How to Use a Reclaim Catcher Step by Step

By Lorien Strydom
February 16th, 2026

A reclaim catcher is a glass attachment that sits between your banger and dab rig, collecting condensed concentrate vapor in a removable container.

This accessory captures material that would otherwise coat your rig's interior, keeping your setup cleaner and recovering concentrate you can reuse.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Reclaim Catcher and How It Works
• Benefits of Using a Reclaim Catcher
• Installation and Setup
• Using Your Reclaim Catcher During Dabs
• Maintenance and Cleaning
• What Reclaim Is and Its Properties
• Using Collected Reclaim
• Storage and Moisture Removal
• Types of Reclaim Catchers
• Collecting Reclaim Without a Catcher
• Your Setup Is Ready

What Is a Reclaim Catcher and How It Works

A reclaim catcher attaches between your dab rig and banger to intercept condensed concentrate vapor before it reaches your water chamber.

The device uses basic physics to separate oil from airflow.

Hot vapor enters the catcher's cooler chamber, temperature drops, and heavier oil droplets fall into a removable container through gravity.

This differs from ash catchers designed for dry herb.

Reclaim catchers handle concentrate vapor, not combusted plant material.

The collection process is passive.

Once installed correctly, you dab normally while the catcher does its work.

The cooler interior surface causes vapor to condense.

Droplets run down the walls and collect in the jar at the bottom.

Your draw still pulls cleanly through the rig because the catcher's airflow path stays open.

Benefits of Using a Reclaim Catcher

A reclaim catcher recovers approximately 10-15% of concentrate that would otherwise coat your rig's interior.

At $45-50 per gram for quality concentrates, that material adds up quickly over repeated sessions.

Cleaner rigs mean better airflow and preserved flavor.

Residue buildup in percolators restricts draw and reheats with each new dab, creating harsh, burnt tastes.

The catcher stops this cycle by intercepting vapor before it reaches your water chamber.

The attachment also adds distance between your face and the torch flame.

Drop-down style catchers position the banger several inches away from the rig's joint, reducing heat exposure during the heating process.

Glass stress decreases when you clean less frequently.

Thermal shock from repeated heating and cooling weakens joints over time.

Keeping reclaim out of your main piece means fewer deep cleans and less temperature cycling on delicate connections.

Installation and Setup

Match the joint size first.

Most dab rigs use 14mm or 18mm female joints.

Your catcher needs a male joint that fits your rig and a female joint on top that accepts your banger.

Measure your existing setup or check product specifications before ordering.

Choose the correct angle next.

Beaker-style rigs with angled necks need 45-degree catchers.

Straight tube rigs need 90-degree catchers.

The angle determines whether your banger sits level when installed.

A mismatch causes tipping or awkward torch positioning.

Insert your banger into the catcher's top joint.

Then slide the entire assembly into your rig's joint.

Secure with a Keck clip.

These plastic clips grip both joints and prevent accidental separation when you remove the banger for cleaning.

Test the seal before heating anything.

Draw through the rig without concentrate.

You should feel smooth, unrestricted airflow with no whistling or air leaks around joints.

Adjust the fit or add a thin layer of water to the joint if needed.

Common Installation Issues

Leaks occur when joint sizes don't match precisely.

Check that your banger's male joint matches the catcher's female joint.

A 14mm banger in an 18mm catcher creates gaps that leak vapor.

Use a glass adapter if you need to mix sizes.

Tipping happens when the angle doesn't match your rig's geometry.

A 90-degree catcher on a beaker rig positions the collection jar at an angle, making it unstable.

Verify your rig's joint angle before purchasing.

Restricted airflow signals a problem with the catcher's internal bore or your overall stack height.

Short drop-down catchers with wide internal diameters preserve draw resistance closest to your original setup.

Avoid stacking multiple adapters that narrow the vapor path.

Using Your Reclaim Catcher During Dabs

Heat your banger to the target temperature range of 350-425°F.

Apply your concentrate and draw as you normally would.

The catcher intercepts runoff automatically through gravity and temperature differential.

No technique changes are required.

Lower temperatures produce cleaner, more workable reclaim.

Dabbing at 350-425°F vaporizes concentrate without excessive charring.

Higher temperatures above 500°F create darker, harsher reclaim with more degraded cannabinoids.

The material you collect reflects the quality of your dabbing technique.

Avoid overloading your banger.

Excess concentrate that doesn't vaporize on the first draw will puddle and drip.

While the catcher captures this runoff, starting with appropriate amounts per dab maximizes efficiency and flavor.

Use a carb cap to maintain temperature and pressure inside the banger.

This ensures complete vaporization of your concentrate and reduces waste.

The catcher collects condensed vapor, not unvaporized material.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Empty the collection container every few sessions to keep material fresh and workable.

Stagnant reclaim degrades in quality and becomes harder to scoop.

Remove the jar when your rig is completely cool to avoid burns and thermal shock to the glass.

Clean the catcher with isopropyl alcohol every week or when you notice buildup on interior walls.

Remove the collection jar, pour alcohol through the catcher, and shake gently.

Rinse with warm water and let air dry completely before reassembling.

Never heat silicone collection jars.

These are designed for room temperature storage only.

Exposure to torch heat damages the material and can release compounds you don't want to inhale.

Check joint connections monthly for residue buildup.

