30+ Dab Nail Types For The Best Dabbing Experience (2023)

With a never-ending list of dab nail types available, I wanted to scour the internet to put together the most complete list of dab nail types that you can find.

I am lucky enough to have experienced the entire evolution of dabbing and have owned more dab nails than you could imagine.

Because of that, I thought it would be a great idea to share with you an extensive list and resources that I’ll always keep up to date.

In this article, I will break down dab nails by various types and even have full descriptions for over 30 different dab nail types.

What Are Dab Nails?

Dab nails are the most essential components of a dab rig setup and are used as a surface to vaporize cannabis concentrates.

Dab nails come in various types, including glass, quartz, titanium, and ceramic, each with unique characteristics and benefits.

The type of nail you choose can significantly impact your dabbing experience, influencing factors like flavor, heat retention, and durability.

Domed vs. Domeless Nails

In the dabbing world, there are two main categories of dab nails available.

They are referred to as domed and domeless nails.

A domed nail requires a glass vapor dome to capture the vapor, while a domeless nail does not, offering a larger surface area for dabbing but requiring a carb cap to regulate airflow.

Domed Nail Pros and Cons:

Pros	Cons
✅ Cost less	❌ Less surface area means smaller dabs
✅ Safer to use	❌ More likely to burn your oil
✅ You waste less vapor

Domeless Nail Pros and Cons:

Pros	Cons
✅ Can take larger dabs	❌ Requires a carb cap
✅ Retains heat evenly	❌ More expensive
	❌ More difficult to keep clean

American Made vs Imports

There is always a lot of debate around buying American Made vs buying Import dab nails.

The main differences you’ll find are:

1. American Made is usually more expensive
2. American Made is almost always made of higher quality materials
3. Imports are prone to breaking easily or not functioning the way you might expect
4. Imports don’t face the same quality controls that American Made nails do

It really comes down to your personal preference and budget however I can attest that once you start using a high-quality American Made banger, you don’t go back.

3 Keys to Choosing the Best Dab Nail

1. Choose Your Dab Nail Material

Quartz Nails

Quartz nails, often referred to as “bangers,” are a highly sought-after type of dab nail made from high-quality quartz crystal.

They are renowned for their ability to deliver a pure, untainted flavor from your concentrates, making them a favorite among dabbing enthusiasts.

Pros:

• Quick Heat-Up: Quartz dab nails heat up rapidly, usually reaching the required temperature in less than 10 seconds.
• Flavor Preservation: Quartz is known for its ability to retain and deliver the maximum flavor from your concentrates.
• Durability: Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on earth, making these nails more durable than their glass counterparts.
• Safe to Use: As a food and medical-grade material, quartz does not release any toxic gases when heated, ensuring a safe dabbing experience.

Cons:

• Heat Retention: While quartz heats up quickly, it does not retain heat as well as some other materials.
• Fragility: Despite being more durable than glass, quartz nails can still break if dropped or mishandled.
• Cost: Quartz nails are generally more expensive than glass nails, but their durability and flavor preservation qualities often justify the cost.

Ceramic Nails

Made from a material that is chemically inert, ceramic nails offer a clean and pure taste, making them a favorite among those who prioritize flavor in their dabbing experience.

Ceramic nails are a great alternative for those who prioritize flavor and heat retention in their dabbing experience.

However, their fragility and longer heating time may be a drawback for some users.

Pros:

• Flavor Preservation: Ceramic nails are known for their ability to deliver a clean and untainted flavor, making them a favorite among flavor-focused dabbers.
• Heat Retention: Ceramic holds heat exceptionally well, allowing for multiple dabs from a single heating session.
• Seasoning Capability: Ceramic nails can be seasoned with concentrate, creating complex flavors that further enhance the dabbing experience.
• Variety: Ceramic nails come in a variety of designs, shapes, and sizes, offering options for every dab rig setup.

