Best E-Nails for Dabs 2024

An e-nail is an electronic concentrate vaporizer. Some e-nails, like traditional dab rigs, attach to a  waterpipe, and some are standalone units. Much like dry herb vapes, e-nails can be broken down into desktop and portable models (often called e-rigs). A few smaller units are powered by vape mods. Most e-nails and e-rigs provide some way to run the vapor through cool water before you inhale it.

All e-nails use electric heating elements to achieve precise and optimal temperatures for vaporizing waxy concentrates. Pocket-sized dab pens and vape mod-mounted wax atomizers do the same thing but without the precision, control, and capacity of an e-nail.

For people not dedicated to concentrates, using a simpler dab pen may be preferable to learning how to dab on the larger and more complicated devices featured in this guide. But for dab aficionados, nothing beats a powerful and precise e-nail or e-rig.

Here are some of the best portable and desktop e-nails and e-rigs.

What is an e-nail or e-rig?

E-nails and e-rigs (short for “electronic nail” and “electronic rig”) are designed to vaporize waxy concentrates with precise heat, offering an alternative to traditional dab rigs.

While old-school dab rigs require a butane torch to heat up the nail (or bucket or banger) to vaporize waxes, e-nails utilize an electric power source. Consistency is the hallmark of e-rigs and e-nails, whether you’re using a desktop or portable model. You can set the temperature precisely and tailor your session to specific terpenes and cannabinoids, depending on the flavors or effects you’re seeking to bring out.

Since there’s no open flame, the risk of combustion is kept to a minimum. Combustion harms the flavor of your dabs and creates harsh, painful hits. It can also lead to lung damage over time.

The size and complexity of the e-nail depends on the model—there’s a lot of variety in these devices. Some are self-contained units with the heating element hidden inside the device. Others include a metal coil that attaches to an external nail mounted on a bong or waterpipe. You’ll need to consider your preferred level of convenience and portability. The price point also varies between devices; desktop e-rigs can cost as much as several hundred dollars, while compact e-nail attachments are more affordable.

How do e-nails work?

The exact mechanics behind your e-nail depend on the device.

Regardless of the model you’re using, e-nails require electricity. Waxy concentrates are placed directly on the hot nail and vaporized. For ease, transfer your concentrates using a dab tool.

Some models have a power cord and controller box, which attaches to a heavy coil that wraps around a nail. Start by plugging your cord into a wall outlet and placing the box on a flat surface, along with your setup. Use the screen on your controller box to indicate a precise temperature. Once you’ve set your temperature, the nail will heat up to match. This helps determine the flavor and intensity of your hits.

Portable e-nails use a rechargeable battery to power the atomizer. These devices usually feature internal batteries that can be charged via USB.

To keep your e-nail working at its peak, remember to give it a good cleaning after use.

Why use an e-nail?

E-nail rigs, also called e-rigs, are quickly becoming the preferred daily driver for dabbing waxy THC and CBD concentrates. Before technology made high-powered electronic nails possible, dabbers had to use a butane or propane torch to heat a nail—a metal, quartz, or ceramic surface that vaporizes wax on contact.

Aside from obvious safety concerns, using a traditional dab rig also requires a certain level of expertise in order to achieve the perfect dab. Too much heat can actually combust dabs, whereas not enough heat won’t evenly vaporize everything, leaving you with a dissatisfying hit and a messy nail to clean. Even experienced dabbers using a torch can only make a guess about the right moment to drop the dab on the hot nail.

Electric dab nails solve this issue by letting the user choose a precise temperature, providing welcome relief from the scorching hits associated with butane torches. Low-temperature dabs are also less harsh on your throat and lungs. With e-rigs, anybody can enjoy a flavorful and effective vape right off the bat without much experience or a big learning curve.

A typical desktop e-nail setup employs temperature-sensing technology paired with a heating element that wraps around the nail. Once you dial in your preferred setting, it maintains that exact temperature until you turn the unit off, so it’s always ready for a dab whenever you are.

E-nails vs. traditional dab rigs

With a regular dab rig, a torch is used to heat the nail, which sometimes can instantaneously combust your concentrates. If not done properly, you can ruin a lot of dabs this way! Wasting expensive concentrates during the learning curve is a big reason e-nails instantly earned a place in many concentrate enthusiasts’ dab stations.

Using a traditional dab rig with a blowtorch, it’s almost impossible to know the exact temperature of the nail at any given moment,  but an e-nail can be dialed in at the exact temperature you want. You can choose accurate lower temps to maximize a rich terpene profile, highlighting the individual flavors and psychoactive effects of each cannabis strain.

