How do you smoke wax? The options for this versatile concentrate style include using a dab rig, an e-rig, a vaporizer, or no-rig options. Each one has its pros and cons, but… how do you decide which is best?
Let’s take a deep dive not only into the world of how to smoke wax, but also the larger topic of how to smoke dabs. Whether you’re new to cannabis or an old pro, it’s important that you’re adequately prepared to explore these high-intensity cannabis products.
What is Wax?
Since they first burst onto the scene around 25 years ago, cannabis concentrates have become a sensation thanks to their high potency and potential for intense aromatics and flavors. How potent are we talking? While the strongest flower tops out in the mid-30% THC range, the most potent concentrates can top 90% THC.
Concentrates (sometimes known as “extracts”) are made either through solvent-based or solventless processes. With wax, which is made by a solvent-based process, fresh cured flower is treated with a solvent such as CO2 or butane to extract the cannabinoids and flavorful terpenes. The solvent is then carefully purged, or washed away.
How does it get that memorable texture? That comes through further processing, and it’s carefully modulated to yield specific textures and viscosities. Depending on their consistency, concentrates will be labeled as wax, budder, badder, or shatter, among other types.
Ways to Smoke Wax and Dabs
When it comes to smoking wax, you have a number of options: Using a dedicated dab rig or an e-rig, a popular variation.
While learning to use a dab rig demands careful preparation and a bit of practice, many connoisseurs agree it’s the best way to access the full potency and flavor of cannabis concentrates.
How to Smoke Wax with a Dab Rig
Dab rigs are similar to a bong or water pipe in many regards, except in place of the bowl, this specialized equipment features a metal or quartz “nail” or “banger.” This is a spike designed to absorb and retain heat from a lighter or a butane-powered kitchen torch. You can also use an e-nail, an electronically heated nail that eliminates the need for an open flame.
Here’s how to smoke wax with a dab rig in three easy steps:
Step 1: Place a tiny bit of wax onto a dab tool, a purpose-made implement that makes it easy to gather sticky concentrate and apply it to a hot nail. For those just learning how to smoke dabs, we recommend they start slow, about ¼ or ½ a pea-sized amount at the most.
Step 2: Use your torch to heat the nail. After heating the banger with your torch for roughly 30 seconds, let it cool down for 45 to 90 seconds, depending on the glass thickness. Thinner bangers need 30 to 45 seconds, standard ones need 45 to 60 seconds, and thick or opaque-bottom bangers require 60 to 90 seconds to reach an ideal flavor-preserving temperature of 450°F–500°F.
Step 3: Partake. Apply the wax from your dabbing tool to the inside of the nail as you gently inhale. The wax should sizzle slightly as it vaporizes, indicating that the nail is at the correct temperature. Hold the dab inside your lungs like you would smoke from a pipe, and then gently exhale.
How to Smoke Wax with an E-Rig
As a viable, lower-barrier alternative to the traditional dab rig, the e-rig is an increasingly popular no-torch method for how to smoke dabs. Because there’s no open flame required, many feel this method is inherently simpler and easier to navigate than a regular dabbing rig setup.
Many units employ the cold-start method, also known as “reverse dabbing.” Simply place your concentrate into a completely cold chamber before initiating any heat. The preheat function, if available, is activated via button codes (often a double-click). In this mode, the unit slowly pulses low voltage to soften thick concentrates and prime the atomizer before your session begins.
How Can You Smoke Wax Without a Dab Rig?
How can you smoke wax without a dab rig? No problem! Thanks to the versatility of this popular concentrate format, there are a number of ways to enjoy it without the investment in a rig. Here’s a few popular approaches:
Dab Straw or Nectar Collector
If you’re wondering how to take a dab without a rig, the simple and elegant dab straw (or “nectar collector”) should be at the top of your list. This portable variation of a dab rig looks just like a high-tech drinking straw. To use it, heat the tip (much like the nail on a dab rig) and then drag it through a tiny dab spread out on a tray or dish. As the hot tip of the nectar collector passes through the wax and vaporizes it, you inhale through the mouthpiece and consume the vapor.
Vaporizing Wax
If you’re interested in learning how to smoke dabs without a rig or pen, it’s hard to beat a dedicated wax vaporizer. Not dissimilar from the standard pen-style vaporizers available at dispensaries, these units are also designed to handle concentrates such as wax. Simply spread a tiny dab into the heating chamber, power the unit, and gently inhale.
Worried your device might not be compatible? Be sure it includes a concentrate pad/concentrate attachment, a simple removable platform that holds the concentrate safely so that it can’t melt into the heating coil. Ask your friendly budtender for tips or check the manufacturer’s website for guidance.
