Hot Knife, Electric Dab Tool: What is? Why use them? How to use?

Dab tools, one of the most archaic tools of the dabbing experience, have not seen any advancement for decades, until the electric dab tool came along. Hot knives, also known as electric dab tools, are popular among concentrate enthusiasts for their ability to heat up and handle wax with precision.

With either a blade or scooper tip, electric dab tools also provide an easy way to drop wax into a banger, nail or atomizer, preventing any concentrates from remaining on the dab tool while not requiring the dab tool to touch and possibly damage the banger or atomizer. The dirty dab tool is a thing of the past! In this blog post, we'll explore some of the reasons why hot knives are a popular choice among dabbers.

What is a Hot Knife or Electric Dab Tool?

• A hot knife or electric dab tool is a battery powered device designed with a blade or scooper tip, typically made from ceramic. The power is sent from the battery to the tip, heating the tip. Hot Knives range in heat settings. The old school “hot knife” was simply heating up a dab tool with a lighter. The new school hot knives offer different heat settings, tip styles and even a light at the tip!

Why Use a Hot Knife or Electric Dab Tool?

• Convenience: When dealing with solid dabs, like diamonds or shatter it is best to use an electric dab tool. Easily slice and dice the wax down to size with your hot knife!
• Consistency: Know your dab size! Using a hot knife allows for proper dab sizing for each and every dab.
• Less Waste: When using an electric dab tool all of the wax intended to be dabbed, is placed into the banger, nail, or coil, preventing any concentrate from remaining on the dab tool and changing the size of the dab.
• Less Mess: Not only is there less waste, but less waste also means less mess! Removing any of the remaining minimal wax from the hot knife is quick and easy. I’ve never heard anyone complain about having a cleaner dab tool ;)
• Cost-effective: Hot knives and electric dab tools have proliferated and become much less expensive over the past 2 years. You can now find an electric dab tool for as little as $15 with there now being upwards of 50 different brands of electric dab tools on the market.

Is an Electric Dab Tool worth the cost?

• By properly sizing each dab, not leaving any wax on the dab tool and keeping the dab tool clean, an electric dab tool pays for itself after a few grams.

How to use a Hot Knife or Electric Dab Tool for Shatter or Diamonds?

• Hot knives and electric dab tools are particularly well-suited for use with shatter, a type of concentrate that is known for its brittle, glass-like texture.
• To use a hot knife or electric dab tool with shatter or diamonds simply heat up the dab tool and slice or cut into the shatter or diamonds.

How to use an Electric Dab Tool with an Electric Dab Rig, Quartz Banger, or Dab Nail?

1. Cut the desired amount of concentrates for that dab.
2. Allow the electric dab tool to cool.
3. Allow the desired amount of concentrates (wax) to stick to the cooled electric dab tool.
4. When taking a cold start dab, place the concentrates into the banger, atomizer or nail by heating up the hot knife until the concentrates drips off into the quartz banger, atomizer, coil or dab nail.
5. When taking a dab with a heated banger or atomizer, allow for the banger or coil to heat up, then heat up the electric dab tool to allow for the concentrates to drip off the hot knife. Timing is crucial for a good dab.
6. Understand the temperature of the electric dab tool, if too much power is supplied to the tip, it can vaporize and waste concentrates.

Conclusion

Whether you're a seasoned dabber or a newcomer to the world of concentrates, hot knives and electric dab tools are a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy your favorite extracts with ultimate control of your dab size and a clean dabbing experience.

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