What is Shatter vs. Wax?
A dabbing rig is a piece of equipment used to vaporize marijuana concentrates and inhale the vapors. Dabbing rigs utilize cannabis concentrate, but there are several different varieties on the market. If you are looking to try using a dabbing rig, the two most popular concentrate you can use are shatter and wax.
The two types of cannabis concentrate we discuss in this article, shatter and wax, look and feel very different. If you are trying to figure out which option is best for you, keep reading for more information.
What Are Marijuana Concentrates?
The finest parts of the plant are used to distill down marijuana concentrates. As a result, marijuana extracts have a far greater cannabinoid and terpene content per pound than raw cannabis flowers. This process allows the marijuana to reach a much higher THC potency of over 60%.
Marijuana concentrates include all of the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes that are in cannabis. However, they leave out any of the additional, unneeded plant matter.
Both products are ideal for dabbing and can provide a more potent and longer-lasting high than other forms of smoking cannabis, like smoking joints or using a bowl.
How Are Concentrates Made?
Cannabis concentrates are produced in several ways, but solvent-based and solventless extractions are the most common. Wax and shatter are both made using solvent-based extraction methods, typically butane. Solvent-based extractions utilize a chemical solution like carbon dioxide, ethanol, or butane to dissolve the plant and carefully remove the cannabinoids and terpenes.
After the extraction process, the remaining matter turns into wax, shatter, and other cannabis concentrates after the refinement process. Once the wax and shatter cool, and the butane evaporates away, a highly concentrated end product remains.
Shatter
Shatter is a cannabis concentrate that has a translucent appearance. It might range from amber to darker yellow tones. Shatter is both hard and sticky. It has the texture of glass and can be shattered into many pieces, much like real glass. Most often, shatter is consumed using a dab rig or other form of a vaporizer.
Although shatter is relatively new to cannabis smokers, many experts believe it is the purest form of cannabis concentrates available. Typically, shatter undergoes a second filtration process, making it also one of the most potent concentrates.
Wax
Wax is a much softer, gooier texture than shatter, and it’s incredibly sticky to the touch. Because of its stickiness, this yellow and gold texture concentrate often needs a dabbing tool and may be used in vape or rig.
Wax’s texture can range anywhere from soft and buttery to hard and brittle. A small amount of wax goes a long way since THC concentrations usually range from 60% to 80%.
Wax, like shatter, is most often consumed using a dab rig or vape. It’s a simple, easy concentrate to use that’s great for beginners. However, unlike shatter, wax cannot break into a bunch of tiny pieces.
Conclusion
Both shatter and wax are excellent cannabis concentrate choices that you should try. In conclusion, wax is great for dabbing, but shatter is more powerful and purer. If you’re looking to try shatter or wax for the first time, contact our team at Medical Alternatives Clinic today. We are more than happy to answer any of your questions and help you make the perfect cannabis selection for you.
Sources:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-93198-5
