Reference

Glossary

Short, plain-English definitions. Each term links to the guides that cover it properly.

2

2.35 mm: A metric shank size printed on some bits and listings. It is close to, but not the same as, 3/32 inch (2.38125 mm). We found no maker statement that bits with the two labels are interchangeable, so follow your handpiece maker's stated size. Read more: 3/32 vs 2.35 mm nail drill bits, Buying nail equipment on AliExpress: a checklist

3

3/32 inch · also 3/32", 3/32 shank: The shank size KUPA, Medicool and MelodySusie state for their nail bits. 3/32 inch equals exactly 2.38125 mm, because the inch is defined as exactly 25.4 mm. Read more: 3/32 vs 2.35 mm nail drill bits, Do all nail drill bits fit all drills?

A

Air speed · also suction speed: How fast air moves at a point, in m/s. Nail collector makers quote it, such as ULKA's 3.5 m/s for the Handy, but it is not the same as airflow or capture. Read more: Nail dust collector specs explained
Airflow: The volume of air a fan moves in a given time, in CFM or cubic meters per hour. It is not the same as air speed: a fast stream through a small opening can still move little air. Read more: Nail dust collector specs explained
Amazon Transparency: Amazon's product-serialization program. For enrolled brands, shoppers can scan a Transparency code with the Amazon Shopping or Transparency app; a missing code does not prove an item is fake. Read more: Is that store official? How to check a nail equipment seller
ASIN: Amazon Standard Identification Number, the code Amazon assigns to a product page. Several sellers can offer the same ASIN, so check "Ships from / Sold by" as well. Read more: Is that store official? How to check a nail equipment seller
Authorized repair center: A service shop the maker approves to repair its tools. KUPA runs a repair-center locator on its own site, and Medicool's warranty excludes products bought from unauthorized resellers. Read more: Nail drill care and repairs, Nail equipment warranties and returns

B

Ball bit: A bit with a small, round head. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits
Barrel bit: A bit with a straight, cylindrical head, made in small and large sizes. KUPA sells a diamond small barrel in fine, medium and coarse. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits
Bit holder · also drill holder: A stand or block with holes that keeps bits, and often the handpiece, in order on the desk. MelodySusie's 10-hole holder takes 3/32-inch bits and tilts from 13 to 50 degrees. It is for organization, not hygiene. Read more: Nail desk setup: holders, collector placement and posture
Brand storefront: A marketplace store the brand itself runs or names. MelodySusie's returns page names its "MelodySusie Direct" store on Amazon, and Makartt's site links to its Amazon brand stores. Read more: Is that store official? How to check a nail equipment seller
Brushless motor: A motor that switches its coils electronically instead of through carbon brushes. Medicool lists one for its Pro Power 35K Portable; we found no evidence for the efficiency or lifespan claims made about brushless nail drills. Read more: Nail drill RPM and torque, Corded vs cordless nail drills
Built-in dust collector: A dust collector set flush into a cutout in the nail table for a permanent station. SHEMAX's US distributor gives a 190 x 260 mm cutout for the Style V-PRO. Read more: Tabletop vs built-in nail dust collectors

