Unleash the Flavor: The Ultimate Guide to Terp Pillars for Dabbing Enthusiasts

Terp pillars are a must have dabbing accessory for anyone using a terp slurper or control tower style banger. Terp pillars are a cylindrical shaped piece of quartz glass or other gemstone like sapphire, ruby, SiC, or moissanite that is placed within the banger. Terp pillars spread dabs evenly for optimal heating, flavor and milky clouds. If you aren't already using terp pillars, by the time you finish reading this you will be jumping at the chance to get your hands on one. It will change the way you dab and make sure you get the most out of every drop of your dabs. 

What Exactly are Terp Pillars?

Construction: Terp pillars are narrow short cylinder shaped pieces of quartz or gemstone which are placed into a terp slurper or control tower style banger. They are most commonly made from quartz however higher-end options include gemstones like sapphire, ruby, SiC and even Moissanite. Some are solid pieces while others are hollow. 

Their diameter and height vary with diameters running from 3mm-6mm and their height ranging from 15mm up to 50mm. Pillars smaller than 15mm tend to be classified as a pill and typically have rounded ends like a pill, where pillars have straight flat edges. 

How They Work: When placed into the banger the terp pillar spins and spreads the dabs evenly throughout the heated portion of the banger. Pressing the dabs along the side walls of the banger. This prevents pooling, hot spots and cool spots while causing the thinly evenly spread dabs to be evenly heated and fully vaporized. The efficient vaporization of the dabs prevents waste while offering the most flavorful experience possible. 

Terp Pillars vs. Terp Pills vs. Terp Pearls 

All of these inserts, Terp Pearls, Terp Pills and Terp Pillars serve the same function for spreading dabs evenly through the banger for even vaporization, improving flavor and cloud size. The difference lies in which is best with what banger.

Terp Pearls are small balls that spin around the inside of a banger, depending on their size they may be used with terp slurpers however they may not offer the best dab spreading. Terp pearls are ideal for usage with bucket bangers, or bangers which are too wide to use terp pillars. 

Terp Pills are a smaller version of a terp pillar and can be used in the same setups as terp pillars, such as control tower bangers and most commonly terp slurpers. The determining factor as to whether to use a terp pillar or a terp slurper is based on the height of the chamber in which the terp pill is being placed. For shorter chambers a terp pill is best so that it may fit properly. Terp Pills will offer better dab distribution that terp pearls due to their larger size and ability to spread the dab along the walls of the bangers chamber. 

With terp pills topping out at around 18mm, the chamber in which it is being placed should be no smaller than 2mm taller than the height of the terp pill. So if you are using a 15mm terp pill, the chamber should be a minimum of 17mm. 

The width of the banger chamber will determine if a terp pill is practical to use. If the banger chamber is too wide instead of spinning along the walls of the banger, the pill will spin around the bottom of the banger and not work effectively. The rule of thumb is that if the chamber’s width is 75% of the pill's height, it will not work effectively. So if you have a 10mm pill and the width of the chamber is 7.5mm it will not work effectively. You will want the width to be less than 75% of the pills height for it to function properly. 

Terp Pillars are taller than terp pills and come in two different formats, hollow and solid. The smallest size of a terp pillar is typically in the 15mm height range and can reach as much as 50mm in height. This tall construction allows for the entirety of the bangers chamber to have the dabs spread evenly for the ultimate even vaporization. 

To determine which terp pillar would be best for your banger, understand the size of the chamber in which the pillar will be placed. The Diameter and Height of the chamber will determine which pillar would be ideal for that banger. The diameter should be no smaller than 3mm wider than the pillar and no wider than 75% of the pillars height. For example if the pillar is 20mm, the chamber should not be wider than 15mm. The height of the pillar should be a minimum of 2mm shorter than the pillar. 

The Flavor Advantage: Why Use a Terp Pillar? 

Terp pillars are particularly effective when it comes to low temp dabbing. When evenly spreading the dabs the temperature needed to vaporize the thin layer is not as high as when there is a pool of dabs in one area of the banger. Lower temperature dabs tend to offer better flavor and even potency due to the terpenes and cannabinoids sensitivity to higher temperatures where they can be rendered less effective. 

