CULTURE
More Bang for Your Bong: How to Ensure Your Glass Lasts
AD
How to keep your piece in tip top shape.
Published on November 2, 2015

Bongs are more than a purchase, they're an investment. Considering the craftsmanship that goes into them, having a bong you enjoy is much like having a piece of art. If you think of them as such, you’ll be more inclined to make better decisions when buying your next piece of glass. Moreover, it’s very important to make sure you get something that suits your needs and is durable as well as adaptable, as a high-quality piece of glass is something that can last you a long time. Because this seemingly simple purchase can be complex, we've rounded up six facts for you to consider when buying and maintaining your bong so that you can get the most bong for your buck.

Invest in the Glass, Not Shape

Photo: Maxine Power

Intricate bongs are art pieces that deserve a spot on your mantle, but if you use them regularly or don’t wish to display your bong for everyone to see, their aesthetic quality doesn’t matter as much. If bongs are shaped too intricately, the glass has to be heated and moulded constantly, which makes for a fairly weak structure. With regular use, one simple crack might become something that renders your bong completely useless. Thick walls, strong glass and a durable structure are important, so make sure you find a bong that can withstand some usage as you'll likely want it to last for as long as possible.

Don’t Toss The Bubble Wrap

While this tip may be too late, try not to pop and toss the bubble wrap your bong came with. It’s almost the equivalent of throwing away a baby blanket once you bring your child home. You’ll want to take your bong out with you sometimes and transporting bare glass is not the best idea if you want to keep it safe. Wrap it back up in the bubble wrap when you’re moving it around or even when it’s in storage where it’s often accessed.

Clean Regularly

Old bong water is probably some of the nastiest liquid on Earth. Maintaining your bong is tedious, but it’s also important. Resin from the cannabis can accumulate in the bowl, making it sticky and less than ideal to use. Old water can begin to smell, and much like a coffee mug that gets good use, it can be hard to get rid of that smell regardless of how much you clean it. All of this can be avoided with regular cleaning.

Store In A Safe Environment

The last thing you want to do is open a cupboard door and watch your $300 bong fall and shatter right before your eyes. This can be slightly less likely if you have bubble wrap surrounding it, but the wrap doesn’t make it impervious to all impact. Where you keep your bong is just as important as where you use it. When storing, make sure you keep it on a relatively low shelf or in a drawer. If possible, keep it away from things that could knock it over due to frequent movement too.

Repair, Don’t Replace

Unless it has completely shattered, try repairing any damage to your bong before running out to buy a new one. Even if you don’t have a special connection with the piece, repairing your bong is far more economical than replacing it entirely—plus you'll get to keep the glass you've grown accustomed to. You save money, the bong gets a little more character and you don’t have to run out to buy a new pricey piece. Besides major damage, also make sure you repair any small cracks as soon as they appear before they become too big of a problem to fix.

Handle With Care

This is obvious, but it can be so easy to toss your bong onto the couch or set it on the floor after use. The more aggressively you treat your bong, the more likely it is to break. If you use it regularly and have invested both time and money into obtaining it, babying your bong may be the only reasonable thing to do. Stepping on it or letting it fall off the coffee table could lead to hundreds of dollars wasted; not to mention, you’ll have to clean up all of that bong water along with glass shards. Be careful in order to save yourself a lot of money and grief.

Bongs can come with a hefty price tag so it’s important to do your research before you buy one and take care of it after you bring it home. Think of it like buying a puppy: you have to have a safe place for it, clean up after it and also be very careful not to hurt it. Investing in a bong is a great thing, but be sure to take care of your glass or else it may end up costing you.

 
420
HOW TO
PRODUCT
MERRY JANE Staff
FOLLOW
MERRY JANE is based in Los Angeles, California and is dedicated to elevating the discussion around cannabis culture.
Share this article with your friends!
AD
By using our site you agree to our use of cookies to deliver a better experience.
Accept
Decline
MORE FROM MERRY JANE