How to Take a Dab Without a Dab Rig

Got dabs but no dab rig? Relax, your high’s not canceled yet!

There are many ways to dab without a rig. The secret isn’t your smoking device, it’s all about heating your concentrates to the right temperatures (between 315-450°F) so they release vapor packed with cannabinoids and terpenes for you to inhale. 

How you do that doesn’t really matter. In this guide, we go over every possible way to smoke dabs with homemade setups and cannabis flower combos. Let’s get started!

 

How to smoke dabs without a rig

 

Heads up: Dabbing without a rig takes precision. You want to master two fundamentals first before attempting it: precise timing with dabbing and the nuances of how long you actually heat your dab banger. Not understanding how to do these two things and smoking dabs without a rig can result in wasted dabs.

Below is every method for smoking dabs without a rig using common household items. In the next section, we’ll discuss methods of sandwiching dabs with cannabis (another popular method if you don’t have a rig at the moment).

1. How to smoke dabs with only a lighter

 

Smoking dabs with only a lighter is possible, but it takes a bit of finesse. 

To smoke dabs with only a lighter, take a metal spoon and put your dabs in the spoon’s center. Hold a lighter flame half an inch below the spoon. Move the flame side to side until the dabs begin to melt. Inhale the vapor quickly using a straw or hollow pen.

Step by step:

1. Set up the spoon: Wrap the handle of your metal spoon with a paper towel to avoid burns. Add a tiny rice-sized dab right in the spoon’s middle.
2. Heat carefully from below: Light your lighter and hold it half an inch under the spoon. Gently move the flame side to side. Look for tiny bubbles and vapor rising (this means your dabs is heating around 400°F).
3. Inhale immediately: The instant you see vapor rising, quickly inhale through a straw, hollow pen, or rolled paper. Vapor escapes fast, so act fast. Never touch the flame directly to your dabs

 

2. Hot knives method (two butter knives)

 

Smoking dabs with hot knives sounds sketchy, but it’s very effective. Just a word of caution: use heat-resistant gloves if you like having fingerprints.

To smoke dabs using hot knives, heat the tip of two stainless steel butter knives until they are glowing red with a stove or torch. Next, use a dab tool to carefully place your dabs on one of the knives, then sandwich the other knife on top and immediately begin inhaling the vapor with a straw or funnel device.

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Grab two stainless steel butter knives, a heat source like your stove or capable blow torch, and a funnel-shaped inhaling tool like a straw or bottle with the bottom removed. Use heat-resistant gloves!
2. Heat until glowing: Heat the tips of both knives over a stove burner until they're glowing red hot (around 500°F). Use your dabber tool to drop a rice-sized dab onto the heated end of one knife.
3. Press and inhale: Immediately press the second glowing knife on top of your dabs, sandwiching it between the two. Vapor will begin forming and rising, and you want to inhale with your funnel or straw.

 

3. Sewing pin and shot glass method

 

Hot knives and spoons get the job done, but watching your precious vapor drift away hurts your soul (and bank account). For better vapor control, grab a sewing pin!

Important: Use a flat-headed sewing pin, not the kind with a round ball at the end. The flat metal head holds your dab safely without it sliding off when heated..

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Grab a flat-headed sewing pin (not the round-headed type), two shot glasses, a lighter, a drinking glass, and a straw. Balance the pin horizontally, with the sharp tip resting on one shot glass rim and the flat metal head resting on the other. Place a rice-sized dab on the flat metal head.
2. Heat carefully from below: Light your lighter half an inch under the flat metal hea,d holding the dab. Warm gently until your dab melts and vapor begins rising, but avoid direct flame contact.
3. Trap and inhale vapor: Immediately cover your setup with an upside-down drinking glass to trap vapor. Slightly tilt the glass edge, insert your straw beneath the rim, and slowly inhale. Keep the glass nearly sealed to avoid losing vapor.

 

4. Dab through a glass straw 

 

Turning a glass straw into a homemade nectar collector is easy, but only if you pick the right type of glass. Real nectar collectors are made from borosilicate glass to handle extreme torch heat without cracking.

Important: Everyday drinking or decorative glass straws won’t cut it. You want to use a heat-resistant glass straw like Pyrex or quartz, specifically labeled for high-temp usage. You’ll find these easily online or at Walmart for $4.

Just like a nectar collector you’re going to heat one end of the glass straw with a butane torch. Next you place the hot end of the straw up to your dabs and it will begin melting the dabs and the vapor will go up the straw as you inhale.

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Get a heat-resistant glass straw ($4 Pyrex), a butane torch, and a heat-safe dish. Spread your concentrate slightly on the dish for easy vaporization.
2. Heat and rotate slowly: Gently rotate and heat one end of the straw evenly with your torch. Don’t let it glow orange, stop right before it begins glowing.
3. Cool slightly and dab: Let the heated tip cool for 15-30 seconds. Gently touch the tip to your concentrate, inhaling slowly from the opposite end. The tip will melt the dabs and vapor will flow up the straw. Reheat the tip if vapor stops forming.

