So you want to make your own dabs? Good idea - but hold on a sec! Some methods of making dabs are dangerous, especially when dealing with flammable materials.

If you're looking at making dabs, chances are that you aren't new to dabbing. However, if we have readers who have just heard of dabbing and are fascinated with the prospect of enjoying almost pure THC, we'll also cover some dabbing basics. If you're already familiar with dabbing, you can skip the first few sections - we won't be hurt.

In this blog post, we'll go through what dabbing is, different types of dabs, how to make them, and how to enjoy your new creation.

What Is Dabbing?

Gone are the days when the only way to consume cannabis is by smoking the flowers. Dabs are all the rage now and taking the world by storm!

Dabs are super-potent cannabis extracts with a high concentration of cannabinoids, such as our beloved THC. While typical cannabis flower clocks in at around 10 to 30% THC, dabs can be as potent as 90%. They also contain high concentrations of terpenes that give weed its aroma and flavor. Unlike smoking weed, dabs are vaporized and inhaled.

Types Of Dabs

There are many forms of cannabis concentrates, each one using a different extraction method. Here are some common ones that you might find at a dispensary.

Shatter

Shatter gets its name from its glass-like appearance and brittle texture. One of the purest and most potent forms of concentrate, it contains high THC levels and other cannabinoids.

Wax

Wax has a softer, crumbly texture compared to shatter. It is slightly more malleable, making it easier to handle and dab. Wax has a similar potency to shatter and gets its name from its resemblance to earwax.

Budder

Budder is a smooth and creamy concentrate with a consistency like butter, hence the name. It is created by whipping the extract during purging, resulting in a whipped or budder-like texture. Rich in terpenes, it delivers a flavorful dabbing experience.

Crumble

Crumble is a type of wax that has a low moisture content. It is named for its crumbly, honeycomb-like texture that easily falls apart.

Rosin

Rosin is made without any solvents. Heat and pressure are applied to the cannabis flowers to extract the oils from the plant. The extraction separates the cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in a potent concentrate.

Isolate

Isolate is the purest form of a compound, usually THC or CBD, often reaching up to 99%. Odorless and flavorless, the isolate contains only THC or CBD, not the terpenes and other compounds found in other dabs. It is usually crystalline and extracted using carbon dioxide or ethanol solvents.

How To Make Dabs At Home

Okay, now we've gone through some of the basics, let's tackle the main focus of this article.

You can use several methods to make dabs - Butane, Alcohol, Ice Water, and Rosin Press.

Butane (Do Not Use!)

In industrial environments, wax is most commonly made with butane. This wax is also called "butane hash oil," or BHO for short. However, using the butane method at home is a terrible idea because butane is a flammable gas that can explode.

When dabbing first became popular, the news was all awash with exploding butane, causing injury and property damage. Dabs extracted with the butane method are produced by trained professionals in a controlled facility like a legal laboratory.

So while you shouldn't be trying this at home, what happens in a lab is that butane is forced through the cannabis. The butane is a solvent that will separate the oils like cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant.

However, butane is also toxic and has no place in dabs. That's why the residue is left on a surface at room temperature, allowing the butane to evaporate. It will also be slowly heated to ensure all the butane is gone. The resulting residue is oil that dries into wax or shatter.

Again, avoid the butane way like the plague! There are other ways to get your dabs without risking life and limb.

Alcohol

For this, the critical ingredient is alcohol (duh!). Two standard methods for alcohol extraction are the "QWISO" (Quick Wash Isopropyl Alcohol) or "QWET" (Quick Wash Ethanol).

Note that isopropyl alcohol is unsafe for human consumption, and even food-grade ethanol shouldn't be consumed at high concentrations. Also, both compounds are highly flammable, so if you cannot use them safely, use a 190-proof grain alcohol (like Everclear) instead.

