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What is dabbing?
Short and simple: Dabbing is the art of vaporizing concentrated cannabis, delivering a hit that makes the best smoke taste like an ashtray.
Personally, dabbing is my favorite way of consuming cannabis. The reason is simple – cannabis concentrates have all of the compounds that provide positive effects with less of the stuff you don’t want to consume. As a medical user that values speed of onset and potency, dabbing offers exactly that and more. Cannabis in its concentrated form gives off completely different notes of flavors and aromas – elevating the experience.
Want to read more on the fine details of how to dab, including more details into the different concentrates? My friends at The Dab Hut already wrote up an extensive guide to dabbing — so, I’d like to dive into the part that I find fun: Optimizing the experience. Below you’ll find “FlatLine’s Favorites” – a curated collection of my favorite ways to consume concentrates.
There are so many ways to consume concentrates that it can be overwhelming to select the way that is ideal for your needs. I’ve tried numerous techniques – Dynavaps, e-rigs, torching, along with coil setups. Below are my recommendations based off the products that are actively passing my “reach test”:
1. Wireless Desktop – Ultimate Versatility Setup
The Wireless One Hit Wonder
Over the years, dabbing and vaporization technology has evolved. The latest and greatest that I’ve personally tried when it comes to desktop variants is the Wireless One Hit Wonder in a dual PID setup. The reason is simple: It can do everything amazingly effectively – and it does so in an “on demand” fashion. All it takes is a short warm up period of 5 – 15 minutes. Once warmed up, you can dab or vape whenever you’re ready, as many times as you want. It’s really that simple.
If you’re not familiar, the setup is simple: A PID controller (aka “electronic temperature controller”) is connected to a coil (or two!). This controller sets what temperature the coil should maintain itself at, which then heats what you will be dabbing from – an auto-spinner banger. This results in hits that are the perfect temperature every time.
My Favorite Desktop Configuration:
I’ve tried the armored coils and find them to look great but I recommend them with a warning: don’t leave your bangers in them when they are cooling because the coil can shrink faster than the quartz. This can cause the quartz to shatter. It’s for this reason I highly recommend the axial coil – they provide even heating and work fantastic for all use cases.
Want to know more about how it all works? Chuck at the Dab Hut wrote up a complete guide to go over how ball vapes and the SS WoHW works here: Dab Hut Stainless Steel Wireless One Hit Wonder Guide
2. Electronic Rig – Truly Portable Powerhouse
the dr. Dabber Switch Go
The Dr. Dabber Switch Go is an absolute powerhouse of a portable. While not being induction heating based, it feels like a smaller, more purposefully designed Dr. Dabber Switch 2. As such, out the gate – I absolutely love this device stock. It doesn’t matter if you run it dry or with water – this thing really kicks out amazing flavors!
If you’re like me and into premium rosins, check out the Dr. Dabber Switch Go – Sapphire Insert. It heats up fast and provides great flavor!
Something to note: It really helps to use the Solar Probe Contact Thermometer with this one to get the feel for how the temperatures translate. In the Switch 2, temperatures tended to match pretty closely to the application in real time. This experience seemed to match what I’d experience with a torch and banger at the same temps. In the Go, I found you needed to set the temperature a bit higher than the Switch 2 to get the same results. Despite this, it absolutely slays!
3. Electronic Rig – Desktop Portability
The Dr. Dabber Switch 2
The Dr. Dabber Switch 2 fills the gap between desktop and portable near perfectly. While it’s not as compact as the tiniest Dr. Dabber Switch Go, the Switch 2 delivers the same precision heating that you can find with a PID and coil setup but with the added flexibility of battery power—meaning you can take your concentrates anywhere.
This is your go-to desktop electronic rig that uses induction heating to deliver fast, consistent vaporization on the go.
Why the Switch 2?
- It’s built for versatility without sacrificing power.
- The induction-based system heats an insert from the inside out, giving you that “on-demand” torch / coil feel without needing as long to warm-up.
NOTE: The Switch 2 experience out the box was not my favorite. The carb cap, quartz insert, and standard glass bubbler that it comes with are underwhelming at it’s typical price point. With that being said, I *highly* recommend the pre-made custom bundles from the Dab Hut – they make the Dr. Dabber Switch 2 a truly awesome device to use by replacing the stock parts with upgraded, premium parts.
My favorite inserts:
The Sapphire Plus Insert for Dr. Dabber Switch 2 – For those dabbing on premium rosin, this insert was made for you. The flavor coming from this insert is phenomenal. Personally, I find this insert *far* superior to Dr. Dabber’s original attempt at the Sapphire insert.
The Titanium Insert for Dr. Dabber Switch 2 – This insert is key to making the induction system shine when you’re looking for fast heat ups. It provides great heat distribution and is extremely easy to clean compared to quartz alternative – it’s super durable. This one really shines with resin. I like it so much that I’ve anodized custom ones for the Dab Hut!
4. Accessories & Upgrade Toolkit
These accessories round out the setup, giving you the tools to dial in your temperature and build to match your exact needs.
- The Solar Probe Contact Thermometer – For precise temperature readings
- 25mm Autospinner Moissanite Pearl Kit – For a premium dabbing experience with the Wireless One Hit Wonder
- Titanium Insert for Dr. Dabber Switch 2 – For more responsive heating and easier cleanup
- Switch 2 Custom Bundles – All-in-one convenience – get the premium experience without having to buy everything seperately