One of the worst things you can do with concentrates is allow any to go to waste. A great alternative to dab rigs that won’t waste any of your precious concentrates is the nectar collector. If we were to get technical, nectar collector is actually a brand name that over time has become the normal vernacular. Akin to how the jacuzzi brand became the norm as far as spas are concerned. Nectar collectors are also referred to as honey straws, vertical dabbers, or dab straws, although they all mean the same thing. The purpose of a dab straw is to allow you to enjoy your favorite concentrates, oils and waxes without a sophisticated dab rig. They are so easy to use, even a complete noob shouldn’t have any issues using one. We will go over all the steps necessary to get the most out of a nectar collector below.
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Why Choose a Nectar Collector?
If you consider yourself a dab connoisseur in any way, there are a slew of reasons you need a nectar collector in your arsenal. This is especially evident when comparing nectar collectors vs dab rigs. We will briefly go over a few of the most compelling reasons for owning a nectar collector.
Direct Contact with Concentrates
Dab straws have the advantage of you being able to place the straw in the concentrates, allowing direct contact with your concentrates. This enables the user to dab directly from their container without the need for a separate dab tool. It also cuts down on any necessary cleaning.
Portability
As far as portability goes, you can’t get more convenient than a dab straw. Coming in at about the same size as your average pipe makes them the ideal choice for travel. Whereas the classic dab rig can be burdensome to lug around, especially if you plan to take it on any sort of trip.
Easy-To-Clean
If cleaning glass with ease piques your interest, you can’t go wrong with a dab straw. Simply disassemble the nectar collector and soak each piece in an isopropyl alcohol salt solution, which cleans and sterilizes the device while the salt serves as an abrasive. After they’ve had a nice soak, simply wipe the pieces down to remove all the nasty gunk before putting the unit back together looking the same as the day you purchased it.
Nectar Collector Price
“That all sounds fantastic,” you may be thinking, “but how much do nectar collectors cost?” When compared to dab rigs (even the ones on the cheaper side), a nectar collector is definitely much less expensive. Dab straws are typically crafted from minimal components, whereas dab rigs can feature multiple colors, and more detail, along with advanced glass-blowing techniques. This can be very time-consuming, which in turn is reflected in the final price of the rig. A simple dab straw will make your dabbing experience cost-efficient and effortless.
Parts of a Nectar Collector
Although there are many various types of nectar collectors, most of them feature the same fundamental components. We will now go over those different parts and the purpose they serve.
Tip or Nail
Like the banger or nail you use with a traditional dab rig, the tip or nail of a nectar collector work similarly. You will need some type of high-powered flame such as a torch to heat the tip to the required temperature to vaporize your concentrates. To attach to the body, simply affix to the bottom with a few twists of the wrist and you’re set. They’re typically crafted from titanium or quartz, usually coming in 10mm and 14mm joint sizes, so finding a replacement when necessary shouldn’t be an issue.
Straw or Body
No matter which nectar collector you decide on, they all utilize some form of water filtration fairly similar to the dab rig. The reason for this is to filter and cool down your smoke for a much less harsh experience. They’re typically designed to make the water filling process easy as possible so you shouldn’t have any worries of spillage. The secondary purpose of the nectar collector body is to provide you with something easy to grip on whenever you take a dab. Some will even feature raised marbles or a maria or two to step up the unit’s grip game 10-fold.
Mouthpiece
You’ll find that most honey collectors feature an elongated mouthpiece to keep the red-hot tip far from your face. It’s not just a safety precaution, it also serves to add some much-needed vapor cooling thanks to its lengthy size, which provides a much smoother hit. And it resembles that of a straight tube which features a flared top, with some honey straws even boasting the ability to connect directly to your bong for even more smoke filtration. With silicone units, the mouthpiece isn’t required since their primary purpose is to be compact, so they’re easy to travel with when you’re out and about.
Do Nectar Collectors Waste Wax?
