What’s The Best Temperature For Dabbing?

Dabbing has only gotten more popular in recent years. As cannabis continues to become legal across the States, we’re seeing more people trying out new weed products and dabs are near the top of the list! 

However, dabs are unique in the world of weed. Joints, vapes, and even edibles are pretty straightforward and don’t require much in the way of specialty gear. Dabs, on the other hand, open up a whole new world of weed. 

Let’s start our deep dive into dabs by talking about one of the biggest questions in dabbing—what’s the best temperature for your dabs?

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The Role Of Terpenes In Dab Temperature

Possibly the biggest reason people enjoy taking a dab is that it releases a potent mix of cannabis taste and aromas. This is due to the terpene compounds that give cannabis its flavor and infamous scent.

However, those terpenes are also very delicate and burn easily. If your dab gets too hot, the terpenes will scorch leading into a burnt, bitter flavor. Overheating your terpenes too far can even ruin your dab.

Understanding the appropriate temperature for dabbing starts with knowing the boiling points of some of the most common terpenes in cannabis. 

Terpene Boiling Points

Terpenes are chemicals found in any plant that are responsible for tastes and aromas. Cannabis terpenes are among some of the most famous and are responsible for everything from the infamous aroma of a dank, diesel strain to the delicate flavors of dessert strains.

There are over 200 terpenes that have been identified in the cannabis plant. Here are just a few of the most common terpenes and their boiling points. 

• Beta-myrcene: 334ºF
• Beta-caryophyllene: 320ºF
• Humulene: 388ºF
• Limonene: 349ºF
• Alpha-pinene: 311ºF
• Terpinolene: 365ºF
• Linalool: 388ºF

Knowing these boiling points is important for dabbing, but it’s also essential for knowing your way around cannabis products in general. Many of these terpenes can get destroyed during manufacturing if a company uses processing methods that increase the temperature of the terpene above these points. 

What Is The Best Dab Temperature?

The best temperature range for dabbing is to stay within the standard dabbing range or the low temperature dab range. This means keeping your dab is somewhere between 400° and 570° F.

This dab range will allow you to not only release the terpenes, but also vaporize most of your concentrate.

Dabs lower than this temperature range will not be able to vaporize all of your cannabis concentrate. This will leave behind a mess as well as waste valuable concentrate since it won’t be getting vaporized at lower temperatures.

Higher temperatures can also waste cannabis concentrate by burning it rather than vaporizing it. This can also create unpleasant, bitter tastes or even release dangerous vapors if the temperature gets too high.

Here’s a handy guide for the best dab temperature ranges. 

• Standard dabbing range: 545-570°F
• Low-temp dabs: 400-500°F
• Mid-range dabs: 500-545°F
• Hot dabs: 570-600°F or higher

High-Temperature VS Low-Temperature Dabs

High temperature dabbing happens when you take a dab that’s above the hot dab range. High temperature dabbing does not have much in the way of benefits, but it does have a few important problems that we should point out.

If your nail is still glowing red when you go to take a dab, it’s still way too hot. Even a faint red glow means that your nail is going to be over 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

At those temperatures, terpenes will combust and cannabinoids will burn. This means you won’t get much in the way of flavor or high from a high temperature dab.

Low temperature dabs, on the other hand, have benefits and trade-offs that we should take a closer look at.

If you want the quick answer, low temperature dabs are better than high temperature dabs because you’ll still be getting some flavor and THC out of the dabbing experience with low temperature dabs.

Low-Temperature Dabbing

Low temperature dabbing is an interesting case with some unique trade-offs that you should consider.

Low temperature dabbing produces the strongest and most complex flavors and aromas. If you’re looking to really savor the experience of terpenes, low temperature dabbing is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Yes, low temperature dabbing will still absolutely get you high as these temperatures are perfect for converting THCA into usable THC.

The biggest trade-off to low temperature dabbing is that there’s a good chance it will not be able to vaporize all of the oil on your nail. This means that some of the oil will get wasted in the process of low temperature dabbing.

This is a trade-off that is widely accepted as the perfect dab temp in the dabbing scene. 

Benefits of low-temperature dabs

The biggest benefit of low temperature dabbing is that it gives you the best experience. You’ll still get a potent high while also getting to taste the rich and complicated flavors in your favorite cannabis concentrates.

