Electric Dab Rigs

What is an electric dab rig?

Electric dab rigs also known as E-Rigs are generally comprised of an electrically heated atomizer and a glass water bubbler to help cool the vapor that you inhale. They use concentrates such as wax or shatter, which are concentrated forms of THC. In short, they are the more modernized torch dab rig that would rely on a blow torch to vaporize your concentrates.

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The word 'dab' refers to concentrates, hence where E-Rigs get their name from. It's because of this that the consumption of THC concentrates is known as 'dabbing'. Electric dab rigs are a step up from torch dab rigs because they no longer rely on manual heating, but instead, technology and batteries.

Keep in mind that this dabbing is one of the most intense ways to enjoy vaping as e-rigs will produce more powerful rips and massive clouds compared to portable dry herb vaporizers. 

How to use an electronic dab rig?

First, you will be adding water to the e-rig's glass bubbler. With that done, you can use a dabbing tool (long metal spoke with a tiny spoon on the end) to scoop up your dab and place it into the E-Rigs atomizer. 

You might also have a carb cap cover to place over the chamber - This regulates the airflow and lets you control how much or little of the vapor you're getting when you begin heating. When you turn on the atomizer, wait for a few seconds for your dab to melt, and then you can begin inhaling through the glass bubbler's mouthpiece.

Portable Dab Rigs

While most E-Rigs are more portable than traditional dab rigs, most will be better off left at home like a dry herb desktop vaporizer.

Imagine that it is like carrying around a large bong. It's doable, but you're always at risk of breaking your glass during transportation. Having said that, some E-Rigs have scaled-down models like the G Pen Connect or XMAX Qomo and will be very easy to transport.

How to clean an E-Rig

It's also a good idea to have some vaporizer cleaning products beforehand so that you're always ready for a good clean-up. It's easier to stay ahead of atomizer maintenance than it is to get behind and end up with burn marks and stains.

The two main parts you'll have to clean are your coils/atomizers, and then the glass bubbler.

1. For the glass bubbler, you can use isopropyl alcohol and salt to remove any kind of hard water stains or resin buildup before a hot water rinse out.
2. For the atomizer, most of the time you'll be able to unthread it and soak in some 99% isopropyl alcohol to get rid of resin buildups. After a water rinse-off and letting it dry, you'll be able to re-attach it and run a burn-off cycle for any remaining alcohol.

With E-Rigs, like the infamous Dr. Dabber Switch, there is also a high-energy heat cycle function that allows you to burn off any residue in the cup. For burnt residue, you can also try to use a dab tool to gently scrape them off after letting the atomizer soak for up to twenty minutes in water or alcohol.

Electric Dab Rigs vs. Dab Pens

As mentioned, dabbing just means you're choosing to vape concentrated forms of the cannabis plant. You don't need a whole e-rig setup for this. If you're interested in something less stressful and a device that you could bring along on an outing, check out our Dab Pens.

While E-Rigs might have bubblers and larger overall atomizers, dab pens opt for a much more portable design that is smaller than a pencil. Their atomizers will often be less powerful and have exposed coils, but they are great options for heavy users that need hits at work or on the go.

E-Rigs vs. Torch Dab Rigs

As previously mentioned, E-Rigs are a more portable option than lugging around a butane torch, bong, concentrates, and other tools. As E-Rigs operate at lower and more controlled temperatures compared to torching a glass banger, heating will be much easier and you'll be able to just wipe the chamber clean after every session. Most E-Rigs are also very beginner friendly because they use a lights display system or HD screens to show your temperature and other info. If you're new to concentrates, this will make sure that you don't get any scorching inhales that are common with torch dab rigs. Get used to not setting a timer with a torch, and start spending more time enjoying your concentrates!

How much do Electric Dab Rigs cost?

The most budget-friendly E-Rigs cost as little as $100, whereas the premium devices can cost more than $400. As you begin to spend more, you'll notice that the number of features will go up, as well as general manufacturing quality and ease of use.

