What is a Dab Straw? How To Use and Clean it?

Nowadays, Vaporizing waxy concentrates for inhalation – also known as dabbing – has become one of the most popular ways of using cannabis.

Traditional methods of dabbing via dab rigs can be intimidating, messy, and complicated for some. That's where a premium dab straw comes in.

Dab straws are a popular way to enjoy waxy oils or concentrates, like a hummingbird or a butterfly getting nectar from a flower.

What makes them so unique is that they eliminates all the hassle of setting up a traditional dab rig, which is great and convenient for those dabbers that like to dab on the go.

They are probably the most efficient and probably the easiest way to dab without having to have all of the extras.

Do you want to enter the world of dab straw? Our guide will take you through the Dab straw's components, how does it work, how to use it, how to clean it and more.

What is a Dab Straw?

Dab Straws, Also known as Nectar collectors and honey straws, are vertical and small-sized dab rigs with a tube-like design that are easy to carry around and disassemble when needed.

Dab straws consist of a tube with a mouthpiece on top and a “straw” on the bottom that gets heated up. You can use them to dab concentrates of all types.

The Dab Straw is made of glass, silicone, or other heat-resistant materials, come with or without a water filtering percolation chamber.

The tube is used to inhale the vapor, while the “straw” is heated with a torch, enabling you to vape concentrates.

The “straw” or dabbing tip can be made from materials like borosilicate glass, quartz, or titanium. Of the materials, titanium will last you the longest, while quartz and glass will give you the purest terpene flavors.

Originally honey straws required a torch to heat them up. Today, there are electric versions that don't depend on an external heat source.

How does a dab straw work?

Dab Straws function like regular straws, which use suction power.

The straw-like tip is heated up to around 700 F or higher and then placed inside a heat-resistant jar or dish containing dabs.

The wax instantly melts and is converted to vapor as the straw makes contact with it.

At the same time, the user inhales through a mouthpiece on top, which channels the freshly produced vapor upwards through the device.

How to Use a Manual Dab Straw？

Below you'll find step-by-step instructions on how to use a standard dab straw.

Step 1: Gather your materials

You'll need: A dab straw, a container or dish, cannabis concentrates, and a butane torch.

If your dab straw has a water chamber, fill it up (with water), then tighten all the connections securely.

Step 2: Prepare Your Concentrate

Use a dab tool to scoop a small amount of concentrate onto the heat-resistant surface.

This can be in the form of shatter, wax, or oil.

Step 3: Heat the Tip

Turn on your butane torch and heat the tip of the dab straw until it's red-hot.

Distribute the heat evenly by turning the dab straw.

Step 4: Apply the Tip to Concentrate

Wait a moment (about 15 to 30 seconds) for the tip to cool down.

Dabbing at extremely high temperatures will destroy many of the terpenes and flavors so wait until the tip is no longer orange or red before dipping into your concentrate.

Place the tip onto the concentrate and inhale through the mouthpiece at the other end of the nectar collector.

The hot tip will vaporize the concentrate to vapor.

Step 5: Inhale the Vapor

Once the concentrate has vaped, place your mouth on the mouthpiece on the other end of the straw and draw to inhale.

Take slow and steady breaths to fully enjoy the flavors and effects of the concentrate.

Be cautious not to inhale too forcefully, as this can cause discomfort or coughing.

Step 6: Clean the Dab Straw

After each use, it's important to clean your glass dab straw to maintain its functionality and extend its lifespan.

Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the straw.

Gently scrub the inside and outside of the straw to remove any residue or buildup.

How to Clean a Dab Straw?

To keep your dab straw in tip-top shape, do a full cleaning every 1-2 weeks.

Disassemble your Dab Straw, place the pieces in a sealable zip-lock plastic bag filled with isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt.

Let them soak for a 15-30 minutes, give them a shake, then give it a once over (and a second or third over for any stubborn residue) with a Q-tip or pipe cleaner and leave it out to dry.

Dab straws in general are known to be a little more delicate than other glass, so be gentle.

While isopropyl alcohol is commonly used to clean glass dab straws, its continued use on silicone can cause the material to become brittle and lose flexibility.

For a safe option, consider using specific cleaning solutions for silicone or mild mixtures of water and soap.

Dab Rig vs Dab Straw: Which one is Better?

A dab straw is a type of portable dab rig that allows you to do dabs outside of your home.

Traditionally, dab rigs are bigger contraptions that you could only use at home. The dab straw is here to change the game.

The dab straw has a much smaller design compared to a dab rig. It's vertical with a straw-like shape for easy access to inhale concentrates.

Rather than putting the concentrates on a heated surface like a dab nail, the dab straw uses a heated tip directly on the concentrate.

The main parts of the electric nectar collector are the tip, water chamber or body, mouthpiece, and concentrate container.

Manual Dab Straw vs Electric Dab Straw: Which one is Better?

There are different types of Dab Straws including manual dab straw and electric dab straw.

An electric dab straw like lookah Seahorse Pro is essentially a miniaturized version of a manual dab Straw, and the primary difference between the two is that the heating element is powered by a battery instead of a manual torch.

The other difference is that with an electric dab straw, you put the wax on the device's element before heating it up – not after.

Conclusion

Dab Straws are growing in popularity, shape, size, and design in this ever-changing industry.

Dab Straws are commonly found and are used and enjoyed by many people in the dabbing world. They are great for a quick sesh or an on-the-go adventure.

Using a glass dab straw for cannabis concentrates is easier than it seems. This guide gives step-by-step instructions for beginners and enthusiasts.

With this knowledge, enjoy your concentrates confidently and enhance your dabbing experience.

We all love a good Dab Straw, and you will too. It is a fun thing to make a part of your dabbing collection.