A thin layer of concentrate on the glass creates sticky joints that resist separation.

Clean joints with alcohol on a cotton swab to maintain smooth assembly and removal.

What Reclaim Is and Its Properties

Reclaim is condensed concentrate vapor that still contains active cannabinoids.

Yes, reclaim gets you high.

Effects are typically weaker and more sedating than fresh concentrate because THC has partially converted to CBN during the initial heating process.

Fresh catcher-collected reclaim appears golden to amber.

This material separated cleanly from vapor and avoided contact with water or ash.

Dark reclaim scraped from rig walls includes impurities from repeated heating cycles and moisture contamination.

The consistency ranges from sticky oil to harder wax depending on the original concentrate type and how long it sat in the catcher.

Fresher reclaim scoops more easily.

Material left sitting for weeks hardens and becomes more difficult to work with.

Reclaim from lower temperature dabs retains more terpenes and produces better flavor than reclaim from high-temperature sessions.

The collection process doesn't add or remove compounds.

It concentrates whatever made it through the banger without fully vaporizing.

Using Collected Reclaim

Re-Dabbing

You can put reclaim back into your banger for another session.

Load a small amount on your dab tool and apply it as you would fresh concentrate.

Expect harsher flavor and a more sedating effect profile compared to new material.

Start with less than you would use for fresh concentrate since potency varies.

Temperature control matters more with reclaim.

The material has already been heated once and will degrade faster on the second round.

Stick to the lower end of the 350-425°F range to preserve what cannabinoids remain.

Making Edibles

Mix reclaim directly into fats like butter or coconut oil.

The material is already activated from heat exposure during dabbing, so no additional heating step is needed before cooking.

This makes reclaim simpler to work with than fresh concentrate for edibles.

Measure your reclaim and add it to melted fat over low heat.

Stir until fully dissolved, then use the infused fat in your recipe as normal.

Store any unused infused butter in the refrigerator.

Label your edibles with the date and approximate strength if possible.

Reclaim potency varies based on the original concentrate and how many times it's been heated.

Start with small portions to assess effects before consuming more.

Storage and Moisture Removal

Store collected reclaim in a cool, dark place in glass or PTFE containers.

Silicone works for short-term storage but can interact with terpenes over weeks or months.

Glass jars with tight lids prevent degradation from light and air exposure.

Do not leave reclaim sitting in the catcher between sessions.

Moisture from your rig's water chamber can contaminate the collection jar, especially if your setup produces splash-back.

Empty the container after each session or at least every few days.

Remove water contamination by freezing the reclaim and separating ice crystals, or use a gentle double boiler setup to evaporate moisture droplets.

Place the contaminated reclaim in a glass dish over barely simmering water until visible water evaporates.

Never apply direct heat or open flame to purge moisture.

Properly stored reclaim stays workable for months.

Material that sits exposed to air or light gradually darkens and loses potency.

Use older reclaim for edibles rather than re-dabbing if the color has shifted significantly.

Types of Reclaim Catchers

Drop-down catchers add vertical distance between your banger and rig.

These designs protect your face from torch heat and reduce stress on your rig's joint by keeping the banger's weight farther from the connection point.

The extra length means more internal surface area for vapor to condense.

Silicone-bottomed catchers pair glass bodies with removable silicone jars.

The non-stick surface makes harvesting reclaim simple.

Pop out the jar, scoop your material, and snap it back in.

These work well for frequent collection but remember that silicone should never be heated.

Full silicone catchers offer durability for clumsy users.

You won't break glass, but you sacrifice some collection efficiency since the material doesn't cool vapor as effectively as glass.

These work better as splash guards than dedicated reclaim harvesters.

Custom glass pieces with removable bases combine aesthetics with function.

Colored glass or worked designs integrate better with high-end rigs.

Bases detach for easy reclaim removal without separating joints.

Match the design to your priorities.

Need maximum heat protection? Choose a long drop-down.

Harvest frequently? Get silicone-bottomed.

Worried about breaking glass during travel? Consider full silicone.

Collecting Reclaim Without a Catcher

The alcohol dissolution method works if you don't have a catcher.

Pour high-proof isopropyl alcohol into your dirty rig, shake to dissolve buildup, then pour the mixture into a glass dish.

Let the alcohol evaporate completely in a well-ventilated area away from open flames.

Scrape the remaining residue once dry.

This approach carries fire risk and produces lower quality results.

Alcohol-extracted reclaim contains more impurities than catcher-collected material.

The process is messier and requires complete purging before the reclaim is safe to use.

Never purge alcohol over an open flame or heat source.

The fumes are extremely flammable.

Natural evaporation takes longer but eliminates fire hazards.

Position your evaporation dish in a well-ventilated space and wait.

Catchers provide solvent-free collection that's immediately safe to use.

The passive capture method delivers cleaner material without the hassle or risk of alcohol extraction.

Your Setup Is Ready

You now have a properly fitted catcher that won't leak or tip, a clear understanding of how temperature affects reclaim quality, and a plan for storing or reusing what you collect.

The device works passively once installed.

Focus your attention on maintaining good dabbing technique in the 350-425°F range and emptying your collection container regularly.

Clean glass and fresh reclaim deliver better sessions.

The habits that produce quality vapor also produce quality reclaim.

Your catcher rewards technique without requiring any workflow changes.

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