Quick Answer: A reclaim catcher is an accessory that sits between your dab rig joint and banger, intercepting concentrate that doesn’t vaporize before it coats your rig. Yes, worth $15–$40 for daily dabbers — you collect 40–60% potency reusable concentrate AND clean your rig less often. Match joint size (14mm or 18mm) and angle (45° or 90°) to your rig.
Every dab session leaves something behind. The concentrate that doesn’t fully vaporize — called reclaim — condenses on the inside of your rig, coating the neck, the downstem, and the water chamber with a sticky amber film. Without a reclaim catcher, it either stays there until your next cleaning, or it gets washed down the drain.
A reclaim catcher is an accessory that intercepts that process. It sits between your rig’s joint and your banger, giving reclaim a place to collect before it ever reaches your rig. You get a cleaner rig, less frequent deep cleans, and a jar of reusable concentrate at the end.
What is a reclaim catcher?
A reclaim catcher is a glass or silicone accessory that connects to the joint of your dab rig. Your banger or nail attaches to the other end of the catcher instead of directly to the rig. In between is a drop-down chamber — a small cavity where the reclaim, cooled by the glass and pulled by gravity, drips down and collects. Most reclaim catchers have a silicone jar or container at the bottom where that collected oil accumulates.
The anatomy is simple: rig joint → reclaim catcher body → drop chamber → collection jar → banger on the open end. When you dab, vapor travels from the banger through the catcher and into the rig. Reclaim that doesn’t make it through condenses on the cooler glass walls of the drop chamber and falls into the jar.
The drop-down design also has a secondary benefit: it moves your banger farther from the rig’s joint, which gives more torch clearance on smaller or tighter pieces. Some people run a reclaim catcher specifically for this reason, even if reclaim collection isn’t the priority.
What is reclaim — and is it worth keeping?
Reclaim is the partially vaporized concentrate that condenses on the cool surfaces inside your rig and accessories after dabbing. It looks like thick, dark amber oil — similar to concentrate but stickier, darker, and largely stripped of terpenes. The terpenes vaporize first and at lower temperatures; what’s left behind is mostly cannabinoids.
Reclaim generally keeps roughly 40–60% of the original concentrate’s potency, depending on dabbing temperature. Low-temperature dabs (around 450°F) leave more cannabinoids behind as reclaim. High-temperature dabs (550°F+) combust more completely but degrade more of the concentrate in the process.
Options for what to do with collected reclaim:
Re-dab it: Heat your banger slightly hotter than usual — reclaim needs more heat to vaporize fully. The hit will be harsher and less flavorful, but it works.
Use it for edibles: Reclaim is already decarboxylated from the original dabbing process, meaning the cannabinoids are already in their active form. It can be dissolved into a fat (butter, coconut oil) or added directly to a recipe without any additional heat treatment.
Discard it: If flavor matters and you’re not interested in edibles, it’s reasonable to clean the jar and start fresh. No obligation to use it.
What are the different types of reclaim catchers?
Not all reclaim catchers are the same design. Here’s what you’re actually choosing between:
| Type | Material | Portability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-down (glass) | Borosilicate glass | Moderate | Daily use, most rigs |
| Silicone jar set | Glass + silicone jar | Good | Easiest reclaim collection |
| Full silicone | Food-grade silicone | Excellent | Travel, beginners |
| Keck clip style | Glass with keck clips | Low | Secure connection, scientific rigs |
Drop-down reclaim catcher
The most common type — a glass body with a drop-down chamber and an attached or removable silicone jar at the bottom. The zig-zag or curved shape of the drop chamber lets reclaim cool and settle before it reaches the jar. Glass gives you better flavor preservation if you’re re-dabbing the reclaim, and the silicone jar detaches for easy collection. These are the most versatile and widely available.
Silicone jar set
A glass or silicone catcher with a lidded silicone jar permanently or semi-permanently attached at the bottom. Reclaim drips directly into the jar, the lid keeps it clean between sessions, and the jar pops off when you’re ready to collect. This is the most beginner-friendly format — collection is completely passive.
Full silicone reclaim catcher
The entire piece is made from food-grade silicone — completely unbreakable, good for travel, and reclaim wipes out of silicone far more easily than glass. Look for medical or food-grade labeled silicone to avoid off-gassing concerns.
Keck clip style
Glass reclaim catchers secured with keck clips (the colorful plastic clips used in lab glass). These give the most secure connection — nothing accidentally pulls off mid-session — and are popular with scientific-style rigs. Slightly more involved to set up and clean than other types.
What size reclaim catcher do you need?
Getting the wrong size is the most common reclaim catcher buying mistake. You need to match two things: joint size and joint angle.
Joint size: 14mm or 18mm
Most dab rigs use a 14mm joint — it’s the standard for concentrate setups. 18mm joints are more common on larger bongs. If you’re not sure, a 14mm joint is roughly the diameter of a dime. An 18mm joint is closer to a nickel. The reclaim catcher’s joint must match your rig’s joint size exactly — they are not interchangeable.
Joint angle: 45° or 90°
| Angle | Rig Type | Visual Test |
|---|---|---|
| 90° | Straight tube bongs, dab rigs, most scientific rigs | Joint points straight up, perpendicular to the base |
| 45° | Beaker bongs, recyclers, sidecar and bent-neck rigs | Joint angles outward at roughly 45° from the base |
The easiest test: look at how your banger sits when attached. If the joint stands straight up, you have a 90° joint. If it angles out to the side, you have a 45° joint. Getting the wrong angle means the reclaim catcher won’t sit correctly and your banger will be at an unusable position. When in doubt, go by the joint, not the silhouette. The angle exists to cancel out the joint angle so the banger ends up level: a joint that stands vertical takes 90°, a joint that sits diagonal takes 45°.