The spreading of the dab and resulting elimination of pooling also results in more efficient dabs meaning less wasted concentrates will be leftover inside the banger for maximum efficiency of those precious dabs. The even spreading of dabs also results in bigger clouds with a more consistent cloud profile throughout the entirety of the dab. 

Setting Up Your Dab Rig with a Terp Pillar 

A step-by-step "how-to."

We strongly suggest utilizing the terp insert guide we have made above to understand which insert is best for your banger. 

1. Once you determine which insert is best, place the insert inside the appropriate chamber. 
2. Then heat the banger as you would normally. 
3. Place the dab inside the banger
4. Place the carb cap onto the banger
5. Dab away
6. Allow the banger to cool slightly before removing the insert for cleaning. 

Terp Pillar Materials What's the Difference Between all of the different options? 

With terp pillar materials ranging from Quartz to gemstones like Sapphire, Ruby, SiC and Moissanite all of the options can become a bit overwhelming. So let's simplify that for easy understanding as to which is best for you. 

Quartz is the most inexpensive option. Being that they are the least expensive, the options for quartz terp pillars are plentiful. With so many different sizes and styles you can easily find the perfect size for your banger. Quartz terp pillars are the least durable of all of the other gemstone options. 

In general terp pillars don't heat up enough to vaporize the dab, they merely spread the dab to help with even vaporization by the banger. Vaporization by the terp pillar is only really present with two of the many terp pillar materials, that is SiC and Moissanite. 

With moissanite terp pillars being the best at absorbing heat and actually helping vaporize the dab. The advantage to other materials like ruby and sapphire is its durability. Some people also enjoy the look of those pillars for an added flair to their dabbing setup and experience. 

Terp Pillar Construction: Hollow Vs Solid, What's the Difference? 

There are two different construction styles of terp pillars, solid and hollow. There is a difference with the dabbing impact of each. Solid terp pillars will spread the dab evenly forcing the entirety of the dab against the walls right away. Hollow pillars have an added feature which is nice for those looking to elongate the vaporization time of the dab. 

With hollow terp pillars some of the dab will fall inside the terp pillar, this means it won't be pressed against the banger’s wall to vaporize right away. Instead it falls down the inside of the terp pillar to almost be recycled against the banger’s all later in the dab. This will elongate the vaporization process of the dab making it lighter and smoother for longer. 

Maintenance is Key: Cleaning and Care 

Keeping any dab insert clean is crucial for having the most efficient, flavorful and potent dabbing experience. Terp Pillars are no different in this regard.  There are a few ways to clean a terp pillar, whether by using a dab wipe like the reclaim relief wipes from Dr Buzzkill or by soaking them in Isopropyl Alcohol which is best paired with the mini dunk tank by Dr Buzzkill. 

Initiating the cleaning cycle while the pillar is still warm will allow for the quickest and most thorough cleaning of the pearl. Just be careful not to handle them while they are still too hot. 

Handling them can be a bit tricky that is why utilizing the terp pearl grabber from VapeBrat will help keep the pillar safe while handling. With its metal prongs it latches onto the pillar and holds it in place to be transferred from the banger to the cleaning solution or held while being wiped with a dab wipe. 

A Terp Pillar should be replaced when it begins to become cloudy or showing signs of small cracks. Terp pillars should never have caked on reclaim, if they do it should be able to be completely cleaned for optimal functionality. 

Conclusion

Terp pillars are an essential accessory for dabbing enthusiasts using terp slurper or control tower style bangers, offering significant benefits to enhance your experience. By spinning and evenly spreading concentrates across the heated banger walls, terp pillars eliminate pooling, hot spots, and cool spots, ensuring your dabs are fully and efficiently vaporized. This leads to a superior, more flavorful experience, better potency retention through lower temperature dabbing, and the production of bigger, more consistent clouds. Ultimately, using a terp pillar means less wasted concentrate and maximum efficiency from every precious dab.

If you are not already using this innovative insert, now is the time to upgrade your dabbing setup. Take advantage of the enhanced flavor, efficiency, and cloud production that terp pillars provide. Consult the guide to determine the perfect size and material for your specific banger and start experiencing the ultimate even vaporization for yourself. Don't settle for less—get your hands on a terp pillar and completely change the way you dab.