C

Capture efficiency: The share of dust or vapor a ventilation device actually captures. The nail dust collector makers we read publish no capture test, so treat percentage claims on listings as unsupported. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?, Nail dust collector specs explained
Carbide bit · also tungsten carbide bit: A bit with sharp flutes cut into a carbide head, graded by cut; KUPA sells its 3-in-1 from fine to 2X-coarse. Medicool estimates carbide bits last about 2-4 months in daily professional use. Read more: Carbide vs diamond vs ceramic nail bits, Nail drill bits: fit first, then material and shape
CE mark: The European conformity marking. It is not a North American safety listing: ULKA, for example, names only CE for its Handy collector, with no UL, ETL or CSA mark. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment
Ceramic bit: A bit with a ceramic head. Medicool estimates about 3-6 months of daily professional use and says ceramic generates less heat, a claim we found no comparative measurement for. Read more: Carbide vs diamond vs ceramic nail bits
CFM (cubic feet per minute): A unit of airflow. A NIOSH evaluation measured about 62 cfm on a commercial recirculating downdraft manicure table and judged it inadequate, partly for too little air volume. Read more: Nail dust collector specs explained
Charcoal filter · also activated carbon filter: A filter of activated carbon used to trap vapors and odors. OSHA advises changing the charcoal filters of ventilated manicure tables at least monthly. Read more: HEPA claims and filter care for nail dust collectors
Chuck: The grip at the front of a handpiece that holds the bit by its shank. Makers use their own designs, such as KUPA's locking chuck and Medicool's twist-lock chuck. Read more: What is an e-file?, Do all nail drill bits fit all drills?
Cone bit: A bit with a tapered head that narrows toward the tip, so the point reaches tighter areas than a barrel. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits
Controller (control box) · also control box, control unit: The box that powers an e-file handpiece and sets its speed and direction. KUPA's Passport NEXT box, for example, lists forward/reverse, variable speed, a pause button and a digital RPM display. Read more: What is an e-file?, E-files: how to choose a nail drill
Cosmetology UV lamp (FDA code RGQ): The FDA product category for UV light sources used on skin, nails or hair for cosmetic purposes. No specific performance standard applies, only general radiological health requirements. Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows, UV and LED nail lamps: how to choose and what the claims mean
CSA mark: The certification mark of CSA Group, whose testing arm is an OSHA-recognized NRTL. Health Canada names CSA among the Canadian marks to look for on plug-in products. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment
cUL / cETL: UL and ETL marks with a small "c", for products certified for Canada. Health Canada lists cUL and cETL alongside CSA and says the mark must be on the product, not just the packaging. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment

D

Diamond bit: A bit coated with abrasive diamond grit, graded by grit such as fine, medium and coarse. Medicool estimates diamond bits last about 6-12 months in daily professional use. Read more: Carbide vs diamond vs ceramic nail bits, Nail drill bits: fit first, then material and shape
Downdraft table · also ventilated manicure table: A manicure table that pulls air down through the work surface into a filter or duct. A 1997 NIOSH study found far lower vapor exposure at an outdoor-vented downdraft table than with no ventilation. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?
Dual voltage: A device or adapter that accepts both lower (about 110 V) and higher (about 220 V) supply voltages. KUPA lists "automatic switching 110/220 volts" for its Passport system; check the rating label on the unit itself. Read more: 120 V nail equipment: voltage, plugs and chargers
Dual-wavelength lamp · also dual-band lamp: A lamp that lists two wavelengths, such as SUNUV's 365 + 405 nm. MelodySusie describes dual-band lamps as about 350-410 nm. Whether a lamp cures a given gel is still the gel maker's call. Read more: Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained, Will any nail lamp cure any gel?
Dust collector · also nail dust extractor, nail vacuum: A fan-and-filter unit that draws filing dust away from the nail work area. Makers sell desktop and built-in types; ULKA frames the choice mainly around workspace. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?, Nail dust collectors: how to choose and what claims mean

E

E-file (electric file) · also nail drill, electric nail file: A motorized nail tool: a control box or battery base drives a handheld handpiece that spins interchangeable bits for shaping nails and removing product. Many people call it a nail drill. Read more: What is an e-file?, E-files: how to choose a nail drill
Erythemal irradiance: Irradiance weighted by how strongly each wavelength reddens skin. A 2018 Spanish study found it low for all devices, though about 30% emitted more UVA than Barcelona's summer noon sun. Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows
ETL Listed Mark · also ETL listed: Intertek's mark showing a product was tested and certified by Intertek, an OSHA-recognized NRTL. Intertek offers directories to check that a product really is listed. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment

