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Dabbing has become increasingly popular in today’s day and age. However, that also means there are a lot of different dabbing-specific terms that can sometimes be very hard to understand. That’s why it can be a great idea to learn more about them; we are here to assist. In this article, we will help you better understand some of the more common dabbing terms and see what they mean and what influence they have when it comes to the dabbing process.
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What is Dabbing?
It’s a cannabis consumption method that involves inhaling vaporized cannabis concentrates through a water pipe or rig. While other methods might not get you there, dabbing provides a more potent high due to the concentrated THC in the dab.
The term “dab” can also refer to the cannabis concentrates that are used for dabbing. These concentrates are typically made by extracting THC from cannabis flowers using solvents like butane or CO2.
Common Dabbing Terms
Dab slang terms, commonly used among teens, can relate to the substances, devices, or methods used for dabbing. Despite the unfamiliarity of these terms to most people, it’s essential to learn about them to understand the potential risks and dangers associated with teen drug use.
Wax: The term cannabis wax is very common, and the main reason is that cannabis wax is a concentrate. As the name suggests, the texture is very similar to wax and quite sticky.
Titanium: Titanium is very common in the world of dabbing. You will notice titanium is excellent in the case of many dabbing tools, ranging from carb caps to nails and even dabbers. Many people use it because it’s reliable, even with high temperatures. It’s crucial to remember that grade 2 titanium is the most commonly used, and it’s also the safest option out of all the grades.
Terpenes: Terpenes are common in the world of plants, but when it comes to dabbing, they are those things we smell when we break buds into two or more pieces. They are the ones that dictate the overall aroma, and it’s one of the most important aspects for many people interested in flavors more than anything else.
Terp pearls: These pearls are some ruby or quartz-made balls that you can find spinning within the dab nail. The idea here is that they help spread heat and the overall concentrates, something to keep in mind.
Shatter: It’s a cannabis concentrate with a consistency very similar to glass. When it comes to its appearance, it features a translucent look, also identical to amber.
Rosin: Rosin is a solventless concentrate made from kief, hash, or cannabis flower. The way they do it is they use a machine that compresses it via pressurizing and using heat. It also helps separate the resin from the overall plant. Even flat irons are great for rosin creation, so there are some alternatives to consider here too.
Reverse dabbing: The name is self-explanatory; you’re dabbing but in reverse. It means that instead of nail heating before you use the concentrate, you first load and then heat. It can still be a great option and solution that helps save time while sprucing up the process.
QWET: Also known as quick wash ethanol, this is an extraction process. The main focus here is to help create resin extract. What makes ethanol great is that it’s water-soluble, polar, and can eliminate plant trichomes. That’s very helpful during the dabbing process.
QWISO: QWISO is also known as quick-wash isopropyl alcohol. It’s also an extraction system that focuses on using any isopropyl alcohol to make the extraction process quicker and more convenient. The reason why you want to use Isopropyl alcohol is because of its water solubility and very high polarity. You will have some restrictions since it’s only possible to use its pure form.
Quartz: Quartz is extremely popular because it’s durable and it resists high temperatures. Inserts, carb caps, and quartz bangers will help enhance your dabbing experience compellingly.
PHO or Propane Hash Oil: PHO is a concentrate that you can make with the help of propane. Why is it a good idea? Since butane has a higher boiling point when compared to propane, the latter can be a beneficial and powerful option to consider. It’s perfect for extracting terpenes, not to mention cannabinoids too.
Percolators: Percolators, also known as diffusers, come with a dab rig. The idea here is to try and diffuse vapors and ensure they become smaller bubbles. In doing so, they become much better for smooth hits and filtrate water better. There are different percolators:
- Disk percolators have a holed disk shape
- Honeycomb perks come with a honeycomb-like design, which means they bring a horizontal, flat disk and holes with similar spacing.
- Showerhead percolators are also different, they have a more extended vertical cube, and then at the bottom, they have a flare with either some holes or slits.
Oil: What’s important to note about oil is that it covers many cannabis items. These can be tinctures, concentrates, vape oils, and even tinctures. What’s excellent about oils is they can be ingested or vaporized, depending on the situation.
Nails: In the world of dabbing, nails are a crucial part of the entire process. You add nails to the rig, and you must heat them before you add any concentrate. You can find nails made out of ceramic, titanium, or even quartz.
Low temp dabs: Generally, many people prefer low-temperature dabbing since it’s safer and more accessible. That means you go for temperatures between 500 to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. With its help, you can vaporize most terpenes. At higher temperatures, you can quickly burn terpenes. In doing that, you can remove some of the aroma. Thankfully, low temp dabbing helps prevent that, and it will deliver better results overall.
