Glass bongs are popular devices for smoking herb or tobacco, as they offer a smooth and filtered experience. However, you can also customize your bong with various accessories and attachments that can enhance, replace, or protect parts of your bong or smoking accessory. In this blog post, we will introduce some of the most common bong accessories and attachments, and explain how they work and why you might want to use them.
Bowls
A bowl (also known as a slide) is an essential part of every bong. Bowls are empty chambers for loose leaf dry herb or tobacco, which, once packed, attach to the joint of your glass piece. You light a heat source, and the hot air pulled through the bowl ignites the herb and creates smoke through your bong. Bowls come in a variety of different sizes (10mm, 14mm, and 18mm) and can be either male or female. Knowing the joint size and gender of your water pipe is essential when purchasing a new slide, otherwise you may end up with a new bowl that is not compatible with your bong. (Not sure?
Learn more from this guide
.)
Bowls can also vary in shape, design, and functionality. Some bowls have built-in screens to prevent ash from entering the water chamber, while others have handles or knobs for easy removal. Some bowls are simple and plain, while others are colorful and artistic. You can choose a bowl that matches your style and preference, or switch it up depending on your mood.
Downstems
A downstem is another essential glass piece that fits into a water pipe joint. Basically it makes it all happen. Downstems function to carry smoke from the slide (or bowl piece) into the water chamber of your glass pipe to filter and cool each hit. Downstems are available in a variety of different sizes and lengths, so it is absolutely essential to know what you need before purchasing one.
Downstems can also have different types of diffusion, which affects how the smoke is dispersed in the water. Some downstems have slits or holes at the bottom, while others have percolators or diffusers that create more bubbles and surface area for the smoke. The more diffusion, the smoother the hit, but also the more drag or resistance when inhaling.
Ashcatchers
Ashcatchers are attachments for bongs that offer extra filtration. Ashcatchers are available in many different shapes, sizes, and styles with a huge variety of different percolators. These attachments enable even the most relaxed smokers to keep their favorite bongs and daily drivers significantly cleaner. They work as a vessel to catch nasty residues and other debris, leading to bigger and better tasting rips from your trusty water bong.
Ashcatchers attach to the joint of your bong, and then you attach your bowl to the ashcatcher. When you smoke, the ashcatcher acts as a pre-cooler and pre-filter, catching most of the ash and tar before they reach your bong. This way, you can keep your bong water cleaner for longer, and reduce the frequency of cleaning your bong. Ashcatchers also add another layer of diffusion and cooling to your smoke, making it even smoother and more enjoyable.
Nails or Bangers
Nails or bangers are attachments that convert your bong into a dab rig for concentrates. Dabbing is a method of consuming cannabis concentrates such as wax, shatter, or rosin by heating them on a hot surface (the nail or banger) and inhaling the vapor through a water pipe. Dabbing offers a more potent and flavorful experience than smoking herb or tobacco.</p
