Reclaim Catchers

A reclaim catcher is a device that attaches to a dab rig and collects the excess oil that would otherwise fall into the dab rig and be lost during the dabbing process. It works by allowing the reclaim to fall onto a silicone jar as the vapor passes by into the dab rig. Reclaim catchers do not catch all of the reclaim produced however they do capture a nice amount and keep your rig cleaner for longer.

Reclaim is the left over resiude from dabbing. It is to wax what resin is to flower.

There are 5 main reasons for reclaim:

1. Flooding the bucket- the easiest and most sure-fire way to cause reclaim is putting too much wax into your banger. Understanding the vaporization rate of your banger based on the temp and surface area is crucial to prevent waste and reclaim. 

2. Pulling too hard on the rig - this can cause wax to be sucked down the neck of the banger. This can also be caused by having too much water or constricted airflow.

3. Hot Dab - when dabbing at higher temps, the first bit of wax to fall onto the banger may splash, causing reclaim to easily get sucked into the neck of the banger. 

4. Low Temp Dabs- if the dab is too cool the wax will not vaporize at the rate expected and may cause the dabber to inhale more strongly resulting in more reclaim.

5. Improper Carb Cap or Inserts - using the wrong carb cap or insert for your banger can have some negative consequences. Not being satisfied with your dab and wasting it. 

The main benefit of using a reclaim catcher is that it helps save reclaim which would otherwise fall into the dab rig and  be lost during the dabbing process. This reclaim can then be dabbed again as it still is precious oil, just not as potent. Not only does a reclaim catcher save you money, but it also makes your dab rig easier to clean and maintain.

To install a reclaim catcher, remove the dab nail or quartz banger from the dab rig, place the reclaim catcher into the dab rig joint, and the banger or dab nail into the reclaim catcher. The silicone jar is at the bottom, to know when you have it the correct side up. 

Yes, there are reclaim catchers available for both male and female joints, so you can choose the one that matches your dab rig. The most common reclaim catchers are 14mm male 90 degree and 45 degree angle so if your dab rig is a different size using an adapter is suggested.

How often you should clean your reclaim catcher depends on you. Reclaim catchers tend not to need cleaning very often, as their functionality will not be impacted by small amounts of reclaim. The plus side to cleaning a reclaim catcher is that when you do you get some precious gold! 

Reclaim catchers are made from primarily, glass, silicone or a hybrid of the two.

The simple answer is No, using a reclaim catcher should not impact the taste of your dabbing session, it simply collects the excess oil / reclaim that would've fallen into your rig, keeping your rig clean and leaving you some goodies for later!

The main concerns would be as follows...

1) Tipping - having your dab rig properly balanced is imprtant when dabbing and dealing with hot areas. With a reclaim catcher, turning the reclaim catcher in towards the dab rig and having the banger then extend away from the dab rig, is the safest way to keep the center mass secure for dabbing. This is especially ture when dealing with an e-nail.

2) Accidentally pulling out the reclaim catcher with the banger- Be careful when pulling out a banger or dab nail from a reclaim catcher, when dabbing, anything cool can get stuck to each other, so ensuring a safe release before pulling ther banger or dab nail out is important to not accidenatlly pull off the reclaim catcher and break it when it falls.

The size of the reclaim catcher you need will depend on the size of the joint on your dab rig. Be sure to measure the joint before purchasing a reclaim catcher to ensure a proper fit. You can view our banger joint measuring chart here.

Read our blog about which reclaim catcher is best for my dab rig

Depending on the typoe of reclaim catcher you have the methods will vary.

With a silicone relcaim catcher the best method is to throw it into a freezer for an hour or two, once it comes out, simply crack the silicone and allow the pieces of reclaim to fall onto a parchment paper or silicone mat. 

With a glass reclaim catcher most of the reclaim should already be sitting on the silicone jar, if not slowly and very very very slightly heat the reclaim catcher to allow some of the additonal reclaim to fall down. 

Some people prefer letting isopropyl alcohol sit in side the reclaim catcher until the reclaim loosens, pour it out into a silicone container and wait for the additional iso to evaporate, leaving only precious reclaim!