F

Face velocity: The air speed across the opening of a hood or ventilated table, in ft/min or m/s. The same NIOSH evaluation measured about 160 ft/min at a downdraft manicure table. Read more: Nail dust collector specs explained
FCC mark: Shows compliance with FCC rules on radio-frequency emissions under Part 15. An FCC mark is not a UL/ETL/CSA safety listing for shock or fire. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment
Flame bit: A bit with a head shaped like a candle flame: it widens slightly and then tapers to a point. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits
Flash-cure lamp · also flash cure lamp: A small, low-power lamp for curing one nail or a few at a time. Kiara Sky lists its corded Beyond Pro Flash Cure lamp at 4 W and 400 nm, with two LEDs. Read more: Flash-cure vs full-hand nail lamps
Flute: One of the cutting grooves around a carbide bit's head. The size and pattern of the flutes set how aggressively the bit cuts, which makers sell as cut grades. Read more: Carbide vs diamond vs ceramic nail bits
Foot pedal: A floor switch that starts and stops an e-file so both hands stay free. Medicool's corded Pro Power 35K comes with an on/off foot pedal. Read more: What is an e-file?
Forward/reverse: A setting that changes which way the bit spins, used by left-handed techs and for some techniques. KUPA lists forward/reverse on the Passport NEXT and Medicool on the Pro Power 35K Portable. Read more: Forward and reverse on a nail drill
Free Return (AliExpress): AliExpress's label for items covered by its Free Return terms, which allow a return request within 15 calendar days of confirmed receipt, opened as a dispute. Items without the label are not covered. Read more: Buying nail equipment on AliExpress: a checklist, Nail equipment warranties and returns
Full-hand lamp: A desk lamp large enough for a whole hand. MelodySusie lists its EOS 3 at 48 W, 24 LED beads and 8.66 x 8.11 x 3.94 in. Read more: Flash-cure vs full-hand nail lamps, UV and LED nail lamps: how to choose and what the claims mean

G

Grit: How coarse the abrasive on a diamond bit or sanding band is. Names such as fine, medium and coarse are each maker's own scale; we found no cross-brand standard. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits, Carbide vs diamond vs ceramic nail bits

H

Handpiece: The pen-shaped part of an e-file you hold. Its motor spins the bit, which a chuck grips by the shank. KUPA lists its KP-55 handpiece at 5.35 in long, 0.78 in in diameter and 5.6 oz. Read more: What is an e-file?, Why a nail drill handpiece gets hot
Handpiece temperature rise: How much warmer a handpiece gets during use. None of the e-file makers we read publishes a figure. Medicool advises against long runs at maximum speed and says dull bits cause extra heat and pressure. Read more: Why a nail drill handpiece gets hot
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air, a filter grade defined by test standards. On nail collectors it is often a maker claim with no standard named: Kiara Sky calls its inner filter "HEPA certified" without identifying a test. Read more: HEPA claims and filter care for nail dust collectors

I

Independent measurement: A figure measured by someone other than the maker, such as a study or a recognized lab, with its method stated. A 2021 Australian study, for example, measured UVA from eight nail curing devices. Read more: How to read nail equipment specs
Input voltage: The supply voltage a device or its adapter is made to accept. MelodySusie, for example, lists 100-240 V 50/60 Hz input for its EOS 3 lamp. Read more: 120 V nail equipment: voltage, plugs and chargers
Irradiance: The light power falling on a surface, in W/m2. A 2021 Australian study measured UVA irradiance from 39.0 to 184.9 W/m2 across eight home nail curing devices. Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows, Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained

L

Lamp timer: Preset cure times on a lamp, in seconds. MelodySusie lists 15/30/60/90 s for its EOS 3, while SUNUV's SUN2C page lists two different preset sets. Read more: Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained
LED nail lamp: A nail lamp whose light comes from LEDs. "LED" describes the light source, not an absence of UV: MelodySusie puts LED lamps at about 380-410 nm, and SUNUV lists 365 + 405 nm for all its lamps. Read more: Do LED nail lamps emit UV?, UV and LED nail lamps: how to choose and what the claims mean
Lithium-ion battery · also Li-ion: The rechargeable battery type used in cordless nail tools. Health Canada advises against using lithium-ion batteries that are swollen, dented or damaged and recommends the original charger. Read more: Flying or shipping with rechargeable nail equipment, Mobile nail tech equipment checklist
Local exhaust ventilation · also LEV: Ventilation that captures contaminants at the source, such as a ventilated table or portable unit at the workstation. NIOSH recommends it at nail workstations in addition to general room ventilation. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?