Low temperature dabbing is also safer than high temperature dabbing which makes it a great place to start for first time dabbers. 

Best Devices For Low-Temperature Dabbing – Dab Pens

Getting the temperature right on a low temp dab can be a little tricky. As temperatures start to get too low, your concentrate might not even vaporize.

This is where a dab pen comes in. Deb pens I have automatic temperature settings, so you can take the guesswork out of getting the right temperature on your dab.

All you need to do is set your dab pen to a temperature in the lower range, add your favorite cannabis concentrate, and you’re good to go. 

Tips For Enjoying Low-Temperature, Terpene-Rich Dabs

Low temperature dabbing is the best place to start, and we’ve got five tips that can make sure that your first low temp dab is a great experience. 

1. Get To Know Your Nail

If you’ve got a classic nail, it’s going to be a trial and error process learning how to get it to the right temperature. We’ve got some tips later on for how you can always get the right temperature on a classic nail, but know that it might take some time for you to get used to how your particular nail heats up. 

2. Try Terp Pearls

Terp pearls, also known as dab balls, are made of a heat-resistant material like stone or crystal. You can add them to your banger, and they will evenly distribute heat throughout your cannabis concentrate.

Terp pearls are a great way to ensure that you can get even heating throughout your dab. 

3. Use An eNail 

An eNail is probably the best way to go when it comes to getting the right temperature every time.

eNails have internal, ceramic heating elements that can be dialed in to a precise temperature. eNails are also incredibly consistent which ensures you get the same dabbing experience time after time.

You still might need to do some calibration with your eNail as the rest of your dabbing equipment will still have an effect on the overall experience as well as the temperature of your dab. 

4. Add An Insert Dish

Insert dishes are an affordable and effective way to lower the temperature of your dab.

Insert dishes are made of a heat-resistant material that can be dropped into your banger after heating up your dab. This slows down the heating process and produces a low temperature draw.

Insert dishes are a great way to make sure that your first hate is flavorful and laid back. An insert dish will also help make sure that you don’t accidentally get a harsh draw on your first hit from your dab rig. 

5. Learn How To Cold-Start Your Dab

Cold starting your dab is a unique technique that not everyone uses. However, it is a great way to ensure that you can get a low temperature dab and use up most of your cannabis concentrate in the process.

Cold starting involves loading a room temperature to average up with your cannabis concentrate oil. You then add your carb cap to your rig and begin heating up your concentrate.

Once the concentrate starts to bubble, you’re good to start taking hits. It might take around 10 seconds or more for your concentrate to start to vaporize.

Cold starting is often called reverse dabbing. It’s a little tricky to get the hang of, but it is an effective way to ensure consistent low temperature dabbing. 

Standard-Temperature Dabbing 

Standard temperature dabbing is going to deliver a blended experience that is fairly forgivable, gives a potent high, while still retaining a good amount of cannabis flavor.

The standard dabbing range is easier to hit than either low temperature or high temperature dabbing. Most eNails also bias towards the standard temperature dabbing range which makes it a natural choice for most first-timers.

We still recommend low temperature dabbing overall, but it might be easier to hit the standard temperature dabbing range with most equipment. 

High-Temperature Dabbing

Hot dabbing occurs at some of the highest temperatures. There are some important trade-offs to consider when dabbing in this temperature range.

Some dab products are best used at the hot temperature dabbing range. This includes THCA crystals which won’t start to vaporize until you hit a fairly hot temperature.

Hot dabbing also releases the most potent burst of THC. If you’re less concerned about the flavor, and more focused on the high, hot dabbing might be the experience that you’re looking for.

Just make sure you don’t accidentally cross the line into burning rather than vaporizing your concentrate. This could not only ruin your draw, it could also create some serious health concerns. 

Best Devices For High-Temperature Dabbing

Again, the best devices for a high temperature or hot dab are dab pens and eNails.

These electronic devices allow you to dial in the perfect high temperature. This is arguably more important at high temperatures than it is at low temperatures because you want to prevent burning which can be best done with the precision of electronic dab gear. 

Tips For Enjoying High-Temperature Dabs, Terpene-Rich Dabs

Here are two important steps to consider to make sure that you enjoy the most flavor out of a high temperature dab.