Cons:

• Fragility: Ceramic nails are less durable than their titanium or quartz counterparts. They are prone to chipping or breaking if not handled with care.
• Heating Time: A Ceramic nail requires more time to heat up compared to quartz or titanium nails. They also don’t visibly glow when heated, making it harder to determine the right dabbing temperature.
• Maintenance: A Ceramic nail requires careful cleaning to prevent residue buildup. However, some dabbers prefer to leave some residue for seasoning purposes.

Titanium Nails

Crafted from medical grade titanium, a robust and resilient metal, these nails are renowned for their ability to endure high temperatures and their impressive longevity.

Unlike quartz, ceramic, and glass nails, a titanium nail is virtually indestructible.

When using a titanium nail, it’s essential to season it before its first use.

Pros:

• Durability: Titanium nails are incredibly robust and resistant to damage. They won’t shatter on impact or crack when heated incorrectly, making them a long-lasting option.
• Heat Retention: Titanium nails require longer heating times than glass and quartz nails, but they have solid heat retention. This makes them ideal for dabbers who enjoy low-temperature dabs.
• Variety: Titanium nails come in a range of styles and sizes, including domeless, e-nails, bangers, and more, offering something for everyone.

Cons:

• Flavor: Some users report a metallic taste when using titanium nails, which can detract from the flavor of the concentrates.
• Heat Time: Titanium requires longer heating times than glass and quartz nails, which could be a downside for some users.
• Quality Variance: The quality of titanium nails can vary, with cheaper options being thin, fragile, or containing imperfections that make them less heat resistant. It’s recommended to invest in high-quality titanium nails for the best experience.

Electric Nails

An electric dab nail, also known as an e-nail, is a dab rig accessory designed to vaporize concentrates such as oils, waxes, e-liquids, or dabs without the need for a butane torch.

It features a built-in heating element and a power pack, which allows for precise temperature control.

Pros:

• Precise Temperature Control: E-nails use a digital control box and a coil to heat up your nail to a pre-determined temperature and hold it there, ensuring the perfect dab hit every time.
• No Need for a Torch: E-nails eliminate the need for a torch or butane burner, making them a safer and more convenient option.
• Versatility: E-nails can be used with various types of dab nails, including titanium, quartz, and ceramic, offering flexibility for users.

Cons:

• Cost: E-nails tend to be more expensive than traditional dab nails due to their electronic components and advanced features.
• Power Dependency: E-nails require a power source to operate, which can limit their portability and use in outdoor settings.
• Complexity: E-nails can be more complex to use compared to traditional dab nails, especially for beginners.

2. Match Your Dab Nails Joint Size, Angle & Sex

Step 1. Identify Your Dab Rigs Joint Size

The initial step involves determining the size of your dab rig’s joint.

These joints are typically available in three distinct sizes:

• 10mm
• 14mm
• 19mm

Step 2. Identify Whether Your Dab Rig Has a Male or Female Joint

Female nails have an open-mouth joint that fits around the pipe’s joint, while male nails fit inside.

If your rig has a female joint, you need a nail with a male joint, or vice versa.

You can check the joint or downstem to see if your bong is male or female.

Step 3. Identify Whether Your Dab Rig Joint is Angled At 45° or 90°

Depending on your dab rig setup, you’ll need either a 45° or 90° angled dab nail.

3. Choose Your Dab Nail Style

Here is a complete list of dab nail types:

Flat Top Banger Nails

Flat top banger nails are a type of dab nail with a flat surface that allows for even heating and efficient vaporization of concentrates.

They are a popular style of quartz banger nails due to their large dabbing surface and the ability to use them with various types of carb caps.

The flat top design makes it easier to heat the nail evenly, and the long, bent tube helps with air control, providing a nice, even pull.

These nails are often favored by dabbing enthusiasts for their efficiency and ease of use.

Thermal Banger Nails

Thermal banger nails are a type of quartz nail featuring a double-walled concentrate chamber, designed for retaining heat longer and reducing the likelihood of clogging.

This innovative design allows for a more efficient and enjoyable dabbing experience.

The double-walled chamber creates an insulating layer of air to retain heat, allowing the nail to stay hot for a longer period.

These nails are often used at low temperatures and many users prefer to pair them with a carb cap to prevent vapor loss.

