What is a bong?
A bong is a device that allows you to introduce water to your smoking set up. Bongs come in a plethora of shapes, colors, and even different functions. The main purpose of a bong is to run your smoke through water before the smoke makes it to your mouth. This is going to cool the smoke down so you don’t have as harsh of a rip. This will also filter out some of the tar inside of your smoke! Which is why you see gross bong water sometimes! (Always keep your water fresh) Having diffused and filtered rips feels worlds smoother than their dry and harsh counterparts.
What are Bongs Made of?
The most common material for bongs is borosilicate glass. Borosilicate glass is more heat resistant, so this will be your best option in most cases. However, bongs can be made out of anything! (And have been made out of anything) Bongs can be made out of wood, silicone, or even some common household items! So now that we know WHAT a bong is. Let’s take a deeper look at the essential parts that make up a bong!
What are the Different Parts of a Bong?
Bongs are regularly made up of four separate parts. The mouthpiece. The neck. The base. And the bowl.
You would think that all mouthpieces are going to be the same. But that is not the case. Mouthpieces can vary in shape, size, angle, color, feel, and many other variables! What you are going to want to look for is something that feels good against your mouth. You don’t want the mouth piece to be so big that you fall into the bong everytime you are trying to take a rip. On the flipside, you also don’t want your mouthpiece to be so small that you have a hard time pulling your smoke.
Under the mouthpiece is the neck. The neck is the final stop in the bong for your smoke before it goes into your lungs. Necks, as you guessed, also come in a large variety of options. Some necks can be very long. Some necks can be very short. Some necks bend at 90 degree angles, while some shoot straight up. All of the varieties are as good as the others, for necks it is simply a preference thing. The key addition that some bong necks offer, that you will want to look out for, is the ice catch! The ice catch is one of the greatest additions to the smoking world, since the bong itself! The ice catch is a spot of glass, usually at the bottom of the neck, that is pinched almost to the point of closure. This pinch allows you to fill your neck up with ICE! This ice will then cool down your smoke even more, to make those harsh rips buttery smooth. The most important part of a bong however, is its base. The base of a bong, sometimes referred to as the water chamber, is the most important and interesting part of a bong. This, as the name implies, is where the water is stored. Bases also come in a variety of different sizes and styles. Often you will see very large and wide beaker style bases. Also common is thin straight tube designs! Some bases come in crazy styles that aren't normal! This is the most important part because this section of your bong is what will decide how much water you can put into your bong. A little rule of thumb is that more water equals more filtration. However introducing ANY water at all makes your rips worlds smoother. So keep this in mind as you are browsing bases! Bong bases are most commonly where the percolators, if there are any, reside. Percolators are intricate glass features that add air bubbles to the water surrounding your smoke. These bubbles give the water more of a chance to cool down and diffuse your smoke! As you could have guessed there are a ton of different percolator options in the world. But none work better than another, so this part is mostly up to your preference as well! Finding one that you connect with is very important. All of this magic that we have talked about in a bong couldn’t even begin without the key part to every bong. The bowl.
Bowls are the interchangeable parts of the bong that hold whatever product you will be igniting. They come in all different shapes and sizes! When choosing a bowl separate from your bong, you will want to consider a few things. The first is size. Bowls are either male, or female. For male that means the bowl sticks into the bong itself. For female bowls the bong slides into the base of the bowl. The typical sizes are 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm. The most common out of the three is the 14mm male bowl.
As you can see these different parts of a bong can come in a wide variety of different style combinations. The most important part of choosing the bong is finding one that speaks to you! One that you think you will love for years to come! One that you have a connection with. But why should you use a bong? Couldn’t you just use a pipe instead?
What is the Difference Between Bong and Pipe?
The main difference between a bong and a pipe is water. Bongs hold water that will diffuse your smoke and make it easier to inhale. However this does not make one better than the other. It is all a preference thing. Pipes are smaller, meaning they can be transported easier, have a smaller chance of being broken, and fit in the palm of your hand! Whereas bongs are typically larger, can be knocked over by accident, and typically do not fit in the palm of your hand. So it is up to you to decide if the size difference is worth the added benefits and features.
What makes a good bong?