 

5. Converting Dabs to Edibles

Turning your dabs into edibles is a science, but luckily, it’s a pretty easy science.

To convert dabs into edibles, gently bake your concentrate at 240°F for 20-25 minutes until bubbles form (decarbing). Mix it immediately into warmed oil or butter to bind the THC tot he butter, then use it in your favorite recipes like cookies or brownies.

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Preheat your oven to 240°F (116°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Break your dabs into small, rice-sized pieces and spread them evenly on the sheet.
2. Decarb carefully: Bake your dabs for 20-25 minutes. Watch for tiny bubbles appearing on the concentrate surface( this means successful decarbing). Don’t exceed 250°F or your THC potency will drop.
3. Infuse and use: Immediately mix your warm, decarbed dabs into 1-2 tablespoons of butter, coconut oil, or MCT oil. Gently warm the mixture at 160-180°F (quick microwave bursts) for 10-15 mins so the THC mixes evenly with the oil/butter. Then add directly into brownies, gummies, or your favorite recipe.

 

How to smoke dabs with flowers (without a rig)

 

Another popular way to smoke dabs without a dab rig is with cannabis flower.
The trick is using your ground flower as a protective blanket for your concentrates. The flower acts like a shield, keeping the concentrate from getting too hot too fast. This takes practice so start with a small amount of dabs until you get the hang of it.
Below is every method for smoking dabs with flower and no dab rig:

 

 

1. Bowl sandwich method (flower and concentrate)

 

Layering dabs inside flower creates a slow-melting “oven” when your cannabis cherries. This lets you vaporize your dabs gently without using a torch. The trick is to put enough ground cannabis under and above the dabs so that when the plant matter ignites into an ember, the heat from the ember vaporizes the dabs.

To smoke dabs using the bowl sandwich method, pack flower halfway into your bowl, dot concentrates evenly on top, then layer on top with more ground cannabis. Light the top layer gently until a cherry catches and inhale the vapor and smoke.

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Grind your flower and pack your pipe or bong bowl halfway. Using a dab tool or paper clip, add small dots of concentrate evenly across the flower layer and avoid huge globs.
2. Cover the concentrates: Gently sprinkle another generous flower layer over the concentrates. This protects your dabs from direct flame and gives enough room for a cherry to form.
3. Light carefully and inhale: With a Bic lighter, gently brush the flame on the top surface while softly inhaling with “taps” to ignite a cherry. Once the orange ember catches fire to the plant matter, use your inhale to grow the cherry. The cherry will be hot enough to vaporize the dabs. You’ll inhale both smoke from the cannabis and vapor from the dabs.

 

2. Roll It in a Joint / T-Wax

 

Another great option is rolling a T-Wax or a concentrate joint. Rolling concentrates directly into your joints turns it into a slow-burning oven (conduction heat) for your concentrates, similar to the “Bowl Sandwhich method” but more efficient.

To roll a T-wax joint, spread ground flower evenly on a rolling paper. Add a thin line of concentrate down the center of the ground weed and then cover it with more flower. Carefully roll it up and light gently for an even burn.

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Grind your cannabis and lay your rolling paper flat. Insert a filter tip at one end (optional), and spread a foundation layer of cannabis across the paper.
2. Add your concentrate: Gently place your concentrate down the center of the flower, keeping clear of your rolling paper’s edges.
3. Roll and seal tightly: Add another thin flower layer over your concentrate. Tuck the paper firmly around the mix, seal by licking the glue strip, and roll it tightly. Light carefully and take slow, steady draws so heat flows down the joint and vaporizes the dabs.

3. Healthstone method (porous stone for dabbing)

 

A Healthstone is a porous glass insert you pop into your pipe’s bowl that turns your pipe into a dab-friendly vaporizer. 

To dab with a Healthstone, place the stone into your pipe or bong bowl, add your concentrate directly onto it, then gently heat it with a torch to vaporize. Take steady hits as vapor is released through your pipe.

Step by step:

1. Gather your gear: Fit your Healthstone snugly into your pipe or bong bowl. Have your concentrate (wax, shatter, rosin), a dab tool, and a strong butane torch (regular lighters won't heat evenly enough).
2. Load the concentrate: Use your dab tool to carefully put a rice-sized dab in the center of the Healthstone. Go easy, too much can flood it.
3. Gently heat and inhale: Hold your torch flame tip 1-2 inches away, slowly circling to evenly heat the stone. When the dab melts and vaporizes, inhale slowly through your pipe or bong. After use, torch-clean residue or soak the stone in isopropyl alcohol.

 

4. Use a Bong as a Dab Rig

 

Want to turn your regular water pipe into a concentrate powerhouse?

The secret is keeping things simple. Big, complex bongs with lots of chambers and percs actually filter out too much of what makes your concentrates special. A basic bong with just one chamber works best - it cools your vapor just enough without stealing any flavor.

Start by getting the right temperature - heat your banger until it's hot, then count to 45. Add your concentrate and watch it melt smoothly. The water helps cool everything down, making each hit super comfortable. Remember: Simpler bongs = better flavor when it comes to concentrates.