How to Use a Dab Pen (With How-To Pics Using the Don Vaporizer)

It’s dab-o-time… but you’re not 100% sure how to use a dab pen to vaporize your cannabis extracts?

Maybe you’re a vaping enthusiast who’s curious about trying it or a complete newbie (like many people) who just saw one on Instagram… and you’re dying to try it out. No matter, you’re in the right place.

I’ll walk you through the ins and outs of dab pens (or wax pens, however you want to call them) – how to load them, use them, clean them, and share some tips.

Hopefully, you’ll walk away from this post feeling like a dab pro!

Aaaand…

I’ll use our Don dab pen to illustrate everything… and maybe even show you why this nifty but powerful vaporizer might have your name on it! A guy can hope, right?

Anyway… go grab some snacks and let’s talk dab pens!

What’s a Dab Pen?

A wax pen—as it’s alternatively, and wrongly, called—is a compact, portable device that vaporizes cannabis concentrates like wax, shatter, or crumble. In recent years, they’ve gained popularity for providing a stronger effect, delivering potent hits and more intense flavors than traditional dry herb vaporizers.

But you know what they’re best at?

They’re a game-changer if you enjoy the sledgehammer-over-the-head types of hits on the go.

The way these wax pens work is by rapidly vaporizing those extracts through direct contact in a specialty chamber (similar to a nail in a traditional dab rig) designed not to waste a drop of that gooey goodness.

Pretty effective, right?

And The Don is our device that is transforming the dabbing experience with its top-of-the-line features. It has received impressive reviews from users, including the YouTube’s own GoStoner, who praised its quick heating capabilities, impressive vapor production, and long-lasting battery life.

You’ll soon see the Don in action. But, before that, let’s look at different kinds of wax pens. Actually, different kinds of coils and atomizers, which will dictate how to use the dab pen.

What Kind of a Wax Pen Are You Using?

The type of coil you utilize can significantly impact your overall vaping experience.

There are three different types, and each of them offers distinct advantages and drawbacks (which influence factors such as flavor, vapor production, and ease of use – all important considerations when choosing a pen):

1. Quartz rod

These coils are made of metal, usually titanium, wrapped around a small quartz rod. They have pretty fast heat-up times, produce thick clouds, and intense, pure flavors.

They do have a few drawbacks, including low heat retention and higher maintenance because they’re difficult to clean.. Loading concentrates onto quartz rod coils can also be challenging because you have to place the dab on a narrow strip.

Best for: intermediate and advanced users.

2. Ceramic cup

Often described as a bowl, this coil is easy to load and clean and produces great-tasting vapor. It also has good heat retention and provides a smooth vaping experience.

However, ceramic coils can be fragile and produce smaller, less dense clouds compared to other types.

Best for: beginners and intermediate users who prioritize flavor over cloud production.

3. Quartz cup

These are similar in shape to ceramic coils, but they offer a combination of the strengths of quartz and ceramic ones with fewer weaknesses. They are easy to load and clean, have fast heat-up times, and deliver great flavor because quartz is a neutral material that preserves the purity of the wax. They do share some drawbacks with the other types, including low heat retention and fragility.

Best for: vapers of all experience levels, making it the best option for many users.

How to Use A Dab Pen For Best Hits

Most dabbing devices work similarly with minor variations that can make a big difference in terms of hits and flavor.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to operate any run-of-the-mill wax vaporizer on the market. I’ll also include a Don-specific sentence or two that I’ll illustrate with a photo (of The Don, not my mug) so you can see exactly how easy to use it is.

Step #1: Charge your device

The first thing to do when using your wax vaporizer is to ensure that it’s fully charged and ready for use. Most dab pens come with a USB charger or charging cable. To charge it, connect the charging cable to the device and a power source.

The Don comes with a USB-C charging cable. Connect the cable to the device and a power source, and wait for it to fully charge before using it.

Step #2: Turn it on

To turn on most of these button-activated pens, you press the power switch a few times quickly (usually 5 times). Keep in mind that some may have a different activation method, so check your manual.

As for the Don, press the power button five times quickly to turn it on.

• the digital screen will display the current temperature and battery life.
• the Don also features haptic feedback (vibrates when turned on, when it reaches the set temperature, and when turned off).

