There are myriad ways to take cannabis, whether you prefer dry herb, oil, concentrate or edibles. One time-honoured method is the bong. For the cannabis connoisseur or ardent Cheech and Chong fan, this is one device you really do need to know how to use.
For those who aren’t familiar, there are actually different kinds of a bong. Some of the store-bought ones are pretty extravagant, but one of the most creative is the gravity bong.
This is well worth trying out if you’re at a party and want to impress your friends. It’s also great if you don’t have any cannabis paraphernalia to hand and need to construct something in a hurry.
The stand method utilizes two plastic vessels and the power of water. Some people swear that it gives a cleaner and stronger high than many other ways of taking cannabis. Whether that’s true or not, it’s fun to make and brilliant for everyone to use.
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Here you’ll find out how easy it is to make.
What is a Gravity Bong?
The gravity bong is a homemade device allowing you to smoke cannabis. It works by using water and the force of gravity to draw your cannabis vapour down into a bottle which can then be breathed in. Depending on the type of bottle you have, you can make a bong that is any size.
There are two options if you decide to create one, using the traditional bucket or two-sized bottle design or creating a waterfall bong with a single bottle. Both are equally as good, and it’s worth experimenting with each to see which suits you best.
Of the two, the waterfall bong is slightly more awkward and has the potential to be messy if you get it wrong.
The Benefits of Gravity Bongs
One of the main benefits is that they are easy to make from just a few household items. If you’re skilled at putting them together, it can take just a few minutes to get up and running. Many say that they achieve a bigger high because you can force the smoke into your lungs.
Having said that, they're not generally for newbies to the world of cannabis. They’re more suited to those with some experience as the high can be quite potent, depending on the strain of cannabis being used. That can also send you into a coughing fit if you get the timing wrong.
While most are homemade, you can also get them in-store. If you are looking for something that is built to last and this has become your preferred method of taking cannabis, it’s well worth investigating. Otherwise, stick to making your own.
What Items Do You Need?
All you need is one smaller and one larger plastic receptacle because they will need to fit inside each other. Many people use plastic water bottles and a bucket. But two water bottles of differing sizes can also be used.
You need a cap to load your cannabis into and some water. You’ll need a sharp cutting knife like a workman’s blade, some tin foil and a narrow stick with a sharp point, something you can poke holes with.
And, of course, you’ll need your cannabis strain.
Step By Step Guide to Make a Gravity Bong
Make holes in the bottom of the bottle.. You’ll want to have enough space in the remaining bottle to collect as much smoke as you need.
If you use another larger bottle, cut the top off it and fill it with water. If you are using a bucket or a sink, you should simply fill that with water. There has to be enough to push your smaller bottle down almost to its top.
Next, take the cap off your smaller water bottle and make a hole at the top. This is where you are going to place your cannabis. You want it to be big enough so that the air can be drawn through but not too big that your cannabis will drop down into the water.
Wrap the cap with your aluminium foil and create a small bowl. This can be a little fiddly but is well worth taking your time over. You can buy specially made bowls for fitting over the tops of gravity bongs, but this works just as well and is a lot cheaper.
Use your poking tool to make small holes in the foil so the smoke can get through. We suggest three to five little holes. However, make sure they aren’t so big that your cannabis will fall through.
Load this with your cannabis and tamp it down a little. But don’t screw it onto the bottle just yet.
How to Get the Best Out of Your Bong
- You’re just about ready to go now, and the next step takes a little skill and some good timing. First, take your smaller bottle and push it into the water-filled second, larger container until it is about up to the neck. If you've filled a bucket with water, be careful not to spill water over the sides.
- Now screw your primed cap onto the smaller bottle and hold it there. You’ll notice that the submerged bottle is full of water. Make sure that the cap is tightly screwed on as you don’t want your vape to escape.
- Light your cannabis bowl very slowly and gently lift the smaller bottle up. You’ll see the smoke going into the vacuum created by the rising bottle. You don’t bring the bottle fully out of the water because the smoke will escape.
- When you have enough, carefully remove the cap from the top of the bottle. Put your lips around the neck and gently begin to move the bottle back into the water. This should then force the smoke up out of the neck and into your lungs.
This can make even the most expert cannabis user cough if they don’t get the timing right. It’s going to give you a big hit of THC as well, and you should try to avoid breathing it in too quickly. This is why you generally shouldn’t try this if you are a newbie.
What is a Waterfall Bong?
The bucket and bottle method is probably the most popular way to make a gravity bong, but it’s not the only one. The waterfall bong works on the same principle, except that you only need one bottle. It can be a little messier if you get it wrong.
You can prepare the cap in the same way as you did for the gravity bong. The difference is in how you prep the bottle.
You need to make a small hole in the bottom of the bottle. You want to be able to put your finger over this so don’t make it too big.
Put your finger over the hole and fill the waterfall bong with water, almost to the top. It’s important that you have the bottle over a sink or somewhere you can lose the water without creating a mess.
Next, attach your cap and light up your cannabis. Once it has started, remove your finger from the hole and watch the smoke start to fill the bottle. The smaller the hole, the longer this will take. When the water is all gone, put your finger back over the hole and take off the lid. Remove your finger as you draw in the cannabis vapor.
This can be a little fiddlier than the gravity bong with a bucket and you may need an extra pair of hands to help out. It’s a great way to make a bong if you don’t have two receptacles and it’s quite impressive once it works.
The gravity bong is the ideal device for a social occasion and a brilliant way to impress your friends. You need to be careful, however, with the strength of the hit you may get when using this method. What looks simple can leave you in choking fits if you get it wrong.
If you are ever at a party, there’s usually someone trying the gravity bong trick. You’ll also find people using pipes made of vegetables as well as connoisseurs with their own vaping devices. You might even find people smoking a blunt or two.
Should you be looking to buy a gravity bong rather than make one, the truth is that only states where recreational use has been legalized usually have them for sale. In the US, it’s illegal to ship such devices across state lines so be careful if you are ordering one. It pays to check the law in your local area.
The good news is that, while buying a manufactured gravity bong can have consequences, it’s still pretty easy (and a lot cheaper) to make your own.
Seedsman has a large variety of cannabis seeds on our online store.
