Dab Rig Perc Types: Tree vs Honeycomb vs

“Percolators don’t just make bubbles, they set the whole vibe of your dab: drag (how hard you pull), flavor (how much terp you actually taste), and cleanup (how much you’ll hate yourself later).”

I’ve been daily-dabbing for about 7 years, and if there’s one unsexy truth I’ve learned, it’s this: percs only perform as well as your water level and your clean dab tools. Dirty tool, dirty banger, dirty rig, and suddenly your “top shelf” live resin tastes like regret.

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What actually changes when you switch percolator types?

Drag, flavor, and cleanup all come from the same three variables: diffusion, restriction, and surface area.

Diffusion is how much the smoke gets broken up into smaller bubbles. More diffusion usually feels smoother, but it also means more glass contact, and that can steal a little flavor if you overdo it.

Restriction is how hard it is to pull air through the perc. That’s your “drag.” Some people love a little resistance because it feels controlled. I’m not one of them when I’m trying to finish a low temp dab before the banger cools.

Surface area is the part people forget. More holes, more chambers, more nooks equals more places for reclaim to cling. Great if you enjoy cleaning as a hobby. Bad if you’re a normal person.

How does a tree perc affect drag, flavor, and cleanup?

Tree percs are the classic. A little trunk with several arms, and each arm has slits (or holes) that chop vapor into bubbles.

Drag (tree perc)

Tree percs sit in the middle of the drag spectrum, but they can swing wildly.

A well-made tree perc with clean, evenly-cut slits pulls pretty easy. A cheap tree perc with tight slits can feel like you’re trying to drink a milkshake through a coffee stirrer.

And if one arm gets clogged with reclaim, the whole perc starts acting weird. You’ll hear it, too, like a sad aquarium filter.

Flavor (tree perc)

Tree percs are usually decent for flavor because they do not always “over-diffuse.” You can get a nice balance of cooling without turning your terps into a faint memory.

I like tree percs for rosin and live resin when I’m chasing flavor but still want a comfortable hit. Pair it with a quartz banger and a carb cap that seals well. If your cap leaks, your pull gets hotter and harsher fast.

Cleanup (tree perc)

Here’s the annoying part. Tree percs have lots of skinny pathways, and reclaim loves skinny pathways.

If you dab daily, plan on more frequent dab maintenance. ISO soak works, but tree percs are the ones that make you shake the rig like a maraca. Not my proudest moments.

How does a honeycomb perc change the hit for dabs?

Honeycomb percs are discs with a bunch of tiny holes. They’re popular because they look clean and they stack bubbles like a soda fountain.

Drag (honeycomb)

Honeycomb percs can be low drag or high drag, and it mostly comes down to hole size and how many discs you’ve got.

One honeycomb disc with medium holes usually feels smooth and easy. Two or three honeycombs stacked can feel restricted, especially if your water level is a hair too high.

And yeah, people overfill these constantly. The bubbles look cool, so folks add more water, then wonder why their rig pulls like a blocked vacuum.

Flavor (honeycomb)

Honeycomb percs can slightly mute flavor because they create lots of diffusion and lots of glass contact.

If you like taking bigger dabs, honeycomb percs can be awesome because they tame heat and make big clouds less spicy. If you’re the type who takes tiny “terp sips” at low temp, honeycomb might feel like it sanded off the top notes.

Truth is, with a clean rig and a good temp, honeycomb can still taste great. It’s just less “direct” than simpler percs.

Cleanup (honeycomb)

Honeycomb discs are sneaky. They look easy because it’s “just a flat disc,” but those tiny holes trap gunk.

If you let reclaim harden, you’re stuck soaking longer. Warm ISO helps. So does rinsing with very hot water before ISO, so the reclaim softens and lets the alcohol actually do its job.

Why do showerhead percs taste so good (and sometimes splash)?

Showerhead percs have a central tube with slits around the bottom, like a tiny showerhead spraying bubbles.

They’re a favorite for dab rigs because they tend to give you smooth diffusion without insane restriction.

Drag (showerhead)

Showerhead percs usually pull easy. That’s the headline.

You get a wide, consistent bubble field without needing micro-holes, which means less resistance. For me, showerhead percs feel “effortless,” especially for cold starts where you don’t want to yank hard and cool your banger too fast.

Flavor (showerhead)

This is where showerheads shine. They cool the vapor enough to take the edge off, but they often don’t overwork it.

If you’re into terp-forward concentrates like fresh press rosin or a loud live resin, showerhead percs tend to keep that brightness. More “clean citrus,” less “generic dab flavor.”

Cleanup (showerhead)

Not perfect, but friendlier than tree and many honeycombs.

You still have slits, but they’re usually wider and fewer. Reclaim has less tiny real estate to cling to.

If you hate cleaning, showerhead is a solid “daily driver” choice.

How do you pick the right perc for your dabbing style?

Think of percs like suspension on a car. Soft suspension is comfy, but you lose road feel. Stiff suspension gives feedback, but you feel every bump.

Percolators are the same. More diffusion equals smoother, but you lose a little “directness.”

Here are practical match-ups that actually hold up in a sesh.

If you’re flavor-first (low temp, small dabs)

Go showerhead or a simple, open tree perc.

Aim for a smaller can too, something like 6 to 10 inches tall, so vapor doesn’t hang around and go stale. Pair with a good carb cap and keep your dab tool clean. Flavor is fragile.