Portable e-nails and e-rigs

Portable e-nails are small, simplified versions of the bigger desktop units. They have a lot in common since they both utilize some type of heating element, glass mouthpiece, and a power source, but these rigs are ideal for traveling. Some portable e-nails are powered by built-in or replaceable rechargeable batteries, and some attach directly to the 510 connection of your vape mod. Some units are designed to mount in a bong, like a traditional nail.

Innovation in vaporization and battery technology has also led to the development of portable all-in-one e-rigs that combine the electronics, nail, and glassware in a single unit, allowing users to share concentrates without concerns over burned fingers. These sophisticated portable and desktop concentrate vaporizers now make up the most popular segment of the e nail market.

Desktop e-nails and e-rigs

Desktop e-nails are more complicated and come in various forms. They all have the same essential elements. An e-nail dab kit includes a control box that is the brain of the operation, a heavy heating coil attached to the control box with an XLR cable, and the nail and waterpipe. The most popular nails used today are called bangers or honey buckets and can be made of various materials.

Most desktop e-rigs boxes come with an LED screen that will display your temperature in real time. These boxes typically run on A/C power and plug into your wall, unlike portable devices. They are not ideal for travel but a great option for at-home use.

How to use an e-nail

Don’t be intimidated! Using an electric dab rig is very simple.

Turn your e-nail on and dial in your ideal temperature. Wait for it to reach temperature. Use a dab tool to scoop a small amount of your concentrate, and carefully load it into the bucket or nail while simultaneously inhaling from your pipe. If you are using a carb cap, place it on top of the nail while taking a puff.

Many e-nail users prefer using a carb cap to cover the nail while taking a hit, because it increases both the overall flavor and vapor production. Most carb caps come attached to a dab tool, so there’s one less piece to worry about. Previously, “domed nails” were popular for this reason, but they have become rare due to the popularity of carb caps.

Which e-nail material is the best?

The best e-nail material comes down to personal preference. Like any other vaping device, consider your desired experience. For instance, do you prioritize flavor during a session, or is heat-up time more important? You may need to sacrifice certain qualities for others.

Shopping around, you’ll find three common e-nail materials: titanium, quartz, and ceramic.

Titanium e-nails tend to be the most affordable. They’re also the most common, so there’s no shortage of options. If durability is important to you, titanium is the way to go. Unfortunately, titanium is inferior if you want to experience the authentic taste of your dabs. The material can leave behind a metallic aftertaste.

For flavor chasers, quartz and ceramic nails are best. Both of these materials are breakable, although quartz e-nails are sturdier. Another downside to ceramic and quartz is their longer heat-up times.

What is the best temperature for e-nails?

Working out the best temperature for your dabs is an art. Too low, and you may leave the cannabinoids unvaporized. Too high, and the tasty terpenes are scorched. You’ll need to experiment to determine your personal sweet spot.

Lower temperatures are superior for flavor, while high temperatures are best if you want intense hits and a more powerful high (although every dab gives you a pretty powerful high).

A good range for most weed vapers is between 350° and 600° F (177° and 316° C). To maximize the flavor profile of your concentrate, stick to temperatures at the lower end of that range. Higher temperatures can damage terpenes and reduce flavor, but they’ll produce denser vapor and boost potency.

When you set your e-rig to a temperature that’s way too high, you risk combusting your concentrate. High-temperature hits are also rough on the lungs and throat.

How to clean an e-nail?

A consistent cleaning regime is essential if you want to maximize your e-nail’s lifespan and get the best quality hits. (The processes explained here are intended for external nails, not for e-rigs with internal atomizers. Those have individual cleaning requirements best explained in the manufacturer’s manual.)

Before cleaning your external nail, take note of its material. Do you have a ceramic, quartz, or titanium nail? The cleaning process is relatively consistent across the board, but there are some things to avoid with particular materials. The last thing you want is to damage or wear down your nail.

Avoid using alcohol on titanium or ceramic nails, since both materials are porous. When you clean a quartz e-nail, don’t torch or heat it at extremely high temperatures. This can burn the material and trigger a damaging process called devitrification.

First, heat your e-nail to loosen the residue. You can clear away gunk with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol or distilled water. Quartz nails can be soaked in alcohol to loosen wax. Remember to season your nail and burn off leftover alcohol.

Dab tools or paper clips are handy if you need to scrape away stubborn residue.

The most efficient way to clean e-nails is by heating them. Set the device to a high temperature and let it burn for up to twenty minutes. You can also use a torch, although this should be avoided with quartz nails. After the nail cools, wipe away any remaining residue or oil.

How much do e-nails cost?

E-nails are an investment. Although they’re cheaper than many desktop weed vaporizers, they’re priced higher than a lot of the handheld oil vapes or 510 batteries you’ll see on the market.

Generally, e-nails will cost from $100 to $400. Cheaper devices may not heat the nail accurately, but a “terpometer” (dab thermometer) can be used to calibrate the temperature.

Where can I buy e-nails?