There are a few things to consider when thinking about what makes a quality bong. We already went over how bongs come in a variety of different styles, and sizes. That’s why it is important to find one that you feel drawn to. You don’t want your first bong to be too large in size, or else you might just ruin your bong experience. But another important consideration is the thickness of the glass. Is it thin glass that you can feel will be easy to break? Or is it thick sturdy glass that will take a big accident to break? Another important consideration is cleanability. Will you easily be able to clean this bong? What makes a bong easy to clean, is when it is a simple design with no complex bends or percolators. This allows whatever cleaning method you use to really get into all of the dirty spots of your bong. If the bong has a lot of tight bends in small bits of glass, it might be harder to get those spots 100% clean. But these are things you will learn over time, as you add more amazing pieces to your collection.
Why use a bong?
There are many reasons to choose a bong as your go to smoking utensil. Adding water to your session is the most important reason to choose a bong. The water really does filter out a lot of gross stuff out of your material that would otherwise be in your lungs! Bongs also provide you the opportunity to cool down your rips. Making for a much more pleasurable smoking experience. Even if you want a bong that is small enough to carry around, you can find one. Here at Fat Buddha Glass! Mini bongs are perfect for taking around all of your separate adventures.
What are the Different Types of Bongs?
There are MANY different types of bongs in the world. The styles we are going to focus on in this buyers guide are Scientific Bongs, Heavy Hitters, and Mini Bongs.
When you think of scientific in terms of bongs, these are what probably come to mind. They look like they belong in a madman's laboratory! Their scientific appearance is mostly thanks to what are called Percolators. (AKA Percs) Percolators themselves come in a variety of designs, but essentially what they do is add an additional layer of filtration to your smoke. Making for a much smoother rip. The more percs, the smoother the rip. It's SCIENCE.
Now, onto something for our more experienced users, HEAVY HITTERS. Alright, these pieces are HUUUGE! New purchasers beware, these are not for the faint of heart. What these are gonna do is give you more space for more smoke, making for a much LARGER rip. If you are interested in a party pleasing piece, one of these is guaranteed to be the talk of the night. Ok, let's bring it down a little bit. In size.
Next up are mini bongs. Let's be honest, you don't need to take big rips to get nice and toasty. These are perfect for smaller sessions. Some of these also sport percs, so you are sure to have nice smooth rips. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, so you are sure to find something that speaks to you. A close relative of the mini bong, is the Bubbler.
How do I use a bong?
If we were to break it down, step by step. There really are only 4 to 5 steps to using one of these bad boys. First, Fill Your Bong With the Appropriate Amount of Water. Second. Load your bowl and make sure it fits snug into the bong. Then, light the bowl while inhaling through the mouthpiece of the bong. Once you have the amount of smoke you are comfortable with smoking in your piece. Take the bowl out, and clear the bong. And BAM! Just like that you have done the deed! You can repeat this process as many times as you would like! But always remember to use responsibly.
Conclusion
Bongs have many different styles. And the process of using them and choosing them can be challenging if you do not know what you are doing. We hope that this guide will help you make your future decisions, and provide you with a much smoother safer session. Just in case we missed anything, we have listed answers to some frequently asked questions below. If you have another question that is not answered here, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team, and we will help you make the best decision for you. As always, thank you for reading, and we hope you find your piece.
FAQs
- can you buy bongs online legally?
Yes. Some may think that this is not possible, or risky. However, it is not. As long as you are of legal age where you live. You can legally purchase water pipes online. And have them shipped to you. We may be biased, but we think the best place to do that online is right HERE.
- what happens if you drink bong water?
If you choose to drink your bong water. Prepare for an upset stomach, and potentially vomiting. It is never a good idea to drink bong water. However, if you only get a little splash of water into your mouth. You will be absolutely fine. Besides having a horrible taste in your mouth. Be proactive about this problem. Change your bong water regularly.
- how to get rid of bong water smell?
The best way to get rid of that gross bong water smell is to clean your bong with isopropyl alcohol. Rinse thoroughly and fill with fresh water. However the best solution in this case is prevention. If you regularly change the water in your bong, you will never have to deal with stinky bong water in the first place. Start making it a habit to change your bong water after every session for maximum cleanliness.
- can i use nail polish remover to clean my bong?
You should steer away from using nail polish remover. Even if you are in a pinch. You want to think about what you are putting in your bong, and how long it may stay in there after rinsing. You do not want any toxic fumes to be inhaled into your lungs. So it is important to make sure that whatever you clean your bong with, is properly rinsed afterwards. The best option is to use Isopropyl Alcohol.
