A nectar collector is the simplest way to dab. Instead of loading a banger, you heat the tip and touch it straight to your concentrate while you inhale. There's no dab tool, no carb cap and nothing left behind on a banger. Some nectar collectors are glass with a quartz or titanium tip you heat with a torch; others are electric and heat at the press of a button.
How a nectar collector works
Every nectar collector has three parts: a tip that gets hot (quartz, ceramic or titanium), a body the vapor travels through (glass ones often have a small water chamber to cool it), and a mouthpiece. When the hot tip touches the concentrate, it turns to vapor on contact and you draw it in.
- Torch-heated: a glass body with a quartz or titanium tip, like our nectar collector kit (it comes with both tips), the Ray Gun or the Lollipop. Water filtration and great flavor, but you need a torch.
- Electric: a battery heats the tip to a set temperature, like the Lookah Giraffe. Quick, consistent and easy anywhere.
What you need
- A nectar collector, plus a butane torch like the Blazer Big Shot if yours isn't electric
- Your concentrate
- A heat-safe dish to hold it: silicone, glass or ceramic
- Cotton swabs like Glob Mops and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning
Step 1: Set it up
On a glass nectar collector, attach the tip and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the stem; too much and you'll get water in your mouth. On an electric one, charge it fully before the first use and make sure the tip is screwed on snugly. Either way, start with a clean tip: leftover residue burns and makes the hit taste harsh.
Step 2: Heat the tip
With a torch: heat a quartz tip for about 10 to 20 seconds, then let it cool for a few seconds before you dab. Titanium holds heat longer, so give it a little more time to cool. A glowing tip is too hot and will scorch your concentrate.
Electric: start on the lowest heat setting. Lower heat tastes better and is smoother on your throat; higher heat makes bigger clouds but burns through concentrate faster. Move up one setting at a time.
Step 3: Put your concentrate on a dish
Place a small amount of concentrate in a silicone or glass dish on a flat, steady surface. Start with a piece about the size of a grain of rice; you can always take another pull.
Step 4: Touch and inhale
Hold the nectar collector at a slight angle, start inhaling slowly, then lightly touch the tip to the edge of your concentrate. Keep each touch short, a second or two at a time, and move the tip around the edge rather than pressing into the middle. Pressing too hard or holding the tip in one spot can clog it or pull concentrate into the body.
Step 5: Clean the tip after every session
While the tip is still warm (not hot), wipe it with a dry cotton swab. Leftover concentrate wipes off easily when it's warm and hardens when it cools. For a deeper clean, let the tip cool completely, take it off and soak or wipe it with isopropyl alcohol. Keep alcohol away from the battery on electric models, and let everything dry before you use it again.
Tips for better hits
- Start inhaling before the tip touches the concentrate, so the vapor goes straight in.
- Short touches beat long ones. If you see smoke instead of vapor, the tip is too hot.
- Use a dish with walls. It keeps the concentrate in one place and stops the tip from sliding off.
- Set a hot tip down on a heat-safe surface or stand, never on a table or tray.
FAQ
Is a nectar collector better than a dab rig?
It's simpler and more portable, with less waste. A dab rig gives you more water filtration and bigger hits. See How to Use a Dab Rig.
Quartz or titanium tip?
Quartz heats fast and tastes cleanest but can break if dropped. Titanium is nearly unbreakable and holds heat longer.
Why does my nectar collector taste burnt?
The tip is too hot or dirty. Let it cool a little longer, keep your touches short and clean the tip after each session.
Do I need water in it?
Only if it has a water chamber. Water cools the vapor, but a nectar collector works fine dry.
Shop nectar collectors, electric dab rigs and dab tools at HIGHBOIS. Everything ships in plain packaging.
