Mini Dab Rigs

Dab rigs – which are sometimes called oil rigs or concentrate bongs – are water pipes that are designed for smoking oils, concentrates and extracts. They come in many styles, shapes and sizes. Yet, a favorite of many on-the-go dabbers is the micro dab rig.

Mini dab rigs are palm-sized concentrate pipes – about a quarter of the size of a traditional glass bong – but they’re big on performance. Micro dab rigs provide huge, flavorful clouds that are easy on the lungs.

Although it might be easy to assume a bigger rig is better, with concentrates, that’s not always true. In fact, big dab rigs tend to generate harsh drags, and the vapor might even become stale in the chamber. The result: Nasty tasting, harsh clouds that waste some of the precious vapor.

A micro vapor rig, on the other hand, provides flavorful, easy-on-the-lungs clouds, with little-to-no wasted vapor. Are you looking for a new dab rig? This quick guide will help you make the choice that’s right for you.

Micro Dab Rigs: Typical Features  

In a lot of ways, dab rigs resemble traditional glass bongs. With dab rigs you’ll find scientific and heady glass options, and most feature a chamber, integrated downstem and a mouthpiece. Yet, there are some key differences.

For starters, dab rigs don’t feature a traditional bowl. Instead, dab rigs are designed to be used with a nail (although many still accommodate regular bowls, as well). Nails are typically made from quartz, titanium, or glass, and the nail gets heated with a torch. Once hot, the oil is pressed to the nail, which vaporizes it. 

A few features to look for in your next mini dab rig include:

• Percolators – The best mini dab rigs feature percolators – or percs – which filter the water. There are numerous types, including trees, disk and showerhead percs.
• Nails –Many dab rigs have integrated nails, or are designed to fit an existing nail you own. There are two main types: Domed and domeless nails. Bangers and buckets are other types of nails that are popular.
• Recyclers – Recycler rigs feature a two-chamber design, which allows the smoke to be filtered twice. The result is a smoother, cleaner drag. Recyclers tend to be a big bigger, although there are some mini recycler rigs available.
• Ice Catchers – Another feature you might see is an ice catcher. This is a part of the piece that’s designed to hold ice cubes, which helps to cool down clouds.

Types of Dab Rigs

There’s a wide variety of concentrate rigs on the market these days – from egg-style dabbers to classic scientific glass bubblers. Most dabbers fit into two main categories:

• Scientific Dab Rigs –The most common style of concentrate bong is the scientific rig. Scientific dab rigs tend to look like lab equipment – e.g. beakers and straight tubes. Plus, they’re typically clear, and they tend to utilize complex percolators and recyclers. If you want a dab rig with a clean design, a scientific glass piece is right for you.
• Heady Dab Rigs –Heady glass dabbers are bongs and water pipes that are made using advanced glass-blowing techniques. These rigs tend to feature vibrant colors, sculpted shapes, and they’re typically one-of-a-kind. With heady glass, it’s all about the artistry; these are the pieces that will wow your friends.

Bottom line, there’s an endless style of dab rigs out there. So, whether you’re shopping for a daily smoker, or you’re in search of a one-of-a-kind creation, hopefully this gives you an idea of what to look for.