Dabbing Reclaim: How to Get the Most Out of Every Dab and Dollar

If you want to save money on dabs, dabbing reclaim is one of the simplest tricks most people overlook. Here’s the thing most beginners don’t realize: when you vaporize a dab, not everything gets absorbed. Some of that concentrate naturally condenses and collects in your rig, waiting to be used again.

That amber-colored residue you see building up is called reclaim, and it still packs cannabinoids that can get you high. Most dabbers are already producing it with every session. The difference between wasting it and saving money on dabs comes down to one thing: whether you’re collecting it intentionally.

• Reclaim is a natural byproduct of dabbing that still contains active cannabinoids
• Dabbing reclaim won’t taste as fresh as new concentrate, but it still delivers effects
• A quality reclaim catcher makes collection effortless and keeps your rig cleaner
• Cheap reclaim catchers often have design flaws that waste more than they save
• Investing in proper equipment from Quartzbanger.com means better airflow, durability, and actual savings
• Complete dab rig kits eliminate compatibility guesswork entirely

So what exactly is reclaim? When you heat concentrate on your banger, most of it vaporizes, and you inhale it. But some of that vapor doesn’t make it to your lungs. Instead, it cools down and condenses as it travels through your rig. This condensed material settles along the inner walls of your piece, usually in the neck and downstem areas where temperatures drop. Understanding this process is the first step to dabbing reclaim effectively.

Dabbing reclaim typically retains a high percentage of cannabinoids, such as THC, CBD, and CBN, from the original concentrate, though the exact potency depends on your dabbing temperature and how fresh your original concentrate was at the time of use.  

Now, let’s be real about how dabbing reclaim compares to fresh concentrate. The taste isn’t going to be the same. Reclaim has a harsher, more burnt flavor because it’s already been heated once. The effects might feel slightly different, often described as more sedating due to the higher CBN content. 

But here’s what matters to a lot of dabbers: reclaim works, and it works well, especially in cases where you’re stretching your stash between pickups.

The color tells a story, too. Fresh reclaim looks golden and translucent, while older stuff turns darker and thicker. Either way, you’re looking at concentrated material that still has value instead of something to scrape out and toss.

Getting started with dabbing reclaim is straightforward once you understand what’s happening. As vapor travels from your banger through the rig, it passes through cooler sections. Temperature drops cause the vapor to condense back into a semi-solid form, coating the glass.

Without intervention, this buildup can make your piece dirty and eventually affect airflow. But with a reclaim catcher positioned between your banger and rig, you intercept that material before it reaches your glass. The catcher collects everything in a silicone container, keeping your rig clean while banking concentrate for later.

When you’re ready to use your collected material, you can dab it just like regular concentrate, add it to edibles, or use it for other infusions. The silicone container on most catchers makes removal easy—no scraping required.

For a deeper breakdown on how these work and what options exist, check out our Reclaim Catcher Guide, which covers everything from setup to maintenance.

If you’re shopping for your first catcher, Quartzbanger.com’s reclaim catcher selection offers quality options at reasonable prices. But not all catchers are created equal… which brings us to the next point.

You might think any reclaim catcher will do the job, but cheap options actually cost more in the long run. That bargain reclaim catcher from Amazon? It might waste more concentrate than it saves.

Common problems with low-quality reclaim catchers include:

• Thin glass that breaks easily
• Restricted airflow that affects your hit quality
• Poor angles that trap material instead of letting it flow into the collection chamber

When a catcher doesn’t allow reclaim from dab sessions to flow properly, you end up with buildup in the wrong places, defeating the whole purpose. Ironically, buying cheap means you don’t save money on dabs at all.

Bad design also means harder cleaning and a shorter lifespan.

What separates quality reclaim catchers from the rest?

• Thick, durable glass or quartz for daily use
• Smooth airflow paths that don’t restrict your draws
• Silicone containers that seal properly to prevent spills
• Proper angles (usually 90 degrees for most setups) that let gravity do its job

The 14mm Male 90 Degree Reclaim Catcher with Multicolor Silicone from Quartzbanger.com hits all the marks. Standing at 55mm with proper neck sizing, it fits standard 14mm female rigs and allows clean collection without airflow issues.

For maximum flexibility, the Universal Reclaim Catcher is another top pick. It comes with adapters for 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm joints, meaning it works with basically any rig and banger combo you own. The fully welded construction makes it exceptionally durable, built like the quality bangers serious dabbers prefer. The wider spout sends reclaim from dab rig sessions directly into the container, avoiding sticky bottlenecks that slow down your sessions.

Not sure what size your joints are? Don’t want to play the matching game between rig, catcher, and banger? A complete kit solves that problem entirely.

The VapeBrat Mini Dab Rig Kit comes with everything dialed in: rig, reclaim catcher, quartz banger, spinner carb cap, and terp pearls, all designed to work together. The reclaim catcher is specifically sized for perfect balance with the 6-inch rig, so there’s no wobble or awkward weight distribution.

At that size, it’s portable enough for travel while still delivering smooth hits through the angled mouthpiece. The wide base keeps things stable during sessions. For someone just getting into dabbing or anyone tired of piecing together components, this kit makes life a lot easier and ensures you’re getting every bit of reclaim from day one.

Here’s the bottom line on dabbing reclaim: it isn’t about being cheap. It’s about being smart. Every dab produces material that can be used again, and collecting it just makes sense. The investment in a proper reclaim catcher pays for itself quickly, especially compared to letting good concentrate go to waste.

Whether you grab a standalone catcher or opt for a complete rig kit, the goal is the same: get more value from what you’re already spending on concentrates. Your rig stays cleaner, your budget stretches further, and you’ve always got backup material when you need it.

Stop leaving money on the table. Or rather, stuck in your rig. Start collecting.

For more than a decade, Herb has been a gathering place for people who love, use, and are simply curious about cannabis. What started as a small corner of the internet has grown into a community where millions come to learn, share, and stay connected to the culture.

Here’s what you can tap into at Herb:

• Learning hub and guides that break things down clearly, from growing weed outdoors to understanding how terpenes impact your high
• News hub that spotlights the latest cannabis culture and policy shifts
• Dispensary directory to help you find licensed shops in your local area
• Monthly strain picks, featuring rotating Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid favorites
• Deals page, updated monthly with the best cannabis discounts available online

Stay connected with the Herb community by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on Instagram, and X for the latest in cannabis lifestyle and culture.