Reclaim Catcher | How To Use Them

A dab rig is a straightforward machine. Heat your nail or banger, drop in your concentrate, and vapor travels through the joint into water for cooling before it reaches your lungs. Along the way, part of that vapor condenses back into a sticky golden layer. This is reclaim.

A reclaim catcher steps in at this point. Instead of letting leftover concentrate gum up your rig, it intercepts the material and drops it into a removable jar. It is a small accessory with a big payoff:

• Keeps your rig cleaner and reduces how often you need deep scrubs
  
  
• Collects usable reclaim you can re-dab or infuse into butter and oils
  
  
• Moves the hot banger further away from your face and hair for safer sessions
  
  

I have spent years fine-tuning airflow, joint fit, and glass thickness because better design always equals a better smoke. A reclaim catcher shows how the right piece of gear can solve everyday problems while paying for itself over time. 

In the sections ahead, we will look at what reclaim actually is, how it forms, and why it is worth collecting. I will explain how to attach and use a catcher, share smart ways to pull reclaim without hassle, and recommend the TAG catchers that make the biggest difference. 

Reclaim Doesn’t Look Great, but It Has Value

Reclaim often gets a bad rap because of how it looks. Sticky, dark, and stuck to the inside of your gear, it can seem like something you would want to throw away. 

The truth is different. Reclaim is not the same as bong resin. Resin in a bong is a mix of ash, tar, and spent plant matter. Reclaim, on the other hand, is condensed concentrate vapor that still carries active cannabinoids.

This makes reclaim a usable product. When you take a dab, vapor cools and some of it sticks to glass instead of making it into your lungs. That residue is already decarboxylated by heat, which means it is psychoactive and ready to be used again without extra processing.

There are several ways people put reclaim to work. The most straightforward option is re-dabbing. While it will not taste like a fresh concentrate, it still delivers a punch. 

Another easy move is sprinkling a bit on top of a flower bowl for an extra boost. Many also like to infuse reclaim into butter, coconut oil, or cooking oil. Because it is already active, it blends into recipes without needing a long decarb session.

For people who care about stretching their concentrate budget, reclaim is worth collecting. It may not look glamorous, but it represents value that would otherwise go to waste. That is why catching and storing it properly is one of the smarter moves a dabber can make.

Why Getting a Reclaim Catcher Is a Really Smart Idea

When I first started experimenting with reclaim catchers, I noticed they solved three of the biggest frustrations in dabbing: constant cleaning, too much heat in my face, and wasted concentrate. A catcher may look like a small accessory, but once you use one, it feels like it should have shipped with the rig from day one. Let’s break down why.

Cleaner Rig, Less Work

Anyone who dabs regularly has seen how quickly residue builds inside a rig. Sticky concentrate collects around joints and percolators, thickening until airflow is restricted. That kind of buildup dulls flavor and eventually demands a deep clean with alcohol and salt. 

The problem is that a full cleaning takes time, and nobody wants to do it after every few sessions. A reclaim catcher intercepts residue before it spreads. Instead of tearing down your whole rig, you simply detach and rinse one small jar. 

Your rig stays fresher, your glass looks better, and the time between major cleanings stretches out considerably.

Safer Sessions, Better Visibility

Torching a banger right next to your face gets old quickly. The heat alone can make you flinch, and if you have longer hair or a beard, the risk is obvious. Adding a reclaim catcher pushes the hot zone farther from your face. That extra distance makes sessions feel safer and less rushed. 

The catcher also clears up your line of sight. Without your eyes so close to the flame, you can actually watch concentrates bubble, melt, and vaporize in real time. Seeing that action helps with timing and lets you refine your approach to temperature without guessing.

More Value from Every Dab

Every concentrate enthusiast knows that these jars are not cheap. Reclaim represents vapor that cooled and condensed before it reached your lungs, and it still contains cannabinoids. With a catcher in place, you collect material that would otherwise be wasted. 

After a week of steady use, you can easily end up with enough reclaim for multiple bonus sessions. Some people prefer to re-dab it, others top flower bowls with it, and many melt it into butter or oil for edibles. However you use it, reclaim stretches your investment and keeps you from throwing value away.

Three TAG Catchers Worth Owning

• TAG Reclaim Catcher Adapter (Universal Fit) – works with 10–19 mm joints, male or female, and includes a removable dish for maximum compatibility.

 

• TAG Reclaim Drop-Down Step-Up Adapter (+0.5″ Rise) – raises the jar slightly to keep it upright on angled rigs and improve reclaim collection.

 

• TAG Reclaim Adapter with Collecting Dish – easy to fit and easier to empty thanks to a deep dish, also secured by a keck clip for quick swaps.

