The Battle of Quartz: What's the Difference Between USA vs. China Made Quartz?
Cannabis enthusiast and student of the art of solventless extraction
The best bangers are made with quartz, that’s no question. Consistently capable of withstanding the temperatures required for dabbing rosin, quartz is a smooth and non-porous surface that’s shock-absorbent, heat-resistant, durable, and easy to clean. It doesn’t oxidize or turn brittle over time. Quartz doesn’t retain heat as long as other materials like titanium, allowing the banger to reach optimal temperatures for dabbing quickly after heating.
Quartz is the ideal material to vaporize high-quality rosin, showcasing the flavor and experience that discerning solventless consumers have come to expect.
Is quartz the same as glass? It looks just like it, but no, it’s definitely not the same. Naturally occurring quartz crystal and cut glass crystal both contain substances that form deep in the earth’s crust. However, quartz crystal can withstand higher temperatures, a key advantage for its use in making bangers. The silicone dioxide content of quartz is also at play, setting it apart from its glass look-alike. While glass has roughly eighty percent, quartz can contain over ninety percent of silicone dioxide.
And beyond what we can see with the eye, glass has a random molecular structure, while quartz has a symmetrical molecular structure.
It’s clear that quartz makes the very best bangers, but not all quartz is created equal. Does the location of quartz production matter? It turns out that there is a significant difference between USA vs China quartz.
Let’s take a deeper look.
At first glance, it’s pretty easy to tell which quartz bangers are made in China, and which are made in the USA. Just take a look at the price tag. The American-made quartz bangers are going to cost significantly more than their Chinese counterparts. And the cost is for a few very good reasons.
So what justifies this higher price point?
Pure American Mined Quartz vs Chinese Engineered Quartz
The United States is home to several significant quartz mining regions, such as Arkansas, North Carolina, and California. Arkansas, in particular, is famous for its quartz crystal mines. The quartz that comes out of these mines is very high quality, with exceptional purity and clarity. The cost of these raw materials is higher than what comes out of China.
Engineered quartz from China contains resin, polymers, and dyes that’s mixed with ground quartz. This is essentially “filler” that reduces the amount of true quartz in each product, driving down production costs. However, this resin and the other fillers are not good to consume (surprising, right?)! These volatile compounds are part of the engineering that’s going on, mixing inferior materials into the real quartz.
It’s very likely that fumes from these nasty fillers are released when dabbing. It’s not worth it to save a few bucks on impure products.
Responsible Sourcing
There’s an approach to American mining for quartz that takes environmental protection and sustainability into account. The US mines are operated in such a way to minimize the damage to the environment and surrounding natural resources. However, the same considerations are not present in Chinese quartz mines.
When you buy American quartz, you’re buying into a system that’s running responsible mines. This is not the case when buying Chinese quartz.
American Regulation
Speaking of regulation, there are other ways that US regulations apply to quartz. Regulations stipulate that items sold as quartz contain only pure quartz. So when you buy American-made bangers, you know that there are no fillers. Regulations ensure that quartz bangers are made with pure quartz only, so these bangers are guaranteed to be safe.
Manufacturing Integrity
Bangers contain a few different parts, including the bucket, neck, and joint. There are a couple ways to manufacture bangers to incorporate these different parts. The American approach is to fully work two pieces of quartz (i.e. the bucket and neck) into one piece of quartz. This is called the fully-worked method, and it’s literally making two separate pieces of quartz into one whole piece.
Another approach involves welding two separate pieces of quartz together. The pieces remain as two distinct pieces of quartz, but they’re joined together through a welding process. This makes for a much less stable and strong connection between the bucket and the neck. Chinese bangers are made with the welding approach, not fully worked like the American bangers.
Artistic Skin in the Game
Chinese quartz bangers are pumped out like commodities. The brand name and reputation isn’t consequential, it’s all about moving volume at the lowest price to undercut competition. Since there’s no brand identity or artistic reputation to protect, the overall quality of the Chinese quartz bangers becomes less important. The Chinese manufacturers don’t have as much skin in the quality game. It’s more about volume at the lowest price.
American makers take a different approach. American-made quartz bangers are masterfully crafted, and they are more akin to pieces of art. The quality not only means that they function at the highest levels, but the aesthetic sets them apart from commodity bangers. American artists who make quartz bangers must maintain the highest levels of quality work in order to build and maintain their reputation and protect their good name. From an economic point of view, this also protects their market share.
American artists have much more skin in the game, which is a very potent incentive to produce only the highest-quality. They can’t afford to cut corners or use shoddy quality quartz, as this would be very damaging to their credibility and reputation.
Conclusion
When deciding between USA and China made quartz bangers the choice is pretty clear cut. Prioritizing quality, purity and craftsmanship is key. American quartz bangers stand out for their use of pure quartz showcasing top notch quality. These bangers are meticulously crafted by artisans who value integrity and creativity. This dedication to excellence guarantees that each American made banger not enhances the dabbing experience but aligns with environmental and ethical standards.
China-made quartz bangers can include additives and synthetic materials in exchange for lower prices, which can bring about potential health hazards and durability issues. The differences in manufacturing practices, environmental consciousness, and regulatory compliance helps make American made quartz the obvious choice.
Buying American-made bangers is an investment in excellence, safety, and artistry. Opting for American made quartz bangers not only ensures a premium dabbing experience, but also offers exceptional quality and aesthetic appeal. Chinese quartz might sometimes look the part, but it’s not the real deal.
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