What Is Delta 8 Dab, Wax, or Shatter?

The recent popularity of Delta 8 THC products has produced a firestorm of new sales and an increase in the types of Delta 8 THC products on the market. Seemingly overnight, there was a Delta 8 THC product to fit every taste and lifestyle. Eager customers were soon able to choose from tinctures, capsules, edibles, and Delta 8 flower in all sorts of flavors and strengths. 

So as not to leave out those who like to vape their cannabis product, companies also introduced Delta 8 THC cartridges for vape pens. Many of those who like to vape are also involved in what is known as dabbing. This is a way of vaping a product’s concentrated form through a rig set up for that purpose. Because of the demand for products that you could dab, Delta 8 THC concentrates were created like wax, shatter.

What Is Dab?

We will explain exactly how dabbing works later in this article. Suffice it to say that dabbing involves using a rig to heat a concentrate of a substance to vape it. This method provides a much more powerful experience for the user than just a vape pen. Small amounts of the concentrate of a substance like Delta 8 THC are used when dabbing. This concentrate used in the dabbing rig is referred to as dab and is much more powerful than regular hemp oil extract. This concentrate comes in different forms, such as wax, shatter, honeycomb, and others. Each form has its own unique properties like color and texture.

What Is Wax?

To process hemp into wax, you must first extract the hemp oil from the hemp plant matter. Once this is done, the hemp oil is heated to turn the extract into a concentrated version. It is during this process that the different textures of concentrate are created. When making wax, during the process of distilling the hemp oil down to concentrate, the oil is agitated with an aggressive whipping as it is heated. This produces a product that is amber in color and has the texture of dried peanut butter. 

Wax is great for dabbing beginners because it is malleable and easy to grab with your dab tool. The only issue with wax is that it melts quickly, so you have to make sure your dab tool is room temperature before grabbing your dab.

What Is Shatter?

Like all dabs, shatter first goes through the same extraction process as all hemp products to retrieve the hemp oil from the plant. To make the concentrate, that oil is then heated and processed to create a concentrate. In the case of shatter, the liquid concentrate is left to cool on its own. This produces a hard, brittle product that is amber in color and looks and feels a lot like thin peanut brittle.

Shatter does not melt as easily as wax, so you can handle it with a heated dab tool, if necessary. However, shatter is not as easy to measure as wax and may break off into inconsistently sized pieces because of its brittle consistency.

Dabbing 101

If you haven’t tried dabbing and would like to give it a try to experience a more substantial Delta 8 THC effect, here is a quick lesson on what you need and how dabbing works.

First, you’ll need a dabbing setup. Most of these items you can purchase from a storefront or online company that carries these smoking items. Here is a list of what you will need.

• Dab Rig – This item looks like a bong. It is a water pipe with a second opening that allows you to fit the nail.
• Nail - The nail looks like a short tube with a small bucket on one end and a fitting that slips into your dab rig on the other. The standard term for this nail is what is known as a quartz banger. When purchasing your nail, make sure it is the right size for your dab rig.
• Dabber - This is a small tool that is a metal rod, usually just a couple of inches long, with a flat or spoon-like ending.
• Carb Cap – This is like a little hat for the bucket of your nail. We recommend this part to help with airflow, although it is not completely necessary.
• Torch – This is a small, hand-held torch. It’s commonly used to light cigars or to caramelize a crème brulee.

Once you have all of your tools together, you are ready to dab.

First, insert your nail into your dab rig. Ensure you have a nice snug fit so that the nail is not likely to fall out of the dab rig.

Second, apply the flame of the torch to the bucket of the nail. You want to heat it until it is red hot. 

Third, scoop a very small amount of wax or cut a small piece of shatter with your dabber, and place it directly inside of the bucket of the nail as you inhale slowly through your dab rig. You’ll want to rotate your dabber as the shatter or wax melts against the inside of the bucket. The idea is to roll your dabber until all of the wax or shatter is melted off.

Finally, if you purchased a carb cap, place it on the bucket of the nail as you continue to inhale.

Safety Warning! The nail is going to get very hot and will stay that way for a significant time. Be sure that your nail and dabber have completely cooled off before touching them with your bare hand.

We Have Delta 8 THC Shatter!

If you want to experience the intensity of dabbing, then we have the Hemp-Derived Delta 8 Dabs for your experience. In addition, we carry a full line of Delta 8 THC flower, prerolls, and blunts for you to enjoy. Of course, if you would like a convenient tincture, capsule, or edible Delta 8 THC product to augment your dabbing or smoking experience, we have those too.

A full line of premium quality dabs, edibles, smokes, and tinctures — that’s what you get when you shop with PharmaCBD!