Consuming cannabis extracts sometimes requires additional tools. To help you make educated purchase decisions, here’s a look at how to choose accessories, how they work, what to consider when making your accessory purchase and tips on maintenance.
HIGHLIGHTS
- To consume cannabis extracts, you may need to purchase additional accessories, such as vape pens, vaporizers, dab rigs, and storage solutions.
- Maintenance products, such as cleaning kits, are available through Ashario.ca.
Vapes & Batteries
One of the simplest ways to consume liquid cannabis extracts like distillate is by using a vape pen, a handheld or pen-shaped device that’s battery-powered. It heats the section to produce a vapor that can be inhaled.
Some vape pens are disposable, meant only for one-time use. Vape battery units (available in 510 thread or closed-loop formats) can be reused by attaching a new prefilled extract cartridge. Ashario.ca only sells prefilled cartridges, so the only part of a vape pen that will require cleaning is the mouthpiece, which can typically be wiped with warm water, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
When shopping for a prefilled cartridge, please take note of the battery type it requires. Some cartridges can only be used with brand-specific batteries. Still, most are compatible with 510-thread batteries—Double-check which kind of battery you have before making a purchase.
Dried Flower Vaporizers
Although it works the same way as a vape pen, a vaporizer is used to smoke dry material, such as cannabis flowers. While it’s not for liquid extracts, it can be used with kief when mixed with dried flowers or pressed into a puck.
When purchasing a vaporizer, take note of the size, type of heating element it uses (stainless steel, ceramic, or another material) and amount of temperature control it provides. Some vaporizers are small and portable, while others are meant for tabletop use.
Dried flower vaporizers should be regularly cleaned to stay in good working order. Bristle pipe cleaners, brushes, grime sticks, wipes, cleaning solutions and other supplies are available through Ashario.ca. These products can also be used to maintain pipes and other cannabis accessories.
Dab Rigs
Dabbing is the process of adding a small amount of concentrated cannabis, such as wax or shatter, onto a super-heated element (called a nail) and inhaling the resulting vapor. Dabbing can be done with a dab rig. You can purchase the components — a water pipe, nail, dome, torch and dabber — individually.
Often made of quartz, titanium or ceramic, the nail is the heating element for the extract. It can either be electronic (self-heating) with precise temperature control or a simple rod that needs to be warmed with a torch. The dabber is a heat-resistant dab tool (often made of glass, metal or ceramic) or paddle to pick up the extract. Not all dab rigs include a dome, but a glass piece placed around the nail traps the vapor.
Before purchasing a dab rig, consider the size. Some dab rigs are large enough for a tabletop, while others are portable. To keep all the pieces together, you may also want to consider investing in a dab mat or tray, often made of silicone.
To keep it in good working order, wipe the cooled nail after every use with a cotton swab. You can clean the nail for tougher grime by heating it slightly then scraping off any excess material. The hardware can also be soaked in an alcohol solution for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinsed with water to remove the alcohol altogether.
Before proceeding with any cleaning, you should consult the manufacturer for special or specific instructions.
Concentrate Storage
While it is best to keep cannabis products within their original, secure packaging, if you have a locked storage solution, you can store cannabis concentrate inside non-stick containers. These containers are often silicone, which means sticky extracts such as shatter and wax won’t adhere to the sides.
For extracts to maintain maximum stability (i.e. prevent the cannabinoids from decomposing over time, decreasing the potency), they should be kept at around 20°C in a dark space or container; exposure to light is the number one cause of cannabinoid decomposition.
Important Notice: Content on this website is intended strictly for informational purposes. Ashario does not promote any product or represent that the products mentioned on Ashario's website are treatments for any kind of medical condition. Ashario cannot guarantee that information provided is error-free or complete and is not responsible for the quality of the information provided by users. Ashario does not endorse any user-reported information, any particular strain, product, producer, organization, treatment, or therapy.
Important Notice: Content on this website is intended strictly for informational purposes. Ashario does not promote any product or represent that the products mentioned on Ashario's website are treatments for any kind of medical condition. Ashario cannot guarantee that information provided is error-free or complete and is not responsible for the quality of the information provided by users. Ashario does not endorse any user-reported information, any particular strain, product, producer, organization, treatment, or therapy.
