A rig refers to a water pipe, similar to a bong, specifically designed for dabbing cannabis concentrates rather than traditional flower. Like a bong, a dab rig filters vapor through water to cool and smooth it before inhalation. But while rigs operate on the same principles, they are engineered for concentrates. Rigs connect to nails, bangers or other attachments designed to vaporize extracts efficiently. The water also catches any concentrate splatter or overflow. Rigs empower big smooth hits without overheating or burning concentrates. Some key differences between rigs and flower water pipes: Rigs have smaller chambers with minimal diffusion to preserve terpenes. Their joints tend to be male for attaching nails. And rigs utilize Quartz or ceramic instead of glass for heating. Titanium and glass nails have given way to bangers and buckets. While more complex, a good dab rig functions similarly to a quality bong – just optimized for concentrates instead of flower.