How do bongs work?

The user holds a flame over the substance to be smoked, usually cannabis. As the user inhales and drows air up the stem, the flame is drawn towards the substance and the smoke travels through a hollow pipe that is attached to the bottom of the bowl containing the smokable material. Through the pipe smoke enters into a vessel containing water. The hole through which this stem passes is airtight, and the bottom of the pipe is submerged in the water in order to make smoke bubble thru the water.

Bongs in operation diagramThe smoke rises through the water, cools and gets rid of some of toxicants, and is trapped in the air chamber above the water. This way the part of bong use, when the smoker collects purified smoke above the water is finished. Now to inhale collected smoke, cannabis connoiseur 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 which has 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 bong carb hole. These days most of 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 of recreational marijuana users around the world have tried and enjoyed occasional use of a bong, because of 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 ?!" :-)

Click on Name or Image to Buy
Curved Glass Bong
$ 21.43 / €17.70
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
$24.01 / €19.84
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
$24.49 / €20.23
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 kind of stylish and darkside.
Size: 22cm