Dab Rigs and Quartz Nails for Medical Marijuana Concentrates

Among the newer areas of medical cannabis consumption, at least on a relative scale, is the use of concentrates and waxes. These are materials that allow for heavy concentration of THC and elimination of contaminants from original dried flower formats, offering a more potent high and additional benefits for many medical marijuana patients.

At Whole Leaf Medical Dispensary and CBD, we’re proud to offer a wide range of concentrates and waxes for our clients. One of the primary methods for smoking these products is using what’s called a dab rig – let’s go over the basics of a dab rig for those who have never used one, plus why quartz should be your preferred nail material for the best possible experience.

Basics on Dab Rigs and Nails

While concentrates used to be smoked using hot knifing or swing skillet methods, which were rudimentary at best and often led to significant amounts of lost material, the modern evolution of this is the dab rig. These began appearing in the early 2000s, with a water pipe or “bong” format similar to traditional flower smoking – but a very different setup where the bowl would typically go.

Instead of a bowl, dab rigs contain a nail that’s meant to heat the concentrate to a very high temperature and form a vapor. Dab nails are heated using torches in most cases, and often covered with basic domes that trap the vapors in during inhalation. Nails throughout the years have been made from glass, titanium and even ceramic – but most in the industry today agree that quartz is the best material here, which we’ll discuss in our subsequent sections.

Why Quartz is Valuable

For the best combination of great flavor and medicinal benefits plus durability, quartz nails are the way to go. Often called “quartz bangers” in the industry, these items bring the toughness of titanium and the heat absorption of ceramic, plus heats up faster than either of these materials. It’s also the very best option for holding in flavor, which can be an issue with titanium nails.

Quartz and Temperature

One quick recommendation for your quartz nail: Dabbing at lower temperatures is generally the way to go. This ensures concentrates are always completely vaporized but not wasted – many patients use a “carb” cap that controls air flow and stops the nail from cooling down too fast. Temperatures that are too high may risk burning off some of the THC in advance, but also can build up a funky cloud on the surface of your quartz that will require you to clean the rig more often.

For more on dab rigs and why quartz is usually the way to go for your nail, or to learn about any of our medical cannabis products or services, speak to the staff at Whole Leaf Medical Dispensary and CBD today.