A dab rig – also referred to as an oil rig, vapor rig, wax rigs, or concentrate pipes – is a type of waterpipe specifically designed for use with concentrates or “dabs”, which are known for producing the best flavor. Like our waterpipes, dab rigs from Highlife Goods come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors, and designs so that you can tailor your dabbing experience to your liking!

Things to consider when buying a dab rig

There are a few things to consider when you’re buying a dab rig for a complete dabbing experience. Firstly, each style fulfills certain criteria that many dab enthusiasts desire for their rig setup – glass or silicone, stationary or portable, etc. The other thing to consider is that you’ll definitely need some dab tools and accessories handy to guarantee dabbing satisfaction.

Dab rig styles

Do you value portability, durability, convenience, or elegance in your dab rig? Are you looking for a daily driver or a conversation piece? Highlife Goods will briefly guide you through our variety of styles so you can find the best dab rig that fits your dabbing needs!

Classic

The quintessential glass dab rig is made from borosilicate glass, which is known for its heat resistance and durability compared to many other glass types. Shorter than the regular waterpipe, most glass dab rigs in the Highlife Goods collection stand around 7 to 10 inches tall. The biggest selling point for the classic dab rig is its percolation mechanism that consistently delivers cool, smooth, and flavorful hits.

Mini Rig

Constructed with portability in mind, mini rigs typically measure under 7” in height. Mini rigs are usually made with thick borosilicate glass, so these rigs make no compromises in quality. In fact, many concentrate fans prefer a mini rig over other dab rig styles, because the mini rig’s small stature is effective in preserving the dab’s terpene flavors.

Silicone Dab Rig

Silicone dab rigs are the easiest type of rig to maintain and are usually the most affordable. These rigs are made of BPA Free & Food grade silicone to ensure a safe dabbing experience. Plus, they’re dishwasher-safe and stick-free, so they’re incredibly easy to clean. Lastly, silicone is a notoriously durable material that will make your dab rig practically indestructible.

Nectar Collector

Also known as honey straws, the nectar collector is a portable dab rig with a recognizable pen-shaped design. A nectar collector has a silicone or glass straw-shaped mouthpiece to inhale vapor, a titanium or quartz tip that functions as a dab nail, a silicone or glass dish that acts as a dab receptacle, and a water chamber for water percolation.

E-Rig

The e-rig (or electronic rig or smart rig) combines the dab rig, dab nail, and dab torch into a portable, rechargeable device. Besides being able to dab on the go, another main benefit of the e-rig is that you can precisely control the temperature of your dabs. Just dial in the temperature and rest assured knowing that your e-rig will deliver.

Recycler Rig

The recycler rig produces the most satisfying dabbing experience. The recycling percolator system keeps vapor moving in a loop to provide a cool and flavorful hit. Seeing the recycler rig in action is absolutely mesmerizing!

The anatomy of a dab rig

Shopping for dab rigs can be a bit intimidating, and the jargon used to talk about dab rigs can baffle any newcomer. If you have ever wondered what a dab nail or banger is, then you came to the right place!  Highlife Goods will provide you with a quick anatomy lesson of the main components of a dab rig.

Base

The base of a dab rig is the flat, bottom part of the rig.

(Water) Chamber

The chamber is the part within a dab rig that holds water. Dab rigs have at least one chamber just above the base. A dab rig with multiple chambers is called a recycler rig.

Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece is the part of the dab rig from where the user inhales the smoke.

Tube

Also referred to as a neck, the tube of a dab rig is the cylinder that connects the chamber and the mouthpiece.

Joint

The joint is the connection between the dab rig and the dab rig. When browsing Highlife Goods, you may see phrases like "joint sizes" and "joint genders" referred to on products such as waterpipes, dab rigs, and glass attachments, as they are used to tell whether the components are compatible to create an airtight connection. The most common joint sizes are 10mm, 14mm, and 19mm.

Dab Nail

A dab nail is the nail-shaped attachment where dabs are vaporized when heated. Dab nails are typically made of quartz, titanium, ceramic, or glass.

Banger

A banger is a type of dab nail that can vary in design but are typically flat-bottomed with a curved neck.

Domed nail

The appearance of a domed nail is straightforward – it is a dab nail with an attached dome. The dome walls trap the vapors to ensure nothing is wasted.

Percolator

The percolator is a diffusion mechanism that filters and cools down the vapor in a dab rig. There are countless percolator designs, and some of the most common include:

Tree

Named for its tree-like appearance, a tree perc has a main stem that branches out to any number of “arms”. There are slits at the end of each tree arm for water and vapor to pass through, filtering and producing a cleaner, smoother hit. Generally speaking – the more arms, the more effective diffusion.

Showerhead

Shaped like a typical showerhead, a showerhead perc has a vertical stem with a flared round chamber. The slits at the bottom of the chamber ensures filtration and diffusion as water and smoke passes through.

Honeycomb

A honeycomb perc is a disk with as many as 100 or more holes, creating a resemblance of a honeycomb. Bubbles are forced through the honeycomb holes, which reduces the size of the bubbles and increases diffusion and filtration. In general: the more holes, the more effective diffusion.

Dab tools & accessories

Don’t underestimate the usefulness of these dab tools and accessories! These indispensable pieces will make your life so much easier when you’re dabbing. Highlife Goods has a large selection of dab tools and accessories to take your dabbing experience to the next level!

