A glass bong is a great way to enjoy your favorite herb or tobacco, but it can also be a fragile and delicate piece of equipment. If you are not careful, you might end up breaking or cracking your glass bong while drilling or cleaning it, which can ruin your smoking experience and waste your money. Here are some tips on how to avoid breaking or cracking your glass bong while drilling or cleaning it.
How to Drill a Glass Bong?
If you want to make your own glass bong out of a bottle, you will need to drill a hole in it for the downstem and bowl. Drilling a glass bong can be tricky, as glass is hard and brittle, and can easily shatter if you apply too much pressure or heat. Here are the steps on how to drill a glass bong safely and successfully:
- Pick your bottle. Choose a bottle that has a long neck and a wide base, and that has little curve on the upper slope where the base connects into the stem. This will make it easier to drill a clean and even hole.
- Get the proper drill bit. You will need a 3/4″ diamond drill bit to drill through the glass. These are specially designed for drilling glass and can be found online or at hardware stores.
- Acquire a downstem, bowl, and grommet. You will need a 14mm glass bowl and downstem that fit snugly together. The length of the downstem should be approximately the same as the distance from the upper curve of the body of your bottle to the opposite side of the base. You will also need a rubber grommet with an outside diameter of 31/32″, an inner diameter of 1/2″, and a 3/4″ groove. These can be found online or at supply stores.
- Clean the bottle. Wash the bottle with warm water and soap, and remove any labels or stickers. Warm water helps the drilling go smoothly.
- Mark a spot to drill. Find a spot on the bottle where the surface is relatively flat, somewhere on the upper curve of the body. Place the grommet there and use it to trace a circle with a sharpie. This will be your guide for drilling.
- Prepare your tools. Attach the diamond drill bit to your battery-powered drill. Do not use a corded drill, as you will be running water over the drilling area. Put on safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying glass shards.
- Get a steady stream of water over the drill spot. To keep the glass cool and prevent it from breaking, turn on the faucet and hold the bottle under it. You want more than just a trickle but not such a heavy stream that you can’t see what you’re doing.
- Start drilling slowly. Set your drill to 3/4 of its max speed and gently push it against the marked spot. To get a steady drill, first angle the drill bit so it just touches the top of the spot. Slowly angle the drill bit until it’s going into the glass at a 90 degree angle, using the carved out edge as a pivot.
- Grind away sharp edges and clean out the glass. Once you have drilled through the glass, use the drill bit to smooth out any rough edges around the hole. Rinse out any glass dust from inside the bottle.
- Put in the grommet, stem, and bowl. Insert the grommet into the hole, making sure it fits snugly and securely. Push in the downstem through the grommet until it reaches about halfway into the bottle. Attach the bowl to the downstem and test if it works by drawing air through it.
Congratulations! You have successfully drilled your own glass bong!
How to Clean a Glass Bong?
A clean glass bong is essential for getting smooth and flavorful hits from your herb or tobacco. However, cleaning a glass bong can also pose some risks of breaking or cracking it if you are not careful. Here are some tips on how to clean a glass bong without damaging it:
- Empty and rinse your bong. Pour out any dirty water from your bong and rinse it with hot water to loosen up any residue.
- Disassemble your bong. Remove the bowl and downstem from your bong and place them in separate ziplock bags. Fill the bags with enough rubbing alcohol and salt to cover the pieces. Seal the bags and shake them gently to dissolve the gunk.
- Fill your bong with cleaning solution. Pour some rubbing alcohol and salt into your bong, enough to reach the dirty areas. The alcohol will dissolve the resin and the salt will act as an abrasive to scrub it off.
- Cover the openings and shake. Plug the mouthpiece and the hole where the downstem goes with paper towels or plastic wrap. Hold the bong securely and shake it vigorously for a few minutes to agitate the solution.
- Rinse and dry. Pour out the dirty solution from your bong and rinse it thoroughly with hot water. Make sure there is no alcohol or salt left inside. Do the same for the bowl and downstem. Dry your bong and its parts with paper towels or a cloth.
- Enjoy your clean bong. Reassemble your bong and fill it with fresh water. Pack your bowl with your herb or tobacco of choice and enjoy a smooth and tasty hit from your clean glass bong.
There you have it
