HOW TO SMOKE WAX

Is that joint or vape hit not quite hitting like it used to? It might just be time to graduate to smoking something stronger like wax.

With its sky-high THC levels, wax is sure to give you an intense high!

But like any cannabis concentrate, smoking wax for the first time can feel a little intimidating. Don’t worry – our guide has got you covered.

Read on to uncover all the essentials—what wax is, the coolest ways to smoke it, and pro tips to elevate your experience to the next level!

WHAT IS WAX?

Wax, sometimes called butane hash oil (BHO) or honey oil, is a type of cannabis concentrate made by extracting THC, flavonoids, terpenes, and other cannabinoids from cannabis flowers using a solvent like butane. Imagine your favorite bud, stripped down to the good stuff (no plant material).

The result is a sticky, pliable substance that looks like honey, frosting, or even brittle candy. This texture is due to how it’s processed and purged. Different levels of agitation during extraction produce different wax consistencies, which is why you’ll see words like budder, crumble, or shatter on a dispensary menu.

• Budder: Soft and creamy consistency that can be handled with a dab tool.

• Crumble: Drier and crumbly. It breaks apart easily with the slightest of pressure.

• Shatter: Glass-like sheets that can easily snap into pieces.

Though these are all forms of wax concentrates, their common thread is potency. Compared to smoking regular cannabis flower, where THC percentages might hover around 15–25%, wax often jumps to 60%–80% THC or even higher!

Just one tiny dab can pack the punch of several bowls of flower. If you’re ready to level up and try a stronger, more exciting way to enjoy weed, wax is the way to go!

BEST WAY TO SMOKE WAX

Wax can be smoked in many ways, but perhaps the most preferred way is with a dab rig. A dab rig is like a water pipe or bong but specialized for heating and vaporizing your concentrate. Smoking with a dab rig is commonly known as dabbing, hitting dabs, or smoking dabs.

What Makes Up a Dab Rig?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key parts:

• Dab Rig Body: Like a bong chamber, it holds water to cool and filter the vapor.

• Dab Nail or Banger: A heat-resistant surface (quartz, titanium, or ceramic) where you place your wax.

• Butane Torch or Lighter: Heats the dab nail to the ideal temperature.

• Dab Tool (Dabber): A small tool to safely pick up and apply your wax.

• Carb Cap: Covers the nail after you add wax, controlling airflow and maximizing vapor.

HOW TO SMOKE WAX WITH A DAB RIG?

1. Heat the Nail: Fire up your butane torch and aim the flame at the nail until it’s glowing red-hot.

2. Let It Cool: Wait 30–60 seconds for the nail to cool slightly. This ensures you don’t burn off the flavorful terpenes.

3. Apply the Wax: Use your dab tool to place a small amount of wax onto the nail.

4. Inhale Slowly: As the wax vaporizes, inhale through the rig’s mouthpiece. Cover the nail with a carb cap while inhaling to trap vapor and ensure full vaporization.

5. Exhale: Breathe out—there’s no need to hold in the vapor for long.

However, it has some drawbacks, such as the need to reheat for the next dab, and also the open flame and high temperatures when heating does sacrifice safety to some degree.

If you’re a beginner, we recommend investing in an e-nail, which replaces the traditional banger. It allows you to set precise temperatures, requires no heating, and eliminates the waiting time, making for a more consistent and safer dabbing experience.

OTHER WAYS TO SMOKE WAX WITHOUT A DAB RIG

A dab rig might be the most popular way to smoke wax, but it’s far from the only method. If you don’t have a dab rig handy, here are other methods to try:

NECTAR COLLECTOR

A nectar collector, also known as a dab straw or honey straw, is a small handheld and portable dab tool that uses a heated tip that you dip directly into your wax. There are electric collectors and those that require an external heat source like a torch.

