It’s no secret that stoners get creative with how they smoke their flower — from apple bongs to water bottles.
Among these unconventional smoking devices is the gravity bong, a unique device that enhances the user’s experience through its simple yet effective mechanism. But if you’re unfamiliar, you might be wondering, ‘What is a Gravity Bong?’
In simple terms, this homemade contraption uses water and air pressure to produce dense, potent smoke, making it a top choice for those aiming to maximize efficiency.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the gravity bong’s origins, its functionality, and why it’s a popular option for those seeking an intense smoke sesh. We’ll also share tips on creating your own homemade gravity bongs at home, so you can enjoy all the benefits without dropping a bunch of money. Let’s get started!
What is a Gravity Bong?
Simply put, a gravity bong smartly uses water and air pressure to create cannabis smoke. Even better, it’s typically crafted with regular household items.
Unlike traditional smoking methods, the gravity bong gently delivers heavily concentrated smoke to the user’s lungs, requiring minimal effort. It provides a more concentrated and intense experience, perfect for those wanting to enjoy cannabis more efficiently.
Brief History and Origin
The gravity bong’s origins are a bit of a mystery, but the story goes that it sprang from the creativity of stoners seeking an intense smoking experience. Though its birth remains fuzzy, the gravity bong embodies a DIY approach that mirrors the ingenuity of the cannabis community.
Types of Gravity Bongs
When it comes to gravity bongs, there are mainly two types that we tend to gravitate towards: the Waterfall gravity bong and the Bucket gravity bong.
Waterfall Gravity Bong
The Waterfall gravity bong is typically your simplest form of gravity bong, known for its ease of use and convenience.
Unlike its counterparts, the Waterfall only requires one container with a small hole at the bottom. It works by filling the container with water, lighting the cannabis while releasing the hole at the bottom, and allowing gravity to pull the water out, creating a vacuum that works to pull smoke into the container. Once the water has fully drained, you inhale the smoke from the top.
What sets the Waterfall apart is its simplicity and the fact that it requires less water and fewer materials to construct compared to others.
Bucket Gravity Bong
The Bucket gravity bong, on the other hand, uses a two-container system. One larger container is filled with water, and a second, smaller container (often single-use plastic bottles with the bottom cut off) is submerged partly in the water. The weed is then lit and slowly lifted from the water, creating a vacuum that fills the smaller container with smoke.
When ready to inhale, the user removes the lid (or foil) from the top, places their mouth over the opening, and pushes the bottle back into the water to force the smoke up. The Bucket gravity bong is popular for its effective use of water pressure to produce a dense, potent smoke, making it a favorite among those seeking a more powerful hit.
Needless to say, both types have their appeal depending on one’s preference for simplicity, available materials, or intensity of the experience.
How Does a Gravity Bong Work?
Knowing how a gravity bong works isn’t just interesting – it explains why it hits so hard. The process is pretty simple, using basic physics like air and water pressure to product smoke, but let’s dive into how gravity bongs actually do their thing:
The Science Behind the Gravity Bong
At the heart of how a gravity bong works is the idea of pressure difference.
As the water starts flowing out of the container, it forms a vacuum inside. Since nature doesn’t like empty spaces, air – or in this instance, smoke – quickly moves in to occupy the space.
This standard principle is what lets the bong draw smoke from the burning cannabis and into the container, all set for you to inhale.
Step-by-Step Explanation of the Process
- Prepare the Bong: For a Bucket bong, you’ll need two containers – one larger and one smaller with the bottom cut off. For a Waterfall bong, you only need one container with a small hole at the bottom.
- Fill and Seal: Fill the larger container with water (Bucket bong) or the single container near the top (Waterfall bong). Cover the mouthpiece of the smaller container or the top of the single container with foil to place the cannabis on.
- Begin the Process: Light the cannabis while simultaneously, for the Bucket bong, gently pulling the smaller container upwards to begin water displacement, or for the Waterfall, opening the hole at the bottom of the container.
- Fill with Smoke: As the water exits the container (draining out for Waterfall, being displaced for Bucket), smoke is pulled into the empty space, filling the container.
- Inhale the Smoke: Once the process is complete, inhale the smoke from the container. For the Bucket bong, this is typically done by pushing the container back into the water to force the smoke upwards.
Making Your Own Gravity Bong: Materials and Safety Tips
To create your own gravity bong, you’ll need a few basic items that can easily be found around the house.
The essentials include:
- A larger container like a bucket or a 2-liter plastic bottle
- A smaller bottle (anywhere from 16 oz to 2 liters, with the bottom cut off)
- Aluminum foil
- A needle or pin to poke holes in the foil
- A lighter
Safety and best practices are super important when you’re putting together and using a gravity bong. Just make sure to have good ventilation in the area you’re working in to avoid any issues with inhaling smoke in a poorly ventilated room. Also, be sure to use the bong in a chill spot where you can kick back because the effects hit hard and fast.
