Puffco vs. E-Nail: Why Some Dabbers Are Switching Back to E-Nails

Puffco is most famous for their electric dab rig the peak and the peak pro, an electronic dabbing device that's more of an “all in one” dabbing solution type of deal. Puffcos make dabbing more portable, but portability isn't always a major concern, in fact some dabbers prefer to strictly dab at home. Enails offer so many advantages over electric dab rigs, like continuous heating, precision temperature control, long lasting components that are relatively cheap to replace, and the freedom to change your dabbing experience with different glass rigs, dab nails and accessories.

So the main question comes back to, why are people giving up on the all in one puffco peak electric dab rigs and switching back to an enail? It really comes down to more control over your dab sessions, opportunity to customize your sessions, and long term durability.

Puffco vs Enail: What is the Difference?

What is a Puffco Peak?

A puffco peak streamlines a whole dabbing setup and puts it all into one device. It has a battery powered base in place of a controller box or torch, that heats up the atomizer to temperature, and a water bubbler top for water filtration in place of a rig. Its all inclusive design makes a puffco peak super portable, not as travel friendly as smaller devices but all in all much more portable than an electric dab nail setup.

What is an Enail?

The word enail is short for electric nail, it is composed of an electric controller box where you set your temperature, which powers an enail coil to heat up your dab nail or banger to temperature in place of a torch. Your banger or dab nail still needs to be connected to a rig in order for this setup to work, this is not an all in one type of device.

Puffco Peak vs Enail at a Glance

Peak Pro - Peak - and Enail Chart

Why are Some Users Switching to Enails?

Enails Provide Continuous Power

Unlike a puffco peak that has a set heating time, an enail provides continuous consistent heat for the entirety of your sessions. This is useful for someone that takes multiple dabs throughout their session, or prefers group sessions. It gets rid of the pesky waiting for a coil to heat up to temperature. The newer puffco electric dab rig devices have a temperature feedback sensor so that your atomizer doesn't get the additional power that isn't needed, meaning your heat up times will be faster with back to back sessions. However, enails provide the same temperature throughout the entire time, you can take a five minute break without needing to start the process all over again.

Do Enails Stay Hot in Between Dabs?

Enails will maintain their temperature for the entire duration that it is on, like a puffco enails use something called a thermocouple to read the temperature of the coil. Similar to a temperature feedback sensor. They both have this function, but since this technology is newer to electric dab rig models you can expect some temperature discrepancies, when compared to something like an enail.

Enails Give You More Control Over Your Setup

Enails are almost fully customizable, you can choose from an lcd controller or a micro controller. You can switch up your dab nail depending on the experience you prefer, then there are loads of accessories to choose from for carb caps and dab inserts. The customization doesn't stop there, you have the choice to use whatever type of rig you'd like, if you prefer smoother hits over harsher hits. Then there's also things that get more technical like enail coil size based on your dab size, whether you'd prefer hot or cold start dabs etc, the options are really endless.

Enails are the type of device that can grow with you in more ways than one, as you get more comfortable dabbing there are so many different experiences to experiment choose from. On the other hand a puffco peak or peak pro will only give you the same standard electric dab rig experience. Not necessarily saying this is a bad thing, it still gets the job done, but for those seeking variety and new options as the market grows, an enail might be your best bet.

You Aren't Locked into One Chamber or Glass Ecosystem

A puffco peak is an all in one ecosystem type of device that is compatible with only puffco chambers and specifically made glass tops that fit its base. The puffco chambers are made out of ceramic, there are no quartz options available for the newer models so you are locked into that one specific dabbing material no matter what. The glass tops you'll have better luck with, many glass blowers create their own versions of puffco glass bubblers, however they can sometimes be on the pricer side.

An enail is more of a modular system instead of a proprietary one, it's built of 4-5 items, one to two items can be changed to provide a completely different dab. Not only is it cost effective when you need a change, it's also quick and simple to replace a piece and continue to use your device without having to buy a new one or spend a new fortune on replacement parts. The new puffco peak pro xl atomizer is roughly around 100 dollars while a new enail coil costs around 50 dollars. Although both replacement parts should last you a several months to a year, the cost difference between the two on top of your initial investment and overall device lifespan can be a deal breaker for some.

Enails Can Be Easier to Repair Over the Long Term

There is one big focus point people often overlook between both devices when it comes to long term usage. It's incredibly important to remember that an enail is a plug in machine, while a puffco operates using a battery. Like all rechargeable batteries, the efficiency and power will deplete over time as it dies and is recharged again.

For example, regular use of your puffco peak can result in 84% battery health within the first 3 years of owning it. The efficiency decreases over time and eventually it will not work for you at all. Everyone loves to maintain that brand new feel, delivering the same power consistently from the first year to the next, at this point an enail would be the better option.

Can an Enail be Cheaper to Own in the Long Term?

Based on my assessment I would say yes, this is strictly based on the battery power loss aspect of owning a puffco peak. Your electric dab rig, whether it's a puffco or another brand will not work the same as the day you purchased it after a few months of owning it. The experience might be close but their battery life and power are, for a fact, not the same. For that reason alone, an enail is much more consistent and longer lasting.

Enail vs Puffco Temperature Control

How Puffco Temperature Control Works

This really depends on the puffco model you have, the peak pro will have precise temperature control while the new peak will have preset temperature settings to choose from. The peak pro gives you the option to dial into your exact temperature through the app on your phone. While some people love this feature and actually prefer it, others feel like it's unnecessary. With the integration of a built in temperature sensor, the chamber temperature is read at all times throughout your sessions so that you aren't overheating your concentrate with back to back sessions.

It's important to note that these apps sometimes experience bugs and glitches, although it might be rare it is important to keep in mind.

How Enail Temperature Control Works

Enails work in a similar way to a puffco, you set your desired temperature on your controller, the controller powers your enail coil to heat up to said temperature. A thermocouple on the inside of the enail coil reads your enail coil temperature. The dab nail relies on temperature transfer from the enail coil to your dabbing surface which requires a short wait time to heat up to temperature. Once your dab nail temperature is where it should be you can go ahead and take continuous dabs for 30 minutes at a time.

Your dabbing temperature is always affected by different factors like the coil contact, the type of dab nail you are using, room conditions, how big your enail coil is and more. This doesn't have to be the “I give up” moment, with an enail you have so much freedom to experiment with different temperatures, different dab nails and accessories that will all produce a different result. The experimentation ability is the key to owning and working with an enail, the possibilities truly are endless.

If you would like to read more about coil sizing and temperature settings click here! Why Different Size E-Nail Coils Require Different Temperature Settings