There are many ways you can enjoy your concentrates, from using them as a bowl topper, or a classic glass “dab rig” with a quartz banger, to the new electronic dab devices, such as a Puffco. But what exactly are those?
A dab rig is essentially a mini glass water bong. The reason for the size difference is that the smaller chamber keeps the smoke from going stale, keeping the concentrate from tasting bad. With water pipes, you have a bowl attachment that you pack the flower in, on the dab rigs, there are a plethora of attachments, the two most popular are “bangers” and “terp slurpers”.
Bangers are like a bucket made of quartz glass that you use a butane torch to heat up to at least 350 - 400 degrees Fahrenheit (temperature does change based on material), then once you drop your concentrate in there, throw on the carburetor cap (a glass cap with a tiny airflow hole), then rip it like a bong. Bangers are probably the most common glass attachment, but the terp slurper is coming for that #1 spot.
Terp Slurpers have two different chambers. It has a base plate (like a banger) but has a cylindrical glass chamber in the middle that the concentrate moves up and down on, burning more evenly, getting more out of your concentrate. When using a terp slurper, it is important to have the temperature close to equal throughout the piece and not just the base plate to ensure a nice, even burn, getting the most out of the concentrate.
Electronic rigs for flower have been out for quite some time, but over the recent years, e-rigs for concentrates have taken the market by storm. The most popular brand, Puffco, is leading the charge, offering an alternate method to dab that ditches the glass and the butane torches. Puffco offers many different devices, and what they all have in common, though, is that they utilize a 3D ceramic chamber atomizer that heats up 360 degrees. Once you drop your concentrate in the chamber and activate the heat cycle, you are ready to dab within minutes. It's the easiest and healthiest way to consume concentrates.
Temperature is an important factor when consuming concentrates. Everything within the concentrate has a boiling point and or a melting point. Many concentrates and terpenes have their own respective temperatures; for example, rosin is suggested to be dabbed anywhere from 350 to 450 degrees. Even a difference of 10 degrees can change how a concentrate tastes and burns. Diamonds are outliers when it comes to temperature; they have one of the highest burn/melt points, suggesting dab temps of 490 degrees and higher. Controlling temperature on glass is tough; devices such as the ‘dab rite’ exist to help mitigate over burning your concentrate. The Dab Rite is essentially a high-heat thermometer laser that sits right under your banger or terp slurp and will beep once the target temp that you set is reached. Puffco and other e-rigs also just completely solve that problem by allowing you to choose the exact temp you would like to dab at, and the device will keep it there for any set amount of time.
Overall, concentrates are one of, if not the best, ways to consume cannabis. Between the deep terpene profiles, the rich cultures behind each concentrate, and the care that goes into making each respective product are the reasons some choose concentrates over flower. Happy Dabbing, everyone!