How to use a dab pen for dummies

Hands up if you love rolling up a joint or spliff after a long day at work, just to let your mind and body unwind from the hustle and bustle.

Well, weed has been around for longer than you’ve probably realized and dates back to ancient civilizations such as China, Rome, Egypt, and Greece. It was used for making textiles and paper, for food, as parts of topical treatments, and yes, they also smoked it. 

Smoking weed is the most basic form of consumption and it’s safe to say we’ve come pretty far since then. Old-time stoners will tell you that that’s the best way to do it, but with everything from edibles to pills and tinctures,that notion can easily be disputed.

Today, we’re going to take a look at another way you can consume weed called dabbing. It’s kind of similar to smoking in some ways, and different in others.

This article is all about how to use a dab pen, but we’re also going to touch on how you can get your hands on one and later show you how it compares to smoking.

But before we tell you how to use a dab pen, we should take a minute to go over what a dab pen is for those who have never heard about it before, and to clear some things up for those who are unsure.

What is a dab pen?

So a dab pen is basically a vaporizer that is the size and shape of a pen that uses cannabis concentrates that we call dabs. 

You may have heard of a vape pen before, it’s similar in function, but it’s not the same thing. A vape pen heats cannabis oil from a cartridge that is placed in the pen and turns it into a vapor that you inhale through your mouth.

A dab pen, on the other hand, uses dabs. These are small concentrates of highly potent THC that are placed on coils on the pen that then heats it to release a vapor that is also inhaled through the mouth.

Some people incorrectly refer to dab pens as wax pens but they aren’t the same thing either since you can only use “dabs” with dab pens, and “wax” (actually wax concentrates of cannabis) in wax pens.

How do dab pens work?

If you’re going to know how to use a dab pen, you’ll obviously need to know how it works right?

This way you can have a better understanding of how to use the thing, know if anything’s wrong with it, and so on.

So we already established it used coils and dabs, but we didn’t establish how it does that.

The basic design of a dab pen comes with a chamber or atomizer that has the coil which holds and heats the dabs. It has a battery which is its source of power which may be cylindrical or rectangular depending on the shape of the model, along with mini USB connector to charge the pen and a mouthpiece for you to inhale the vapor through.

When the dab is placed on the coil, the battery gets activated by a button that heats it until it melts down and turns into a vapor. The temperature at which this happens is crucial since if it’s too high, it will completely burn the dab, but if it’s too low, then it won’t get vaporized. Plus, different types of dabs are made of different materials and have different temperature requirements, around 360°F and up to 550°F for oily dabs.

How to use a dab pen

If you ended up buying a dab pen because “hey, why not?” or you heard it was cool and decided to give it a try, but now you have no clue how to use it, stick around for a full “how to use a dab pen” tutorial.

The only way to get the best value for your money, and to end up not giving it to your brother’s friend is by learning how to use it properly and efficiently.

It’s important that you note that dab pens can come in different shapes and sizes so you need to keep that in mind and adjust these guidelines accordingly. It’s always the same basic concept but for instance, your pen may heat faster, or the power button may be at the top or the middle.

With that being said, let’s finally start talking about how to use a dab pen.

How to turn it on

Turning on a dab pen is the easiest part of this whole thing since the power button is usually the only button there.

The button can be located anywhere on the dab pen but it’s always in plain sight so you won’t miss it. It can be circular, rectangular, even triangular, but it’s still the power button.

When you click the button to turn it on, it usually lights up to let you know that the pen is on. With some models, you’ll have to click it up to 5 times for the light to start blinking. Other models require you to keep holding the power button while you inhale.

Do not attempt to put the dab onto the coil before checking if the pen is working, or fully charged(green light). The pen needs enough power to get to those high temperatures and if the battery is too low (red light) it won’t work. This way you’ll avoid wasting your dab.

How to  load a dab pen

The location of your dab chamber is usually pretty obvious. Sometimes it’s separate from the mouthpiece, other times it’s located underneath it, so you’ll have to look to find it but you can’t miss it.

Once you’ve located the chamber, place a small piece onto the coil your first time, about the size of a rice grain perhaps. Remember this stuff is really potent and concentrated so you don’t need a lot to feel its effects. 

If you place too much on the coil at one time, you can cause the pen to short circuit or overload the coil. This might cause you to end up having to replace the coil or even the whole pen. Plus, it’ll be harder to clean and clog more easily.

You can use a dab tool (it usually comes with the pen) to place the dab onto your coil, or even a paper clip. Be sure not to touch it with your finger since it’s probably hot from testing it earlier, and don’t touch it with whatever you used to scoop the dab since it can damage the coil. These coils are replaceable but you don’t want to have to keep getting new ones, so be careful.

Once it’s in, close the chamber or reattach the mouthpiece, and turn on your dab pen to heat the coil.

How to dab 

You’ll have to wait for the dab to vaporize before you inhale. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds and some pens have a sort of timer to indicate when it’s time to inhale.

It’s important to keep the dab moist so that you don’t have any dry hits, so you can click the button one or two times between hits. If you’re not getting any vapor, open the chamber to see if there’s anything left inside, and add as needed. 

If the pen becomes too hot, let it cool down for a bit before you use it. Some pens come with temperature control, so you must pay attention to that. If it’s too harsh when you inhale, try reducing the heat for a smoother, more flavorful hit.

