How long do you heat a quartz banger nail?

Dabbing can be a daunting task for people that are new to it. But, no worries! We will show you the easiest way to get the perfect temperature on your dab nail every time. One of the most important aspect of dabbing is getting the right temperature. If your nail is too hot, your vapor won't taste good. If it's not hot enough, you can waste your precious concentrates.

And, just to make things more complicated: different types of dab nails require different heat up times. A quartz banger nail heats differently than a titanium nail, so it's important to know the best way to heat the type of nail you will be using.

How long to heat quartz bangers?

The amount of time required to heat and cool down your nail will vary depending on the thickness, age, and quality of the quartz banger you're using. Typically you want to heat your banger nail for about 30 seconds and then let it cool down for just under a minute. If you're dabbing in a cold room or have been using the nail for a while you can adjust that time by 10 seconds or so. This will take some trial and error but eventually, you will find the perfect window and temperature that you prefer. When you start out you may torch your concentrates or leave some left over by over or underheating the nail. Don't worry that happens, after a few tries you will get the hang of it!

If you are using a traditional quartz banger and heating it with a torch here is how to do it. Start by ensuring your dab nail is securing placed inside your dab rigs joint so it does not move. Then turn on your torch and begin heating the quartz banger evenly around all the sides and mainly the bottom. Be sure you are constantly moving the torch around so you are evenly heating the banger nail.

Once the dab banger starts to glow, turn off the torch and simply wait however long you prefer for your dabbing temperature. On average most people wait about 15 seconds after heating it before adding their dab. Since quarts retains heat extremely well, you don't need to worry about dabbing immediately after you stop torching it.

If you prefer higher temp dabs we recommend waiting about 10-15 seconds before dabbing. If you prefer lower temperature dabs you maybe want to wait about 20-25 seconds before dabbing. We always prefer dabbing at lower temperature for better flavor but sometimes you just want to send it.

How long to heat other types of dab nails?

The timing will be the same no matter what style dab nail you are using as long as the material is the same. All quartz dab nails will require the same amount of time whereas a titanium nail may take longer.

What type of torch do you need to heat your nail?

To properly heat a quartz banger to the perfect temperature you can not simply use and lighter or torch you need a torch designed to heat nails. The most common top of torch is a butane dab torch that can get super hot very quickly and produces a large enough flame to evenly heat your dab nail. Butane torches are great because you can refill the butane any time you run out. In addition unlike propane butane does not produce carbon monoxide which can be dangerous.

What temperature should you be dabbing at?

The quick answer is whichever temperature you prefer. Some people prefer hotter dabs that give you bigger vapor clouds. Conversely, others prefer lower temperature dabs that give you better flavor.

High temp dabs give you a very quick and strong effect that only takes a few minutes to settle in. Low temp dabs are much more gradual with the effects and much better with flavor. If you're not sure which is right for you it's best to test them both for yourself to see which you prefer. Personally, I prefer low temp dabs and try to keep my temperature between 500-540°F. Some people prefer to go lower than 500°F. As the low temp dabber motto goes: "you gotta waste it, to taste it". So, you're probably wondering how the hell do you know when your nail is the right temperature to dab at.

How to monitor and control dab nail temperature

Trying to monitor the exact temperature you are dabbing at can get a bit of a chore. Or, it can be really easy depending on the type of dab nail and rig you are using! Below I will list the three easiest ways to keep your temperature accurate and dialed in for every dabbing session.

1. Using an E-Nail with Digital Temperature Controls.

Monitoring your dab nail temperature using a digital readout is the most accurate. The quickest and easiest way to keep a steady and consistent temperature every time you dab is to invest in a good electronic nail; which is usually referred to as an e-nail. All E-nails consists of the same basic components:

• Dab nail or dabbing surface, usually quartz, titanium or ceramic; Most e-nails tend to use titanium nails.
• Heating coil that is attached to a cord and sits on or around your dab nail to keep it hot.
• Power cord that plugs into a standard electrical outlet and powers your e-nail
• The best e-nails will have a digital temperature screen and allow you to control the temperature with precision.

However, e-nails aren't perfect and do come with some downsides. Firstly, the biggest downside is they are usually expensive. The are some affordable e-nails on the market but most of them do not have the digital temperature monitor that the higher end models would have. These can actually make it harder to find the right temperature. So, if you can afford a good e-nail I recommend holding off until you can. Secondly, they need to be plugged into the wall, which limits where you are able to dab.

2. Use a timer to measure temperature!

My favorite type of nail to use for dabbing is a quartz banger nail and using a dab torch to heat the nail. This does not allow you the same precision control that a digital e-nail would but with some experimenting, you will find that perfect temperature for your quartz banger. To start you will want to torch your banger nail with your butane torch until its red hot. Quartz holds heat really well and cools down slowly. The slow cooldown allows you a window of perfect temperature for dabbing. This is where some trial and error comes in, time your cooldown of the nail with a timer. I typically use a small hourglass sand timer or a stopwatch on my phone. You should time how long you are heating your nail in addition to how long you are letting it cool down before dabbing.

How do you know when a quartz banger is hot enough?

A glowing red quartz banger is around 800° F but after you let it cool for about 25 seconds it cools right to the perfect temperature of around 350-400 degrees. If you are not good at timing when a nail is hot enough we highly recommend getting a thermochromic quartz banger that contains color changing sand to show you exactly when you banger is the perfect temperature.

Can you overheat and break a quartz banger?

Yes you can that is why it's very important to follow our instructions above to ensure you do not overheat your nail. Be sure that your nail is completely dry and free of residue before heating it or else you can "chaz" your banger which means your quartz gets cloudy and it's time to buy a new one. You will know your banger is chazzed if it is not longer crystal clear like when you first got it but is instead cloudy and filled with residue. As long as you are buying a quartz banger from a reputable online headshop like Toker Supply you should not need to worry about it breaking if you heat it the proper amount of time.

Not getting the right temperature?

If you followed all the steps above and you still are not getting your desired temperature because your nail is too hot or not hot enough. No need to worry this takes a lot of trial and error and practice. If your concentrate is burning too quickly wait a longer time before adding it to the heated nail. And on the flip side if your concentrates are not all vaporizing you may need to heat your nail longer or start dabbing more quickly after you finish heating your nail. Just be sure you are keeping track of how long you are heating your nail and also how long you are waiting after heating to add your dabs.

When trying to find your ideal dabbing temperature there is no better substitute than trial and error. The more you try and practice, the better and more accurate you will become at it. So even if you don't have a fancy digital e-nail or a special sand timer, stuck with your gut and you will be just fine. Dabbing is like riding a bike, once you do it for a while it just becomes second nature.

The good thing is even if your nail is too hot or not hot enough you can correct it the next time around. If you happen to not heat it enough you can always re-heat the nail to ensure you vaporize any extra concentrates that may be left over. Also, it is very important to use a carb cap when dabbing to ensure all your concentrates are vaporized. Carb caps restrict the airflow into your banger nail to ensure the nail stays hot long enough to vaporize all of your wax and oils. 

Dab Nail Heating FAQs

how long to heat up dab rig glass?

You should not head your dab rigs glass, this can cause it to overheat and potentially break. You should only be heating a quartz dab nail that sites in your dab rig.

After torching the nail how long do you wait?

You should be waiting rougly 10-30 seconds depending on how hot you like to dab. 

What is a chazzed banger?

A chazzed banger is simply a dirty dab nail. To be more specific it means its burnt. This can happen from overheating your nail by torching it for too long. In addition not cleaning your nail regularly can also cause it to become chazzed. To prevent this from happening make sure you clean your banger regularly and are not overheating it.