eNail vs Torch: Weighing the Pros and Cons

There are two main ways to get your banger warm enough to take a dab, and there are pros and cons to each. So what’s the difference between using a torch and using an eNail, and what are some of the pros and cons? We’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more about using a torch vs enail.

What’s the difference between using a torch and using an eNail? 

While both methods get your nail hot enough to take a dab, there are quite a few differences between using an eNail and using a torch.

Dab torch vs enail

An eNail is a system made up of an electric control box that allows you to set a specific dabbing temperature, which then supplies power to the coil wrapped around your banger. The coil attached to the control box will supply heat until your banger reaches the temperature you set, allowing you to take dabs at the perfect temperature each and every time you turn the thing on. They tend to be more costly than the traditional torch method, but they make up for that in convenience and precision, especially when you’re seshing with friends.

Heating up your banger with a torch is a different story, though. They’re cheap and there’s no electricity involved, but they do require butane refills now and then. Using a torch is a good way to heat up your nail quickly, but since there are no preset temperature settings, you may occasionally take dabs that are too hot or too cold. A lot of people say that using a torch is primitive, but it allows you to apply concentrated heat to the bottom of your banger while eNails tend to heat the sides of the bucket.

Like all things in life, there are pros and cons to using an enail vs torch. We’re breaking down a few of those below.

Why you might prefer an eNail over a torch 

Let’s get started with the benefits of eNails. eNails are simply put so much more user friendly than the torch method. With an eNail, you have precise temperature control down to a degree-by-degree basis, which makes it possible to get the perfect low-temp dab every time you turn the device on. Lower temps means less terp burning, which means better hits and flavors.

Dabbing with an eNail

More importantly, they heat up and stay warm. That’s a huge bonus if you dab with friends, since it reduces the time necessary to cool down, clean the nail, reheat it with the torch, and wait for it to come to the right temperature before taking the dab. The eNail makes it possible to dab again and again easily, including with massive globs since the nail stays warm throughout the duration of the dab.

While eNails have a ton of pros to them, they tend to cost a lot more than the torch method — at least at first. eNails range from $100-$500, which is a significantly higher investment than a $20 torch and some butane canisters. However, they last a long time and may be cheaper in the long run since you won’t have to keep buying gas. The only real con to using an eNail is the fact that it has to be plugged into a power source to work, and isn’t anywhere near as portable as a torch.

The only other thing to consider is that eNail coils can get stuck on your banger, so you might have a hard time getting the coil off to clean the nail thoroughly.

Why you might prefer to use a torch over an eNail 

Dabbing with a butane torch

Torches, on the other hand, have their place too. If you like to dab on the go, your torch is a lot easier to carry around than an eNail. eNails have several different parts, including the control box, the coil and the cords, which don’t slide into a backpack or pocket anywhere nearly as easily as torches do. Torches are also super cheap, and will only run you like $20, plus another $10 or so for a butane refill. However, if you dab a lot, those butane canisters may add up and cost you more in the long run than an eNail would.

Unfortunately though, there are a lot of cons for dabbing with a torch compared to an eNail. Torches are impossible to use accurately and require you to eyeball and use your judgement on when you should remove heat from the nail and how long you should wait. That means that sometimes you might hit it too hot or too cold, which makes for an unpleasant experience either way. That’s not to say that you can’t accurately gauge a dab with a torch though, you may just have to use a laser thermometer and wait until it gets to the right temperature to begin dabbing.

Last but not least, you’re more likely to burn yourself when using a torch compared to an eNail. Don’t get me wrong, you can still burn the crap out of yourself on an eNail coil. But working with a powerful, concentrated open flame can go wrong in a lot of different ways if you’re not careful.

Recap: Pros and cons of dabbing with an enail vs a torch 

If you’re just here for a quick at-a-glance look at the benefits of using one method or the other, start here.

Pros of using a torch:

• Portable
• Much cheaper up front than an eNail

Cons of using a torch: 

• Difficult to gauge temperature of nail without the use of a laser thermometer
• Higher long-term cost (you’ll have to keep buying butane and replacing the torch itself every few years)
• Working with open flame can be dangerous

Pros of using an eNail: 

• Convenient temperature precision— set it and forget it
• More control over getting the perfect low-temp dab
• Ideal for group seshes
• Cheaper than butane after the initial upfront cost.

Cons of using an eNail: 

• Must be connected to power
• Much less portable than a torch
• Higher inital cost
• Bangers can get stuck in the coil and make it more difficult to clean them

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