Bigger isn’t always better. In this case, we’re talking about dab rigs, so don’t get your hopes up. Giant bongs are great for collecting tons of filtered weed smoke and taking huge rips. But dabbing is a different story. Real dab lovers are more concerned about savoring all the terpene flavors than getting a ton of THC at once, which dabs will provide anyways, and mini dab rigs satisfy this in a fun-size package.
Why are mini rigs better for dabs?
Terpenes start degrading as soon as they touch the air when they’re vaporized. Less air inside the rig leads to more flavorful dabs! With a mini rig, you preserve as many delicate terpenes as possible. For dabs, it’s not as effective to milk your hit in the rig for a long time, like it can be when using flower in a bong.
What kind of mini rigs are best?
Glass rigs are going to be the best for preserving terpenes, but of course, the type of glass depends on what you want from your dabbing experience.
Quartz Mini Rigs
If you’re really going for the maximum flavor, quartz is ideal. Quartz glass has a huge coefficient of expansion, which means it will heat up quickly and retain heat for longer. Quartz, especially in the form of a mini rig, is great for cold-start dabbing. This technique involves heating the banger with your torch after loading your concentrates. This allows the dab to melt at the very lowest temp possible, preserving more of the terpenes.
Borosilicate Glass Mini Rigs
Mini rigs made of borosilicate glass are better for those looking for a super potent, intoxicating hit. These tend to be more intricate pieces with features like recyclers and percs that add extra filtration and cool down the vapor further. Since these features pull the smoke through the water and air more rapidly, they travel further through the rig. This type of mini rig is great for hot-start dabbing, where the banger is heated up with a torch before the dab is dropped into the banger, instantly vaporizing. These glass rigs tend to make the dab less flavorful overall, but will create a stronger hit. Borosilicate mini rigs are great for those who prefer the hot-start method.
How to Use a Glass Mini Rig
- Add water to your rig through the mouthpiece. Make sure the water line is covering the percolator holes and/or the bottom of the downstem.
- Give it a test hit before you add your wax to make sure you don't get any splashback on your lips!
- Ignite your torch and heat the bottom of your banger for 10-20 seconds. The glass may glow red.
- Turn off your torch and wait 5-10 seconds for your banger to cool off a bit.
- Use a dab tool to load your dab into the banger.
- Our Hot Knife makes it even easier - the tip warms up so your dab slides right off into the banger. No scraping on the sides!
- Immediately take your hit! Use the bottom of your glass jar of wax as a carb cap, or use your own carb cap.
Pro tip: the Ocean Recyclers each have a recycler loop that extends out the back of each piece. This makes for a perfect little handle to hold the rig while you’re dabbing!
Think of a mini dab rig like a scotch glass for whiskey lovers. It accentuates all the notes and flavors so you can get the most out of every hit! Check out our mini rigs here and level up your dabbing experience.
