Why Glass is the Best Material for Bongs and Pipes
Posted by ADRIAN V
There are a lot of things we take for granted in our everyday life, or things we just choose not to question. We just accept things for the way they are regardless. But it is curiosity that has helped mankind progress and inspires further ingenuity and progression.
One of those questions your sure to have asked yourself at some point is “Why glass? What mastermind came up with this idea?” It’s all down to years of evolution and engineering our environment to ensure our species’ survival. Yeah, pretty Meta.
We here at Everybodydoesit feel it is our duty to not only provide the best range of smoking utensils and apparatus; but to also act as a consistently reliable source of information to educate our consumers on the products they are buying.
So with that in mind, let us explore the question: why is glass the best material for bongs and pipes?
Ergonomics
One of the main reasons for why glass is such an excellent material for bongs, is all down to the scientific practice of ergonomics. What on earth is ergonomics? Simply put, ergonomics is an applied science that involves designing and arranging things people use regularly so that they may function efficiently, but most of all safely. Every product you come into contact with in your daily life will have been ergonomically designed to some degree so that you may safely use it.
In the case of bongs, glass has been chosen as the primary material for a number of reasons, all involving your five main senses.
Touch
While glass is quite commonly seen as one of the most fragile materials for smoking apparatus, glass that is used for bongs and pipes is not. Glass specifically used for bongs goes through a process known as annealing, meaning the glass is considerably strengthened.
Glass is among the most easily moulded and fastest produced materials for bongs and pipes. Naturally manufacturers prefer to use it than other materials.
Glass also provides a smooth surface that is easy to grip and is very easy to clean. Due to glass being non-porous, there are fewer cavities for bacteria to live in, which is great news for germaphobes!
There are a number of different ways to clean glass bongs. For more info on cleaning your bong be sure to visit our blog with a step by step guide through the process.
Taste
If you have ever owned a wooden, plastic or clay bong or pipe, you know there is a very distinct taste that comes from each hit. These flavours compete with that of your chosen herb and can taint your smoking experience. Glass is a non-porous and non-combustible material and therefore adds nothing to the smoke.
This combination of tastes was once valued and considered to be part of the smoking experience, particularly with wooden pipes. Now that we have a greater emphasis on the cultivation of tobacco and herbs, the desire for glass material has risen as it results in a much purer and defined smoking experience.
Smell
The majority of foul odours are commonly caused by a build up of bacteria. As mentioned earlier, due to glass being a non-porous and relatively uninhabitable environment for bacteria, glass remains relatively odour free unlike wooden material. Provided you clean your bong regularly, it should remain odourless, the same cannot be guaranteed for other materials
Sight
Glass can be moulded into a wide variety of beautiful shapes, sizes and colours. Glass is not made by an engineer or carpenter like most other products; it is made by an artisan which is much different.
For centuries glass making has been considered an art, you only have to look at our extensive online range of glass bongs to see just how creative the process has become.
There are colours, shapes and textures made from glass that simply cannot be done with other materials. Glass making is an ancient tradition, a truly rare beauty, and a fascinating process to behold.
Sound
Okay, so maybe sound doesn’t come into play so much in the process of glass bong making.
But a lot can be said for the actual sound that is produced from a long hit from a glass bong; the soft crackling of the herb being lit in the bowl, the gentle sound of playful bubbling.
These aural experiences can almost become hypnotic, filling you with a warm, easy feeling. That’s an experience you can’t put a price on, good luck getting that out of a wooden pipe!
Other Factors
Many other factors are at play beyond the basic senses of human beings. The use of glass for pipes and bongs is generally believed to be the healthiest option.
Many other materials have been known to release fumes when heated to a particular point. Methane has been known to be produced from burning wood which can have a detrimental effect on your personal health.
This is especially true in the case of wooden pipes, however, metallic and plastic materials are also known to produce various toxins.
With glass, you won’t have to worry at all about any harmful chemicals being released when it is heated. Plastic materials also run the risk of being warped and misshapen over time after being subject to incredibly high levels of heat. In comparison, glass that is properly strengthened and reinforced needs extremely high temperatures to even begin to melt - around 1100°F (560°C) - a heat that is pretty impossible to reach with your lighter.
Compared to a material like metal, glass is not as strong a conductor of heat, which makes it the perfect material for glass mouthpieces. Think about it - how many times have you burnt your lips on the mouthpiece of a metal pipe and how many times have you done it on a glass bong?
From stained glass and neon signs to bongs and pipes, the skill and artistry required to manipulate glass into beautiful, functional artforms is nothing short of a marvel - which is often overlooked when you’re too busy lining up your next big hit. So, the next time you’re loading up your bong, make sure you take a moment to meditate on the skill that went into crafting your piece before you rip it.
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