M

mAh (milliamp-hour): A measure of battery charge capacity. Kiara Sky lists two 2,500 mAh 3.7 V cells in its rechargeable flash cure lamp; capacity alone does not give runtime, which also depends on how much power the device draws. Read more: Flying or shipping with rechargeable nail equipment, Corded vs cordless nail drills
Mains frequency · also Hz: How many times per second wall power alternates, in hertz (Hz). US mains is 60 Hz, while ULKA lists its Premium collector at 50 Hz only, so ask the maker before using such a unit in the US. Read more: 120 V nail equipment: voltage, plugs and chargers
Maker claim: A spec or benefit stated by the maker or seller without an independent test, such as rated RPM, battery hours or "HEPA". We label these as claims. Read more: How to read nail equipment specs, Buying nail equipment: voltage, safety marks, sellers and returns
Mandrel: A plain shaft, fitted into the handpiece like a bit, that holds a replaceable sanding band. KUPA's comprehensive bit kit lists a 3/32-inch mandrel with sanding bands. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits
Motion sensor · also auto sensor, hand sensor: A lamp feature that switches the light on when a hand goes in. SUNUV lists one on the SUN2C, and OPI lists a manual/auto hand-sensor mode on its Star Light lamp. Read more: Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained

N

N95 respirator · also N95: A NIOSH-approved respirator that filters particulates. OSHA says N95s protect against particulates such as filing dust but not vapors or gases, and that surgical masks protect against neither. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?
No-load speed: The speed a motor reaches spinning freely, with nothing pressing on the bit. A maker's top RPM says nothing about speed under load unless the maker explains how it was measured. Read more: Nail drill RPM and torque
Nominal size: The size a part is named or labeled by, as opposed to its exact measured dimension. A 3/32-inch bit is named by its nominal shank size; each maker sets its own tolerance around it. Read more: 3/32 vs 2.35 mm nail drill bits
NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory): A private lab OSHA recognizes to test and certify products to safety standards. Each NRTL uses its own registered mark, such as Intertek's ETL mark; OSHA says its recognition is not an endorsement of the equipment certified. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment

P

Particulate matter · also PM2.5, PM10: Tiny airborne particles, sized by diameter in micrometers (PM10, PM2.5). A 2023 study of 49 Tehran nail salons measured PM10 averaging 346.86 µg/m3 and linked more services to higher PM2.5. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?
Power adapter · also charger, power supply: The external unit that converts wall power for a device. Health Canada says a replacement's output voltage must match the device's input and its current must be compatible; Medicool's warranty excludes damage from incorrect adapters. Read more: 120 V nail equipment: voltage, plugs and chargers
Prop 65 warning · also Proposition 65: A warning under California's Proposition 65 about exposure to listed chemicals. KUPA's bit pages carry one; the warning tells you a notice was given, not which chemical triggered it. Read more: Carbide vs diamond vs ceramic nail bits

R

Radiant exposure · also UV dose: Irradiance multiplied by time: the total energy a surface receives, in J/m2. It is why session length matters as well as a lamp's output. Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows
Rated power · also wattage, watts: The electrical power a device is rated to draw, in watts. It describes input, not output: a 2018 study of 28 nail dryers found each had its own spectral distribution and peak intensity, so watts alone do not describe a lamp's light. Read more: Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained, Nail dust collector specs explained
Rings of fire: Ring-shaped grooves cut into the nail plate during e-filing. NailKnowledge, a nail-education site, attributes them mainly to over-filing and lists bit angle, bit quality, speed control and the number of passes as factors. Read more: Rings of fire on the nail
Risk group: A lamp-safety class, from Exempt up to Risk Group 3. A 2013 evaluation of six US UV nail lamps, measured to ANSI/IESNA RP-27, put skin hazard at the hand position in Risk Group 1 or 2 (low to moderate). Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows
RPM (revolutions per minute): How many full turns the bit makes in a minute. E-file makers quote a top speed, such as KUPA's 30,000 RPM for the Passport NEXT; that is the maker's figure, not a measurement under load. Read more: Nail drill RPM and torque, How to read nail equipment specs