Long story short, no nectar collectors do not waste wax. Some may believe this assertion, but in actuality, it’s the user who is not correctly using the device. You are more likely to waste your wax using a desktop dab rig since the wax can get stuck in the dab jar and even the dab rig itself. And you know how much fun cleaning out your rig can be. That last part was a joke, but if you enjoy cleaning your smoking gear, have at it. Alternatively, with a nectar collector, you can keep a close eye on the exact amount of concentrates you’re smoking, giving you much more control. Especially since you’re hovering directly over the wax, very little, if any, vapor will get past your lips. Therefore, honey straws can offer a much more pronounced experience than traditional dab rigs while wasting little to no wax in the process.
How to Use a Nectar Collector?
For the most part, using a honey straw is straightforward and can easily be done discreetly. Because of their ease of use, they can be highly enticing to folks who generally smoke dry cannabis but are concentrate curious. And unlike traditional dab rigs, you won’t have to deal with any of the issues that often come with the units. Like having to mess around with the temperature, which quartz banger you should use, or the possible waste of wax that can occur if you don’t know what you’re doing. But before we get started on how to use a nectar collector, there are some items that you must have. After the obvious honey straw device comes your preferred wax of choice, some sort of flame to reach the high temperatures needed to dab (typically a handheld torch), and a heat-resistant dab container or mat to hold your wax while you take your dab. Now that you know everything you’ll need to get started, let’s go over how to use a nectar collector and get the most out of it.
- Prepping Your Dab – If you want to do something right, preparation can make everything so much easier. And that sentiment rains true with how to use a honey straw properly as well. First, if your piece features a percolator, you’ll want to fill it with water around halfway up to allow proper cooling and filtration of your vapor. Next, place the mouthpiece on the end of your dab straw so you’re primed and ready to inhale that sweet vapor as soon as you’ve heated the tip. Now is the time when you’ll place your concentrates of choice on a heat-resistant surface or dab container. And due to the high potency of concentrates, you don’t have to use that much to get the job done.
- Heating the Tip – Now it’s time to bust out that butane torch and heat the tip to the required temperature necessary to dab. It’s not that different from using a torch with a traditional dab rig. And just like when heating the banger on a dab rig, you’ll need to be constantly moving the flame around. If you allow the flame to sit in one spot for too long, you run the risk of burning your concentrates. Even worse, you could end up cracking your piece, making it fragile and much more susceptible to breaks. After heating the tip, allow it to cool for around 10-20 seconds before proceeding to the next step. If you would like to dial it in, you can pick up an infrared thermometer so you can get the temperature to your preferred setting.
- Place Tip on Concentrates and Inhale – After you heat the tip to your preferred temperature, you’ll position it directly onto your heat-resistant mat or dab container that contains your concentrates. Applying the proper amount of pressure is critical in ensuring optimal vapor generation. So, make sure you’re gentle, yet firm enough so as not to impede your airflow or allow any vapor to escape. Finally, it’s time for the payoff! To inhale, simply place the hot tip into your concentrates and place your lips on the opposite end, gently inhaling. The heated tip will almost instantly vaporize your concentrates before the vapor is then filtered through the percolator providing some super tasty vapor. Once you’ve inhaled, you can either wait a few seconds or immediately exhale to enjoy the effects.
Some Extra Tasty Nectar Collector Tips
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- You don’t need that much wax to produce great vapor since dab straws are so darn effective.
- You may want to try low-temp dabs since they tend to provide the best results with smooth, terrific-tasting vapor.
- If you notice any vapor escaping, you’ll want to either apply more pressure or inhale harder for a better draw.
- When filling the piece with water, if you’re having any issues, remove the mouthpiece to make the process easier.
So, if you want a piece that will perform to its full capacity, offer the greatest results, and last as long as possible, we strongly advise you to invest in a nectar collector. Especially since they’re the ideal, one-of-a-kind option for dabbing concentrates.
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