Dab Trends: The Nectar Collector Vertical Vaporizer

The nectar collector pipe is a growing trend among concentrate enthusiasts and casual cannabis users alike, some call the style of pipe the next evolution of dabbing, and if you have ever used one you might say the same.

In its simplest definition a nectar collector is a steamroller for concentrates, a titanium tip at one end and the mouth piece at the other with a convenient water chamber and percolator in its shaft. Unlike a bubbler or bong used for dabs, a nectar collector does not require a wand or nail, and can be put right into the dish holding your concentrates, which is the main attribute for the unique style of water pipe. The style is quite universal, it’s small enough to travel with like a standard pipe yet designed to be just as good as a bulky hitting bong. It is ultimately designed to be simple to use.

“We think it's the next step in vertical vaporization. The basic concept is that you're taking exactly how much you want every time -- no more, no less. It's good and clean.” Said Jeff Zobell and Kristian Merwin, creators and inventors of the nectar collector, in an interview with High Times magazine during the 2014 Cannabis Cup Awards. “We give people the choice of glass, quartz or titanium, plus the portability -- we're going into pendants and things like that as well. I think that part of the evolution in doing this is collaborating with people. This is just the tip of the iceberg.” Nectar collectors are quite new in the growing industry, glass makers and smokes shops alike are finding steady profit and growth of interest among them, a multitude of dabbing communities have been avidly promoting the use of them due to its convenience, and marketability. Some of the more intricate nectar collectors can run a pretty penny, up to $5000 USD for those looking for exquisitely crafted pieces, but for the most part simple nectar collectors don’t get more expensive than your average glass bong.

The nectar collector pipe is a growing trend among concentrate enthusiasts and casual cannabis users alike, some call the style of pipe the next evolution of dabbing, and if you have ever used one you might say the same.

In its simplest definition a nectar collector is a steamroller for concentrates, a titanium tip at one end and the mouth piece at the other with a convenient water chamber and percolator in its shaft. Unlike a bubbler or bong used for dabs, a nectar collector does not require a wand or nail, and can be put right into the dish holding your concentrates, which is the main attribute for the unique style of water pipe. The style is quite universal, it’s small enough to travel with like a standard pipe yet designed to be just as good as a bulky hitting bong. It is ultimately designed to be simple to use.

“We think it's the next step in vertical vaporization. The basic concept is that you're taking exactly how much you want every time -- no more, no less. It's good and clean.” Said Jeff Zobell and Kristian Merwin, creators and inventors of the nectar collector, in an interview with High Times magazine during the 2014 Cannabis Cup Awards. “We give people the choice of glass, quartz or titanium, plus the portability -- we're going into pendants and things like that as well. I think that part of the evolution in doing this is collaborating with people. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

One of the best things about a nectar collector is that the water won’t spill when laid on its side, the mouth piece comes off in order to put water in its chamber and when put back on keeps it in there, turning it upside down would result in maybe a drop or two coming out, most have prongs sticking out of the sides so that it is at a slant when set down and a few come with stands to hold them upright all together. For the most part it is essentially designed to be dummy proof, of course you can’t be too careless when dealing with a heated titanium tip, and a word of caution to new users of nectar collectors that you should be aware of what a heated tip comes in contact with, anyone who has burnt themselves on a heated nail could give the same advice.

The Nectar Collector is fine and unique dabbing piece that any concentrate enthusiast would enjoy having. 

What's the Difference Between a Bong and A Dab Rig?

Whether you are a hardcore stoner or have "never touched the stuff" chances are that you've heard of a bong. Only the real pothead would be familiar with a "dab rig", also known as an oil rig, or concentrate rig. 

Dab rigs look something like a glass bong, but are specialized for "dabbing", which is smoking a concentrated form of cannabis (honey oil, shatter, wax). The bong is the quintessential smoking device used by stoners for decades, whereas the dab rig is the wave of the future. To clarify what really sets these two glass pipes apart, I've outlined the main differences between a bong and a dab rig below.

 Bowl vs. Nail
The biggest difference between a bong and a dab rig has a lot to do with the product being smoked. With a bong, one would smoke dry herb. The herb would be packed into your bowl to be lit with a standard lighter. A dab rig however uses a "nail" instead of a bowl. The nail rests on the part of the dab rig called a glass joint. The nail itself is heated to very high temperatures using a hand torch, so that when the honey oil or wax is placed onto the nail the concentrated cannabis is vaporized before being inhaled.

glass bowl

Ti nail

Size
A glass bong is almost always going to be bigger than a dab rig. The reason being is that combusted dry herb doesn't vaporize, so the bong could be as big as you want it to be because the smoke will travel the entire path without dissipating or sticking to the glass. On the other hand, the smaller dab rig just make sense. A small compact dab rig keeps the vapor milky and condensed, keeping the flavor and potency. Many dab heads will say, the shorter the path from the nail to the face, the harder the hit.

Price

Dab rigs are generally going to be more expensive, but not by much. This is mostly has to do with the nail, which is more specialized and often made with pricey material, like titanium. You can find cheap dab rigs, you just need to know where to look. There's an online store that sells wholesale glass pipes and is open to the public. Just click on the link above to check it out! Enjoy!