Quick Notes
- Joint size: 14mm is the dab-rig standard; 18mm shows up on bigger bongs, and the sizes don’t swap.
- Male or female: a female rig joint takes a male catcher end, or the reverse; check before you buy.
- Angle: the catcher’s angle cancels the joint angle so your banger sits level.
- Torch clearance: the drop-down moves your banger away from the joint, which helps on tight pieces.
How do you use a reclaim catcher?
Once you’ve attached the right size, using it is completely passive:
- Attach the reclaim catcher to your rig’s joint. Female rig joint takes a male catcher end, or vice versa. Verify male/female compatibility before buying.
- Attach your banger to the open joint on the reclaim catcher — the banger connects to the catcher, not directly to the rig.
- Make sure the silicone jar is seated and the lid is removed before your session.
- Dab normally. Torch your banger, let it cool to temperature, dab, and clear as usual. The catcher works automatically — reclaim accumulates in the drop chamber and jar as you go.
- Between sessions, replace the lid on the silicone jar to prevent reclaim from drying out or picking up dust.
- When the jar is full or when you’re ready to collect, detach the jar and use the reclaim or clean it out.
How do you clean a reclaim catcher?
Reclaim catchers get sticky faster than most accessories because that’s exactly what they’re designed to do. Two methods work depending on buildup level:
Quick clean (every few sessions): Plug both joints with your fingers or rubber stoppers. Add a small amount of 91%+ isopropyl alcohol to the drop chamber, shake for 30–60 seconds, pour it out, and rinse with warm water. The ISO dissolves reclaim quickly — you’ll see it releasing into the alcohol as a golden tint.
Full soak (when heavily coated): Submerge the catcher body in ISO for 20–30 minutes. Reclaim releases easily in alcohol — most buildup will have dissolved by the time you pull it out. Rinse with warm water, shake out residue, and let it air dry completely before using again.
Silicone jar: Warm water and a cotton swab gets most of it. ISO is safe on food-grade silicone but isn’t necessary for routine cleaning. Don’t boil silicone with reclaim still in it.
Clean the glass body every 3–5 sessions, or whenever airflow feels restricted. A clean reclaim catcher flows better and produces cleaner reclaim with less residue contamination from previous sessions.
Why Most Reclaim Guides Skip the Cleaning Benefit
Most reclaim catcher guides focus on the “free concentrate” angle. The actual biggest benefit is rig cleaning frequency — with a reclaim catcher you go from a deep clean every 5–7 sessions to every 14–21. That’s 2–3x less time scrubbing and 2–3x longer banger life. The reclaim collection is the bonus, not the main event.
Is a reclaim catcher worth it?
For most regular dabbers, yes. The case is simple: it keeps your rig cleaner, reduces how often you need to do a full ISO soak of your rig, and passively collects usable concentrate while you dab. At $15–$40 for a quality glass/silicone set, it’s one of the cheapest accessories with real ongoing payoff.
Worth it if: You dab more than a few times per week, you hate cleaning your rig frequently, you want to recapture usable concentrate, or you have a compact rig where torch clearance is limited.
Less necessary if: You dab occasionally (once or twice a week), you already clean your rig frequently, or you dab exclusively with an e-nail at precise low temperatures that minimize reclaim.
Browse our dabbing accessories to see what’s available, or pair a reclaim catcher with a quality banger and a dab rig for the full concentrate setup. If you’re also looking at simpler concentrate tools, see our guide to dab straws and nectar collectors.
Do reclaim catchers actually work?
Yes. Concentrate that does not fully vaporize cools as it travels through the rig and collects in the catcher instead of coating your downstem and base. Most users see noticeably less buildup in their rig after a few sessions with a catcher in place.
Will reclaim get you high?
Yes — reclaim still contains active cannabinoids, typically a good share of the original potency, depending on your concentrate and how efficiently you dab. It’s less potent and harsher than fresh concentrate, but it’s not useless. Most people collect it and use it for edibles rather than re-dabbing it.
What size reclaim catcher do I need?
Match two specs: joint size and joint angle. Most dab rigs use a 14mm or 18mm joint. Angle is either 45° or 90°. Check what angle your rig’s joint sits at and match it so the catcher hangs correctly and your banger sits level.
Can I use a reclaim catcher with a nectar collector?
No, reclaim catchers are designed for traditional dab rigs with a removable downstem joint. Nectar collectors are a different form factor entirely and don’t have a compatible attachment point for a reclaim catcher.
Related Posts
Written by Jared Horvath, founder of Roots Glass Supply Co. We design thick borosilicate glass for people who smoke every day — built by smokers, for smokers. Every product reviewed here we’ve handled ourselves, often for months. Shop the full lineup at rootsglass.com. Follow along on Instagram or Facebook.
Works Cited
1. Honeybee Herb. “What Is Reclaim Catchers And Their Functionality?” Honeybee Herb Blog, November 10, 2022. https://honeybeeherb.com/blogs/dabbing-resources/what-are-reclaim-catchers
2. QuartzBanger.com. “How to Use a Reclaim Catcher.” QuartzBanger Blog, January 3, 2024. https://quartzbanger.com/blog/how-to-use-a-reclaim-catcher/
3. E-Nail.com. “Dab Reclaim: What Is Reclaim, How to Prevent and Reuse It.” E-Nail Blog, accessed April 2026. https://e-nail.com/blog/dab-reclaim…
