry cotton swab after each dab, then swab with isopropyl alcohol. Leftover oil chars on the next heat cycle and the taste carries over. A dirty banger also holds heat in ways that are hard to predict. Replace a banger that shows cracks or chips.
CBD dabs
CBD isolate and CBD distillate can be dabbed. CBD isolate melts at 154°F to 160°F (68°C to 71°C), so a banger at 300°F to 350°F is enough. CBD does not produce the high that THC does. A common starting dose is 10 mg to 25 mg. Check the label for CBD per gram, then weigh the dab on a milligram scale. A lab COA shows potency and solvent residue.
Safety
Vapor from a hot banger burns skin. Let the rig cool before you touch the nail. Use a butane torch on a flat surface with airflow in the room. Do not load a nail that is still glowing. Cannabis rules differ by state. CBD rules differ from THC rules even inside one state.