In today’s article we’re going to talk about the differences between titanium, glass, ceramic and quartz when it comes to dabbing. This will help you to choose which one is most ideal for your dabbing experience.

We’re going to go through the differences in material, how long it takes to heat up and retain heat with a torch, along with other essential information necessary to selecting the best product for your consumption needs. Let’s get right into it!

Titanium

Firstly, let’s see what titanium is all about when it comes to dabbing. Titanium is one of the earliest methods used to consume extracts. Titanium is very popular because of its durability, scientists are proud to say that it’s the most durable nail on the current market.

Titanium nails and collector tips won’t crack or shatter in any form since they are so durable. You can even drop them, with no worry of a break! Titanium will heat up rather quickly and glow a brilliant red when hot. Compared to quartz, titanium retains heat longer; yet, it cools down more quickly than ceramic.

Why do people have a lot of negatives to say about Titanium nails? This is because titanium nails take a lot of time to cool down. Therefore, if you are seeking a perfectly temped dab, you will need to be extra patient.

Pro Tip: The Dab Rite can help you achieve a perfect temped dab, every time!

For people who enjoy low temp dabs, they shouldn’t consider a titanium nail, since it takes a lot more time to cool down than quartz for example.

Titanium is an incredibly durable, strong, and tough metal. When purchasing a titanium nail, take in consideration that you’re purchasing a nail for a lifetime. These titanium nails are so durable that they will literally last your entire life, giving you the ability to gift it to your future grandchild on their 21st birthday!

Glass

Glass nails are very popular too because of their price. They are quite cheap, but this does not mean that you should consider buying one. Let us explain why…

A glass nail or banger is dangerous when it comes to heating it up with a torch, which is obviously necessary for a great dabbing experience. These glass nails and bangers can break at any time, or shatter, which can cause many injuries. If you’re buying a low end dab rig, then it’s very likely to get a glass nail with them.

When heated, glass nails and bangers do not effectively distribute heat, nor do they retain heat very well. These properties are necessary for a conscious dabber, that’s why you shouldn’t never consider buying a glass dab consumption device. If you use one, we recommend you to replace it as fast as possible, to avoid any injuries and to get a better dabbing experience overall.

Ceramic

Ceramic nails aren’t as durable as titanium nails, though its durability is high. Ceramic nails do not break easily and they won’t shatter from heat, like cheap glass nails, even if you’re using a very powerful torch. Ceramic has a low-coefficient of thermal expansion, however, in rare situations can fracture.

Why are ceramic nails better than titanium nails? And why should you choose ceramic nails instead of titanium nails? Fresh ceramic nails provide a better dabbing experience than the titanium ones, and they are also way better for your health. Most ceramic nails are both food and medical grade, unlike titanium that will need to be seasoned before consumption. The ceramic material is chemically inert and it still offers significantly long heat retention. It’s possible for some people to even get several dabs, just from heating it one time!

It’s true that the ceramic nails require more time to heat up to get a good dabbing experience but it’s surely worth it. The price for a ceramic nail tends to also be on the more affordable side. You can get a decent ceramic nail for under $20 dollars or a high-end nail for around $40. Both are worth their price!

Quartz

Experts say that for an average person, a quartz nail is the best choice.

Quartz nails have a lower heat retention time, which allows you to get a perfect temped dab much quicker than with titanium or ceramic. Experienced dabbers also love quartz nails, because of its clean aesthetic. We heard that many people will switch their glass, titanium or ceramic nails to a quartz nail. An American made quartz banger is created of a single piece of quartz (aka. full-weld or fully welded quartz) which is used in tandem with a water pipe to heat up the concentrates and the water pipe can deliver the vapor to your mouth.

But quartz bangers can be expensive. You may ask yourself, why is it so expensive? Well, as you may have heard already, the best is the most expensive. In this case it’s very true. And also, quartz is not a cheap material.

If you buy a quartz banger, then you shouldn’t worry about it shattering, quartz are tough materials and they do not shatter no matter what temperatures you’re using. Though, any hot piece of quartz may break when dropped!

However, please keep in mind that there is cheap quartz on the market, where the banger and the stem are fused together. This is why we recommend buying Full-Weld quartz if you want a longer-lasting product. Fused quartz bangers may break easier at the point of fusion. If you are careful, you shouldn’t have to worry too much, but anything can happen when you’re dabbin’.

Quartz bangers provide a clean dab experience. When used correctly, quartz can deliver the purest and most pristine taste.

In conclusion

If you are a bit of a clumsy stoner, and want to buy an extract consumption device for a lifetime, we suggest titanium. If you’re a connoisseur, and are willing to pay for quality through and through, then you should definitely choose quartz. If you don’t want to spend your life savings on a nail, and still want a quality piece, then we recommend ceramic nails.

We cannot stress enough how we do not recommend a glass device for consuming your dabs. Not only is it perilous, it simply will not last!  

We really hope you enjoyed today’s article, we wish you a wonderful start to your 710 festivities tomorrow, and happy dabbing!