Saturday, March 8, 2014

The Ultimate Guide To Bongs: From Sizes to Shapes

So you have some money, want to get a bong, and don't know where to start. This guide will explain everything from bong bases and how they affect drag to percolators and attachments.

What is a bong?

A bong is also known as a water pipe, and is a smoking device that uses water to filter the smoke. Bongs come in all different shapes and sizes and are made of different materials. The 2 most common types of bongs are glass bongs and acrylic bongs. Glass bongs are made out of glass and are generally more expensive than acrylic bongs. They also can be made out of wood, ceramic, metal. 

Common bong shapes
Beaker base
A beaker base bong is a bong in which the bottom is blown out into the shape of a beaker.
Bubble base:
A bubble base bong is when the base is blown out into a round bubble with a flat bottom.
A straight tube bong, as the name implies, is a bong that is a straight cylindrical tube that has a flat glass bottom.

There are many different types of bongs.

Waterfall/gravity bongs work by the water pulling the smoke down into the chamber by gravity.

Glass on glass bongs (GonG) means that the glass bowl, downstem, and bong all come into contact with one another. They are found on most of the expensive glass pieces as they provide a better seal and pull than rubber grommet.

Rubber grommet bongs use a rubber piece around the hole to provide an airtight seal. They typically cost less than GonG bongs.

A stemless bong is a bong that doesn't use the typical downstem you would see on normal bongs. Instead, it uses a tube connected directly to the base.

Choosing a bong that's right for you
When looking for a bong it all comes down to personal preference. Go to your local shop, and if you see something you like, ask to see it. What you want to look out for is any hairline fractures as tey can spell trouble. Look for defects where the bong changes and the joint. You may notice that some of the bongs had different thickness of glass. Thicker bongs are usually more durable and harder to break whilst thinner ones are pretty fragile. No bong is "unbreakable" even if it advertises it. Most "unbreakable" bongs will survive a fall from waste and chest height, but they can break if they are hit just right or if dropped from a higher height.

When it comes to name brand bongs, there is usually some controversy. Name brand bongs (RooR, Illadelph, Gravlabs) usually carry a higher price tag and is more complex then generic bongs. If you live in a place where you'll be sharing, hiding, and moving the piece alot it might be best to buy a generic bongs as it has a higher chance of breaking but if you have a safe place to keep it then I would go for a name brand.

The Parts of a Bong
While bongs can be configured in may different ways, there are a few key parts a bong must have.

Tube: This is the main body of the bong.
Base: This can either be an extension of the tube, or a bulbous chamber where water will sit and smoke will form.
Stem hole: This is a joint in the base of the bong for the downstem. This is said to be glass-on-glass or GonG when it is designed for another peice of glass to fit it. Otherwise, a rubber grommet or seal of some sort joins the downstem and the stem hole. 
Downstem: This attaches to the bong at the stem hole, and extends into the base. It will be submerged when the bong is filled with water. 
Bowl: The bowl attaches to the downstem, and can be small or large. Weed goes in the bowl. This can be stationary, or what is referred to as a slider. A slider is a bowl that is pulled out before clearing the bong of smoke.

Other parts: not applicable to every bong, and each works in a different way.

Carb or shotgun hole: This is a hole on the tube of the bong, and acts in place of a slider. It is covered during inhalation, then released during clearing to allow air to enter the bong and the smoker's lungs. This is used in place of a slider, and most people say it makes it harder to clear the chamber of smoke. It's up to personal preference.
Ashcatcher: This attaches to the downstem, and acts as a primary filtration and debris catcher. If material pulls through the bowl, it will ideally stay in the ashcatcher instead of entering the bong's downstem and dirtying the water. This may make it harder to pull your bong, however, as the smoke is being transferred through two bodies of water.
Ice catcher or ice notches: These are pinches in the bong tube. They allow you to add ice or snow to the tube to cool the smoke. 
Diffuser: This refers to a specific type of downstem that has several small holes or slits in it, rather than one large hole at the end. It is designed to further cool and expand the smoke. Can add drag, but make the smoke smoother and sometimes thicker.
Percolators: Often referred to as "percs". These are found in the tube part of a bong, and further cool and expand smoke. They can add drag, making it more difficult to clear the bong, but often make the smoke smoother. There are two common types- dome percolators, and tree percolators. Tree percolators have arms, dome percs resemble a disk. Bongs can have one or more of these.

Drag: Drag is how hard you have to inhale in order for the bong to bubble.
Most drag=*****
Least drag=*

Bases:
Beaker *
Bubble **
Straight tube ****

Percolators:
Dome *****
Tree ** (the more arms the less drag)
Hook ****

Ashcatchers:
Multiple stem *
Inline ****
Single stem ***

Smoking a Bong
Fill the bong with water just above the holes in the percs and on the downstem. If your bong has ice notches, add the ice last. Don't use sugary liquids or fatty liquids in the bong as it can cause the bong to be sticky and the fat will absorb the THC.

Steps:
1. Place your mouth on the bong mouthpiece.
2. Place a lighter near the bowl and slowly inhale. Place your finger over the carb if it has one.
3. Move the lighter around the bowl in a circle lighting all the herb.
4. Whenever you are ready to clear the smoke in the tube, remove the bowl from the downstem or move your finger off the carb hole inhaling fast and hard to clear the chamber.

Tip: NEVER EXHALE INTO THE BONG! This will cause the water to squirt out the bowl and wreck your weed, or worse it will pop your bowl out and it will fall.

Caring for Your Bong
When using a bong be careful how you handle it and where you put it. A broken piece is a bad piece.

You will want to empty the water after every session as the water will leave marks on the bong from the minerals in it and the water will begin to smell terrible. You do not have to dry your bong to store it but it is best to get as much water out as possible.

Bongs should be cleaned fairly regularly to keep it looking nice.

Guide to Cleaning Pieces

When storing your bong it is important to make sure it is protected. Put it in an area that will not be accessed when it is not in use. You could also wrap it in cloth or a shirt to protect it more.


1 comments :

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