A butane torch for cannabis is a handheld torch that burns refined butane to make a hot, wind-resistant flame. Most people use one to heat a quartz banger or titanium nail before a dab. Some use it to relight a bowl, joint, or blunt outdoors. It is not needed for dry herb vaporizers, edibles, or vape carts.
What You Can Do With One
- Heat a quartz, titanium, or ceramic banger before a dab.
- Clean or season a banger between sessions.
- Relight a bowl, joint, or blunt where wind kills a lighter flame.
- Warm a dab tool or glass jar when concentrate is thick and sticky.
Before You Start
- You must be 21 or older and in a state where cannabis is legal.
- Work in a room with an open window or an exhaust fan. Butane is heavier than air and pools at floor level.
- Clear the area of paper, alcohol, hand sanitizer, and anything else that catches fire.
- Keep a fire extinguisher or a large box of baking soda within reach.
- Use a torch with a child lock, a wide base, and a heat-resistant mat or stone.
- Use filtered butane. Low-grade fuel leaves residue in the torch and on the banger.
How to Heat a Quartz Banger
- Set the torch upright on a heat-resistant mat.
- Check the fuel window and refill the torch if it is low.
- Wait five minutes after a refill so stray gas can disperse.
- Turn the flame adjuster to the lowest setting that holds a steady flame.
- Press the ignition and lock the flame on.
- Hold the banger with a heat-safe holder or seat it in the joint of the rig.
- Aim the tip of the inner blue flame at the bottom of the bucket.
- Move the flame in small circles around the bucket and up the walls.
- Stop at 30 to 45 seconds, or when the quartz shows a faint orange glow.
- Lock the torch off and set it down.
- Wait 45 to 60 seconds for the quartz to cool into the dabbing range.
- Check the bucket temperature with an infrared thermometer if you have one.
- Drop the dab into the bucket.
- Cap the banger and draw.
- Swab the bucket with a dry cotton swab while it is still warm.
How to Relight a Bowl or Joint
- Hold the bowl or joint at a 45 degree angle.
- Bring the flame to about one inch from the material, not touching it.
- Draw in while the flame sits near the edge of the bowl.
- Pull the torch away as soon as the material catches.
Temperature Guide for Dabs
- 315 to 450 F: low temp. Best flavor, thin vapor, more oil left in the bucket.
- 450 to 600 F: medium. A balance of flavor and vapor volume for most users.
- 600 F and up: hot. Thick vapor, harsh taste, and scorched quartz.
A butane flame is far hotter than the 315 to 600 F you want on the banger. The wait after heating is what sets your dab temperature, not the flame itself. Quartz holds heat longer than titanium, so add a few seconds to the cool-down with a thick banger.
Safety Rules
- Never leave a lit torch unattended.
- Never refill a torch that is hot or near an open flame.
- Keep torches and butane canisters out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not use a torch next to butane cans, lighters, or aerosol sprays.
- Stop if you smell gas. Turn the torch off, leave the area, and let it air out.
- Cool a burn with running water for 20 minutes. Do not use ice or grease.
- Get medical care for burns that blister, cover a wide area, or sit on the face or hands.
Common Problems
- Torch will not stay lit: purge the tank and refill with fresh butane.
- Weak flame: adjust the flame wheel and check the nozzle for clogs.
- Harsh dab: wait longer before you drop the concentrate.
- Quartz turns gray or black: cut the heat time and swab after each dab.
- Lighter taste in the vapor: clean the banger with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.
Legal Note
Cannabis law varies by state. Buying, possessing, and using concentrates is legal only for adults 21 and older in states that permit it. Check your state rules before you buy a torch for cannabis, and do not use cannabis in public places where it is banned.