Adding Wax to a Joint or Bowl
Another method for how to smoke wax without a rig or straw is the “spark it up!” approach. Whether added to a joint or a bowl, it delivers a simple but intense upgrade.
Infuse a Joint, Spliff, or Blunt
Adding a tiny bit of wax to a joint, spliff, or blunt (also known as “twaxing”) is an effective way to add potency and flavor to your usual smoking routine. One of the best methods is to roll out a tiny bit of wax into a long snake-like shape roughly the same length of your joint, then roll it up with your crushed flower. Alternatively, the “snake” can be wrapped around the outside of the joint. You may sacrifice some precious potency, but it’s certainly eye-catching and fun to try.
Add it to a Bowl
Along the same lines, a tiny bit of wax can be dropped into a pipe or bong bowl. Remember: You’re adding significant potency, so less is often more!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
No matter your experience level, it’s always worth reviewing best practices around smoking wax or other concentrates. Some of the issues we see most include:
- Overloading: Including too much product per dab.
- Touching hot surfaces: Remember that you’re working with hot surfaces. Stay focused, move slowly and carefully, and save yourself the pain and irritation of a burn
- Skipping tool cleaning between sessions: Cleaning your tools after each use will assure long, trouble-free service. We recommend isopropyl alcohol, cotton swabs, or gentle scrubbing with a spear-like dab tool for the corners.
Mission’s Best Practices for a Great Wax Experience
Start by seeking out the best wax you can afford. You’ll experience purer flavors, a cleaner high, and a better overall experience. Assess the material you’re working with and adjust your approach accordingly.
And no matter which concentrate you’re working with (wax, shatter, live resin or any other), be sure you hit it the right temperature: When wax is dabbed at the wrong temperature, it can harden into a resin that will clog your gear. We recommend aiming for between 450°F and 520°F for a great mix of rich flavor and smooth vapor.
Dosing & Safety Tips for Wax and Dabs
Cannabis concentrates are extremely potent, often hitting THC contents of 90% or even higher. By way of comparison, the very strongest flower tops out in the mid-30% THC range.
That’s why, as with all cannabis products, we advise our customers to start low and go slow. Especially with products as potent and intense as concentrates, it’s always smart to have a little bit and then wait a few minutes to assess the effects.
And remember: If you’re new to concentrates and need a bit more guidance, just ask any of our friendly budtenders the next time you stop by one of our dispensaries. They’re here to help!
How to Store Wax and Dabs
As with any type of cannabis concentrate, we recommend storing wax in a cool, dark, airtight storage environment. This helps avoid the flavor and potency degradation associated with exposure to light or heat.
To keep your wax at peak freshness, store it in airtight glass or silicone containers in a cool, dark, and dry place such as a drawer or cabinet, aiming for an ambient temperature of around 60°F to 70°F. If you’re worried about stickiness, use parchment paper or silicone containers to prevent any wastage.
Exploring Wax at Mission
Here at Mission, we’re all about helping you find your perfect dab. From the in-house Dabl line — a family of versatile, high-potency products including live resin, solventless hash rosin, and Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) — to a huge selection of fan-favorite cannabis concentrate styles, we’re your gateway to high potency and intense effects.
And for crucial consumption tips and guidance, start with our What Are THC Diamonds, What Is Ice Water Hash, or our introduction to extracts and concentrates page.
If you have burning questions about using wax, shatter, live resin, or any other cannabis products, just ask your budtender.
FAQs About How to Smoke Wax
How do you smoke a dab with only a lighter?
If you’re interested in how to smoke wax without a rig or straw, we recommend safe, purpose-made tools such as dab straws or e-rigs. Rather than the old-fashioned “hot knife” technique, this avoids risky open-flame techniques.
How do you take dabs without a rig?
There are a number of approaches for how to take a dab without a rig. A popular method involves simple tools such as dab straws (aka “nectar collectors”). In a pinch, you can add a small amount of wax to a bowl or a joint as well.
What’s the difference between wax and dabs?
Dabs refer to any type of cannabis concentrate, a highly potent and flavorful refinement of cannabis flower. Wax is a specific style of concentrate, a flavorful solvent-based extraction that takes the form of a semi-soft, spreadable paste.
Do you need special tools to smoke wax?
While many consumers feel a dab rig is the best tool to enjoy wax, you can use simpler options such as e-rigs, dab straws (aka “nectar collectors), or even adding tiny amounts of wax to a bowl or a joint.
How much wax should a beginner use?
Because wax and other cannabis concentrates are so potent, we recommend new consumers to start with the smallest possible amount, a piece approximately half the size of a grain of rice, ideally. Wait a few minutes after consuming to assess the effects, and only then consume more if desired.