Live Resin: Live resin is a concentrate with a lot of terpenes. You can make it using fresh and frozen buds. Unlike other methods, you don’t have curing or any drying before extraction occurs. Instead, you freeze buds after harvesting, so you can prevent any of the sensitive terpenes from going away. Even if HTFSE is missing, we are getting a viscous consistency.
Joint size: It’s the size of the joint, the diameter you have on the rig or nail. There are different joint sizes on the market, but 19 mm, 14 mm, and 10 mm are the most common.
Inserts: Inserts are quartz-made, small containers in the form of a dish. These will help separate heat and oil, and that helps with the heat distribution process. Doing that also means you get more control over your dabbing experience, which is always helpful.
HTFSE: HTFSE is known as the high terpene full spectrum extracts. It’s the best concentrate grade you can find on the market right now. What’s important to note here is that it removes many psychoactive compounds from the strain. If you want great relief and little to no side effects, this is the best option you need to consider. Not only that, but you also have a different consistency, a blend between crystallization and syrup.
Ground joint: The ground joint has a female piece on the outer side and a male piece on the inside. By combining these, you have perfect sealing, making vapor funneling a much more straightforward and consistent process.
Grade 2 titanium: Titanium is one of the best dabbing nail materials, and grade 2 is the best out there. It excels when it comes to safety, and it’s also high quality.
Extraction: During this process, you remove any of the cannabis trichome resin from plant material that’s not active. You have different options here, but using solvents seems to be the ideal option. You can go with carbon dioxide, butane, or ethanol, which will help eliminate psychoactive residues. You have a much more consistent resin, but it can still vary.
E-nail: As the name suggests, this is an electronic nail that focuses on setting a specific temperature by heating the banger. You can use a digital control box and plug it in to heat a coil. Thanks to that, you have a much better way to keep the desired temperature while preventing any problems that can arise during the dabbing process.
Downstem: It’s a tube that you use to funnel vapor. You guide vapor to the chamber rig from your nail.
Dabs or concentrate: You can find different types of concentrate; they can be live resin, wax, shatter, and many others. During the dabbing process, you use your rig to generate vapors you inhale.
Dabber: Dabbers are thin, long tools that help you manage and use concentrates. With a dabber, you can easily pick the dosage and then use it on the hot nail. Dabbers use different materials; these can be titanium, glass, stainless steel, and so on. They can also have a multitude of different shapes.
Dab rig: The role of a dab rig is to help you use the hot nail, take a dab and then inhale the terpenes and cannabinoids. Most dab rigs feature glass that’s heat resistant. You also get a nail made out of ceramic, titanium, or quartz in some cases.
Cold start dab: Cold start dabs are the same as reverse dabs, which you can find explained above.
Carb cap: This type of tool offers an excellent method to help control airflow and stop or restrict it as necessary. Its role is to be a lid; in doing so, you’ll use lower temperatures to vaporize your dab. Some of these carb caps come with a rounded end; others do not.
Cannabinoids: There are over 100 known cannabinoids, and they are cannabis compounds. The most common ones are CBD and THC. CBD is widely found in the help, whereas most marijuana plants have a lot of THC. However, THC brings a psychoactive experience, while CBD helps you relax and eliminate pain, among other benefits.
Butane hash oil: It comes with high potency and relies on using a very special solvent, which in this case is butane. Manufacturers rely on liquid butane going through the cannabis compounds. It eliminates residues, and that helps the process as a whole. There are different consistencies, like shatter, wax, live resin, or even oil.
Boro: Boro is short for borosilicate glassware. This category includes things like rigs, pipes, and bongs, among others. What’s important to note about borosilicate glass is that its thermal expansion is not that high. It will manage even higher temperatures without cracking. That makes it extremely good for dabbing.
Banger: Bangers are an attachment you add to a dab rig. You can heat it with an e-nail or a torch to help vaporize your concentrate. These bangers come in different sizes and styles; the neck has an angle of 45 or 90 degrees. While there are many banger styles, flat-top ones tend to be very popular.
710: The reason why 710 is popular is because whenever you put it upside down, it reads OIL. Over the years, 710 has become highly similar to 420 in the world of weed, but in this case, it’s mainly focused on dabbing.
We hope this dabbing glossary will give you a much better understanding of the dabbing process and the most common dabbing jargon available. Even if there are things we didn’t include, contact us, and we will update our list!