If you’re cloud-first (bigger dabs, higher temp)

Honeycomb or a beefy tree perc can be your friend.

More diffusion can make bigger hits feel less harsh. Just don’t stack percs like you’re building a final boss rig unless you enjoy heavy drag.

If you want the easiest maintenance

Showerhead wins most days.

Honeycomb can be okay if it’s a single disc with larger holes. Tree percs tend to be the fussiest, especially if you dab sticky stuff like budder that likes to splatter.

Quick “buying ranges” that feel real in 2026

You can spend anything on glass. But for normal people:

Budget Rig ($60 to $120)

• Common perc: Basic showerhead or simple tree

• Best for: Daily dabs without babying glass

• Watch for: Thin joints and tight, clog-prone slits

Midrange Rig ($120 to $220)

• Common perc: Cleaner-cut tree percs, single honeycomb, nicer showerheads

• Best for: Better airflow consistency and sturdier welds

• Watch for: Overly complex multi-perc setups that add drag

Premium Rig ($220 to $500+)

• Common perc: Precision-cut percs, thicker borosilicate, smoother function

• Best for: People who notice small airflow differences and care about build

• Watch for: “Art first, function second” designs that are gorgeous but annoying

How do clean dab tools improve flavor and keep percs flowing?

Perc choice matters, but the fastest way to ruin any perc is to treat your dab tool like a butter knife you never wash.

Every time you dip a gunked-up tool back into wax, you’re seasoning your concentrate with old reclaim. Then that reclaim ends up in your banger, gets sucked into your rig, and starts building a sticky biofilm inside your perc.

Clean tools also help you dose better. A sharp, clean tip lets you place concentrate right where you want it, instead of smearing it on the side of the banger. Less splatter equals less reclaim traveling into the rig.

Here’s what’s worked for me, especially during heavy weeks where I’m testing multiple concentrates.

My realistic tool and station setup

I keep a small dab station, nothing fancy.

• A silicone dab mat (or any grippy dab pad) as the base so glass doesn’t slide

• A concentrate pad for loading, so I’m not juggling jars mid-dab

• Two dab tools: one for sticky stuff (budder, resin), one for cleaner textures (shatter, rosin)

• A little ISO jar for tool tips only, plus a rinse cup

If you want to build a proper “everything has a home” setup, Oil Slick Pad gear is made for exactly this kind of dab station flow. Your counters stay less gross. Your rig stays happier.

What’s the easiest way to clean each perc type without losing your mind?

Real talk: if you wait until the rig looks brown, you already made it harder.

A quick rinse schedule beats a once-a-month deep clean every time, especially with honeycomb and tree percs.

The 5-minute “after sesh” routine (works for any perc)

1. Dump water right after the session. Old water smells like a science project.

2. Rinse with very hot tap water for 20 to 30 seconds.

3. Swirl a little ISO (91% or 99%) inside for 30 to 60 seconds.

4. Rinse again with hot water.

5. Air dry upside down.

That’s it. Short, boring, effective.

Dealing with stubborn reclaim in tree percs

Tree percs love to trap chunks in the arms.

• Use warm ISO and let it soak 20 minutes

• Add coarse salt, then gently swirl, don’t shake like you’re mixing paint

• Rinse hot, then repeat if needed

If you’re curious about safety details, the isopropyl alcohol SDS sheets are genuinely useful reading, especially around ventilation and storage.

Dealing with clogged honeycomb holes

Honeycomb holes are tiny, so you need soak time.

• Hot water pre-rinse

• 99% ISO soak longer, 30 to 60 minutes

• Salt helps, but time helps more

• Rinse until you smell nothing

And if your rig is borosilicate, it can handle hot water fine, but sudden temperature jumps can still crack glass. Corning’s borosilicate handling info is a solid external reference if you want the nerd version of “don’t shock your glass.”

Showerhead perc cleanup

Usually the easiest.

• Hot rinse

• Short ISO swirl

• Done

If it’s still pulling tight, your water level might be too high. Or your downstem area is getting gunky.

What water level should you run for each perc (so you don’t waste terps)?

Water level is the sneakiest “perc upgrade” you’ll ever do. Too much water causes drag, splash, and muted flavor. Too little water gives big bubbles and harsher hits.

Here’s the simple starting point I use, then I tweak by feel:

• Tree perc: Water just above the slits, like 1 to 3 mm. If you cover the arms too much, drag goes up fast.

• Honeycomb: Water barely kissing the disc, enough to activate all holes. Overfill by even a little and you’ll feel it.

• Showerhead: Water just above the bottom slits. Showerheads handle a slightly higher level without getting angry, but don’t push it.

But honestly, your lungs will tell you in one pull. If it feels like sipping a thick milkshake, dump a little water.

Conclusion: pick the perc you’ll actually maintain

If you want the simplest answer, showerhead percs tend to give the best balance of easy pull, strong flavor, and reasonable cleanup. Tree percs are classic and tasty, but they demand more cleaning patience. Honeycombs are smooth and cloud-friendly, but they can mute terps and punish you for skipping dab maintenance.

And yeah, percs matter, but your habit matters more. Keep your water fresh, keep your banger swabbed, and keep clean dab tools in rotation, because no percolator on earth can out-filter a sticky, old reclaim problem.

If you want to keep building your setup, the most useful next reads are a deep “how to dab” temperature guide, a dab rig cleaning walkthrough, and a dab station setup post that covers mats, jars, and smart storage for dabbing accessories.