The first thing that you want to do is get the right temperature on your nail every single time. We recommend using a temperature gun or using an eNail so that you’re never crossing the line into the temperature range that can burn your concentrates.

We also recommend asking your budtender for a good concentrate that can withstand higher temperatures. THC crystals are well known for their ability to withstand high temperature dabbing, but your local dispensary might have other cannabis concentrates that are just as good at high temps. 

How To Achieve The Best Dab Temp

We’re going to walk you through the three key steps to achieving the best dab temperature. This info is perfect for first time dabbers as well as seasoned experts looking to perfect their craft. 

1. Consider the components in your setup

Each element of your dab experience is going to change the overall temperature of your nail when it comes time to take your hit.

This can include the strength and size of your torch, the material that your nail is made out of, and the consistency of your concentrate.

We recommend using a temperature gun if you’re new to dabbing. This allows you to check the temperature of your nail and get it exactly right before taking your hit. 

2. Know your heat-up and cool-down times

Knowing how long it takes your dab rig to heat up and cool back down is vital for getting a smooth hit every time.

Most dab rigs will take 30 to 40 seconds to heat up and 30 to 60 seconds to cool back down. This all depends on the material that your dab rig is made of.

Always keep in mind that if you see your dab rig glowing red, that means it’s way too hot to take a hit. That would only burn your concentrate and ruin the overall experience. 

3. Use an eNail for complete temperature control

The only way to get a 100% consistent temperature every time is to use an eNail. This allows you to use a digital control to set your temperature before you take a hit. 

Your eNail will hold a consistent temperature until you turn it off. This makes eNails a strong choice if you plan on taking dabs with your friends, and you want to make sure that everyone has a great experience. 

How To Gauge The Temperature Of Your Nail

Now, we’ve got a few tips for how you can always gauge the temperature of your nail no matter what you’ve got on hand.

• Temperature gun—Infrared temperature guns measure the heat coming off of your nail in an instant and give you the most accurate possible reading of your nail temperature 
• Wrist check—The wrist check is used by more experienced dabbers. All you need to do is hover your wrist above the surface of your nail and when the heat no longer causes a stinging sensation, it’s safe to dab 
• Timer—If you know the heat up and cooldown times of your dab rig, the timer can give you a great shorthand guess for basic temperature ranges 
• Terpometer—A Terpometer is designed to work explicitly with your dab rig. All you need to do is attach it to your nail and wait for the light to Glow green which lets you know it’s time to take a hit 
• eNail—An eNail is still the best way to get a consistent temperature. eNails have easy to use controls and a reliable heating element which means you get the right temperature on your nail every time 

Be Safe When Increasing Dabbing Temperature

Dabbing can create a wonderful experience, but it also has some safety concerns that you should keep in mind. 

After all, even the best tab can be ruined by a serious burn. 

Stay Safe With Hot Glass

The first thing that you should keep in mind is that your dab is going to get very hot while you’re using it. This is especially important for beginners who might accidentally touch the banger or the nail while dabbing.

Take extra precaution when you’re doing hot dabs or if you accidentally let your dab rig get red-hot. 

Take Small Dabs

We recommend taking small dabs. Dabs can hit like a truck if you are new to the experience. This delivers a potent concentration of THC in a very small hit.

If you’re new to the world of dabbing, you might not be ready for just how hard a dab can hit. Taking a smaller dab is a great way to ease yourself into this new kind of experience.

Use Clean Glass

Everyone has taken a hit off of a bong or a glass pipe that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. It’s got a harsh draw and an unpleasant taste. This only gets more noticeable when you start dabbing.

Any leftover concentrate in your dab rig is going to burn or scorch when you go to take a hit. This is going to ruin your draw with a bitter taste that can lead to a lot of coughing.

Remember to give your dab rig a deep clean in between sessions to make sure that you’ve always got smooth draws. 

Wrapping Up The Best Dab Rig Temperature 

You’ve now mastered the basics of getting the optimum temperature for dabbing.

Whether you want a low temperature dab that’s got a good high with excellent flavor or you’re looking to maximize the THC experience, you can get the temperature that’s right for you without wasting your cannabis concentrate.

Let us know your favorite dab tips and tricks in the comments and make sure to check out our other articles on vaping, dabs, and everything cannabis. 

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