Water Pipes

How a water pipe works

Smoke is drawn through water before it reaches you. The water cools it and traps some particulate, which is why the same material feels much smoother through a bong than through a dry pipe. Percolators add extra chambers that break the smoke into smaller bubbles, increasing contact with the water and smoothing it further.

Shapes

• Beaker base: the widest, most stable shape. Holds the most water and is hardest to knock over.
• Straight tube: clears faster and is easier to clean, but tips more easily.
• Mini rigs and bubblers: small water volume, big flavour, ideal for concentrates or solo use. See bubblers.
• Recyclers and percolator pieces: the smoothest hits, and the most parts to clean.

Joint sizes

Bowls and downstems are sized by joint diameter — usually 14mm or 18mm, male or female. Measure or check the listing before buying a replacement bowl, because a 14mm bowl will not seal in an 18mm joint.

Water level and upkeep

Fill so the downstem slits sit about half an inch under the surface. Too much water and you get splashback; too little and you lose the filtration. Change the water every session — old bong water is where the smell and most of the harshness come from. Deep clean weekly with 91% isopropyl and coarse salt, with plugs or your hands over the openings, then rinse until the smell is completely gone.

Should I use ice?

If the piece has ice pinches, yes — it cools the smoke further. Do not drop ice into a piece without them.

Why is mine hard to clear?

Either the bowl is packed too tight or a perc is clogged with resin.

Does glass thickness matter?

Yes. 5mm and up survives real use; thin glass cracks at the joint first.