Q about quality of nail

nervesmoke

New Member
So... I've lurked for a bit, this is my first post.

ANYWAYS. I've been dabbing for awhile now, and have been using this domeless I got from my local favorite shop, which ran me 40$. I've been using it for 3 months now, and there's minimal wear on it, and it tastes great. But.. I'm curious more into where it came from, and so I did some Googling, and came across this China site - http://www.aliexpress.com/item/14mm-Ti-domeless-nail-from-China/1405736031.html

My nail looks almost exactly the same.. except mine has 6 holes in the cup, but every other thing about it is identical, so I'm thinking it's the same or at least same company. Anyone know more about the quality, or how to find out more?

I mean I'm not particularly worried... This nail has held up great, even if made in china. But it's still nice to know your gear.
 
nervesmoke,

SD_haze

Well-Known Member
Not sure on that specific one, maybe someone else knows more.
Most nails we can just speculate on unfortunately.

You certainly don't want a nail manufactured in China.
Not that plenty of quality of things are made in China,
you just have less QC with these times of items.


This is the only nail I've seen confirmed to avoid.
[this nail got in special legal trouble because it printed "manufactured in USA" when it was from China]
DBE8B391-B9AD-4B89-B3C9-049DAE94B4AE-1111-00000193C3936992.jpg
 

nervesmoke

New Member
Yes, I've seen that nail as well. My shop was selling the real Concrete Concentrate nail, so maybe mine is real Ti too.
 
nervesmoke,
The nail you got is indeed a Chinese knock-off of a dab essentials. I can say that with a fair degree of certainty because the genuine ones retail for $140 or so, and for the last few months have been engraved to distinguish them from the forgeries.

Does this mean your nail is unsafe? I don't know that, and nobody who sees this probably will either. I stick with the expensive US made stuff to err on the side of caution.
 
mrboote,

nervesmoke

New Member
Yeah, I figured @ 40$ for a domeless, it was gonna be a China knock-off. But, it passed the magnet test.. And I have been blasting it with a propane torch to get it up to heat - I haven't had any negative effects from smoking it. One is always wary their stuff is safe at one point or another, but then I do another dab off of my knock off, and I don't worry anymore..

That being said - I went and looked at dab essentials website, and I believe it's very possible this was just bought wholesale from dab essentials.. The owner of the shop sells brand name glass, although he didn't order this nail personally - but as aforementioned, it passed the magnet test, but it could very well be stainless steel.. But I haven't noticed any gas off, any melting, or anything - it's held up like gr2 Ti is supposed to.

So, either a decent knock off or actual brand.. I wish there was a way to know for sure. I might go back to the shop, and ask about it.
 
nervesmoke,

mestizo

Well-Known Member
If you live close to large recycling yard that handles different kinds of metals, they can test it for free in a matter of seconds with a hand held device with one hundred percent accuracy.

BTW, stainless doesn't gas off or melts with a hand held torch, and very few metals available to the public are actually toxic if you heat them up, stainless steel alloys are some of the safest, that is why the food industry loves them so much.

Pure Titaniums are not difficult to machine and not that expensive, that is why the chinese can counterfit them at such a low price.
 
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mestizo,

nervesmoke

New Member
I just worry about gas off I can't see, the flaking I've read I'm sure is mostly caught by the water filtration I usually choose to use.
 
nervesmoke,

mestizo

Well-Known Member
If it is stainless you have nothing to worry about, and as far as flaking goes, well that is just oxidation and I wouldn't worry about, TI oxidizes too, there's nothing toxic in it if you started with a safe metal.
You have to remember our bodies are made of a lot of the metals found in these alloys to begin with and are necessary for the proper function of it.
On the other hand, stay away of metals like aluminum and such.
 

nervesmoke

New Member
If it is stainless you have nothing to worry about, and as far as flaking goes, well that is just oxidation and I wouldn't worry about, TI oxidizes too, there's nothing toxic in it if you started with a safe metal.
You have to remember our bodies are made of a lot of the metals found in these alloys to begin with and are necessary for the proper function of it.
On the other hand, stay away of metals like aluminum and such.

Right, but I mainly want to know if it's a knock-off or not now! Because if I do have a real DE, then I have an old one, but I guess I will never know for sure. Also I one time got an aluminum 18mm, and the second my torch touched it the head melted! Took it back, the owner of that particular shop admitted he had someone who didn't know about metals order them for him.
 
nervesmoke,

mestizo

Well-Known Member
Then in this case, only the people who own a Dab Essentials can help you on that, I was just trying to help on the safety aspect of it.
Hope you find the answer from other members.
Good luck.
 
mestizo,

nervesmoke

New Member
Then in this case, only the people who own a Dab Essentials can help you on that, I was just trying to help on the safety aspect of it.
Hope you find the answer from other members.
Good luck.

I've emailed Dab Essentials these pictures with the same burning question!
 
nervesmoke,

nervesmoke

New Member
You may want to re-count.

I did xD Yeah, I know my math was off at first.. Stoned mistakes. ALSO, DE confirmed this to be a china-fake. But that being said, it's not a bad fake.. It still does what the DE promises to do, enhance the flavor and keep your piece safer :) ... Still, gonna pick up a REAL DE soon!
 
nervesmoke,
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