With the ever-evolving dab scene comes a constant influx of new technologies and accessories to improve your dabbing experience. Heck, there’s even a National Dab Day (7/10) where the cannabis community celebrates cannabis concentrates. In recent years, you may have noticed that some people are taking their dabs with small beads inside their bangers. We know those small beads or balls as terp pearls, and they can improve the efficiency of your dab sessions tenfold. If this intrigues you, then you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the different varieties of pearls, the benefits they offer, along with which type is best suited for you?
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What Are Terp Pearls?
No matter what you call them, terp balls, banger beads, dab balls, dab pearls, or terp pearls, they’re the newest thing to hit the dab scene. But what are they exactly? Essentially, they’re small balls that you place inside the quartz banger that spin around while taking a dab. Besides looking super stylish, they actually serve a purpose. As they circle the banger, they evenly distribute the heat, allowing for low-temperature dabs. The constant spinning of the pearls cools down and evenly heats the concentrates, which in turn preserves the terpenes besides providing optimal flavor. Allowing you to vaporize the entire dab also helps to cut down on concentrate waste. You accomplish this by reducing the saturation rate of any spot, which prevents cold spots along with increasing the amount of vapor production. The primary goal of banger beads is to ensure that you’ll enjoy smooth and tasty vapor every time you use your favorite dab rig.
Different Types of Terp Pearls
Since you’re familiar with what terp balls are now, let’s go over the different types that are currently available. They come in various sizes typically from 3mm to 9mm, with 4mm, 6mm, and 9mm being the most common. They’re also crafted from various materials to accommodate all different styles of dabbers. One person may prefer a minimal amount of heat, whereas another may require much more heat to get the job done. It’s all about what you want, and what you want to get out of your sessions.
Quartz
Probably the most common out of the bunch, quartz dab balls are a great option that dabbers can’t seem to get enough of. Seeing as how they boast excellent heat retention and offer fantastic flavor, it’s no wonder they’re so popular. They also feature superb thermal shock retention, allowing you to clean with your torch or isopropyl alcohol with no worry of breakage. It’s this durability, coupled with the price tag that strikes a nice balance, and people really seem to adore.
Borosilicate
If the primary reason for using terp pearls is heat retention, then borosilicate probably won’t be for you. They may be more heat-resistant than normal glass, but that isn’t saying much. Sure, they move around your banger and feature enough surface area to help vaporize your concentrates more effectively. They just run the high chance of melting, cracking, or completely changing shape due to the intense dabbing temperatures.
Ceramic
Offering similar heat retention to quartz, and some would argue better flavor preservation, ceramic terp pearls are your next option. And just as with its ceramic nail brethren, ceramic terp balls are extremely delicate. Seeing how delicate they are makes maintenance that much more difficult. And you can’t merely torch-clean ceramic terp balls, as the intense heat will likely crack or cause breakage. They might be a viable option if that’s all you can get your hands on. But that’s about it.
Ruby
First things first, when we say ‘ruby’, we don’t mean authentic rubies. We’re referring to lab-produced rubies that boast the same qualities as the real thing. One of the old-school classics, ruby terp beads feature killer heat retention and flavor optimization that makes them quite popular amongst dabbers. Cleaning can be a pain since they are prone to thermal shock, which can crack or break them if you aren’t careful. And if you’re all about the visuals, ruby pearls are UV-reactive. This means it’s time to break out that dusty blacklight for one heck of a show!
Silicon Carbide
Commonly referred to as SIC terp beads, silicon carbide terp beads are a fairly new addition to the list that’s making strides in the dabbing community. Crafted from silicon carbide, and resembling a black pearl, SIC terp beads boast high heat resistance in addition to high thermal shock resistance. Thus, they are a cinch to clean with your torch or isopropyl alcohol. It’s no wonder why so many are singing their praises.
Shinju
Made from the same high-temperature ceramic material used to craft high-quality chef knives, shinju terp beads are currently sitting at the top of the list. If you’re looking for the best heat retention available, along with some spectacular visuals while in action, shinju beads are your best bet. They boast a polished finish and the ability to be torch-cleaned in mere seconds without any worry of damage. And, compared to some of the other delicate options, the durability of shinju terp beads is enough to put them over the top in most people’s books.