Step #3: Load your extract

With most units, you open the wax chamber attachment, place the concentrate inside, and close the chamber. To do this, employ a dabbing tool – a small piece of metal that lets you scoop us a bit of extract and drop it inside the coil/chamber (because that chamber gets scolding hot fast, and you don’t want to get your fingers anywhere near it. Not even while the unit is unheated).

With the Don, you first need to remove the mouthpiece and add a small amount of water to the chamber. Be careful not to overfill it because the water may enter the mouthpiece while you inhale.

• use a dab tool to place the concentrate into the atomizer (it’s a quartz coil, so it’s super-easy to load).
• don’t take too much – the size of a grain of rice is more than enough.
• close the mouthpiece and make sure it locks in place.

Step 4: Select the Temperature

Most wax vaporizers have adjustable temperature settings. You normally just press the power switch to cycle through temperature options (or check the instruction manual).

On The Don, you press the power button to cycle through different temperatures in the settings or hold it down to increase the temperature in intervals of 10.

• the temperature range is between 320°F and 800°F and provides you with a customizable vaping experience.

Step 5: Heat It Up

Once you select your desired temperature, press and hold the power switch to heat the unit. Some of these may have a separate firing button. No need for a torch here, as with regular dab rigs.

On The Don, you press the power button twice quickly to start the heating process or hold it down to manually heat the device. 

• the digital screen will display the current temperature as it heats.
• thanks to the quartz heating bucket, the unit heats quickly, reaching high temperatures in seconds.

Step 6: Inhale the Vapor

When the device reaches the desired temperature, place your lips on the mouthpiece and take a puff while pressing the power button (or the separate heating button, if applicable) to activate the heating element.

Inhale into your lungs if you’re a pro, but remember – some dabs are harsh and can cause a coughing fit.

There’s not much difference with The Don here. If you want, you can use the carb cap tether to control the airflow.

Step 7: Turn off and clean

An important step to remember is that you need to regularly clean the heating chamber or atomizer of any dab pen to ensure optimal performance.

To turn off The Don, you’ll press the power button five times quickly and allow it to cool down after the session. 

• the best way to clean the atomizer and other parts is to use the included cleaning tools (alcohol pads, Q-tips) after each heavier session.
• replace the atomizer when necessary to maintain optimal performance.
• pro tip – it’s a good idea to clean while the device is still warm: it’s much easier to get all the residue out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dabbing

Q1: What is dabbing, anyway?

A dab is a concentrated product of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, as well as plant-specific terpenes and flavonoids. And dabbing is when you use those concentrates in dab rigs and e-rigs.

You’ve got various types of dabs with different consistencies and flavors, like wax, budder, trim run, nug run, and sauce and sugar. Actually… you can find the full guide on dabbing right here <– give it a read to see how dabbing differs from vaping oils and flower & see if this method is for you.

Q2: What’s the difference between flower vapes and dab pens?

Flower vapes (designed for actual cannabis flowers) utilize ceramic chambers and focus on lower temperatures to avoid combustion. On the flip side, dab vaporizers, aka wax pens, are all about concentrates, requiring higher temperatures and a coil for heating. 

Different strokes for different folks, right? If you have questions or are in doubt, find answers in our article, where we explain the main difference between wax and dry herb vaporizers.

Q3: What extracts & concentrates can the Don handle?

Well, The Don is a versatile little concentrate vaporizer that can handle a whole smorgasbord of different types of wax and cannabis concentrates. 

Whether you’re into the gooey goodness of wax, the glass-like shatter that snaps when you touch it, the creamy budder, or the crumble wax, The Don got you covered. We did a quick overview of 17 different weed wax concentrates and a variety of different concentrates, so follow the link and pick your favorite!

Wrapping Up

So you learned how to use a dab pen, and that they are nifty, fast-acting gadgets for vaporizing cannabis concentrates like wax, shatter, and crumble. AKA your one-way ticket to potent, flavorful hits that’ll knock your socks off and provide a more intense experience.

Are you ready to try them out?

The Don is the best dab pen and the Holy Grail of dabbing. Quick heating, impressive vapor production, and battery life that just won’t quit (lasting a reeaally long time)… It’s smooth sailing, from loading the bubbler to kicking back with a tasty cloud of goodness.