Here is how to smoke wax with a Nector Collector:

1. Heat the Tip: Use a torch or power it on (if electric) to heat the tip.

2. Dip Into the Wax: Touch the heated tip to the wax.

3. Inhale the Vapor: Inhale through the mouthpiece as the wax turns into vapor.

Smoking wax with a nectar collector is super convenient and a favorite method for on-the-go dabbers. However, because it doesn’t have a built-in water filtration system, the hits tend to be a little harsher, so be sure to use an external filter.

VAPORIZER

Moving on to perhaps the safest method of smoking wax: a vaporizer. Vaporizers use a heating element to heat the wax without burning it, preserving the flavor and potency. Make sure you use a vaporizer compatible with cannabis concentrates, like a dab pen.

Some vaporizers made for dry herbs can also be used to vape wax. These devices usually have a cup or pod that fits into the dry herb chamber to vape the wax.

To smoke wax with a vaporizer:

1. load your wax into the chamber

2. Pop the top back on, power on the device

3. Set the desired temperature—you’re good to go!

Vaporizers are discreet, portable, and offer precise temperature control, making them a convenient and efficient way to enjoy wax. However, it may take several puffs to smoke the same amount of wax you would get in a single dab from a dab rig.

BONG

If you love using a bong to smoke flower, you’ll be happy to know you can easily incorporate wax into the mix. While not as specialized as a dab rig, a bong can give you a potent experience with a few small tweaks.

How to Use a Bong with Wax:

1. Add Wax to Your Bowl: Sprinkle a small amount of wax over your ground flower before lighting up. This adds a potent boost to your regular hit.

2. Try a Quartz Banger: If you want an even better wax experience, consider attaching a quartz banger to your bong. This transforms your setup into a makeshift dab rig, letting you heat the banger with a torch and apply wax directly.

JOINT OR BLUNT

And lastly, if your idea of winding up is rolling a joint or a blunt, you can take it to the next level by adding wax. This is known as twaxing, which adds some serious oomph to your smoke.

Simply mix small amounts of wax with ground flower before rolling, or if you’re feeling creative, gently heat the wax and roll it into a snake to place inside or wrap outside your joint or blunt rolling paper.

Just be sure to evenly distribute the wax when rolling. Twaxing leads to a slower burn, allowing you to enjoy the enhanced potency and flavors of your joint or blunt.

METHODS TO AVOID WHEN SMOKING WAX

We have covered many great methods for enjoying wax, but there are also some dated methods that you should avoid altogether.

HOT KNIVES METHOD

We recommend avoiding the hot knife method. It’s an old cannabis relic in which you heat two butter knives on the stove and squeeze wax between them. At first glance, it looks like a quick fix for those who don’t have the right gear. But in reality, it’s clumsy and dangerous. Why?

• Risk of Burns: Handling hot metal knives is risky, and accidents can happen fast.

• Hard to Control Temperature:Without precise heat control, you can easily scorch the wax, ruining its flavor and wasting product.

• Inefficient and Messy:You’ll likely lose more vapor into the air than you inhale, making the whole process a big waste.

In short, the hot knives method was born out of necessity back when fancy tools weren’t widely available. Today, investing in safer, more reliable methods like the ones we have just covered is the way to go.

TIPS FOR THE BEST WAX SMOKING EXPERIENCE

Now that you know how to smoke wax (and what not to do), let’s wind up with some pro tips to get the most out of your sessions.

• Start Small:Wax is super potent, so a little goes a long way. Begin with a small amount(the size of a rice grain) to gauge its effects before increasing your intake. It helps you avoid overconsumption and accidental greenouts.

• Keep Your Gear Clean: Sticky residue builds up over time. Clean your gear regularly to ensure smooth airflow and pure flavor.

• Buy Quality Wax: Good wax will taste and feel better in the long run. Look for reputable brands or visit a trusted dispensary to ensure you get a clean product.

• UseMouthPeace:Add a Moose Labs MouthPeaceto your smoking routine to reduce harshness and increase the flavor of your wax. Moose Labs has filters for all smoking methods, including dab rigs, vaporizers, and joints. Their filters remove resins, contaminants, and tar without blocking airflow for a smoother and more flavorful experience.

Also read: How to smoke live resin.