Rigs Explained

If you’re a cannabis connoisseur, then you’ve probably consumed THC and CBD products in a variety of ways. You’ve smoked weed, you’ve vaped weed, and you’ve even eaten it - but have you ever dabbed weed?

A rig allows you to smoke or vaporize concentrates, which are a distilled form of cannabis. You heat the rig banger, which heats the concentrate. Then, you inhale the vapour (or smoke, depending on temperature it’s heated to).

One of the best things about rigs is they allow you to enjoy the specific flavours of different terpenes. Another thing people like is the potency. Concentrates allow you to enjoy the same cannabis profile of the dried flower products in a “concentrated” form.

If you’re interested in using a dab rig, you’ll need to learn some new jargon. In this post, we’re going to define a few terms that you’ll come across when shopping for a rig:

Rigs

A concentrate rig is the main accessory you’ll use when dabbing. It looks similar to a glass bong, and even features a chamber for water. However, there are a few key differences. 

For starters, rigs tend to be smaller than bongs. They also produce stronger effects due to the potency of the concentrates. In addition, it takes longer to heat a rig to the right temperature than it does with a bong.

Quartz Bangers

With a bong, you use a bowl to hold the cannabis; with a dab rig, you use a quartz banger to hold the concentrate. Sometimes referred to as “nails”, bangers are heated up to vapourize the concentrate. The quartz material enhances the durability of the accessory, and it also heats up relatively quickly. 

Terp Slurpers

This accessory, which is a type of quartz banger, allows you to get the most out of your cannabis products. Minimize any wasted material by using this handy nail. In addition, it does an excellent job of preserving the flavour of the concentrate.

Carb Caps

With a carb cap, you can cover the quartz banger to maintain high temperatures and control pressure (or airflow). For those who prefer to dab at lower temperatures, carb caps are a must-have.

Torches

Heating the banger of a dab rig is a bit different than a bong. To heat the piece to the right temperature, you’ll need to use a torch lighter. Torches require butane for fuel, and you can refill the torch whenever it runs out.

What Products Can You Use With A Rig?

Unlike a bong or vape, you can’t consume dry flower using a dab rig. Instead, you’ll need to use a distilled form of cannabis called a concentrate, which then becomes vapour or smoke (depending on the temperature it’s dabbed at). Due to its higher THC content, you can consume less of the product and still experience strong effects.

Cannabis concentrates and oils produce an incredibly unique flavour that you can only get with a dab rig. You can taste the distinct differences with different strains and terpenes when you consume concentrates.

A few products you can smoke using a rig include:

Using a dab rig takes some getting used to. At The Joint, we’re always available to answer any questions that you might have.