How to Get Reclaim Out of a Bong or Dab Rig
Smoke MEGA |
Learning how to get reclaim out of a bong or dab rig is essential for keeping your setup clean. If you use your water pipe frequently, sticky buildup is inevitable. But before you start cleaning, you need to know exactly what is stuck inside your glass.
If you smoke dry flower out of a bong, that black tar is resin. You want to dissolve it and throw it straight in the trash.
However, if you vaporize wax out of a dab rig, that golden buildup is reclaim. Reclaim is simply re-condensed concentrate. It is highly potent, completely reusable, and worth saving.
Whether you want to harvest your reclaim for future sessions or just want to scrub your glass clean, here are the three best ways to get it out.
Method 1: The Warm Water Flush (Best for Saving Reclaim)
If you want to harvest the reclaim stuck inside the main chamber, you cannot use alcohol. Waiting for those harsh solvents to safely evaporate takes days. Hot tap water is the safest extraction method.
- Dump the old, dirty water out of your rig.
- Place a piece of non-stick parchment paper or a silicone dab mat flat on your counter.
- Turn your sink to the hottest setting and let it run. Never use boiling water on glass, as thermal shock will crack it instantly.
- Carefully pour the hot tap water through the mouthpiece of your rig.
- The heat will melt the golden reclaim off the glass walls. Quickly pour the water and the melted reclaim out through the joint, letting it pool onto your parchment paper.
- Once the water fully evaporates, you will be left with a clean sheet of usable reclaim.
Method 2: The Torch Technique
Most of your reclaim will naturally collect in your quartz banger or glass drop-down attachment. This is the easiest reclaim to harvest.
Remove the banger from your rig. Hold it carefully with a pair of tongs over a silicone container or parchment paper. Take your butane torch and gently wave the flame over the outside of the glass.
You do not want to blast it with heat. You just want to warm the glass enough to turn the sticky wax into a liquid. Within seconds, the reclaim will effortlessly drip out of the glass and into your container.
Method 3: The Iso Wash (Best for a Deep Clean)
Sometimes your glass is just too dirty. If you do not care about saving the reclaim and just want a fresh draw, this is the fastest method.
Pour 90% isopropyl alcohol and a handful of coarse sea salt directly into the chamber. Plug the mouthpiece and the joint with your thumbs, and shake the rig vigorously for two minutes.
The alcohol strips the sticky reclaim, and the coarse salt scrubs the hard-to-reach percolators. Rinse thoroughly with warm tap water, and your rig will look brand new.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I smoke reclaim?
Yes. Reclaim has already been activated by heat. You can re-vaporize it in your rig, mix it into edibles, or even cap it into pills. Just keep in mind that it will not have the fresh, terpene-rich flavor of new concentrates.
2. Why is my rig clogging with reclaim so fast?
You are likely pulling too hard. If you inhale too aggressively, you literally suck the liquid concentrate down the neck of the banger before it has a chance to vaporize. Pull slowly and steadily to let the heat do the work.
3. Can I use boiling water on a cold glass rig?
No. Pouring boiling water into glass causes severe thermal shock, which will instantly crack your piece. You should never use boiling water on a bong or dab rig. Always stick to warm or hot tap water to melt the reclaim safely.
