8 Tools Every Dab Setup Needs for a Cleaner Session

A cleaner dab session starts much earlier. Your dabbing accessories will help to keep your concentrates in check, regulate airflow, and above all prevent resin from getting into your glass, onto your hands and other surfaces etc. and then creating a huge amount of additional cleaning up afterwards.

Each of these items serves to eliminate uncertainty regarding dabbing and aid in cleaning up after smoking. While having an abundance of dabbing gear is not necessary, having the right amount to complete the following tasks on a daily basis is vital to having clean sessions: loading, heating, capping, storing, protecting, and cleaning up after.

Whether using a focus dabbing or other concentrates, a good dabbing tool should match the behavior of your concentrate under heat and pressure. That is to say that a good dabbing tool should be balanced (so that it does not tip when pressed against a surface), paired with a good banger, a good carb cap, and a good storage jar for the concentrate. There are a wide variety of great tools available to help with cleaning up after dabbing, so be sure to check out a Professional Dab Smoking Tools Collection. Compare and contrast the shapes and sizes of various equipment, as well as the material, in order to determine which will be best for your purposes and for cleaner, more efficient dabbing.

A good dabber tool is designed to hold your concentrates before you drop them in your banger. These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from simple glass sticks with pointed ends to more elaborate dabbers with flat surfaces or even scoops for slumping, gooey concentrates. Materials include glass, titanium, stainless steel, and even ceramic. Your preference for a dabber tool will generally depend on the type of concentrates you are working with, the kind of cleaning you like to do, and the general comfort of the material between your fingers.

A banger is the component where all the action takes place to vaporize your concentrate. We recommend Quartz bangers because they distribute heat evenly and are very visible to any left over residue. Typically you would clean out your banger before the residue hardens to the bowl.
45° and 90° bangers also come in various sizes to fit your rig. It's also very important that the banger sits at a very straight angle to your downstem. If not, the heated surface can lean severely which can cause you to spill concentrate, and make it very difficult to use a carb cap.

A carb cap helps to control the airflow over the concentrate that has been heated up in the banger. By allowing for better vapor production at lower temperatures, you can avoid producing a lot of residue that will scorch and cause dark stains in the banger.

Many carb caps also have a directional air flow which can be helpful to get the air to flow in the best possible way over the surface of the concentrate. Bubble caps are also very useful as they spread the oil out evenly.

Clean vaporization is directly related to proper temperature of the concentrate and therefore the banger. Consistent heat is produced by using a torch to heat up the nail of the banger. Users of such devices have to be careful not to overheat the concentrate as this will produce harsh and even bad residues.

These pieces simply provide more consistent temperature control to achieve cleaner results. Regardless of heat source, achieving clean results primarily relates to how well the banger is heated evenly and allowed to cool slightly before use.

Dab Mats are used to protect surfaces from sticky concentrate residue. Also, these mats can hold your dabbing tools and other components to keep everything clean and organized between uses. Recommended Dab Mats are made of silicone.

Also be sure the dab mat is big enough for your rig, dabber, carb cap and jar. Spills happen on a crowded surface and having to move hot glass could be a problem.

Storage is also an issue that can keep your concentrate fresh for longer. Focus on storage containers that are made of silicone for sticky oil and glass for oily but non-sticky oil. Make sure that your container for oil also closes tightly and is not near any heat source as this can soften your concentrate and cause a huge mess when you try to use it.

A container for your concentrate should close up tight and not be near any heat source. The concentrate can become very gooey when heated up. A small container will help to keep your concentrate fresh by not being exposed to the air, and by not being handled too much.

A reclaimer is a wonderful cleaning aid, which catches the majority of remaining oil to keep your water and glass spotless for a longer time. This also makes the cleaning up of your rig a lot easier, as the remaining oil collects in one spot, the reclaimer.

A good reclaimer has the right joint size and angle for the banger and rig. A loose or poor fitting reclaimer can be unstable.

Cleaning Tools – Clean-up is critical to a good dabbing experience. Almost always, Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and cotton swabs are required for most clean-up. Other supplies include water and soft cloth to clean glass. The banger should always be cleaned while any residue is still soft.

The deep cleaning of a concentration device needs to take place before massive amounts of residue build up. The parts that can be removed from the banger need to be soaked in order to dissolve the very stubborn residue. After rinsing the parts with water, they need to be thoroughly dried in order to prevent any type of cleaner from being left on the glass that will be heated up in the future.

Using each tool for the intended task will result in a cleaner session. Your dabber loads your banger. Your banger is heated. Your carb cap manages airflow. And your storage container holds your concentrate for you until you're ready to use it.

Using the best protective surfaces, reclaim catchers, and cleaning supplies will help to reduce residue before it spreads. In the end, having the right tools for the job will make for a cleaner session, make your rig easier to use, safer to clean, and better to smoke.