Quartz Bangers? Quartz vs. Glass? Let’s clear a few things up... What does it all mean?

When referring to glass, borosilicate or quartz, we are referring to substances known as silicates. These are substances that contain the primary constituent silica or Sodium Dioxide (SiO ). Depending on the varying purity of silica, there are different qualities to each product. Glass can refer to many different products, but most commonly we are referring to Soda Lime Glass, that accounts for around 90% of all manufactured glass (your table glasses and bong may be made of this). Soda Lime Glass is usually around 73% silica, with other chemicals such as calcium carbonate making up the rest. It is not a particularly strong substance and is not heat resistant. Borosilicate is a much stronger type of glass, used in brands such as Pyrex. It is usually over 80% silica and can resist much higher temperatures than Soda Lime glass. Quartz, or fused silica, is (almost) pure silica. It is much stronger than borosilicate or soda lime, and can resist temperatures well over 1,000°C.

Why quartz?

Quartz is used in the manufacturing of dab nails and bangers for the obvious reason that it can withstand very high temperatures. It is also less susceptible to weathering and staining due to the high purity of silica.

Differences in quartz

Within the market of quartz nails, there are differences to be aware of. Mass­manufactured quartz bangers can be found online in the range of £10 to £30. At the same time, you may see handcrafted quartz bangers being sold for astronomical prices such as £150 a piece. I have had enough experience with cheap bangers but I always shied away from the pricier specimens, sceptical of their worth. Having had a chat with an up and coming professional glassblower specialising in quartz, I learned an interesting insight. Although the chemical composition of cheap and expensive quartz may be very similar, the manufacturing process is very different.