S

Safety bit · also safety-top bit: A bit with a smooth, non-cutting top, so only the sides cut. The name describes the shape, not a guarantee against damage. KUPA's comprehensive bit kit lists a carbide safety bit. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits, Rings of fire on the nail
Sanding band · also sanding sleeve: A disposable abrasive sleeve that slides onto a mandrel. When it wears, you replace the band instead of the whole bit. Read more: Nail drill bit shapes and grits
Seller of record · also Sold by: The business that actually sells you an item on a marketplace and handles its returns. On Amazon, when a third-party seller fulfills its own inventory, returns go to that seller rather than to Amazon. Read more: Is that store official? How to check a nail equipment seller, Nail equipment warranties and returns
Shank: The plain shaft of a bit that goes into the handpiece's chuck. Its diameter decides what fits; MelodySusie calls 3/32 inch the industry-standard size and says all of its bits use it. Read more: 3/32 vs 2.35 mm nail drill bits, Do all nail drill bits fit all drills?
Source capture: Pulling dust or vapor away where it is made, before it spreads into the room. A 2012 NIOSH lab evaluation of ventilated tables and portable source-capture units found the potential to cut exposures by at least 50%-60%, varying by system. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?
Spectral irradiance: Irradiance broken down by wavelength, showing how much of a lamp's output falls in each band. A 2018 study of 28 nail dryer devices found each had its own spectral distribution and peak intensity. Read more: Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained, How to read nail equipment specs

T

Tabletop dust collector · also desktop dust collector: A dust collector that sits on the desk and can be moved. ULKA says desktop units need no installation. Read more: Tabletop vs built-in nail dust collectors
Torque · also N·cm, N-cm, newton-centimeter: The turning force a motor delivers, which helps a bit keep its speed under pressure. Medicool lists 4.8 N-cm for its Pro Power 35K Portable but gives no test method, so do not compare it with other brands' figures. Read more: Nail drill RPM and torque
Two-way bit · also bidirectional bit, left-hand bit: A bit designed to cut whichever way the drill spins. Medicool's 5-in-1 carbide bit (CC22) cuts clockwise and counter-clockwise for right- and left-handed techs. Separate left-hand versions of a bit, as Erica's ATA sells, are the alternative. Read more: Forward and reverse on a nail drill

U

UL Mark: UL Solutions' certification mark. UL Solutions says it means a product has been certified to meet safety, quality or security standards, and tells shoppers to look for it on the product, packaging or online product details. Read more: UL, ETL, CSA, CE and FCC marks on nail equipment
UN 38.3: The section of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria that lithium cells and batteries must pass before transport. PHMSA says manufacturers must make test summaries available on request since January 21, 2022. Read more: Flying or shipping with rechargeable nail equipment
UV (ultraviolet) · also ultraviolet: Light with wavelengths shorter than visible violet light, below about 400 nm. It is divided into UVA, UVB and UVC bands. Read more: Do LED nail lamps emit UV?, UV and LED nail lamps: how to choose and what the claims mean
UV nail lamp: Traditionally a lamp with fluorescent UV tubes; MelodySusie puts UV lamps at about 350-380 nm. MelodySusie also says an LED lamp may cure a UV gel slowly or not at all. Read more: Do LED nail lamps emit UV?, Will any nail lamp cure any gel?
UVA: The longest-wavelength UV band, about 315-400 nm. Nail lamps can emit UVA: a 2021 Australian study measured it from all eight home nail curing devices it tested. Read more: Do LED nail lamps emit UV?, Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows
UVB: The middle UV band, about 280-315 nm, most associated with sunburn. The 2021 Australian study found only trace UVB, from the one fluorescent unit among the eight devices. Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows
UVC: The shortest UV band, below about 280 nm. The 2021 Australian study measured no UVC from any of the eight nail curing devices it tested. Read more: Nail lamp UV exposure: what the evidence shows

V

Variable speed: Speed control you can set anywhere in a range rather than at fixed steps. Young Nails lists 0 to 35,000 RPM for its EF300P, and MelodySusie says its drills set speed with a knob on the control unit. Read more: Nail drill RPM and torque
VOCs (volatile organic compounds): Chemicals that evaporate readily at room temperature, such as solvent vapors. A 2025 New York City pilot found salons using both local and general exhaust cut airborne VOCs, while local exhaust alone made no significant change. Read more: Do nail dust collectors work?

W

Watt-hour (Wh): A measure of battery energy, roughly amp-hours times voltage: a 2,500 mAh, 3.7 V cell holds about 9.25 Wh. For flying, PHMSA points travelers to the FAA PackSafe guidance on lithium batteries. Read more: Flying or shipping with rechargeable nail equipment
Wavelength · also nanometer, nm: The distance between successive peaks of a light wave, given for nail lamps in nanometers (nm). Lamp wavelengths such as 365 + 405 nm are maker claims, not measured spectra. Read more: Nail lamp wattage and wavelength explained