Titanium Dab Nail Turning Colors? Oxidation, Seasoning & Maintenance Explained

Why Does Titanium Change After You Heat It?

Titanium naturally changes color overtime because it reacts with oxygen, when applying heat to titanium you are producing an oxide layer over the titanium nail faster. This color change is totally normal and does not mean that your nail is damaged or defective. After your titanium nail is introduced to high levels of heat you might see different colors on the surface, like a mix of blue, purple, pink and gold. When using a titanium nail with either an enail or a torch for dabbing it will never continue to look brand new, with its spotless silver appearance!

It's important to mention different oxide layers will produce different colors, so two titanium nails will not look exactly the same when heated. Even if they are heated for the same amount of time at the same temperature.

What is Titanium Oxidation?

Oxidation does not mean rust, titanium doesn't tarnish the way iron or steel does. So you will not see the red flaky powder material that comes after you've left metal exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. Instead titanium oxidizes, this means the titanium is reacting with oxygen creating a thin layer of titanium dioxide onto its surface. This layer actually does the opposite, it helps prevent corrosion.

Why Is My Titanium Nail Turning Blue or Purple?

Your titanium dab nail will change colors as it's heated because of oxidation. Heat speeds up oxidation and the increased level of prolonged heat causes the titanium dioxide layer to grow. The more the layer grows the more colors will show through, also light will reflect colors differently!

Normal Discoloration vs Damage

As we previously mentioned, blue, purple, and even gold/bronze coloring is completely normal. Your titanium nail might also darken over time and repeated heat cycles. The flat titanium dish surface might also change based on use and maintenance, cleaning your nail at the end of every session is key to maintaining its surface.

Possible Signs of Damage:

If you are inspecting your titanium nail and you see materials flaking off or significant pits of craters inside your titanium dish then it might be time for a replacement. Titanium is a very sturdy material but significant deformities are possible. Any pieces separating from the surface should be a good indication that you need a new one.

How Overheating Affects a Titanium Nail

Heating your titanium nail gets it to react with oxygen at a faster rate which causes the oxide layer to grow super fast. Repeated exposure to high temperatures will accelerate oxidation on your titanium nail creating a thicker layer of oxide which may make the surface feel rough. The more your titanium nail oxidizes the more drastic the color changes will be. Since the dabbing surface will start to get increasingly rough you'll get more residue build up. This can lead to nasty tasting dabs, or it might be overall harder to clean your dab nail.

Severe oxidation causes the surface layer to deteriorate, once deterioration starts to occur its time for a replacement!

What Does it Mean to “Season” a Titanium Nail?

The word “seasoning” can mean a few different things to different people, for some it's just burning off any manufacturing residue off the nail before use. This removes the metallic taste you might experience when using a new titanium dab nail. You then would want to prep your dabbing surface for regular use, which would be a thin layer of oil to protect your dab nail for future use.

How to Properly Season a Titanium Nail

• Clean the Dab Nail
  • Clean the nail with a swab dipped in alcohol, allow it to dry completely.
• Heat the Nail
  • Heat the nail gradually to remove any left over manufacturing residue, this also cleans the surface for dabbing. You do not need to heat your dab nail until it is glowing red, 500 degrees is totally fine for this process.
• Allow Your Dab Nail to Cool a Bit
• Apply A Small Amount of Concentrate to Your Nail
  • This just needs a very small amount of concentrate, just to coat the surface of the nail. Your dab nail needs to be warm for the oil to coat the surface of your dab nail, it needs to be able to melt but not vaporize.
• Seasoning Technique 
  • If needed reheat the nail until your concentrate melts onto the surface, make sure it coats the entire surface. You might need to rotate the nail so that it coveres every inch of the bottom.
• Repeat the Process When Necessary

Do You Need to Season a Titanium Nail More than Once?

Seasoning is usually the prep you need to complete prior to using your titanium nail, but you can reseason your nail after a deep cleaning. Again, this ensures a clean smooth surface and protects your dabbing surface with your future usage!

How To Clean a Titanium Nail without Damaging it

When cleaning any sort of dabbing surface you would want your dab nail or even your banger to be completely cool before starting. For a deeper clean, remove your dab nail completely and disassemble it if you are able to, soak it for a period of time and then remove whatever leftover residue is still clinging to your nail.

For a quick cleaning (which makes deep cleaning relatively easy and smooth) you should swab out your dab nail after each session with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. You should avoid scraping the surface with a dab tool or any other sharp metal material. It will only increase the likelihood of craters and you'll end up with an uneven dabbing surface.

A titanium nail needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure its function and maintain the flavor of the dab. So here is a quick step by step manual on how you can properly clean your titanium nail:

• Iso Swabs:
  • Use isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs to clean the dab nail thoroughly with the cotton swabs until clean and dry, for cleaning in between dab sessions.

For a thorough cleaning

• Cool Down:
  • Allow the titanium nail to cool down before cleaning to prevent accidents.
• Soak:
  • Place in Dr Buzzkill’s Dunk Tank or other sturdy jar with any of our many cleaning solutions. Add the titanium nail to this solution and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes to dissolve any stubborn residue.
• Scrub:
  • After soaking, scrub the surface of the nail with a dab-swab. Make sure to get into all those nooks and crannies so you can get rid of any build-up that might be left. If that build up continues you can carefully use a dab tool to remove it, without scratching the nail plate.
• Rinse:
  • Wash the titanium nail with warm water to remove any cleaning solution or alcohol residue.
• Drying:
  • Allow to air dry completely before re-using the nail.
• Optional Seasoning:
  • If you want to build up a layer of protection you can season the titanium nail after cleaning it.

It is important you clean your titanium nail after every use if you want to keep it working at its best and preserve the flavor of your concentrates. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasives that could damage the nail.

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