- Friday, May 03, 2024
By: Eastern Eye Staff
A bong is a filtering device commonly used to smoke marijuana, tobacco, or other herbal drugs. The gas flows from the bottom port on the left to the top port on the right in the bong depicted in the photo. Bongs are not entirely new. Various cultures have utilized diverse types of water pipelines for millennia. Water helps to keep smoke cool. The user gets a considerably smoother hit than a standard pipe as the smoke travels through the liquid in a bong. The water chamber, the neck, the downstream, and the bowl in which the rest of the dry herbs are the four main bong parts. Bongs are usually made to optimize the amount of smoke produced and enhance its density. The water chamber is the part of the device that retains the water that has steam, while the bowl is the part that holds the dried herbs. The down stem is the part that connects the two, while the neck is the one that connects the mouthpiece to the steam inhaler. Standard bongs from the online head shop are more straightforward than dab rigs, consisting of a water-based bowl that houses tobacco and dry herb, a downstream that links the two, and a mouthpiece to inhale from.
The advantages of a bong over a hand pipe are in its size and its filtering capabilities, which are comparable to that of a bubbler while also providing more space for the smoke to fill.
The water in the bong’s chamber helps filter out some contaminants in the smoke, resulting in a cleaner, more flavorful dose than a spoon.
The heating of the dried herbs in the bowl is usually the first step in the bong smoking procedure. The heat then flows down the down stem, causing steam to form in the chamber’s water.
The steam then flows down the neck and into the mouthpiece, where it is ready for drinking.
Some bongs have a permanent stem, while others have one that can be removed.
A detachable down stem is more common than the other since it allows for easy cleaning.
When the bowl is heated, the smoke forms in the bowl, travel down downstream into the filtering water at the base, gathers in the bong’s body, and is drawn up and out via the neck and mouthpiece.
Fixed and detachable down stems are available, although removable downstems are more common since they are simple to clean using 91 percent isopropyl alcohol and coarse-grained kosher or Epsom salt.
A bong’s construction material is perhaps the most crucial aspect you should consider when buying one. Manufacturers of bongs will generally employ durable materials in their creations. More fragile options, on the other hand, can be ruined if not properly cared for. Water may also be stored in bongs.
As a result, they must be waterproof. This has an impact on the materials used by manufacturers. Finally, resins and other difficult-to-clean compounds present in smoke are attracted to bongs. As a result, glass and acrylic bongs are far more prevalent than bongs made of different materials. The most pervasive criticism among ceramic or wooden bong users is how difficult it is to clean them.
When Buying a Bong, Look for These Features
Substances Employed
You must take into consideration what substance you are going to use when choosing a bong. While water pipes are suitable for both dry herbs and legal concentrates, the sort of pipe you require will depend on how frequently you take them. For example, dried herbs require a significant down stem positioned at a 45 to 90-degree angle, so you’ll need a bowl for them.
Size
The size of the bong is important to note when choosing one. Bongs come in various sizes, and several criteria usually determine the best one for you. These considerations include where you plan to keep it, what you plan to do after you smoke your dry herb or concentrate, and how much steam you are comfortable breathing. If you want to put your bong in a bookshelf or cabinet, it should be tiny, but if you’re going to use it as a centerpiece in the middle of your coffee table, you may purchase a larger one.
Functionality
A concentrate attachment, a pre-cooler, and an ash collector are all options for improving your bong’s functionality. When purchasing any of these accessories, make sure to examine the joint attachment and angle to ensure that they will fit your pipe correctly. A percolator is an excellent addition to your bong since it will help you inhale more smoothly. Some of the better ones are in the shape of a showerhead or honeycomb, as well as a tree or helix. Just remember that the more percolators you have, the more difficult it will be to clean your bong.
Durability
Bongs constructed of borosilicate glass and those with reinforced joints are more resistant to breakage. Additionally, choose bongs with wide and sturdy bases since they are more durable, which means beaker or flared bases are your best bet.
Regarding the bongs, what is the perfect choice?
A variety of variables will determine the ideal bong for you. These factors include how much money you have to spend, where you want to smoke, how important style is to you, and whether or not you wish to keep your bong usage hidden. A fully fitted out, multi-chamber piece, replete with diffusers, percolators, and other high-tech smoke-cooling techniques, will deliver the most OK hit in terms of pure smoking performance. The majority of these frills, on the other hand, help to make the product far more delicate. When you plan to smoke on the go, a more expensive device may not be a good choice. Instead, you could select an acrylic or silicone bong.
Epilogue
The most appealing feature of bongs is their capacity to be customized when it comes down to them. Because the bulk of standard sizes are set at 14mm and 18mm, you can virtually build your water pipe to whatever specifications you want as long as you find components with matching sizes—that is, until it starts to topple over under its weight. That’s why a higher bong, or at the very least one with internal percolators, is a good idea.
