Discovering Quartz Inserts: A Game Changer for Dab Enthusiasts
As a dab enthusiast, I love customizing my setup to get the most out of my experience. It’s similar to upgrading a car – adding accessories to my rig enhances its functionality and effectiveness without breaking the bank. With affordable rigs and quality accessories like quartz inserts and terp pearls, I can enjoy a premium dabbing experience without spending a fortune.
Dabbing has come a long way since the early days when titanium or ceramic nails were our only options. Today, we have access to a plethora of new and innovative designs that aim to deliver the ultimate dabbing experience. You may have seen terp pearls spinning in melt shots on social media, but have you heard about their lesser-known counterpart — quartz inserts? These handy accessories can take your dabbing sessions to new heights, and I’m excited to share their benefits with you.
Understanding Quartz Inserts
Quartz inserts are bucket-shaped dishes designed to fit snugly inside your banger. They come in common sizes such as 20mm and 25mm dishes, with classic styles including traditional quartz and opaque-bottom quartz. In addition to increasing mass and surface area, using a quartz insert offers some significant advantages. By incorporating a quartz insert into my dab sessions, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in both the functionality and technique of my dabbing experience.
Exploring the Pros and Cons of Quartz Inserts
As a dab enthusiast, I’ve found that using a quartz insert has its fair share of pros and cons. Let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating a quartz insert into your dabbing routine.
Pros of Using a Quartz Insert
Keeps your banger clean
With a quartz insert dish, you load the insert with concentrates instead of the banger itself, helping to maintain its cleanliness.
Supports low-temperature dabs
The insert creates a thick quartz barrier between the banger’s bottom and your concentrates, assisting with temperature control. This barrier allows your concentrates to vaporize through induction rather than direct-contact heat, enabling low-temp dabs without an extensive cool-down period.
More affordable to replace than a banger
Since the insert takes on most of the wear and tear, you can prolong the life of your quartz banger and replace the insert instead. This option is typically more cost-effective.
Forgiving if you go in too hot
If you accidentally overheat your banger or rush the cool-down time, the quartz insert can protect your concentrates from excessive heat, preventing waste. However, it’s essential to avoid heating your nail to red-hot, even with an insert.
Cons of Using a Quartz Insert
There’s a slight learning curve
As with anything new, mastering the use of a quartz insert may take a few tries. However, you can recover easily with a cold start dab, avoiding concentrate waste.
Adds a few extra steps to your dabbing process
Dropping the insert in and removing it once it cools adds a couple of steps to your typical dabbing routine.
Requires waiting for the insert to cool before removal
If your rig is in rotation or you’re taking multiple dabs, you’ll need to wait for the insert to cool down before continuing. While some might not view this as a disadvantage, it’s worth mentioning.
Mastering Quartz Inserts: Usage, Techniques, and Cleaning
If you’re curious about using quartz inserts, you’re in the right place. There are a few different ways to use them, each designed to maximize the benefits of this accessory. The techniques primarily focus on temperature control, as lower temperatures help preserve the cannabinoids and terpenes that contribute to the taste and potency of your concentrates.
Method 1: Drop-In Technique
- Load your insert with a dab and set it aside.
- Heat your banger with a torch or eNail, based on your preferred banger style and dabbing method.
- Reduce your cool-down time to 10 seconds.
- Carefully drop your insert into the banger using your hand or reverse tweezers, avoiding contact with the banger.
- Place the carb cap on the banger.
- Watch your concentrates; when they start bubbling, it’s time to take your dab.
- Use a q-tip to clean up leftovers and wait for the banger and insert to cool completely before removing the insert. We recommend waiting at least a few minutes.
Method 2: Reverse or “Cold Start” Dabbing / Re-Heat Technique
- Place your concentrates inside the insert.
- Drop the insert into a fully-cooled banger.
- Heat the bottom of the banger with a torch or heat source until the extracts begin to bubble.
- Quickly stop heating, place your carb cap on, and take a hit.
Note: This method can be used to salvage concentrates left over from a failed drop-in technique.
How to Clean Quartz Inserts
Just like other dabbing tools, quartz inserts perform best with regular maintenance. If you’re already familiar with cleaning other quartz pieces from your dabbing setup, you’ll know how to clean quartz inserts. Swab the insert with a q-tip after each use, just like you would with your banger.
For a deep cleaning, soak the insert in a bowl or bag of a 420 cleaner or a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. Clean quartz inserts at least once a month (or more frequently if you use them daily) to maintain their like-new condition. Keeping your insert clean will help preserve the taste of your concentrates and ensure ease of use. A sticky insert covered in residuals is more likely to get stuck in your banger and be difficult to handle.
Your Guide to Quartz Insert Sizes, Compatibility, and Pricing
Just like quartz bangers and nails, inserts come in standard universal sizes. These sizes include 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm. The number represents the diameter of the dish in millimeters. As simple math would suggest, 20mm insert dishes are compatible with 25mm nails, and 25mm dishes fit 30mm nails. A good rule of thumb is to use an insert that is 5mm smaller in diameter than the nail. But, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could always use a 20mm insert with a 30mm nail. Essentially, if the insert can be dropped in and easily removed, you’re good to go.
Accessories that Complement Quartz Inserts
When using a dab insert, there are a few must-haves, including a compatible sized banger, a rig, a carb cap, and tweezers. Compatibility between these accessories is pretty straightforward (as we discussed earlier), but we’ve also created a handy compatibility tool to help.
Note: The only potential issue you might encounter is with the height of the insert. Height varies among different brands and styles, and sometimes the insert is a bit too tall, blocking the airflow from the neck or preventing the carb cap from sitting flush. However, you’ll generally be good to go with any carb cap that fits a flat top banger.
Quartz Insert Pricing
Like bangers, the price of quartz inserts varies between brands, but the style and use remain the same. There are minimal differences between a $100 insert and a $30 one that the naked eye wouldn’t even notice. As long as quality quartz is used in the construction, a high-end name brand and a more affordable option will offer the same benefits.
So there you have it! If you’re into low-temp dabs, looking to enhance the functionality of your dab setup, wanting to preserve the life of your banger, or simply interested in trying something new, a quartz insert could be the perfect option for you. At a seriously reasonable price, grabbing a pack of inserts is a win-win. Feel free to drop your questions in the comments below or share your experience using an insert.
