Glass Dab Rigs

What’s a Glass Dab Rig?

Small dab rigs are known as the smoking device that maintains the most flavor of whatever you’re putting in your bowl. Glass is known as a neutral material that maintains the flavor of the smoke or vapors it’s in contact with. So it’s only natural that glass dab rigs have become the experienced smoker’s choice when looking for a strong high and superior flavor.

At first glance, dab rigs and bongs look like the same thing. But there’s one major difference; dab rigs vaporize concentrates while bongs burn herb. Because of this, the bowl of a dab rig (known as a nail) is quite different from a bong. The nail gets blasted with a blow torch until it’s red hot, you load it with your concentrates, and then you inhale from the mouthpiece while the concentrates vaporize. So the nail has to be able to withstand high temperatures repeatedly without cracking.

What’s a mini rig?

A mini rig is simply a tiny dab rig. And what these little dab rigs lack in size, they make up for in flavor! The smaller the rig, the less chance there is for the vapor to evaporate on the way to your lips. So if you’re big on flavor, consider adding a small glass dab rig to your collection.

Shopping tips

When you’re shopping for dab glassware it’s important to remember that bigger is not always better. The bigger the chamber, the more chance the vapor has to evaporate before it reaches your mouth. For this reason, even some of the larger dab rigs have compressed chambers. Keep an eye on the size of the chamber in a scaled rig if you want strong hits that are full of flavor.

Another thing to look at is the material of the nail. The nail has to be able to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time without cracking or shattering. More details about nail materials are discussed below. A mini dab rig with a titanium nail is a popular choice for dabbing enthusiasts.

The material of the nail has an effect on the overall price of the rig, with quartz being the most expensive and glass being the most budget-friendly. But never fear, you don’t have to take out a loan to get a mini dab rig kit of your own. Browse through our cheap mini dab rigs and you’ll see many dab rigs under $100.

Dab rigs have also become functional art pieces at the hands of some super talented glass blowers. If you’re looking for a piece that promises smooth hits while looking awesome, browse through our themed dab rigs to fill this need.

While we’re on the subject of functional art, we need to address the cappuccino rig. It’s a small dab bong that’s made to look like a to-go iced coffee cup, straw, and all. It’s made from borosilicate glass so it can handle the job of a tiny oil rig. This is a great piece for those caffeine junkies who love to mix rigs and coffee. Just don’t try and take it through the drive-thru for a refill.

How to choose a glass dab rig

With endless options on the market, making the right choice for your needs can be quite a task. Read on for a few tips to help you choose the best dab rig for you.

1. Material. So you’ve chosen glass. Wise move. You’ll be happy with the superior flavor this non-toxic material provides. But not all glass is made equal. Borosilicate glass has a special ingredient that allows it to resist extreme changes in temperature. This means your mini concentrate rig can go from the freezer to being blasted with a blow torch without shattering.
2. Size. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; when it comes to dab rigs, bigger is not always better. Look for a small chamber (or a compressed chamber in larger rigs) to make sure that the vapor maintains its flavor and potency during its trip through the rig. A small rig doesn’t mean small dabs, either, because the size of the chamber has nothing to do with how long you can inhale for.
3. Nail. The nail is a vital part of your dab rig. You want it to heat up quite quickly, retain that heat for a while, and not shatter or crack at high temperatures. For this reason, nails are usually made out of titanium, quartz, ceramic, and glass.
4. Quartz is the premier option because it’s non-toxic, durable, and heats up quickly.
5. Glass is the budget option, and while useful, is prone to cracking and even shattering in extreme cases.
6. Titanium is another popular option due to its durability and heat retention qualities. Make sure it’s food-grade titanium for a toxin-free session.
7. Ceramic. Slow to heat up, and slow to cool down, ceramic nails are great non-toxic material. Ceramic is fragile though so be gentle.