How to Attach a Reclaim Catcher Correctly

Setting up a reclaim catcher is straightforward, but precision matters. The right fit ensures you get clean airflow, an upright jar, and easy reclaim collection. Take a few minutes to line things up properly at the start, and you’ll save yourself headaches later.

Step-by-Step Setup

Attaching a catcher is about alignment and stability. Here’s the process I recommend:

• Match the joint size and gender between your rig and the catcher. A loose or mismatched joint will leak vapor and waste material.
   
• Pick the right angle: 45° for angled joints, 90° for vertical ones. This keeps the collection jar sitting upright so reclaim flows where it should.
   
• Secure the connection with a keck clip. With glass dishes especially, the extra weight can strain the joint, and a clip keeps everything locked in place.
  
  

Once it’s in position, give the setup a quick test pull without heating anything. If the draw feels clear, you’re good to go.

Troubleshooting Common Fit Issues

Even with the best glass, small adjustments may be necessary. If you notice leaks or sticky residue forming at the joint, dry the glass thoroughly before reattaching and make sure silicone seals are seated correctly. 

If the jar sits at an angle or looks like it could tip, swap to a different adapter or use a step-up model that holds it upright. And if you feel airflow has become restricted, especially on smaller rigs, try a shorter drop-down or one with a wider bore. 

Those tweaks usually restore the smooth draw you expect.

Dabbing with a Reclaim Catcher

Once the catcher is set up correctly, the actual dabbing process barely changes. 

That is the beauty of it: you get the same workflow you are already used to, but your rig stays cleaner and reclaim is collected in one place.

Same Ritual, Cleaner Outcome

Using a reclaim catcher does not mean relearning how to dab. Heat your banger to your preferred temperature, let it cool slightly so you do not scorch the concentrate, and drop in your dab. 

The catcher sits between the banger and the rig, collecting what would otherwise travel through your glass. It works passively, so you can keep your focus on timing and technique rather than fiddling with extra parts. 

The draw feels the same, and the difference shows up later when you see the jar filling with usable reclaim instead of your percolators filling with grime.

Tips for Maximizing Reclaim

The amount and quality of reclaim depend on how you dab and how often you clean the jar. A few habits can help you get the most out of it:

• Stick to moderate temperatures. Vaporizing at lower heat leaves more reclaim behind, while scorching the banger produces less and what does collect is usually harsher.
   
• Take larger dabs if you want to increase how much reclaim builds up. More concentrate moving through the system means more that condenses back into the jar.
   
• Empty the jar before buildup hardens. Fresh reclaim is easier to scoop and store, while hardened material can be stubborn and less pleasant to reuse.

Collecting and Storing Reclaim

Once your catcher has gathered a fair amount of reclaim, the next step is removing it cleanly and storing it in a way that preserves both potency and flavor. Handling it with care makes the difference between a sticky mess and a usable stash.

Removing Reclaim Easily

Different catcher designs call for slightly different approaches. With a glass jar, a gentle warming is usually enough to loosen up the concentrate. A hair dryer or a short soak in hot water softens the residue so it can be scraped out with a dab tool. 

If you are working with a silicone base, the process is simpler. Pop the bottom off and scoop the reclaim directly with your tool. 

Stubborn buildup sometimes resists both scraping and warming. In that case, rinsing with high-proof isopropyl alcohol works well. After shaking and collecting the liquid, evaporate off the alcohol and, if needed, freeze the dish to make the last bits easier to remove.

Storing Reclaim Properly

Freshly collected reclaim should be cooled and transferred into a storage container suited for concentrates. Glass or PTFE jars hold up best, keeping aroma intact and avoiding the absorption that often happens with silicone. 

Always wait until the catcher itself has cooled before detaching any part of it, since hot joints or jars can warp seals or cause accidents. 

Once the reclaim is stored, label the container if you plan on using it in edibles later. Knowing when you collected it and what strain it came from helps with both dosing and recipe planning.

Set Up Your Catcher And Let It Work

Once a reclaim catcher is in place, the hard part is over. It requires no constant tinkering, no complicated upkeep, and no change in how you dab. You attach it, run your sessions as usual, and the catcher quietly collects material that would have gone to waste. 

That simplicity is what makes it such a smart addition to any rig. The payoff shows up later when you realize your glass stays fresher, reclaim is waiting in the jar, and cleanup feels effortless. 

Thick Ass Glass builds reclaim catchers thick, stable, and sized to match almost any joint. Find your perfect match in our collection of reclaim catchers and ensure that every session will run a little more smoothly.