Dabbing 101: How to remove a banger stuck in a dab rig due to reclaim

You go to clean your rig, but the banger won’t move. You pull harder… and now you’re one wrong move away from snapping glass.

This is an insanely common occurrence for dabbers, it can be a real pain and may even cause the banger to break, potentially rendering the dab rig unusable and leaving you with a nasty cut. 

Why is my banger stuck?! Why This Happens? 

A banger or dab nail becomes stuck within a dab rig pipe joint when reclaim builds up near the connection. When cooled, this reclaim acts like glue or even cement, making it nearly impossible to remove the banger or dab nail from the dab rig, water pipe, nectar collector, or bong. 
Reclaim is an inevitable part of dabbing; even the most efficient dabbers have reclaim in their pipe, this is because as the vapor cools along the vapor path, it sticks to the glass. 

You can delay the need to clean the reclaim by dabbing efficiently; that means not over-saturating the banger so whatever is placed inside can entirely vaporize, not pulling too hard so no excess reclaim is pulled in, and not dabbing in a very cold environment. Utilizing a reclaim catcher is also a great way to prevent excess reclaim from falling into the banger joint dab rig connection point. 

Why not just yank it out? 

A common mistake is to use brute force to remove the banger from the joint; this is how you end up with a broken banger or dab nail like shown below. 

This can result in a bloody finger, a broken banger, and an unusable dab rig. 

There are a few ways to properly remove the banger or dab nail when it is stuck in a bong. 

How to properly unstick and remove

There is a particular method to use when trying to remove a stuck banger or dab nail. 

Step 1: Either heat the banger for 60 seconds to have the joint slightly heat up or heat the neck of the banger. Be sure never to touch the dab rig with the flame, as it is typically made from borosilicate glass and will shatter if heated by a torch. Be careful; the banger will still be hot. It is advised to use silicone fingertips to twist the banger back and forth. Silicone fingertips will prevent your fingers from being burned from a hot banger. 

Step 2: Once the joint has been heated, you should be able to move the banger slightly from side to side. 

Step 3: Continue to wiggle the banger stuck in the rig back and forth slowly and with larger rotations until loose and easily able to be removed from the dab rig joint. 
This is the proper reclaim stuck joint fix. Whether your dab nail is stuck or a banger, the same method holds true. 

Ways to prevent your banger from getting stuck inside your dab rig

Frequent cleaning is the best way to prevent a stuck dab nail, keep your glass in great condition and working like new. This not only maximizes the benefits of each dab, but also safeguards your glass from breaking. 
Cleaning the banger joint and dab rig joint connection as soon as buildup begins to appear only takes a moment and can save you the headache of a stuck banger. 
Simply use isopropyl alcohol with a dab cotton swab. Soak a swab in some iso, like iso-shine from Dr Buzzkill, and wipe the inside of the dab rig joint. Pull out the banger and wipe down the banger joint with Dr Buzzkill's Reclaim Relief Wipes. These simple steps will help prevent a stuck banger. 

What NOT TO DO when trying to unstick a banger from a dab rig

Do not pull straight up on the banger
Do not use excessive force
Do not twist too aggressively
Do not heat the dab rig

Best methods to remove a stuck banger

If we were to rank the best methods, it would be in order of least risk. 

Method 1: Gentle Wiggle (Safest & Most Effective)

This is the best way to do things, and you should always try it first.

A banger usually gets stuck because the reclaim has cooled and made a tight seal between the joint surfaces. Pulling straight up puts the most stress on the rig's neck, which is the weakest point.

Instead, you want to slowly break that seal.

How to go about it:

1. With one hand, hold the base of the rig firmly.
2. With the other hand, hold the banger close to the joint, not the bucket.
3. Slowly wiggle the banger from left to right, if you feel too much resistance, stop; do not stress the glass.
4. Only move in small increments and slowly.
5. Keep twisting back and forth, gradually with further range of motion, until you feel the seal loosen completely.
6. Begin to slowly pull up as you turn side to side until the banger is removed from the dab rig.

Why it works:
The side-to-side motion breaks the reclaim bond evenly, which makes the glass less stressed.

Tip:
Don't think "twist"; think "wiggle". You're not taking it apart; you're loosening it.

Method 2: Use heat to help (for tough buildup)

If the banger won't move with gentle pressure, controlled heat can soften the reclaim and make it much easier to remove.

How to go about it:

1. Use a torch or another heat source with low, controlled heat.
2. Warm up the area around the joint a little bit (not just the bucket).
3. Don't overdo it; heat for a few seconds at a time.
4. While it's still warm, give the gentle wiggle method another try.

Why it works:
When heated, reclaim becomes softer, which makes the adhesive that is holding the joint together less effective.

Important:

Don't let the glass get too hot.
Never Heat the dab rig joint
Move it slowly and gently.

Method 3: Cleaning Soak: Best for Bangers completely stuck that wont budge. 

Soaking in isopropyl alcohol is the safest and easiest way to get rid of buildup. Finding a bag big enough to place the dab rig into can be a bigger challenge. Utilizing a dunk tank, you can turn the dab rig upside-down to allow the joint to sit fully submerged in the isopropyl alcohol for 45min to 2 hours to let it slowly get unstuck.

How to go about it:

1. Put the joint area in a cleaning solution, like isopropyl alcohol, to clean it.
2. Allow the joint to soak it for 30 to 45 minutes, or longer if it's really stuck and dirty.
3. Remove from the iso bath and slowly try to wiggle the joint like in method # 1. 
4. Try another iso bath if needed.

Why it works:
The soak breaks down reclaim on a chemical level, loosening the bond without using any force.

Tip:
This way works best if the piece hasn't been cleaned in a while.

Being proactive about reclaim buildup is the best way to have enjoyable dabbing sessions without worrying about breaking your glass. Using the above-mentioned cleaning tools, dab wipes, isopropyl alcohol, and dab cotton swabs will help keep all of your glass healthy and in its best condition for a long time to come.