For the dab connoisseur who wants to get the most out of their extracts, terp pearls are a must. Dip Devices’ newest product, the Rover dab rig, comes equipped with built-in terp pearls, meaning now is a perfect time for a crash course on these trendy dabbing accessories.
What Are Terp Pearls?
Terp pearls are also known as dab beads and terp balls. These dab rig accessories are small orbs that go into the banger of your favorite dab rig.
What Do Terp Beads Look Like?
Most terp pearls are tiny spheres, usually smaller than a pea. Some terp pearls are oblong, but sphere-shaped dab balls are the most common. They can come in any color, and some artisan glassmakers even create dab pearls in novelty shapes and designs.
What Do Dab Pearls Do?
Simply put, terp pearls increase the quality of your dabbing session. They help to heat the extract more evenly to produce smoother, more flavorful hits without wasting any wax.
How Do Terp Pearls Work?
When you add your extract, pop on the carb cap and inhale, the dab pearls will spin inside the banger. The terp beads essentially increase the hot surface area of your banger to heat your extract more evenly. The spinning action of dab pearls also agitates the melted extract, helping you inhale every last bit.
Do Dab Beads Have to Spin?
If you’ve seen videos of terp pearls, you’ve probably seen them spinning wildly in the banger. The more they spin, the more effective they are, but they don’t need to create a whirlpool in your dab rig to make a difference — even non-uniform agitation has a decent effect.
How to Use Terp Pearls
Dab pearls are an exciting addition to your dab rig, but you have to use them right to get the most out of them. If you don’t want to deal with another accessory for your dab rig, pick up a portable dab rig with built-in terp pearls, like the Rover.
What Size Terp Pearls Should I Use?
Terp pearls are small — usually between 4mm and 9mm. The size (and shape) you choose will depend on the size of your banger and your personal preferences. You might need to try out several different types of terp pearls to determine which size works best for your setup.
Some dab rigs, like the Rover, have built-in terp pearls. In this case, you won’t have to worry about choosing a size or shape since the terp pearls will already be optimized for your piece.
What is the Best Terp Ball Material?
Terp pearls come in a few different materials. Quartz, borosilicate glass, ruby, and ceramics are all common. Again, the choice will depend on your temperature preference and propensity to break your pieces.
Quartz terp pearls are standard since they’re sturdy and conduct heat well. The Rover by Dip Devices uses an all-quartz chamber, including the terp pearls.
How Many Terp Balls Should I Use?
Most dabbers find that one or two terp pearls give them the best performance. You want enough to agitate the wax but don’t want so many that they have trouble moving around each other.
The Rover comes equipped with two terp beads. We’ve found this combination provides the best results.
Do You Add Terp Pearls Before or After Heating?
Generally speaking, adding your terp pearls before you heat the banger is best to avoid a temperature shock. Some people prefer to add their terp pearls once the banger is hot, depending on the temperature they prefer to dab at and the material of their terp beads.
Because the Rover’s terp beads are built into the design and enclosed in the chamber, you don’t need to worry about remembering when to drop them in. They’ll get up to the perfect temperature with the rest of the chamber every time.
How to Clean Terp Pearls
If you’ve ever used a dab rig, you know they can get sticky. Keeping your dab rig clean ensures peak performance and flavor; the same goes for your terp pearls.
To reduce buildup, quickly clean your terp pearls when you wipe out your banger after each session. When you clean your rig, wash your dab beads more thoroughly by soaking them in isopropyl alcohol and wiping them off with a soft cloth. Some people also clean their terp beads by burning off leftover wax with a torch. If you choose this method, be careful not to overheat your terp beads or burn yourself on tiny, white-hot bits of quartz.
Terpene Pearl Troubleshooting
Are your terp pearls not working right? No worries. There’s a bit of a learning curve to using these dabbing accessories, but Dip Devices can get you back on track in no time. And if you don’t want to troubleshoot your terp pearls, you can always opt for an easy-to-use electric dab rig with built-in terp beads, like the Rover.
Why Are My Terp Beads Not Spinning?
There are a few reasons why your dab pearls might not be spinning.
These possibilities cover the most common culprits for terp pearls that won’t spin. Run down the checklist, and you should be back to taking perfectly heated, delicious, efficient dabs in no time.
Why Did My Dab Beads Break?
Just like any other piece, dab pearls can break. The most common reason they chip, crack, or shatter is sudden temperature changes, especially with rough handling — like dropping room-temperature terp pearls into a blazing hot banger. You can avoid this by slowly heating your terp pearls with the banger, gently handling them, and using tweezers or another tool to place them into the banger.
The Rover Makes it Easy to Use Terp Pearls
Dab beads are worth it, but there’s much to remember when using them. If you want all the benefits of dab pearls without the hassle, your best bet is a dab rig with built-in terp beads, like the Rover from Dip Devices. A piece like this lets you enjoy big, smooth rips, flavorful terpenes, and efficient use of wax in a compact, affordable, electric package.
