How to Properly Season a Titanium Dab Nail

What is Seasoning?

Seasoning is not exclusive to titanium dab nails. Quartz has a similar requirement as well. It is the process of preparing a nail for use in a dab rig. Without it, you will get a nasty taste that will overwhelm your senses and provide you with a not-so-great dab experience. Seasoning is essential. To properly season a titanium dab nail will require the use of either oil or a torch.

Seasoning can only be done prior to the first use to avoid the taste of metal and to properly prime it for use. Titanium is like quartz in requiring this process, though worlds apart when it comes to their individual pros and cons. Titanium is superior to quartz in its durability, while quartz is superior to titanium in its ability to heat up faster.

When it comes to seasoning your nail, you have two main options that can be chosen depending on your preference. Seasoning is done to break in a nail by burning off the coating on the metal and to eliminate any chemical remnants on the surface from the manufacturing process. While these things will not directly harm you, they are unpleasant to inhale.

Keeping Your Nail Clean

After seasoning your nail, you will want to cool it down and wipe off any excess, whether it be oil or soot. After using your dab rig for a session, you will also want to make sure it stays clean to avoid tainting the flavor of your next fresh dab. The best part about cleaning a titanium dab nail is the fact that it is titanium!

It is durable and can be thoroughly cleaned with the use of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Try to avoid anything higher as this will only serve to dry out your nail without properly cleaning it. Sounds weird but trust us, just stick with the 70%. Simply drop your nail in the solution and leave it for about half an hour.

If you are using it for the first time after seasoning it, then you will still want to use alcohol to break down any remaining oils and wipe them away with a clean cloth. Even if you use a torch instead of oil, the use of alcohol will help to break down the soot and allow for a clean hit devoid of any additional particulates.

One Method to Season a Titanium Nail

With this method, you will want to use a hot and cold application to properly season your nail. Start out by filling a bucket with some ice water and procuring a torch and some pliers. Make sure your bowl or bucket is very durable. Do not use thin glass, cheap plastic, or delicate ceramic. Fill the container with ice and a little bit of water.

Hold the nail with the pliers and prepare to get it red hot. Make sure the pliers have rubber or silicone handles to avoid touching the hot metal. With the torch, get the nail very hot to the point where it starts to glow red. This will take about a minute to accomplish with a steady stream from the torch flame. Go all around the nail to evenly heat it up.

Once you have done this, slowly dip the nail into the ice water. You will hear a sharp sizzle. Move it around the ice water and use the ice to essentially “wash” the nail. Shake off the nail and repeat the entire process a couple more times. This will ensure you thoroughly rid the nail of any leftover chemical residues. Keep some extra ice handy as it will melt.

Another Seasoning Method

This next method is not the best, but it is still a viable one. Most people do not like the idea of using their dab oil to season a nail, though with this method, that is exactly how it works. Start out by placing your nail onto your dab rig and lighting it up until it is glowing red. Using a dabber, apply the oil to the entire surface of the nail.

Make sure you cover it thoroughly before letting it cool. Repeat this process 4 or 5 more times. This will season your nail and make it ready to use. Do not use your top shelf THC oil either to season your nail. It should be noted that you cannot properly season your nail with olive oil either as it is too viscous.

What this does is provides your nail with a protective coating to allow for a dab hit without the metal taste. You can see now how this is not the most ideal method. The best oils to use are either cheap THC oil, CBD oil, or even coconut oil. In either case, just make sure you keep your nail clean to avoid any residual buildup over time.

Final Thoughts

The truth is that most people do not want to bother with seasoning a nail. It is boring, tedious, and not fun to do. You have a new dab nail, and you just want to use it without all these extra steps, and that is understandable. If you are okay with the thought of inhaling a nasty metal flavor and killing the terpene profile of your dab hit, then, skip the seasoning.

Most pros and top-tier connoisseurs know better than to use a titanium nail without it being properly seasoned first, however. In any case, just make sure you spend a little time on preparing your nail to get the most out of it.

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