The word "bong" comes from the Thai word "buong," which refers to a tube made of bamboo which is used to smoke something and is believed to date back to the 14th century. Today, bongs are used by many people throughout the world for smoking a variety of substances. Of course, this begs the question: how does a bong work?
Read on to learn more about how bongs work, the best ways to use them, and how to choose the best one.
The word "bong" comes from the Thai word "buong," which refers to a tube made of bamboo which is used to smoke something and is believed to date back to the 14th century. Today, bongs are used by many people throughout the world for smoking a variety of substances. Of course, this begs the question: how does a bong work?
Read on to learn more about how bongs work, the best ways to use them, and how to choose the best one.
HOW DOES A BONG WORK?
Bongs come in innumerable shapes and sizes. The simple ones are little more than a down stem, bowl, and chamber. Others are meticulously crafted works of art that sell for tens of thousands of dollars (and sometimes more!).
THE ANATOMY OF A BONG
Before learning how it works, you'll need to know the parts that comprise a bong. A bong typically has six individual parts.
1. TUBE
The tube of a bong is the chamber in the center that holds the mouthpiece. When you inhale, the tube fills with smoke.
2. MOUTH PIECE
The mouthpiece is located at the top of the tube. It's usually just a smooth, beveled edge you put your mouth into before inhaling.
3. WATER CHAMBER
This is the bottom of the bong and is usually round, but can come in many shapes. It holds the water in the bong.
4. BOWL
The bowl is where you put whatever you plan to smoke. It's usually bulb-shaped and extends outward from the water chamber via the down stem.
5. DOWN STEM
This is a small tube extending from the water chamber outward. It's usually topped with a bowl or banger.
6. PERCOLATOR
This is an extra chamber that the smoke moves through. Not every bong has a percolator, but many do.
HOW DO YOU SMOKE FROM A BONG?
Smoking from a bong is pretty simple, and you don't need any special smoking tips to do it. Just follow these steps and you'll be set.
STEP # 1 CHECK TO SEE IF IT'S READY
Before you smoke from a bong, make sure it's clean on the inside. Then, put some fresh water in the bottom.
STEP # 2 PACK IT
Step # 2 involves packing the bong. Put whatever you're going to smoke in the bowl and pack it in - but not too tight! Air still has to easily be able to move through the burning plant.
STEP # 3 LIGHT IT AND INHALE
Next, put your mouth on the mouthpiece, light the plant in the bowl, and inhale. As you do, you'll see smoke begin to fill the tube. Once you're ready, either release the carb or pull out the bowl and inhale sharply.
The smoke will move into your lungs where it will be expelled once you're ready to exhale.
IS THERE MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF BONG?
Yes! The advancement of time and technology led to the creation of new and interesting types of bongs. Before you buy a bong, you should know the differences between them.
BEAKER BONGS
Beaker bongs are named as such because the water chamber resembles a beaker used in scientific studies. They're usually big, with a large chamber capable of storing a big hit.
RECYCLERS
Recyclers work by constantly moving the water around inside the bong. The hit is slower, but it's better filtered.
GRAVITY BONGS
Gravity bongs use gravity, in one of several ways, to force smoke into the chamber and thus create a much larger hit than you might take otherwise.
Many types of gravity bongs are made from random things a person has in their home. However, buying a specially-made glass gravity bong generally works better than the homemade variety.
STANDARD BONG
Standard tube bongs are usually comprised of the six parts listed above but are made from different materials. Wood, acrylic, metal, and glass are all used to create standard tube bongs, but glass is generally regarded as the finest material.
If you're looking to purchase a bong for the first time, a standard glass bong is often the best choice for first-timers.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT BONG?
The perfect bong is different from person to person. The one that works best for you depends largely on your smoking habits. Below are a few considerations to keep in mind when bong shopping.
SIZE MATTERS
Size is an excellent place to start when you want to buy a bong. Different sizes offer different results, and matching the results to your needs is critical to your enjoyment.
Generally speaking, the larger the bong the bigger the hit it's capable of producing. If you're someone who likes large hits, bigger is usually better. However, if big isn't your thing, a smaller bong works just as well as a larger one - you'll just need to hit it more often.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU SMOKE?
Tolerance matters a lot. The higher your tolerance, the more hits you'll require for the desired effect. Smaller hits tend to impact your tolerance less than big hits.
If your tolerance is low, going smaller might be the best choice.
IS SMOOTHNESS IMPORTANT?
If you want a smooth hit, not just any bong will do. While most bongs will easily provide cooler, smoother hits than other smoking methods, they don't all do it to the same degree. If you want a hit that's particularly cool and smooth, look for a bong that has an extra chamber for ice and/or water.
WILL YOU BE AT HOME OR ON THE GO?
Your lifestyle is another important factor to consider. If you'll be primarily smoking from home, a bong of any size works. But, if you're going to be out and about, a small bong or bubbler might be a better choice.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Hopefully, this short article has answered your question regarding "how does a bong work?" Bongs have been used to smoke a variety of substances for a very long time. They're relatively simple to use and can provide large, cool, cleaner hits than other types of smoking tools.
If you'd like to learn more about bongs, or if you have any questions, contact us today.
