The user holds a flame over the substance to be smoked, usually cannabis. As the user inhales and draws air up the stem, the flame is drawn towards the substance, and the smoke travels through a hollow pipe attached to the bowl’s bottom containing the smokable material. Through the pipe, smoke enters a vessel containing water. The hole through which this stem pass is airtight, and the bottom of the pipe is submerged in the water to make smoke bubble thru the water.
A bong is a device used for smoking cannabis and works by filtering and cooling the smoke as it is inhaled. Here are the general steps for how a bong works:
- Fill the bong with water: The bottom of the bong is filled with water, which acts as a filter for the smoke.
- Pack the bowl: The bowl, located at the top of the bong, is filled with cannabis.
- Ignite the cannabis: The cannabis is ignited with a lighter or another heat source, creating smoke drawn down into the water.
- Inhale: The user places their mouth over the mouthpiece at the top of the bong and inhales, pulling the smoke down into the water and up through the stem.
- Filter and cool the smoke: As the smoke travels through the water, it is filtered and cooled, making it smoother and less harsh when inhaled.
- Exhale: After inhaling, the user exhales the smoke.
The water in the bong acts as a filter for the smoke, trapping any ash or debris and cooling the smoke as it travels through the stem. This makes the smoke less harsh when inhaled, which can be beneficial for those who find smoking cannabis to be uncomfortable.
The smoke rises through the water, cools and gets rid of some toxicants, and is trapped in the air chamber above the water. This way, the part of the bong used when the smoker collects purified smoke above the water is finished. To inhale collected smoke, the cannabis connoisseur uses a bong carb hole.
At the side (or back) of the container, above the water level, there is usually a small air hole (the “carb”), which is kept covered up with a finger during the first phase of bong use until the point when sufficient smoke has been held in the air gap above the water.
Its purpose is to allow an easy passage of air, without the water bubbling, into the stem container when the smoke is finally inhaled into the lungs. The fresh air from this hole helps to cool the smoke further.
In the US, where bongs are popular and appreciated widely, most glass bongs have a “pull up” or “pull out” bowl with a rubber O-ring to form a seal with the bong stem. The glass bowl is pulled out of the stem after the chamber is full of smoke, allowing clean air to enter the chamber, further cooling the smoke and allowing the user to “clear the bong.” This bong effect can also be achieved using a bong carb hole.
These days most plastic acrylic bongs also have a “Pull Up Bowl”; they have either glass or metal stems, but depending on the company that makes the bong, it is either a glass pull-out or a pull-out metal bowl.
Most recreational marijuana users worldwide have tried and enjoyed occasional bong use because of the ceremonial atmosphere and entertaining bong smoking effects. “Diversity is what makes using bongs interesting,” says John Pothead when his fellow stoners ask him, “Why the bong, Johnny?!”
Curved Glass Bong
This bong is very comfortable to hold, and the curved neck helps keep smoke from escaping.
Size: 18cm
Smiley Face Ceramic Bong
This cheerful orange ceramic bong shows how cute bongs can be. Just look at it smiling back to you after taking a hit.
Size: 15cm
Black Acrylic Bong With Transparent Spikes
Perfect for those of you who like to spice up the smoking ceremony. This black acrylic bong is covered with white transparent spikes that make it look stylish and dark.
Size: 22cm
