Terp Pearls and Marbles Can Make Dabbing Better

While concentrated cannabis isn’t for everyone, there are some patients who rely on it to help with moderate to severe symptoms. Using cannabis concentrates requires different types of devices compared to traditional flower pipes, however.

A dab rig is traditionally used for smoking concentrated cannabis. There are also new e-rigs that are designed for smoking concentrated wax or resin. But the majority of people prefer “smoke over water,” which is a classic dab rig.

If you have considered using concentrates, you should know that the method is a little bit more intensive than smoking bud. But one of the things you can try is using dab beads. They are also called banger beads, terp balls, and terp pearls. And they can make using smokable concentrates easier.

What Are Dab Beads?

Small spherical objects that are manufactured from non-toxic materials like ceramic or quartz. They are about the size of marble and used exclusively in dab rigs designed for them. You cannot use terp pearls or dab beads in a conventional glass pipe.

If you are shopping for your first dab rig, you want to look for a domed design. If you cannot find a rig that has a dome carb cap, then you will need to purchase accessories to optimize the quality and draw of your smoke.

Different Types of Terp Pearls Or Dab Beads

There are many different kinds of dab pearls you can use when using cannabis concentrates and your dab rig. While they all work the same way, some people prefer types that conduct heat better. Naturally, some are more expensive than others.

Here are the different types of terp pearls you can purchase:

• Ceramic pearls.
• Borosilicate glass.
• Quartz
• SiC (Silicone Carbinate)
• Shinju

On the most expensive end of the spectrum, some people may also use precious stones like rubies or sapphires as dab beads. Recently, lab-grown rubies have become popular to use as dab beads as well, particularly because precious stones (even lab-created ones) have high heat tolerance and do not degrade over time the way other substances can.

How Do Terp Pearls Work?

When using concentrates like wax or shatter, terp pearls are placed inside a heated “banger” or nail. That is the part of the dab rig where the concentrate is vaporized so that it can be inhaled.

Once you place a pearl (or more than one) inside your banger, you heat it with a torch. After the beads have cooled slightly, you place your dab (concentrate) and use a carb cap to make sure you get good airflow (and draw on the vapors).

When you inhale, the dab pearls will start moving. Adding 2-3 terp pearls is usually sufficient. If you add more than that, each terp pearl may slide rather than spin, even when you are using a directional airflow carb cap.

How Do You Use Terp Pearls?

The beads or pearls help by improving heat retention. Some people prefer using a spinner cap, which makes the pearls spin around the nail or banger (dab surface) quickly. As the beads move around, they not only distribute heat evening but also help move the heated concentrate oil around better. That helps the concentrated cannabis vaporize better, with less waste.

As the bead or stone is heated, it helps distribute that heat evenly over the concentrate that is placed on the nail portion of the rig. Some people believe that the glass or ceramic dab nail must be white hot to use. But that’s not necessary. In fact, if you expose your concentrate to a superheating torch cycle, you can find that you waste a lot of your budder.

People who use concentrates regularly claim that the dab beads help enhance the amount of vapor they inhale and may also help reduce waste. This is important because concentrates are the most expensive cannabis products in any dispensary.

What Are the Main Benefits of Using Terp Pearls for Dabbing?

If you are using concentrated cannabis products, you do not have to use terp pearls or banger beads in your rig. But they can offer a number of benefits that can enhance your experience and help reduce the waste of concentrates.

Enhanced Vaporization

All dab rigs have a nail where you can place the concentrate material. However, the size of the nail is pretty small. Using terp pearls increases the surface area, which means more heat is applied to the concentrate you are trying to heat up. That provides a faster and far more efficient dab, particularly if you use marble-shaped beads instead of square or rectangular-shaped ones.

When you use pearls inside of the banger (nail), the beads agitate the concentrated cannabis, which helps you extract more cannabinoids and terpenes in your vapor. And provide better flavor.

Even Heat Distribution

Using a torch directly on a dab nail will focus heat in one area. It also vaporizes the cannabis concentrate quickly, which can lead to using more concentrates while inhaling less vapor. The moving pearls distribute heat evenly.

Improved Flavor Profile

Compared to traditional methods, the action of terp pearls spinning increases the surface area that heats the concentrate. This allows for more terpenes and cannabinoids to be released, and it can create flavorful hits where you taste less charr and more of the natural cannabis content.

Increased Vapor Production

Compared to a static dab rig setup, the motion of the terp pearls spinning can generate a lot more vapor. That means more dense clouds for people who prefer a heavier uptake or vapor hit. If you get a full draw, there is less need to torch more concentrate, which means better vaporization but also less wasted medical marijuana.

Customization and Personalization

There are improved flavorful hits and also the experience of using concentrates. Dab or terp pearls are also sold with some unique designs. You name it, and you can probably find it in terms of color or design, not to mention different styles of carb caps or directional airflow pieces you can use with your dab rig.

Will Any Carb Cap Work With Dab Pearls?

There are dab rigs that have domes and those that have domeless nails. If you have a rig without a dome, you can put a carb cap on top of your domeless nail. They are designed with a small hole that helps restrict airflow to your nail, which can increase smoke density and flavor.

Why would you want to slow down airflow? If you dab with a domeless rig, you will be intaking cold air into the nail chamber. That cool air reduces the heat of the element (nail) and the concentrates you have placed there. That suppresses some of the vapor and the flavor of the cannabis concentrate.

Carb caps are designed to work with virtually every type of dab pearl or banger bead. And like the beads, you can get carb caps made from glass, ceramic, titanium, and quartz. No matter what they are made from, they all work the same way and can provide the same benefits when used correctly.

How Do You Clean Terp Pearls?

It may be stating the obvious, but hot terp pearls need to be cool before you can clean them. They have good heat retention, so you may need to set your dab rig aside for five minutes to allow them to cool down.

Once your terp pearls have cooled, you can remove them and soak them in a cleaning solution for about thirty minutes. While some people use an iso soak, it’s not the healthiest option. Look for an all-natural cleaning solution that will not leave a toxic chemical residual oil on your beads.

Many chemical cleaners can contain carcinogenic compounds that can damage your lungs and present health risks when used long-term. A natural way to DIY your own cleaning solution is to soak them in a bowl with baking soda, vinegar, boiling water, and lemon juice.

Make sure your dab pearls are completely submerged and soaking for about a half hour. Then dry them and store them for the next time you use your dabbing rig.