Written by Joshua Sosin

Dabbing is a popular and powerful way to enjoy cannabis concentrates.

With a high-quality dab rig, you can get smooth, potent hits as you vaporize concentrates like hash, moonrocks, and badder. It's an amazing experience that's definitely on another level compared to smoking flower.

What is a dab rig, though, and is it the right smoking tool for you? To answer those questions, let's first look at the different parts of the dab rig and how they work.

From there, we'll compare dabbing to other cannabis smoking methods to help you make an informed decision.

Table of Contents

• How Does a Dab Rig Work?

• Parts of the Dab Rig Explained

  • The Rig

  • The Nail or Banger

  • The Torch or E-Nail

  • The Carb Cap

  • The Water Chamber

• What Are the Different Types of Dab Rigs?

  • Glass

  • Silicone

  • Electric

  • Mini

• Is a Dab Rig Right for You?

How Does a Dab Rig Work?

A dab rig is a special type of water pipe (the same category as a bong). Like a bong, a dab rig features a water chamber that filters and cools smoke or vapor before it reaches your lungs. The result is a smooth, enjoyable hit.

Unlike a bong, though, a dab rig includes a unique heating element called a dab nail. This heat-resistant surface is usually made of quartz, titanium, or ceramic, and it can hold up under high temperatures as you vaporize concentrates with a butane torch.

When you heat the nail tip on your dab rig and inhale, you'll experience flavorful, aromatic hits and take in a major amount of THC and other cannabinoids.

It can take a bit of practice to get this process right, though, as heating to the right temperature and inhaling correctly is a must for the best possible experience.

All the Parts of the Dab Rig Explained

A typical dab rig has all of the following parts, and each one plays an important part in the whole experience of dabbing:

The Rig

This is the main body of the dab rig, and it looks quite a bit like a bong.

The Nail or Banger

The heated nail of the dab rig (sometimes called a banger) is the hot surface where the cannabis concentrates go. While dabbing, it will reach extremely high temperatures, so you'll need to load the concentrate onto the hot nail using a small dab tool.

If you need a dab tool, you can grab one for just $10 from the Mood Shop.

The Torch or E-Nail

You need a heat source to get your concentrates to the proper temperature for a good hit. In most common dab rigs, this is a butane torch, which, of course, is separate from the rig itself. However, you can also upgrade your dab rig with an E-nail, which heats itself up to a programmed temperature without the need for an open flame.

The Carb Cap

If you're serious about dabbing, you need a carb cap. Many dab rigs come with them, but you might need to upgrade your rig with an aftermarket cap. This little piece covers the nail right after you apply the concentrate, regulating airflow and improving your hits.

The Water Chamber and Percolator

This part of the dab rig filters the water and cools the vapor before you inhale it. This is the big distinction between a water pipe like a dab rig or bong and a regular glass pipe.

What Are the Different Types of Dab Rigs?

If you're looking for a dab rig, keep in mind that there are plenty of options on the market. These are some of the most popular dab rig materials and varieties:

Glass Rigs

This is the most popular option by a long shot — both for bongs and dab rigs. If you want a solid mix of durability and aesthietics, glass is the perfect dab rig material for you.

Keep in mind, though, that while glass dab rigs can hold up under the strain of everyday wear and tear, they are more prone to breaking.

Silicone Dab Rigs

Silicone wax rigs arguably aren't quite as pretty as their glass counterparts, but they do work perfectly well. They're highly portable, easy to clean, and, of course, shatterproof.

Electric Dab Rigs

Electronic dab rigs are equipped with E-nails, which provide precise temperature control and retain heat exceptionally well. However, they're sometimes quite a bit more expensive. If reaching your exact desired temperature for dabbing is worth the investment, an E-rig might be the right choice.

Mini Dab Rigs

These smaller dab rigs are comparable to bubblers — travel-sized portable bongs. You can find them in smoke shops and online, usually for much less than a typical dab rig.

Is a Dab Rig Right for You?

Dab rigs are best for seasoned users who have a higher THC tolerance. If you smoke concentrates regularly and feel confident in your ability to handle a potent high, using a dab rig will feel like a walk in the park.

On the other hand, if you're new to consuming cannabis concentrates, you might be better off adding a small amount of hash or moonrocks to a joint as opposed to dabbing. You can still enjoy powerful, flavorful hits this way — but without quite as high of potency.

The Mood Shop: For All Your Dabbing Needs

If you're ready to get started with dabbing, Mood has you covered.

Our shop features a wide range of premium cannabis concentrates, including hash, dab badders, diamonds, and more.

Use the code "FIRST20" to get 20% off your initial order.