How to clean your dab pen

Dab pens will need cleaning from time to time, especially if you overpack.

Most times, you can just clean the exterior with a wet wipe or some isopropyl alcohol.

If you plan to clean inside, always disassemble. Remember that this is an electrical component so water is a no go. 

Clean the battery with a paper towel to remove dust. If necessary, use isopropyl alcohol to lightly moisten a cotton ball or swab to get off the gunk.

If there is residue on the sides of the chamber, use your dab tool to gently scrape the sides. If the residue is stubborn, turn on the pen for a few seconds to get it to melt so that it can leak out.

Regular cleaning is advised since it can prevent clogs. Some clogs can be so bad that the pen is rendered useless so are two or three uses, clean out the chamber.

If the coil is too far gone, then you’ll need a replacement. You can get those from wherever you bought your pen, or online.

If your mouthpiece is completely removable, you can clean it with warm water and soap to help remove the residue, and even let it soak for about 5 minutes. Otherwise, use the same cotton ball and isopropyl alcohol approach to clean it.

How to store your dab pen and dabs

Always try to keep your dab pen upright, especially after you use it. This way, anything inside the chamber stays there and won’t leak out the sides. When it’s cool and clean, it can be transported on its side.

Store dabs in whatever container or packaging you got them in if you only plan to keep them around for a few days. For long term storage, you can get a cheap case on Amazon or use any kind of silicone container or jar, like an old pill container or eye cream, and wrap the dabs in parchment paper. Just be sure to wash and rinse the container properly.

Store the dabs away from air, direct sunlight and humidity in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or drawer. This prevents the cannabinoids from breaking down and the dab from losing potency.

Some persons may tell you to freeze your dabs if you want to keep them for a super long time, but freezing them the wrong way can expose them to more moisture and humidity. When its time to use them in the dab pen, the vapor may even be much harsher, so proceed with caution.

How to charge your dap pen

Dab pens come with a USB connector that you can plug into the wall adapter or even your laptop.

You’ll know it has finished charging when the red light changes to green or blue. Never leave your dab pen to charge overnight since this can slowly damage the battery.

And that’s all there is on how to use a dab pen. Not that bad is it? 

Buying a dab pen

You can get a dab pen from any dispensary, or online. Some pharmacies that stock medicinal marijuana may also offer sell dab pens.

When choosing a dab pen, the first thing you’re probably going to look at is the price, and rightly so since you know what is in your budget.

You should also consider things like:

• Battery life (1-2 hours is optimal with quick recharge)
• Temperature (variable temperature dab pens are best since you can be in control)
• Shape and size ( small, sleek models may be easier to carry, but sometimes they may not be as powerful or hold as much charge as larger models. If you live somewhere where recreational marijuana isn’t legal, you’ll want a more discreet model)
• Material ( the type of material determines how easy it is to clean, it’s durability and ultimately it’s quality)
• Atomizer type ( flat atomizers give smoother hits and have a slow burn while wicked and wickless are fast heating, have more potent hits and thicker vape)

Accessories

Many dab pens come in kits with these accessories, while others are sold separately. These include:

• Dabbers/dab tools (This is used to scoop the dab and place it on the coil. It is also used for cleaning)
• Carrying case ( A carrying case offers the pen more protection than say carrying it in your pocket or backpack. It also helps to mask the smell and is good for transport your pen and other accessories together.)
• USB adapter (Some come with a wall adapter but many don’t. You can usually use all kinds of USB wall adapters to charge the pen.)
  

Smoking and dabbing compared

You know how to use a dab pen, what it is and what to consider when buying one, so now it’s time to seal the deal by comparing it to smoking.

For starters, dabbing is usually healthier. When you smoke, you inhale the THC, and everything else, down to the material that makes the rolling papers and can lead to conditions like lung cancer. However, with dabbing, you are inhaling pure cannabinoids. This does not mean that dabbing does not have health effects, as it can contain contaminants so be sure to get it from a trusted seller.

Dabbing is also more concentrated, so while you may have to smoke an entire spliff to get your desired high, you’ll only need a few hits from your dab pen. (And for those who built up a tolerance to smoking, we can’t stress the potency of dabs enough. They may be small in size but they pack a pretty powerful punch. We warned you!)

Dabbing lets you enjoy terpenes more (i.e oils that give cannabis its smell and taste) since you can control the temperature. On the other hand, since you aren’t smoking just cannabinoids, the effects won’t be as easily felt and the taste may even be unpleasant. 

A dab is more expensive than a gram. Dabs can cost anywhere from $10 to $200 while a gram of weed can cost as little as $6. However, dabs are more cost-effective since you only use a bit at a time and it’s more potent, whereas you can get only two or three spliffs from a gram.

Some will argue that dabbing is easier and some will say smoking is easier. With dabbing, all you need to do is add the dab, heat it and inhale, but for someone who isn’t used to it, it will take some time before it stops being awkward or time-consuming. With smoking, all you need to do is grind the weed, roll or add it to a preroll, light it and you’re good to go, but grinding is time consuming and so is rolling unless you have a joint roller and especially if you aren’t good at it. This argument can go either way.

Final Words

With that being said, we’re all for dabbing, since it clearly has its advantages over smoking, and now that you know how to use a dab pen, you might agree. If you don’t, no biggie, since there are many other ways to consume cannabis  and once you get the benefits whether medicinal or otherwise, then it’s all good!

Happy Dabbing!