What are the different parts that make up a bong?

Increasingly present among smokers, the bong is making a comeback. But do you know what it actually is and how it is built? This article explains it all so that you can round out your knowledge of the subject.

What is a bong?

Also known as a bong or water pipe, the device is used with tobacco or aromatic herbs. Its principle is to draw the smoke through water before it is inhaled.

At first glance, a bong looks like a laboratory beaker. There are of course many models, some plain, some convoluted, transparent or coloured. They also come in several sizes and in various materials.

The different parts of a bong

A bong is made up of 6 parts. We shall describe them from bottom to top, so that their purpose is clear.

The chamber

This is a container that is wide at the base and narrower towards the opening. A bong may have one or several chambers, also called percolators. This is where the water is held.

The downstem (the stem or tube)

This is the part that dips into the chamber and comes out through one of the walls of the bong, hence its name. It connects the bowl to the chamber.

The bowl (or head)

This bulb-shaped piece is where the tobacco or the aromatic herbs are placed. It may be built into the bong or removable. Metal models have screw-in bowls, while glass models use male and female ground joints.

The carburettor

This is a small hole that lets the smoke be cleared from the body of the bong. On glass bongs, the piece slides.

The chimney (or tube)

As the name suggests, the chimney is the tube that fills with smoke. It may be straight or angled depending on the model. Ice cubes can be dropped into it to cool the smoke before it is inhaled.

The mouthpiece

This is where the user places their mouth to draw the smoke from the bong.