What is a Dab Pen & How to Use One Effectively

A lot of people talk about dab pens, but they’re not always understood. It doesn’t help that the term is often misused as a synonym for weed oil pens. In reality, dab pens are a whole different device.

You can’t hook a vape cart up to a dab pen — actually, you can’t use one of these pens to vape oil at all, or to connect a cart. They’re designed specifically to vaporize semi-solid concentrates like wax or shatter. Compared to a full-size dab rig, pens are an accessible, portable way to vape concentrates.

Using a dab pen for the first time can be confusing if you’re used to vaping THC or CBD carts, but they’re more straightforward than many expect. To help you get started, we’ve created this guide and answered a handful of frequently asked questions.

What is a dab pen?

Dab pens are a convenient way to vape semi-solid concentrates, such as shatter or wax. Instead of delta 9 THC (“THC”), CBD, or delta 8 carts, the concentrate is inserted directly into the device’s chamber. The coil heats and allows the atomizer to convert wax into vapor.

The phrase “dab pen” stems from the colloquial terms “dab” and “dabbing.” The dollop of concentrate is the dab, while dabbing is the process of heating the wax and converting it into vapor. Traditionally, dabbing has required a desktop dab rig. It’s a stationary activity. Dab pens are designed to offer a portable alternative.

Other terms for a dab pen are wax pen and wax vape. While all of these terms are correct, “dab cart” is not a thing—and people tend to use it erroneously. Unlike THC or CBD pens, dab pens don’t use disposable carts.

How do dab pens work?

A dab pen works by heating weed concentrates, including wax, to produce vapor. This vapor is inhaled through the device’s mouthpiece.

Although the construction of dab pens varies between brands, there are a few components that all devices share. There needs to be an atomizer or chamber for users to load weed concentrate, a mouthpiece, and a heating element.  Dab pens are powered by a battery, which is typically rechargeable via USB.

To vape thick concentrates, dab pens use higher temperatures than oil pens. On the low end, dab pens should be heated to around 315° F. Some users prefer temperatures of 400° F and beyond.

How to use a dab pen

As we mentioned, dab pens don’t take much time to get the hang of. One of the biggest adjustments weed vapers need to make is getting in the habit of cleaning their device frequently—and preferably after every use.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using a standard dab pen.

Dab pen FAQs

What types of dab pens are there?

There are three categories of wax pens: pens with wicks, wickless, and flat. All of these varieties feature a coil, and vary based on the presence or absence of a wick. The coil’s position can play a role, too.

Flat ceramic dishes are recognizable by their lack of visible coils or wicks. Instead of coming into direct contact with the coil, waxes are stored in a donut-style dish.

Atomizers with wicks use coils wrapped in a fibrous wick. These devices perform best when paired with high-viscosity waxes. On the other hand, wickless devices lack this absorbent fiber and are superior for vaping runny concentrates.

What does a dab pen look like?

Most dab pens look similar to an oil pen but may be heftier due to the width of their built-in chamber.

Specifically, wax pens are compact metal cylinders, each a few inches in length. They have a visible mouthpiece or cap at one end.

Your pen’s button is an essential part of its use, and you’ll find it on the device’s side. This button will light up to signal that the dab pen is on or in use. It may also flash particular colors to signify battery status or let you know about errors.

Aside from the mouthpiece, a dab pen’s body is made of two large segments. The upper section, right beneath the mouthpiece, is the chamber. This section is also where the heating element is housed. The bigger portion beneath that is the battery.

What is the best temperature to vape wax?

The ideal temperature range for vaping wax is between 350° and 400° F. Those new to dab pens can start around 315° F and gradually work their way up, until reaching the desired flavor and vapor output. Inexpensive dab pens often don’t offer voltage controls.

Not in the mood for gradual adjustments? Use the chart to find the boiling point of the cannabinoids you’re vaping, and set your dab pen to a temperature approximately 10° F higher than that boiling point.

How much does a dab pen cost?

What is a dab pen high like?

Waxes and dabs are highly concentrated substances. After vaping a THC concentrate, expect a powerful high. For some vapers, this high is similar to one derived from oil pens, though it may last longer or be achieved more quickly.

This doesn’t mean that all concentrates will get you high. As an example, hemp-derived CBD or CBG concentrates are non-intoxicating.

Are dabs or dab pens a felony?

The legality of dabs and dab pens is heavily dependent on location.

Possession of an unloaded dab pen is unlikely to result in criminal charges, regardless of location. In states where marijuana is illegal, a THC-loaded dab pen may be considered a criminal offense. Some states punish possession of concentrates more harshly, sometimes adding felony charges. Learn the local and state laws; ignorance is never an excuse.

Do dab pens produce a smell?

Dab pens make it easy to vape concentrates