Quartz Bangers vs. Titanium Nails Guide

Dabnation Mythbusters: What’s the Difference Between Titanium and Quartz?

Because dabbing is so new, there’s a lot of debate and oftentimes, straight up misinformation out there regarding best practices and equipment. One of the main things people ask us here at DabNation, is what’s the difference between quartz and titanium nails. Is one better than the other? Is there much of a difference? So we thought we’d bust this myth once and for all by comparing the two side by side

Heating

Repeatedly heating up to and then maintaining a desired temperature is the main job of your nail. Both fused quartz glass and titanium nails perform excellently at this. In general, quartz is used in laboratory equipment and titanium is a refractory metal, and both are great at undergoing repeated and extreme temperature changes without breaking or cracking. However, in terms of heating, the main difference between the two is that quartz heats up quicker but titanium retains heat longer.

Durability

When comparing the two, titanium easily takes the crown in terms of durability because it’s an incredibly tough metal. Quartz glass, on the other hand, is fragile and will almost certainly break if it’s dropped on a hard surface. If you’re the kind of person who really looks after their equipment, you shouldn’t have too much of problem, but if you’re a bit clumsier than most, you may want to consider a titanium nail.

Flavor

While both quartz and titanium produce a great experience, popular consensus has it that quartz has the cleaner, purer flavor. And let’s be honest, for fans of dabbing this is probably the most important factor in deciding which to go for. You’ll be trading off durability and heating performance for a more pleasurable hit, but for many, that’s worth well it.

Titanium Oxidation

Much has been said about titanium nails producing harmful fumes that you could inhale. We’re here to let you know that as a dabber, you have nothing to be worried about. What people are referring to is titanium oxidation at extremely high temperatures. Specifically, if titanium is heated above 2,190°F, it will react with the oxygen in the air to produce titanium dioxide. While titanium dioxide is widely used in paint, sunblock, and even food coloring, inhaling it can be harmful to your health. However, have no fear, because dab temperature is usually between 750 and 1,100°F with 1,100 to 1,600°F seen as the upper limit, so your titanium nail will never reach the temperatures required to produce titanium dioxide in the first place.

The Final Hit

At the end of the day both quartz and titanium nails do their job of vaporizing your extract excellently. The differences are small and choosing between the two will all come down to personal preference. Do you like the speedy heating of quartz or the improved heat retention of titanium? Perhaps you need the durability of titanium because you’re known to have butterfingers. Or, maybe, it’s a simple matter of preferring the superior smoothness and flavor of quartz. Whichever your preference, Why not check out our range of titanium and quartz nails so you can pick the perfect one for you.