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 want to drill a hole in your glass bong for a carburetor or a downstem, or if you want to clean your glass bong from the tar and resin buildup, you need to be careful and follow some simple steps to avoid breaking or cracking your glass bong.
How to Drill a Hole in Your Glass Bong?
Drilling a hole in your glass bong can be tricky, but not impossible. You will need the following materials:
- A glass bong of your choice, preferably with a long neck and a wide base
- A 3/4″ diamond drill bit, which you can find online or at hardware stores
- A downstem and a bowl of 14mm size, which you can find at head shops or online
- A rubber grommet with an outside diameter of 31/32″, an inner diameter of 1/2″, and a 3/4″ groove, which you can find at supply stores or online
- A drill, preferably battery powered
- A faucet with running water
- Safety goggles and gloves
Once you have all the materials, follow these steps:
- Clean the bottle and remove any plastic labels or stickers.
- 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 where you drill the hole.
- Attach the diamond drill bit to your drill and put on your safety goggles and gloves.
- Hold the bottle under the faucet and get a steady stream of water over the spot you marked. This will keep the glass cool and prevent it from breaking.
- Start drilling slowly at a 3/4 of the max speed of your 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.
- Keep drilling until you make a hole through the glass. Do not apply too much pressure or force, let the drill bit do the work.
- Grind away any sharp edges and clean out any glass shards from the hole.
- Put in the grommet, stem, and bowl. Make sure they fit snugly and securely.
Congratulations, you have successfully drilled a hole in your glass bong!
How to Clean Your Glass Bong?
Cleaning your glass bong is essential for maintaining its quality and performance. A dirty bong can affect the taste and smoothness of your smoke, as well as harbor mold and bacteria that can harm your health. You should change the water in your bong after every smoke session, and deep clean your bong roughly once a week. Here are some methods to clean your glass bong:
The Alcohol and Salt Method
This is one of the most common and effective methods to clean your glass bong. You will need:
- Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), preferably 90% or higher
- Coarse salt, such as kosher salt or sea salt
- Resealable plastic bags or containers
- Cotton swabs or pipe cleaners
Follow these steps:
- Separate all the moving pieces from the bong: the bong itself, the slide, and the stem.
- Rinse out the pieces in hot water to loosen up any big chunks of resin. Knock off any large pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
- Place the smaller pieces in resealable plastic bags or containers. Fill them with enough alcohol to submerge them completely. Add some salt to act as an abrasive.
- Fill your bong with alcohol and salt as well. Plug the holes with paper towels or corks.
- Shake up the bags or containers with the smaller pieces for a minute or two. Shake up the bong as well, making sure to cover all areas with alcohol.
- Let everything soak for some time, depending on how dirty your bong is. You can soak it for a few hours or overnight for best results.
- Pour out the alcohol and salt mixture and rinse everything with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no alcohol or salt are left.
- Let everything dry completely before using your bong again.
That’s it, you have cleaned your glass bong with alcohol and salt!
The Lemon and Boiling Water Method
This is another method to clean your glass bong without alcohol. You will need:
- Lemon juice, fresh or bottled
- Boiling water
- A saucepan or kettle
- A bowl or container
Follow these steps:
- Separate all the moving pieces from the bong: the bong itself, the slide, and the stem.
- Rinse out the pieces in hot water to loosen up any big chunks of resin. Knock off any large pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
- Place the smaller pieces in a bowl or container. Fill it with enough lemon juice to submerge them completely.
- Boil some water in a saucepan or kettle. Be careful not to burn yourself.
- Pour the boiling water into the bong, filling it up to the top. Add some lemon juice as well.
- Let everything soak for some time, depending on how dirty your bong is. You can soak it for a few hours or overnight for best results.
- Pour out the water and lemon juice mixture and rinse everything with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no lemon juice is left.
- Let everything dry completely before using your bong again.
Voila, you have cleaned your glass bong with lemon and boiling water!
Tips and Warnings
- Always be careful when handling glass, especially when it’s hot or wet. Use gloves, tongs, or towels to protect your hands.
- Do not use boiling water on a cold piece, as this can cause it to shatter. If your piece is cold, start with lukewarm water and slowly raise the temperature.
- Do not use abrasive tools or materials that can scratch or damage your glass, such as steel wool or sandpaper.
- Do not use bleach, ammonia, or other harsh chemicals that can harm your health or damage your glass.
- Do not smoke out of a wet or damp piece, as this can affect the taste and quality of your smoke.
I hope this blog post was helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Happy smoking!