- how to clean mold out of a bong?
If your bong is to the point where you have mold in it. It might be time to consider getting a new bong.. BUT. If you want to try and save your bong, your best bet will be to soak it in Isopropyl Alcohol. For a very dirty bong. Or even a moldy bong. You will want to let it soak in the alcohol overnight. In the morning, rinse it out, and give it another alcohol soak, with hot water, and salt. If this does not work. We offer cleaning solutions on our website here.
- how to fix a bong stem?
If your bong stem breaks, do not fear. Depending on how bad the damage is, you may be able to fix your stem with food grade super glue. You want to make sure that it is food grade, because other epoxys can have toxic fumes that could be unhealthy in the device you inhale from. But the best case option is to just replace it with a new one. Here at Fat Buddha Glass, we do our best to keep our prices affordable. So if you find yourself in the worst case scenario, you will always have a back up! Check them out here!
- can i use hydrogen peroxide to clean my bong?
You can use hydrogen peroxide to help clean your bong, but it is not the best option. You should look for any percent isopropyl alcohol. Pour it into your bong, mix it with HOT water and some salt. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Then shake it a little, pour it out, and rinse it. You can repeat these steps as necessary.
- how much water should i put in a bong?
What you are going to do here is identify the downstem of your bong, and all of the percolators (If your bong has percolators). Then pour water into your bong until it just barely covers the downstem, and percolators. To check your water level, take a pull from your bong without the bowl attached. If no water splashes up into your mouth, then you are good to go! It isn’t an exact science, so you will need to experiment with your specific water levels.
- how glass bongs are made?
As with any high class art form, creating glass bongs requires a very skilled artist. They are called glassblowers. Glassblowers will take a long hollow rod and dip it into molten sand/silicate mixtures, pull a little bit out, and blow through the tube stretching the glass out like a bubble! They then can mold that bubble to any shape that they want, within their skill range. After doing this a series of different types for different shapes, you can then mold your glass pieces together to get a finished bong!
- are bongs allowed on airplanes?
It is never a good idea to push boundaries. Especially when the risk you are running is upwards of a felony. But technically, if there is no residue of anything in your piece. If it is 100% clean. Brand new clean. You should be in the clear. TSA allows tobacco products and accessories on the plane, or in your checked baggage. So If you are thinking of packing your piece on your next flight. Don’t. But now you know what you would need to do.
- how to take a bong hit?
Taking a bong hit can be quite the feat. If you don’t know what you're doing it can be kind of intimidating. But don’t worry, the process is easier than you think. First you will choose a bong, you think you can handle. Then, fill it with the appropriate amount of water. (so you are getting mouthfuls of gross bong water.) After that, you will fill your bowl with your desired material. Then light it, and when you feel that you have enough smoke in your chamber, you pull the bowl out, and clear the bong of the remaining smoke.
- how much is a good bong?
Good bong prices can vary. The range can be anywhere from $30-$300. There are many different variables that affect bongs prices. Thickness of glass. Design. Size. And many other factors. The biggest thing for you to do as a customer is to find one that meets your needs. Here at Fat Buddha Glass, we pride ourselves on making quality glass available and affordable. We have a size, style and price for everyone.
- how to pack a bowl bong?
To properly pack a bowl, you need to take your product. Grind it up. And evenly place it in the bowl of your bong. You do not want to fill it up too tightly or you won’t be able to pull any air through your bowl. A couple other things you need to consider are, are you indoors or outdoors? Do you have something to catch the spilt product underneath where you will load your bowl? Are you over packing? Are you underpacking? Do you have an evenly ground product?
- what makes a good bong?
There are many variables associated with a good bong. Thickness. Style. Color. Size. Types of percolators. Quantity of percolators. Holdability. Comfort. Accessories. The most important thing to think about is finding the right bong for you. Find a bong that excites you when you see it. One that you would be proud to show off to your friends in a session.
- how to use a mini bong?
Mini bongs are just like regular bongs. Only smaller! There can be a couple different types of mini bongs however. Ones with a bowl that you can remove. And mini bongs that have carb holes instead of a removable bowl. Mini bongs that have a removable bowl work just like their larger counterparts. If you have a mini bong with a carb hole, you will light the bowl as you inhale and cover the carb hole with a finger. When you are ready to finish your rip, you simply remove your finger from the carbhole and continue to clear the piece.
