How to: Dabbing Weed Concentrates

Dabbing marijuana concentrates might seem a little bit daunting when you first learn about it. However, it is an activity that you will most likely be able to do with ease once you have learned how. This post is designed to help you ensure that your first time dabbing will go well.

What Is Dabbing?

This process is basically flash vaporization of your cannabis concentrates. You will apply your cannabis concentrates to a hot surface and then inhale them. You can get many types of concentrates for dabbing. In fact, you might have heard about some of them. These include BHO, shatter, oil, and wax. These concentrates are more potent than cannabis flowers. Using just a little bit will go a long way. Buds will usually have about 10 percent to 25 percent of THC in them. On the other hand, concentrates can have as little as 50 percent to as much as 80 percent of THC in them. The quality and type of extract will play a role in this. You can even use nonintoxicating CBD extracts for a fast effect. CBD will cause little to no euphoria. However, it sometimes can be hard to find this product. If you are completely new to cannabis, dabbing might not be for you. Not everyone enjoys the process. It is more dedicated to getting the right dosage. However, once you have gotten the general process down, you can experience new physical effects from concentrates. You can also try unique euphoric effects. There is less plant material in the extract, which means you are inhaling more cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC. You also will be inhaling less combusted resin.

Tools You Need for Dabbing

The technology used for dabbing is continuing to evolve. However, you can start with the traditional setup. This includes several items, the appearance of which can vary.

• Cannabis Extract: You can find many forms of extracts for your dabbing experience. However, the most common ones include CO2, BHO, and resin, which is a solvent-less extract. You should not use an extract that is alcohol-based for dabbing. If you do not know how safe it is to dab an oil, ask your cannabis dispensary. 
• Water Pipe: You can remove the glass bowl from the water pipe. Replace it with the attachments for dabbing. This will transform it into a dab rig.
• Nail: You will want a nail that fits the gauge of the water pipe. For example, some are quartz while others are ceramic. However, the most common type is titanium.
• Dome: This is a glass hood that you will put around your nail. If you use a dome-less nail, you do not need a globe. However, when you are using a standard nail, you will need to trap the vapor.
• Torch: If you can find the type of torch that is used for making creme brulee, it will work well. But keep in mind that some cannabis users prefer to use a larger torch that is fueled by propane. This can heat your nail even faster. There are some methods of dabbing that do not use a flame, but many people prefer to use the torch because it is not as much of an investment.
• Dabber: This is a tool made out of metal, ceramic, or glass that can apply your dab.

Using the Right Amount of Extract

The extracts that you choose to use will have varying degrees of concentrations of THC. It is a good idea to know how potent the product is before you decide to dab with it. However, you should usually try to start with a smaller amount than you think you will use. That way, you can easily increase the dosage if you would like to. A small dose is about the size of a crumb. This might not seem like a lot to you, but it is a fair amount of THC that goes to your dome all at once. Dabbing might seem more intense to you if you are accustomed to using flowers. However, as you begin to adjust your tolerance, you will find that the effects are not as jarring.

Why a Low Temperature Is Important in Dabbing

If you are just starting out with dabbing, you might not realize that a low temperature is important for this process. The reason for this is because of the terpenes. If you do not know what these are, they are compounds in the cannabis plant that give it a unique smell.  Even though cannabinoids, such as THC, are sensitive to temperature, they do not have an odor. This means that the fragrance of each strain depends on the terpenes that are present in it. Every terpene offers a unique flavor, and each type of terpene has a different heat sensitivity. This creates a unique point of vaporization. The method that is used to extract the wax, shatter, or oil depends on the terpenes that are in it. That means that the temperature that you use to vaporize the concentrates or to dab will affect the flavor profile, as well as the synergy of the product. To better understand this concept, look at this list of boiling points of the different common types of terpenes that you can find in the cannabis plant.