Core Reactor Banger Nails

A Core Reactor Banger Nail is a type of quartz nail that features a solid quartz “core” in the center of the bucket.

This core retains heat longer and distributes it evenly throughout the nail, providing an efficient and flavorful dab.

Thermochromic Quartz Bangers

A Thermochromic Quartz Banger is a type of quartz nail that changes color based on the temperature.

This feature allows users to visually gauge the temperature of the nail, ensuring optimal heat for dabbing.

Terp Slurp Nails

A Terp Slurp Banger is a type of dab nail designed to maximize the flavor (or “terpenes”) of the concentrate.

It features a unique design with an extended bottom chamber where excess concentrate can pool and continue to vaporize at lower temperatures, providing a flavorful and efficient dab.

Channel Slurp Nails

A channel slurp dab nail is a type of quartz nail that has a thick disc with carved channels that hold heat.

The channel slurp dab nail improves circulation on your dabs, allowing you to take bigger hits and enjoy better flavors without having to overheat or reheat the nail.

Round Bottom Banger Nails

A Round Bottom Banger Nail is a type of nail with a rounded bottom, which is designed to allow for even heat distribution and easy cleaning.

The rounded bottom can help prevent concentrate from getting stuck in corners, ensuring that all of the product is vaporized.

Opaque Bottom Banger Nails

Opaque Bottom Banger Nails are a type of dab nail with an opaque (non-transparent) bottom, known for their quick heat-up times and efficient vaporization of concentrates.

Unlike traditional clear quartz bangers, opaque bottom bangers have a sandblasted, non-transparent surface on the bottom.

This opaque surface increases the surface area and allows for better heat retention.

Hourglass Banger Nails

An Hourglass Banger Nail could refer to a type of nail with an hourglass-shaped design.

This type of dab nail is often used for cold start dabs and has a seamless weld and beveled edge.

It’s a durable and versatile nail that lets you use any carb cap while keeping terp pearls spinning.

Universal Nails (or Adjustable Nails)

Universal nails are versatile dab nails designed to fit multiple sizes and types of dab rig joints, offering flexibility for users with different rigs.

These nails are typically adjustable and can be used with both male and female joints, and in various sizes, making them a convenient choice for dabbers who have multiple rigs or those who want a nail that can adapt to different setups.

A universal nail will always have a titanium base but sometimes have a quartz or ceramic dish and is referred to as a hybrid Ti nail.

Daisy Nails

Great for high-temperature dabs, the quartz daisy domeless nail has flower petal-like slits around the top to suck in your vapor.

The pocket for your concentrates can hold plenty yet is tight enough that you don’t have to worry about uneven burns.

And because it is domeless, it does not require a carb cap.

If you are a fan of high-temp dabbing, the quartz daisy nail is for you.

Sidearm Nails

Sidearm nails, typically crafted from titanium, are ingeniously designed to direct heat away from the rig, making them ideal for compact setups or situations where you want to maintain a safe distance between your face and the heat source.

While they share the common drawbacks of other titanium nails, such as potential flavor alteration, they offer the advantage of providing extra space when your setup requires it.

Honey Bucket

A Honey Bucket is a type of nail that features a swing arm, allowing the user to heat the bucket separately and then swing it into the dome for use.

This innovative design allows for efficient heat management and helps to prevent the risk of damage to the dab rig.

The bucket is typically made of quartz or titanium.

Bird Cage (Birdhouse) Domeless Banger Nails

A birdcage (sometimes called a Birdhouse) domeless banger looks just as it sounds.

It has a small plate-like surface for you to place your dabs with a small opening for the dab vapor to go in.

It is known for having excellent airflow quality and it heats up much faster than other types of quartz nails.

Quartz E-nails Bangers

Unlike traditional dab nails that require a torch for heating, e-nail bangers use an electric heating element.

You’ll also notice a hook on the side of this banger which holds the electric coil up and keeps it from tipping your oil rig over.

References used to compile this complete list of dab nail types:

• DabConnection.com
• YoDabbaDabba.com
• DankStop.com