Okay, warnings aside, you'll need the following:

• Cannabis
• Isopropyl alcohol 99% or higher or high concentration food-grade ethanol
• Glass jar with an airtight lid
• Coffee filters or a strainer
• Glass container for evaporation
• Spatula
• Parchment paper

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Break your cannabis into smaller pieces to increase the surface area for more efficient extraction
2. Dry it thoroughly in an oven for 20 minutes
3. Freeze the cannabis and the alcohol for four to six hours to preserve terpenes and prevent some compounds from dissolving in the alcohol.
4. Place the cannabis into the glass jar and pour alcohol over it, completely submerging the buds.
5. Close the lid and swirl the mixture for 30 seconds
6. Strain the mixture into the second glass container.
7. The liquids now contain all the compounds extracted from the plant matter.
8. Let the alcohol from the mixture evaporate fully and naturally at room temperature.
9. You can also use a warm water bath or double boiler to speed the process up
10. Never use an open flame near the mixture (remember, alcohol is flammable!)
11. Once the alcohol is completely evaporated, you can scrape the residue onto a dish lined with parchment paper and store it in an airtight container.
12. Voila! Homemade dabs!

Always work in a well-ventilated area and keep the alcohol far from any open flame. Of course, do not smoke when you're working!

Ice Water

This method uses an even better solvent - ice and water. You won't have to worry about starting a fire, but using ice water is labor-intensive and takes quite a while. You're going to freeze the trichomes containing THC and other cannabinoids off, creating a type of dab called bubble hash or ice water hash.

You'll need:

• Cannabis
• 10 to 15 lbs of crushed ice or ice cubes
• Large bucket
• Mixing spoon
• Bubble bags or screen
• Water
• Parchment paper

Step-by-Step Guide

1. First, freeze your cannabis for a few hours. This will preserve terpenes and help with separating the trichomes
2. Stack the bubble bags or screens in the bucket, starting with the finest mesh at the bottom
3. Fill the bucket with ice and water, allowing it to get as cold as possible so that trichomes become brittle
4. Add the frozen cannabis to the mix
5. Make sure the plant material is completely submerged
6. Stir the mixture with your spoon for about 20 to 30 minutes.
7. This agitation will cause the trichomes to break off and be collected in the screens
8. Allow the mixture to settle, then carefully remove each screen, starting from the top
9. The top screen will have collected the least pure form of hash, while the finest screens have the best quality
10. Place the collected trichomes on parchment paper and let them air dry for a few days.
11. You can also speed up the drying with a food dehydrator on a low setting.
12. You've got bubble hash!

Rosin Press

The rosin press way of extracting dabs is the quickest and easiest. You only need a flat iron, some parchment paper, and cannabis.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. First, heat the iron to about 180°F to 220°F (82°C to 104°C)
2. Then, cut the parchment paper to about the size of your hand
3. Pick a nice, juicy nug
4. Fold the paper in half with the nug in the middle
5. Apply the iron to the paper and get the nug as flat as you can
6. You will hear the nug sizzling, which means the dabs are getting melt onto the paper
7. Hold the iron down for 20 to 60 seconds, and be sure not to vaporize them accidentally
8. If you see smoke or vapor, there's too much heat
9. Once done, carefully remove the paper and collect the rosin with a dab tool or spoon
10. You're done!

It takes a while to get the hang of using the rosin press method, and you might damage or waste a nug or two. However, once you've mastered the technique, this is the easier and quickest way of getting some prime dabs!

How to Use Dabs

Now that you're clued into making your own dabs, what are your options for using them?

Dab Rig

This is the most popular way of dabbing. Dab rigs are specialized water pipes with a glass chamber and percolator, a dab nail typically made of quartz or titanium, and a mouthpiece.

You heat the nail to a high temperature with a butane torch, and once the nail reaches the optimal temperature, you place the dab onto it and inhale the resulting vapor through the mouthpiece. You can also use an e-nail, an electronic nail powered by a battery, to vaporize the dab.

Pipe Bowl

You can also add a dab to a packed pipe for a stronger, more intense hit. Just place a small dab onto the weed already in the bowl. The goal is for the weed to heat the dab, so avoid contact between the flame and the dab.

Dab Pen

Dab pens are ultra discreet and portable so that you can dab on the road. Load your pen according to the manufacturer's instructions, hit the button, and off you go!

Vape pens can also be used, but you'll need an atomizer.

Joint

You can also add dabs to a joint to up its intensity. Fully enclose the dab with ground cannabis and roll as you would normally.

Edibles

Edibles are a fun way to consume dabs, so look up some recipes and get baking!

Final Thoughts

Making your own dabs is a fun way to enjoy your cannabis even more. We hope you have all the information you need to become an expert dabber!