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​Terp Pearls - What are They and How to Use Them?

11/04/2022
LOOKAH

Terp Pearls - What are They and How to Use Them?

Terp Pearls - What are They and How to Use Them?

Terp pearls, sometimes called "dab beads," are little balls placed in the bottom of a banger to help distribute heat and concentrate. 

This article will tell you all you need to know about these little spheres and how they can help you get consistent dabs and flavor from your rig.

With the extract market's growth and dabbing's popularity, there are plenty of new devices and accessories to explore. One such item is the terp pearl.

The mechanics and techniques of dabbing are constantly evolving. Consumers want the smoothest hit with maximum flavor. 

Dabbing isn't as easy as heating the nail to the highest temperature, melting the wax, and inhaling. There is a complex technique involved that determines the potency and flavor of every dab. 


What are Terp Pearls?

What are Terp Pearls?

Terp pearls are tiny balls of about 4-6 mm made of borosilicate glass, quartz, or other materials. They are placed in your banger to improve the overall experience by evenly distributing the heat and the concentrate. This, in turn, provides consistent results and optimizes flavor at lower temperatures.

Terp pearls are sometimes called "banger beads" or "dab beads."

 

Do Terp Pearls Melt?

Some terp pearls can deform or melt when exposed to extreme heat for long periods. 

Your dab beads may also be at risk from thermal shock. Thermal shock is when a sudden change in temperature (from hot to cold or vice versa) causes tension in a material. It causes a sudden crack or breaks the pearl. This is most commonly found in brittle materials such as ceramics.

One popular way to clean terp beads is to use a butane torch. So care is needed when cleaning. Terp pearls, like dab bangers, come in various sizes and materials. Also, just like bangers, their material will ultimately determine their durability—something we will cover later in the article. 

 

Why Use Terp Pearls for Dabbing?

As soon as you stop applying heat to your dab nail or quartz banger, it will immediately begin to cool. 

Even with a top-quality quartz banger, some parts of the surface will cool faster than others. Terp beads can help solve that issue. 

The terp beads spin around the inside of the banger, helping to evenly distribute the concentrate so that it comes into contact with the entire surface area of the banger. 

This means that as the banger cools evenly, the concentrate will vaporize at a uniform rate. 

As a result, puddles of concentrate are avoided, and vaping is optimized. The concentrates are moved around constantly, so avoid the hottest spots on the banger and vaporize more thoroughly, which avoids burning in any particular hot area.

Most terpenes have low boiling points and get burnt off at higher temperatures. This means the taste will be affected when dabbing at temperatures above 216°C (~420°F). 

You can take bigger rips at lower temperatures with terp pearls without losing flavor. 

Another particularly cool benefit is watching the beads spin as you dab. 

 

Different types of Terp pearls

Different types of Terp pearls

The different materials used to make dab beads or terp pearls vary in price and design. To see which might be best for you, we provide a breakdown of what to expect for each type.

Quartz pearl:

Most bangers are made of quartz, and quartz pearls are often a good choice for the same reason. They strike a good balance of cost, durability, and heat retention. Quartz is also reasonably resistant to thermal shock. This means your pearls can be cleaned with a torch or in isopropyl alcohol without any concern. 

Ceramic pearl:

Ceramic pearls have similar heat retention to quartz pearls. Some believe them to retain a superior flavor of the concentrates. Like ceramic dab nails, ceramic pearls are difficult to keep clean and are the most delicate of all variants. Ceramic pearls are unsuitable for torch cleaning because they may crack under direct heat. Letting them cool completely is the safest way to maintain and keep them intact. But, over time, this does make them difficult to maintain.

Borosilicate pearl:

Borosilicate glass pearls are reasonably priced and provide a good all-around performance. 

They provide sufficient surface area and spin for evaporation. However, borosilicate glass beads don't have good heat retention. They are also at risk of deforming or melting under prolonged high temperatures.

Ruby and pearl:

To be clear, these are not natural rubies -- they are lab-produced and have the same qualities as natural rubies. These pearls have excellent heat retention and provide the best flavor. However, they are vulnerable to thermal shock, so care should be taken when cleaning them. Also, red makes the rotation look great. Ruby pearls are also UV reactive and sparkle under a black light.

SIC pearl:

These pearls are made of silicon carbide, which has excellent thermal retention and conductivity, so it's good for flavor retention. SIC pearls are incredibly resistant to thermal shock. Therefore, they are easy to clean with a butane torch or alcohol. All in all, they are ideal pearls for any dab rig.

 

How to use Terp Pearls

Terp pearls are suitable for use with bucket-shaped bangers. As they spin around, they will distribute the heat from the surface on which they move. 

You should also use a carb cap the help control the airflow. A bubble, directional, or spinning cap is best to get the most out of the pearls. Put a few pearls in your banger and heat it with your butane torch. Let it cool to the desired temperature, then take your dab as usual.

When picking up or moving around ho terp pearls, you will find it easier to use a dab claw. This adjustable dab tool is ideally suited to picking up dab pearls or small nuggets of cannabis wax.

The prongs on the arms are adjustable and can expand over the pearl before snapping into place to securely grab it. 

 

How Many Terp Pearls Should I Use?

We recommend using 1 or 2 pearls. This seems to produce the best spin. Any more and they tend to disrupt each other, spin poorly, or slide around.

 

Why Doesn't My Terp Pearl Spin?

You may be using the wrong type of carb cap. 

Directional airflow caps are required to create the spin when using terp pearls to achieve rotation. If carb caps aren't an issue, it might be time to clean your pearls and banger thoroughly. Over time, the residue build-up causes friction, preventing the pearl from spinning freely.

 

Are Terp Pearls Worth it?

If you want to get the most out of your dabs, then terp pearls are worth the investment, especially if you prefer large hits at lower temperatures. Terp pearls are also available in various materials and styles that can personalize your setup, so you can find ones to match your dab rig setup.