Types of Electric Dab Rigs

There are tons of things to consider when buying an electric dab rig for yourself. Some like the Focus V Carta 2 have accessories to help with portability as well as an ergonomic design compared to huge and bulky designs like the Switch. Another part where E-Rigs vary is the vapor air path material that your vaporizer uses. If you're a health-conscious person you may tend to prefer ceramic, glass, or metal over a dab rig that uses plastic in the air path. This is generally what we refer to in the 'build-quality' section of our dab rig reviews. The last thing to know is the temperature control you want to have on your device. Some of the budget-friendly E-Rigs rely on three pre-set options and will only have one button to operate everything on the dab rig. Premium E-Rigs will have an HD screen or many more pre-sets with beginner-friendly user interfaces. Either way, make sure that you check that your chosen concentrate will be viable in the electric dab rig you're interested in.

Electric Dab Rig FAQs

What are the pros of an Electric Dab Rig?

Electric dab rigs will offer more surface area and better bubblers for your concentrate's vapor to cool down with compared to dab pens. This will ultimately result in less harsh vapor and longer inhales that could get you higher than from a pen. They will also have better battery lives and may even have swappable batteries which can be a great feature for heavy users. Ultimately, they are just much easier to use than traditional dab rigs.

What are the cons of an Electric Dab Rig?

Because they are quite large and will normally be used with water, you will be limited to using them only at home. They will also cost more than dab pens on average so are best for heavy users upgrading from dab pens.

E-Rig Key Features to Consider When Buying

Temperature Control

Temperature control will vary from e-rig to e-rig - Some may have voltages and color schemes to show you your current temperatures, and some may have an HD screen or phone application to make everything much easier.

Battery Life

Some E-Rigs will have very large battery specs that will seemingly last forever, while some will struggle to get more than 8 sessions in. You will also have to consider whether you're okay with micro-USB charging ports, or if you want to stick to the more modern USB-C charging.

Price

Generally the higher price of the E-Rig, the more features and better vapor quality you'll have. That's not to say that the affordable E-Rigs are cheap though! The Core 1.0 has a lower price because there is a newer model out, The Core 2.1, but it can still pack some awesome hits despite its basic functionality!

Convenience

Compared to an E-Nail / Glass Banger / Traditional Dab Rig setup, electric dab rigs are simply much more convenient as you won't have to worry about bringing out a blow torch to get high. All that you'll have to do is turn the unit on and have a nice and relaxing session with a few puffs here and there. If you're a beginner, an E-Rig will be the much better option and can give you the same quality of high.

What comes in an E-Rig kit?

An average E-Rig kit will give you a battery base, a charging cable, a dab loading tool, and one or two atomizers. Often manufacturers will also have a variety of accessories available to upgrade with such as carb caps, bubblers, buckets, and wireless chargers.

Are there any travel-friendly electric dab rigs?

The Focus V Carta 2 will be the most portable dab rig because you'll have included accessories like a bubbler cap and a stylish travel backpack. The bubbler plug will let you pre-fill the bubbler, and the backpack is pretty sleek. Combining these two features with the ergonomic design, and the Carta 2 is very viable to whip out in public for a good session.

Are there any electric dab rigs that can do cartridges?

The Pulsar Sipper is currently the only E-Rig to be compatible with oil cartridges. It also has a small included atomizer & works by vaping your cart or dabbing and pooling into a removable glass cup for you to sip on!

Why buy an electric dab rig from Tools420?

We've been in the industry for more than six years and have always made it our priority to give our customers accurate and up-to-date information on the vaporizers we sell. We are fully transparent with device pros and cons, and will often review top devices on our Tools420 YouTube Channel so that you can see them in action. As well, be sure to look at product specifications on our product page, & as well make sure to use our live chat feature on our website if you have any additional questions about the dab rigs we have for sale - We are always here to help!

E-Rig Cons

• Your atomizers will need maintenance for optimal performance by using alcohol Q-tips to wipe away the debris
• Atomizers will wear down after between 1-4 months and will need to be replaced. Proper cleaning can help extend lifetimes, though.
• Glass bubblers can be fragile
• For the most part, they will be better off left at home

How do you know which E-Rig to buy?

Hopefully based on this information you have an idea about which electric dab rig you want to buy. On our product pages, be sure to check out the 'product specifications' tab which will give you key decision factors to examine along with the key features listed at the top of the page. Happy shopping! If you're still undecided, also feel free to send us a message on our live chat feature with any questions that you have and we will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible. You can also read up more in our Electric Dab Rig Reviews where we go more in-depth than on our product pages about how we feel devices perform and compare to one another. - View less