Nectar Collectors | The Perfect Concentrate Companion

Marijuana concentrates are crazy hot right now, and so are the smoking tools that vaporize
them. From classic dab rigs to portable e-nails, the methods for consuming your concentrates
keep expanding. One particular piece of equipment is sweeping the ranks of smart smokers: the
nectar collector.

What is a Nectar Collector?

Put simply, a nectar collector is a slim, vertical vaporizing tool that utilizes water filtration. This innovative concentrate tech takes everything you love about a dab rig and turns it into a fresher, more sophisticated experience. A nectar collector generally comes in a kit-like box with all parts disassembled. Here’s what to expect when you unbox a brand new nectar collector.

Water Chamber: Water filtration is why nectar collectors deliver smooth and silky dabs. The central piece of a nectar collector is its water chamber. The most common (and most affordable) method of water filtration is a simple open-ended stem and dome combo. The fancier nectar collectors may include a diffused stem or even a shower head or comparable perc.

Neck: The neck/mouthpiece of a nectar collector is usually a slim straight tube that connects to the water chamber via a frosted joint. In high-end nectar collectors, this piece may contain an extra perc for filtration.

Tip: The tip of a nectar collector connects to the water chamber with a joint as well. The most basic kits come with a glass tip, but you’ll commonly see titanium tips as well. Quartz tips can be found as well, and are a good choice if you like the clear look but want to retain heat and resist cracking better than glass. Some kits come with a keck clip to hold the tip and water chamber together for extra security.

Dab Dish: The dab dish is unique to nectar collectors. It’s a little glass, quartz, or silicone dish where all the action happens.

What are Nectar Collectors Made From?

You have two main choices when deciding on a nectar  collector: glass, or silicone. Glass nectar collectors are favored for having ultra-clean vapor flavor, but silicone is the way to go if you want to take your dab sessions on the road.

How Do I Use a Nectar Collector?

The real question is, how do you use one of these contraptions? Luckily, it’s pretty simple. Fill the main chamber from the top. Fill it slowly and steadily, until the chamber is about ⅓ to ½ full.

Note: DO NOT fill a nectar collector with tip attached. Water may get trapped in the tip
and cause cracking when heated.

Insert the neck piece into the top of the water chamber.

Insert the glass, titanium, or quartz tip into the bottom of the joint, and secure with a keck clip if available. Use a push-and-twist motion to ensure a snug fit.

Prepare your concentrate by placing your desired amount in the dab dish and placing the dab dish on a flat surface free of surrounding objects. A counter or table is best.

Double check that the tip is secure in the joint, and re-adjust if necessary.

Hold the nectar collector horizontally and heat the tip with your torch. Avoid getting the tip red-hot, as that increases the chances of damaging the nectar collector, and leads to some very harsh dabs.

Once the tip is heated to your preferred temperature, touch it to the dab you’ve set up in the dish, and inhale the resulting vapor.

Once you’re done, lay the nectar collector on its side to cool, and enjoy the taste of your favorite concentrate!

Hot Tips for Using a Nectar Collector
The basics of using a nectar collector are pretty simple after you use it once or twice. But here are a couple of pointers to help you get the most out of your experience!

Cannabinoids and terpenes—the compounds that combine to get you high and flavor your dab—are vaporized at fairly low temperatures. Once you pass 400°F, those compounds burn and are lost. Experiment with your firing time and keep it low-temp for the tastiest dabs.

Dab mats are a lifesaver for nectar collectors. While you can place it on its side to cool and keep the tip from damaging your surface, a dab mat prevents any unseemly spills from damaging your surface. Believe me, it happens more often than you might think.

To smooth out your dabs even further, try starting your inhale as you finish leaning down to the counter or table. Before you actually touch the heated tip to the concentrate. This adds some cooler air to your hit, which then receives further cooling by the water filtration in the chamber.

Nectar collectors are an elegant way to get the best flavor from concentrates, as well as more precisely dose your sessions. There’s also the cost advantage: nectar collectors are definitely cheaper than your average dab rig. Add in their portability, and you’ve got the perfect companion to your best concentrates.

Spencer Grey is a staff writer at Smoking Outlet.