Have you ever looked at your bong and wondered, “What do all those parts do?” It’s true that bongs are a little complicated and require some learning to use correctly. However, if you understand how they work, they can improve your smoking experience. They also filter out toxins that would otherwise irritate your throat and lungs.
It Cools the Smoke
The water in a bong cools the smoke as it travels up through the pipe. This cooling effect also helps to filter the smoke, removing heavier elements such as ash and unburnt green material that can cause lung irritation. This process is even more effective when you use a bong with a water reservoir that has a diffuser. These devices increase the surface area of the bubbles, making them larger and cooler, so more of the smoke is cooled before it enters your lungs. Regularly clean your bong’s filtration and cooling properties to make the best of it. Rinse and change the water in your bong after every 7-10 hits or as soon as it begins to discolor. You can also put ice in your bong, and some bongs include designated nooks or compartments inside the chamber for ice cube storage.
Before you hit your bong, take a moment to prepare the cannabis with your weed grinder. You want the buds to be ground to a medium-fine consistency. A budtender can help you hone the buds if you don’t have a hero at home. It would help to place a small towel over the mouthpiece to prevent spit from clogging it. You can also use a carb hole to help you control the amount of smoke you inhale, but this is not included on all bongs.
It Filters the Smoke
Using a bong for smoking filters out the impurities in your smoke. It also cools it, which makes the hit softer on your lungs. Regularly changing the water in your bong is important to keep it clean and working properly. If your bong water turns tan or smells bad, change it immediately for a better smoking experience. Some people put things other than water in their bongs, such as Gatorade, tea, or milk. These liquids can give your bong an extra flavor but harm your lungs and should only be used with filtered water. If you decide to use anything other than water in your bong, it’s a good idea to rinse out the chamber and the mouthpiece before each session.
Adding ice cubes to your bong is another option. It will help the smoke to cool even more before it enters your lungs. Some bongs even come with ice pinches, pinched areas in the glass that allow you to rest ice on the downstem. Putting ice in your bong can make inhaling easier and may increase the smoke you can take. Be careful not to overfill your bong with ice, though, as this can cause it to leak and damage the insides.
It Filters Out Harmful Toxins
A bong filters out harmful toxins that could otherwise make it to your lungs. It is because the smoke passes through water before reaching your lungs. This filtration process, called water vaporization, causes the smoke to break into small bubbles. It helps to cool the smoke and reduces the amount of harmful tar that can be inhaled. Many bongs also have extra features that further increase the cooling and filtration of the smoke. For example, some feature ice catchers to further cool and filter the smoke. Others have percolators, which increase the surface area of the smoke and further break it into smaller bubbles.
Some studies have shown that using a bong can significantly decrease the amount of tar and other harmful chemicals that enter your lungs when smoking from a traditional pipe or joint. However, this does not necessarily mean that bongs are safer or healthier than other forms of smoking. Ultimately, it is up to the individual smoker to decide whether or not a bong is safe for them.
It is important to replace the water frequently. Doing this will prevent large build-ups of resin from forming. It is also important to practice good bong etiquette by wiping your mouth and placing your lips inside, not over, the inhale hole. It will prevent saliva from contaminating the bong and making it difficult to use.
It Gets You High Quickly
A bong allows you to smoke larger hits without coughing; bigger rips mean you can get higher faster. Plus, the water in the bong cools down the smoke and helps to filter out harmful toxins that can be absorbed into your lungs, leading to a smoother and quicker high than smoking a regular pipe. Many bongs also come equipped with a downstem and percolators that filter the smoke before it enters your lungs, further helping to reduce the harshness of the hit and reducing throat and lung irritation. Depending on your bong type, add percolators or downstems to your device for even more filtration and cooling. A myth floating around online is that sharing a bong with others can cause pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Although this is a complete lie, and no studies support this claim, practicing good bong etiquette’s still a good idea, and only smoking from your bong. When you’re done using your bong, empty the water and replace it regularly to prevent large resin build-ups from forming. You can use kosher or coarse-grained salt to make cleaning easier and more effective. It will also help keep the water clean and fresh tasting for when you’re ready to use it again.
