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The Charter of the French language and its regulations govern the consultation of English-language content.
Hi ! The Charter of the French language and its regulations govern the consultation of English-language content.
Often called bongs, water pipes are used for smoking dried cannabis flowers and concentrates like hash and kief. Because using the pipe and cleaning its parts are less straightforward than with a regular pipe, this accessory is best suited for users with some experience under their belts.
Though usually made from glass, regular water pipes come in a wide variety of models and materials. Some are made from acrylic, others from wood, silicone or metal.
Using cannabis in a water pipe is similar to using it in a hand pipe with a carb. The main difference is that before using a water pipe, you partially fill its base with a liquid, usually cold water.
Once that’s done, here’s how to use a water pipe to smoke cannabis: place a small amount of ground cannabis or concentrate in the bowl; use a lighter to ignite the material; inhale gently; remove the part consisting of the bowl and downstem; finish inhaling.
Like hand pipes, most water pipes are similar in design. Here are the main parts:
The base is the part of the water pipe that holds the liquid. In most cases, water – preferably cold – is poured directly into the pipe through the mouthpiece. The water level should completely cover the bottom end of the downstem (the extension of the bowl) but not go more than part way up the stem. Some people put ice in the neck to cool the smoke even further.
It’s best to use a cold liquid because it helps cool the smoke before inhaling, which makes the experience less irritating for the throat. We also strongly suggest that the liquid be water, because juice, milk and other fatty or sweet liquids will crud up your device more quickly and make it harder to clean.
As with a hand pipe, the bowl, which acts as a combustion chamber, is where the ground dried flowers or concentrate go. Using a screen is recommended to prevent cannabis ashes from falling into the downstem. On some models, the bowl is removeable to ensure all the smoke can be inhaled.
The downstem extends down from the bowl. It’s through the downstem that the smoke is pulled into the base. For the pipe to work properly, the bottom end of the downstem should be completely submerged.
The neck is the biggest part of most water pipes. It’s the main passageway for the smoke to reach the mouthpiece. The necks on some bongs have ice catchers. Some users find that placing ice cubes in the neck makes the smoke less irritating to inhale. The ice catchers extend the cubes’ life by preventing them from dropping into the water in the base.
The mouthpiece is located at the upper end of the chimney. As its name implies, this is where you place your mouth to inhale the product.
The dabbing process is similar to vaporizing a cannabis extract. Both are a way to use cannabis concentrates, such as resin, rosin and cannabis diamonds, by inhaling vapour without igniting the product.
To use a cannabis extract with a banger attachment (dab rig), start by adding cold water to the base. Then use a butane torch to heat the banger. Allow the hot surface to cool for a few seconds before dabbing on a small amount of product (to avoid burning your hands, we recommend using a small metal or glass dab tool).
Then proceed as with a water pipe: inhale partially, remove the banger attachment and downstem (be careful not to touch the hot parts) and finish inhaling.
If you have any questions about the methods of use or the various types of rolling papers available at the SQDC, speak with our in-store advisors or chat online with them now!
The SQDC carries a selection of basic cannabis accessories, including water pipes.
DO NOT REUSE your bong water for any other purpose (plants, pets, etc.). Simply pour it down the sink drain and be sure to clean and rinse your accessory before using it again.
In a water pipe, the cannabis is ignited, which creates smoke. A vaporizer heats but doesn’t burn the cannabis, which creates vapour.
Putting ice in the neck of the pipe cools the smoke, making it less irritating to inhale.
The main differences are that water pipes use less cannabis to produce the same effect and don’t involve burning paper.
Partially fill the base with a cold liquid. Place a small amount of ground cannabis or concentrate in the bowl. Light the product with a lighter and inhale gently. Remove the part consisting of the bowl and downstem and finish inhaling.