Dab Torch

A dab torch is a hand torch (butane or propane) used for heating the dab nail for dabbing at just the right temperature. We recommend a butane hand torch; it allows the user to emit a low or high temperature flame. A propane torch generally burns a hotter flame that runs the risk of damaging the nail. Regardless of what kind of dab torch you choose, just remember to keep a timer handy to get the most from your concentrate.

Dabber

A dabber is a tool designed for removing a dab from its concentrate container and placing it inside the dab nail or banger. If you don’t want to cinch your fingers while you’re dabbing, then a dabber is an essential buy!

Carb Cap

A carb cap is a glass, ceramic, quartz, or titanium cap with a small hole that covers the top of the nail. It restricts airflow and traps heat, allowing the dab to vaporize at a lower temperature.

Dab Mat

Also referred to as a dab pad, a dab mat is a mat placed underneath a dab rig that protects a surface, like a table, from residue dripping from the dab nail. Most dab mats are made of easy-to-clean materials like silicone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a dab rig work?

After the dab nail is heated and cooled and concentrate is placed in the nail, vapor travels through water in the chamber. In this water percolation process, the vapor is cooled as it travels through the tube and up to the mouthpiece where the user inhales.

Why should I use a dab rig?

For many cannabis users, the greatest appeal to dabbing is the powerful and immediate high and the flavor-packed experience. Dabs consists almost entirely of cannabinoid and terpene extracts, resulting in a highly concentrated and potent product. If you want your smoke sessions to pack a flavorful punch, then we strongly recommend getting a dab rig!

Why are smaller rigs better for dabs?

Smaller dab rigs (generally 7” or less) are preferred by dabbing enthusiasts. Concentrates are better enjoyed in a drag-free smoke. The more sophisticated percolators and bigger water chambers that are constructed in comparatively large dab rigs tend to dilute vapor, which prevents dabbers from enjoying the full flavors that comes from their concentrates. A smaller rig with a condensed chamber will cool down vapor with less drag to deliver a more flavorful smoke.

How to use a dab rig?

1. Fill the dab rig with water. It is a water pipe after all. Fill the base of your rig with enough water so that the downstem is submerged.
2. Heat the nail with the torch. If you are using a quartz nail or banger, heat it up until it is glowing red.
3. Wait for the nail to cool down. Sure, it seems counterintuitive, but this step is necessary so that you don’t scorch your dab. The general wait time is around 30 to 60 seconds, depending on how much you heated up the nail, the nail’s thickness, and the material of the nail.
4. Place the dab on the nail’s surface, and slowly inhale. Dabs require a long, slow inhale since much of the dab doesn’t vaporize instantly.
5. If available, place a carb cap on the nail or banger. The carb cap will function as an over, trapping the heat in the nail to ensure you get the most out of your dabbing experience. Lift the carb cap whenever you’re ready to clear the vapor out of the rig.
6. Exhale the vapor immediately after inhaling. No need to hold it in – your lungs do an incredible job in soaking in the active cannabinoids and terpenes.

What is the ideal dabbing temperature?

In most cases, the target temperature to get the most flavor from your concentrates should be around 300 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (149 to 232 degrees Celsius). Higher temperatures sacrifice flavor to ensure that no dabs go to waste. Every last bit of concentrate will be quickly vaporized, but what’s the point if the flavor isn’t as good as it could be? Lower temperatures are ideal if you’re aiming for a flavorful experience though you will end up leaving residual product on your nail.

What is the best nail for dabbing?

Finding the best nail for dabbing depends on your dabbing preference. Each kind of dab nail or banger caters a specific need. The most common dab nail material includes:

Titanium

Titanium nails are durable, and they gain and retain exceptionally well. Pro tip: If you decide to purchase a titanium nail, we highly recommend that you buy a nail that is rated grade 2.

Ceramic

Despite its fragility and relative slowness to heat up, ceramic nails are excellent at retaining heat. They also tend to be very clean and do not pose the risk of leaking contaminants into your dabs.

Quartz

Quartz nails, or quartz bangers, are the most popular nail choice. Quartz nails are durable and conductive to heat, but they don’t retain heat as well as a titanium or ceramic nail. Like ceramic nails, they are exceptionally clean with no risk of leaking contaminants.

Glass

Typically made of borosilicate glass, glass nails excel at heating up and retaining heat. Glass nails also happen to be the most affordable kind of dab nail. Keep in mind that glass is fragile, and it can sometimes shatter at very high temperatures.

Electronic nail

An electronic nail, or e-nail, is a dab nail that consists of a controller box that heats the nail through a coil. You don’t have to rely on a dab torch to heat your dab nail. Instead, you have full control of the temperature of your dab with a press of a button.

How to clean your dab rig?

Proper cleaning and maintenance are key to ensure that your dab rig will last a lifetime. The simplest, foolproof method for cleaning your rig is to use a rubbing alcohol and table salt mixture. Highlife Goods offers a wide variety of cleaners and cleaning accessories specially formulated for use on waterpipes and dab rigs.

To clean your dab rig:

1. remove the dab nail,
2. pour your cleaning solution in the dab rig,
3. plug the mouthpiece and downstem inlet to prevent the solution from spilling out,
4. shake the dab rig around so the solution covers every nook and cranny to loosen and dissolve the reclaim buildup, and
5. rinse away the remaining reclaim thoroughly with warm water.

To clean your dab nail, there are three practical options:

1. heat it with a torch until the reclaim burns completely off,
2. clean the surface with a rubbing alcohol-dampened cotton swab, or
3. let the nail soak in a sealable bag filled with rubbing alcohol, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.