• Linalool: 388 degrees F
• Myrcene: 334 degrees F
• Caryophyllene: 320 degrees F
• Pinene: 311 degrees F
• Humulene: 388 degrees F
• D-Limonene: 349 degrees F

Avoiding Beginner Mistakes When Dabbing

If you cannot control or monitor your dabbing temperature, you may be heating the nail higher than the ideal temperature. You might be using a torch to heat the surface for dabbing, which is usually a quartz bucket or a titanium nail.  One beginner mistake is torching the surface of this for too long. When it is exposed to high heat for an extended period, the temperature can easily rocket above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is too hot to properly vaporize your concentrates. When this extreme temperature is reached, the essential oils in your cannabis product that create the psychoactive effect will be destroyed. You are effectively combusting the substances that influence the flavor of your marijuana. This will result in an unpleasant burnt taste to your vapor. Any of the good parts of the terpenes are lost when the high temperature is reached.

Beginning to Dab

Once you have set up your rig and prepared the dose on your dabber, you can get started with the process. You will probably want to sit while dabbing. The sudden rush of THC to your system can be very intense physically. Step 1: Turn your torch on and place the flame at the nail. Many people choose to heat the nail until it is red hot. If your nail is electronic, then you should follow a few extra instructions, mentioned below.  Step 2: When your nail is hot, you can turn off the torch and put your glass dome on the nail. You should let a titanium nail cool for about 10 seconds, while a quartz nail should cool for about 45 seconds. That way, the temperature of the surface will not be too hot. Step 3: Now, take the dabber and apply your dab to the nail in the dome. Inhale it slowly. If you rotate the dabber tip on your nail, you can avoid wasting any of your oil if it is stuck to your dabber. Step 4: Exhale the product and enjoy it! As a safety reminder, remember that both the glass dome and your nail can become very hot while you are dabbing. Be very careful when you are handling them, and make sure that you wait for the pieces to cool before you try to touch them.

Using Dome-less Nails and E-Nails

The tutorial above showed you how to do the common dabbing method using a nail and a torch. However, these are not the only tools that you can use to dab with. A dome-less nail is a metal piece that does not require you to use a glass hood so the vapor will be trapped. Instead, you can use the network of holes in the nail, which work to deliver your vapor right through the piece. You can still heat the nail, just like with a standard one. However, the advantage of using this type of system is that you do not need to work with an extra piece of glass that might become stick and potentially dangerous from the heat. Using an electronic nail, or e-nail, is more expensive than getting a standard nail. However, if you want to be a serious dabber, you might find that the investment is worthwhile. Using this product can prevent the need for using a dome and a torch. These two items can be the most dangerous parts of dabbing. You also have control over what the temperature of your nail is. If you want to make the most out of your terpenes and your flavors when dabbing, this can be a great feature.

What Are E-Nails?

E-nails are becoming more popular than ever. People who like marijuana concentrates now have an opportunity to finetune their cannabis experience. One of the reasons that electric nails are so popular is because they can maintain your weed at a lower temperature, preserving your terpenes. You will be better able to enjoy the full flavor of your herb by using an e-nail. Some of the nails you can use are about the size of your palm. You might find that dabbing is more precise and easier when you have this tool in hand. It will help you optimize your experience to the perfect temperature.  A few types of electric nails offer heat controllers that can stabilize the dabbing surface’s temperature. Some have digital displays with the right type of calibration. That way, you will not need to worry about trying to make sure that the temperature stays the same.  Electric nails are known for automatically keeping the temperature the same. It can cool and heat the nail. That way, you will not waste any dabs if the nail is too cold to properly vaporize your herb.

Dab Pens

You might choose to use a dab pen, which can also be known as G-Pens. This can be an easy way for you to consume highly concentrated cannabis. You can get them in several different sizes. A dab pen is portable, and you do not need to be confined indoors to use it. To use this, you also do not need to use a dabber tool or a blow torch. You will place the liquid concentrate inside of the pen. The only downside of using this type of tool is that it can leave a plastic or a metal aftertaste in your mouth once you are done using it. This is why the rig continues to be one of the more popular methods of dabbing. Most people prefer the taste of using a rig, as well as the smooth hit that it offers after. To use a dab pen, you will just place your tiny amount of concentrate in the area. You will want to make sure that you are using fresh product. This will give you the best experience possible. 

Closing Thoughts

Dabbing can be a fun, relaxing way to spend an afternoon. The technology used in dabbing is constantly changing and evolving. Right now, you can choose to do dabbing in the traditional method with a torch and a nail. However, you might also choose to invest in an electric nail, which does the heating up for you. In the future, you may have even more ways available to you when it comes to dabbing.