Additionally, it’s essential to always use clean, fresh water to minimize any risk of inhaling impurities. Remember, the goal is to enjoy a safe and satisfactory experience, so taking precautions and being mindful of the process is important.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Gravity Bong
Whether you lean towards the simplicity of the Waterfall or the intensity of the Bucket gravity bong, making your own is a pretty straightforward process. Here’s how to make both:
Making a Waterfall Gravity Bong
- Gather Your Materials: All you need is a plastic bottle (any size but 2 liters is optimal), aluminum foil, a needle or pin, a bucket or sink, and water.
- Prepare the Bottle: Take your plastic bottle and make a small hole near the bottom. This will be used to allow water to flow out, creating the vacuum effect.
- Prepare the Bowl: Use a small piece of aluminum foil to form a bowl shape that will fit snugly over the bottle’s plastic bottle cap opening. Poke small holes in the foil with a pin or needle to allow for airflow.
- Fill the Bottle: Seal the hole at the bottom with your finger or tape temporarily and fill the bottle with water.
- Load the Cannabis: Place your flower on the foil-wrapped top of the bottle.
- Ignite and Inhale: Light the cannabis, then release the hole at the bottom of the bottle. As the water empties from the bottle, smoke fills the void. Once the water is completely drained, inhale the smoke from the top of the bottle.
Making a Bucket Gravity Bong
- Gather the Essentials: You’ll need two containers – a large bucket or a container that can hold water and a smaller plastic bottle (cut the bottom off). You’ll also need aluminum foil, a needle or pin, and water.
- Prepare the Smaller Bottle: After cutting the bottom off the smaller bottle, use the aluminum foil to create a bowl on the top opening of the bottle. Poke holes for airflow.
- Prepare the Bucket: Fill your larger container or bucket with water almost to the top.
- Load the Cannabis: Place the cannabis on the foil-covered top of the smaller bottle.
- Submerge and Smoke: Gently place the smaller bottle into the water, ensuring it doesn’t fill up while keeping the top above water. Light the cannabis and slowly lift the bottle out of the water – but not completely. The space that was filled with water will now be replaced with smoke.
- Inhale the Smoke: Once the bottle is filled with smoke, carefully remove or slide off the foil, put your mouth over the bottle’s opening, and gently push the bottle back down into the water, making the smoke rise for you to inhale.
Gravity Bong Cleaning and Maintenance
Ensuring your gravity bong stays in great shape not only extends its life but also makes for a safer experience!
Regular cleaning is key; use isopropyl alcohol and salt to keep the bowl and bottles free of resin and buildup. Remember to fully disassemble the bong for a deep clean after each session.
To maintain your gravity bong well, check for any wear or damage, especially in plastic bottles that can degrade and release harmful chemicals over time. Consider switching to a glass gravity bong for better durability with the waterfall bong.
Above all, use your gravity bong responsibly in well-ventilated areas for your safety and the environment’s.
Conclusion
In the end, putting together a gravity bong, whether it’s the Waterfall or Bucket type, turns into a cool DIY project that can enhance your smoking session using everyday household items. Just follow the step-by-step guide for setup, prioritize safety by ensuring good ventilation, and keep up with regular cleaning to enjoy a super-efficient smoking tool.
The gravity bong’s strong kick and easy setup make it a top choice for fans seeking a powerful hit. Yet, it’s important to be cautious due to its potency.
All in all, gravity bongs produce a powerful smoke through their simple yet high-performance design, providing a unique and unforgettable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the point of a gravity bong?
The gravity bong is pretty cool because it gives you a more intense hit compared to regular bongs. It uses water’s gravity to create smoke, making it a smooth way to enjoy cannabis and achieve a strong effect using less product.
2. What is the difference between a gravity bong and a regular bong?
A gravity bong is a bit different from your usual bong when it comes to producing smoke. Regular bongs do their thing with water at normal pressure, but gravity bongs work by using water and gravity to fill up with smoke. This cool trick can give you a denser, more intense hit with just one breath in.
3. What is the danger of a gravity bong?
The thing about gravity bongs is they can be pretty potent. The strong smoke concentration can hit harder, especially for newbies. Also, watch out for health risks if the plastic parts aren’t taken care of – heating them up can release harmful chemicals.
4. Is a gravity bong a vaporizer?
Nope, a gravity bong isn’t a vaporizer. Even though both tools amp up the cannabis experience, they work in pretty different ways. Gravity bongs use smoke from burning cannabis, while vaporizers gently heat the herb to release its flavor and effects without any burning, giving you vapor instead of smoke.
