Quartz Banger Guide: Sizes, Angles and Fit
Posted by Vigil Carter on 3rd Nov 2026
A quartz banger is the bucket on a dab rig that you heat and drop concentrate into. Picking one comes down to four things: joint size (10, 14 or 18mm), male or female, 45° or 90°, and the style of bucket. Get the first three to match your rig and it fits. This guide walks through each, then which carb cap and dab tool go with it. Every banger below is on our Quartz Bangers shelf.
Quick fit check
- Measure the rig's joint. 14mm is the most common; 10mm turns up on small rigs; 18mm on some larger pieces.
- Match the gender the opposite way. A male banger slides into a female joint. A female banger slides over a male joint.
- Match the angle to the joint. A joint that points straight up takes a 90° banger. A joint that comes out at an angle takes a 45° banger, so the bucket still sits level.
Not sure what you have? Bring the rig into one of our Michigan shops and we will match it for you, or call 586-879-6845.
What size banger do I need: 10mm, 14mm or 18mm?
The size is the outside diameter of the joint. The banger has to be the same size as the rig's joint. Most of the glass rigs we carry, like the Tsunami Mini Bell and most of our Tsunami and NEU rigs, use 14mm and ship with a 14mm male banger, so a replacement for those is a 14mm male. Two exceptions on our shelf: the Tsunami Micro 10" Concentrate Rig ships with an 18mm banger and the Tsunami Sprinkler Honeycomb Twist Recycler with an 18mm female banger. Check the product page of your rig for its size.
Male vs female banger
Look at the rig's joint. If it is an open tube you could push something into, it is female, and it takes a male banger. If it is a tube that sticks out for something to slide over, it is male, and it takes a female banger. Get this wrong and it will not seal, no matter the size.
45° vs 90° banger
The angle is the bend between the joint and the bucket. The point is a level bucket, so the concentrate pools in the bottom instead of running out the side. A vertical joint takes a 90° banger. An angled joint takes a 45°. The Clover Glass 14mm Male 90° Quartz Banger is a 90°.
Thermal bangers: why people pick them
A thermal banger has a double wall, a bucket inside a bucket. It holds heat longer than a single wall, so it is more forgiving on timing: you have a wider window to drop your dab at a lower temperature. If you are new and keep scorching your first hits, a thermal banger is the fix. We carry the Tsunami 14mm Male Thermal Quartz Banger with Carb Cap and the Tsunami Thermal Quartz Banger 14mm Female, and both come with a carb cap.
Flat top and other bucket styles
A flat top banger has a flat rim, so a carb cap sits right on it and seals. That is the style most bubble and directional caps are made for. Bucket width matters too: a wider bucket like the 25mm On Point Glass 25mm Banger (flat top etched quartz, 14mm male joint) holds a bigger dab and needs a cap that fits its opening. Wall thickness is the other number you will see: thicker quartz, like the 4mm Tsunami Quartz Banger 14mm Male, holds heat longer than thin quartz.
Every banger we carry, side by side
| Banger | Joint | Type | Comes with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Banger | 14mm male, 18mm male or 14mm female (you choose) | Standard quartz | Banger |
| Clover Glass 14mm Male 90° | 14mm male, 90° | Standard quartz | Banger |
| Tsunami Quartz Banger WP-10079 | 14mm male | 4mm thick quartz | Banger |
| Tsunami Thermal Banger 14mm Male | 14mm male | Thermal (double wall) | Banger and carb cap |
| Tsunami Thermal Banger 14mm Female | 14mm female | Thermal, 4mm quartz | Banger and carb cap |
| On Point Glass 25mm Banger | 14mm male | 25mm flat top, etched | Box set |
| 14mm Male Banger Zodiac | 14mm male | Zodiac designs | Banger |
| Lookah Hammer 14mm e-nail banger | 14mm | Electric, no torch | See its page |
Want to skip the torch? The Lookah Hammer is a portable electric banger for 14mm rigs: it heats electrically, so there is no butane torch involved. Its replacement coils are on its page.
Which carb cap goes with your banger
A carb cap sits over the banger after you drop your dab. It traps heat and controls airflow, so the concentrate vaporizes at a lower temperature. Pick one that fits your banger's opening:
| Carb cap | Best with |
|---|---|
| Economy Glass Carb Cap | The cheapest way in, or a spare |
| Glass Carb Caps Assorted | Standard flat top bangers; an assorted mix of styles |
| White Rhino Bubble Carb Cap | Most standard bangers; bubble style for airflow control |
| Directional Bubble Carb Cap with Dabber | Flat top bangers only; cap and dabber in one |
| Novelty Glass Bubble Carb Cap | Six novelty styles, from skulls to a pink cactus |
The two Tsunami thermal bangers already include a cap. All carb caps are on the Carb Caps shelf.
Which dab tool to use
A dabber moves concentrate from the container to the banger. Pick by the consistency of what you use:
- Scoop for softer, stickier concentrates: the Glass Dabber with Scoop Tip.
- Point for picking up a small piece: the Glass Pencil Dabber, 5 to 7 inches.
- Spatula for portioning: the stainless steel Blaze Tools Spatula Sparrow.
- Silicone tips so nothing sticks: the Ooze Dabber 2-pack, stainless with a pointed and a rounded silicone end.
- Just for fun: the Glass Animal Dabber, about 5½ inches with a small glass animal on top.
Lay down a Tsunami Silicone Dab Mat to keep the table tidy. More tools are on the Dabbers & Dab Tools shelf.
How long does a quartz banger last?
A banger is a part you replace. Heat stains it over time, and dark buildup that will not come out changes the taste. Swabbing it while it is still warm after every dab keeps it going much longer; our guide on how to clean a bong, dab rig or pipe covers it, and Formula 710 C2 is the cleaner made for bangers. Never put a cold swab or liquid on a red-hot banger: sudden temperature change can crack quartz.
Quick answers
Will a 14mm banger fit an 18mm rig? No. The size has to match.
What does a thermal banger do? Its double wall holds heat longer, which gives you more time to dab at a lower temperature.
Do I need a carb cap? It is not required, but it lets you dab at a lower temperature. Several of our bangers include one.
What else do I need besides the banger? A rig (see the Dab Rigs shelf), a torch from Torches & Lighters unless you go electric, a carb cap and a dab tool. Butane is at the counter in our shops.
More smoke shop guides
Everything for the rig is under Dab Accessories.
For adults 21+. Use only with materials that are lawful in your jurisdiction, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.