It goes without saying that smoke filtration is the #1 priority of even the most novice of waterpipe users. Whether you looking to finally get that 3ft beaker bong you’ve dreamed of since your college days or you’re interested in the cutting edge has lead you to become interested in getting a dab rig, the type of diffusion your toking apparatus produces is extremely important. In this article, we will discuss the different types of percolators, how they work, as well as other features a glass bong can have to ensure smoother hits in addition to a minimal loss in thc content in your smoke.

Without further ado, let’s put on the hit song “Percolator” by Spyro Gyra while we learn more about all their is to know about percolator bongs...

What is a percolator bong?

By definition, percolation is the act of straining or filtration via the act of passing through small interstices. So if you have used even the most basic straight tube bong and when you hit it you watch the air go into the downstem into the water chamber producing the trademark bubbles the bong is so famous for, that in fact is the most basic percolator. These tiny slits or holes break up the smoke before it enters the water. The more bubbles that are created by the downstem, the more surface area the vapor has to cool before it enters the tube for inhalation.

What many stoners do not know is that borosilicate glass is perfect for not just making glass bongs, it’s also the perfect material for making scientific lab equipment. Beyond beakers and test tubes, a lot of scientific glassware is made specifically for the filtration and diffusion of liquids. Over time many glassworkers who got their start in the craft being trained to make this complex equipment began making glass bongs, and with that, the means of diffusion quickly expanded and now even today the art is still being improved on.

What are the different types of percolators?

There are so many percolators (percs for short) today that making a list almost seems impossible! However, we will do our best to list them and give a short description of how they work to improve your smoking experience in a variety of ways:

• Diffused Downstems

More often than not these are the most simple variety of percolators found on the market. Most water bongs feature this technology as it provides an easy connection to the bowl via the female joint, and its removable nature makes it easy to clean. Downstems can either comprise of a simple open-ended glass tube, or a closed-end tube with either saw cut holes or slits cut into it to generate a higher amount of small bubbles. A lot of fixed-stem bubblers and silicone bongs also feature this simple yet efficient technology.

• Inline Percolator

The inline perc is a classic loved by seasoned stoners and newcomers alike due to its scientific look. It is like a fixed downstem that can’t be removed, and unlike a downstem does not come into the chamber at an angle. Rather it is oriented horizontally giving your bong that “chemistry set” look. Along the bottom of the tube holes or slits are cut into the percolator giving the smoke multiple exits in which to escape from

• Showerhead Percolator

Like the name suggests, this perc is constructed to look similar to a showerhead. A fixed tube connects the bowl via a female joint where the smoke is taken to the lowest point of the water chamber. Once there the smoke moves through this shower-head like bottom via the holes or slits cut into the showerhead perc.

• Tree Percolator

Perhaps the most popular bong percolator due to its complexity and cool looks, it might also be the hardest to clean. Often the second percolator after the downstem, this perc brings the smoke into a dedicated water chamber via a series of small tubes with holes or slits at the end of them. The way these small tubes are joined together makes them look like the many branches of a tree, sometimes these percs are stacked making a doubletree perc or even a triple. Tree perc bongs are essential for any stoner’s glass collection.

• Honeycomb Percolator aka Disc Perc

These percolators are as interesting in their design as they are fun to look at! When a piece features this type of perc, the smoke is led through a fixed tube (connecting to the bowl via a female joint) into the bottom of the water chamber. As the air begins to bubble it is fed through a glass disc inside the water chamber that either has holes cut into it, or an intricate design that is laser etched to ensure maximum surface area to cool the smoke.

• Matrix Percolator

The matrix perc is a 360-degree mesh percolator used in bongs that will instantly diffuse the smoke into a stack of tiny bubbles. The unique design of the double matrix perc is extremely underrated. A lot of designs feature a matrix perc allows you to distance yourself further from your flame and the design acts as a sort of splash guard which is highly convenient.

• Turbine Percolator

Turbine percs function to whip water into a whirlpool-like effect, hence the name. Turbine percs have a moderate amount of drag because they generally featureless diffusion points than other percolators. This means turbines may take a second to reach their full capacity and create a real cyclone, but once the water is really spinning nothing compares! Turbines create their cyclone effect via a few angled slits along the perimeter of the percolator. Because turbines usually only have a few diffusion points, they work well with concentrates.

• Recyclers

Recyclers bongs however having evolved with the popularity of dab rigs, they work phenomenally with both flowers and wax & oil. These unique pipes harness the science of how water moves through a glass tube to function in a way that keeps water constantly moving within the chamber of your pipe, creating a whirlpool-like effect that provides full flavor at no expense to your lungs. Recyclers bongs have quickly become very popular within the concentrate and dab scenes, as the condensed chambers and drag-free smoke of a recycler is ideal for terpene-rich sessions.

• Swiss Perc

A Swiss percolator is a unique style of perc named for its resemblance to Swiss cheese. With punctuated spaces built into the body of a pipe, Swiss percs let smoke and water pass around the holes, filtering and cooling your smoke for a super smooth hit. These percolators are renowned among flower and concentrate users alike. The welded holes of a Swiss Perc act as a barrier which smoke and water are forced to move around—generating more bubbles and cooling the smoke. The swiss perc design was recently improved upon to create the massively popular “Faberge Egg” which uses the same technology but in a radically different design to create one of the most if not the most interesting bong you’ve ever seen.

• Ash Catchers

The ash catcher is an accessory designed to be easily added to (or removed from) your favorite flower tube that does not have a percolator beyond the diffuser downstem. Ash catchers are available in many different shapes, sizes, and styles with a huge variety of different percolators. A true swiss army knife, many smokers enjoy converting their ash catchers into a portable water pipe by attaching what’s known as a j-hook to it.

Is a percolator good for a bong?

This is a question that sometimes gets cannabis enthusiasts into a heated debate than can last for hours. As previously mentioned the diffusion process breaks up the smoke before it enters the water. The more bubbles that are created by the downstem, the more surface area the vapor has to cool before it enters the tube for inhalation. But with that increased surface area comes an increased chance of the THC you are trying to inhale being left in the water chamber or inside the bong without ever leaving the mouthpiece.

Chances are if you are smoking through a bong you are smoking enough dry herb or concentrates to make this loss in THC rather negligible. With that being said, if you are limited in your supply, it might be best to stick to using a joint or dry herb vaporizer to ensure you are getting the most THC possible per rip.

This same “make the most of it” notion comes into play also when smoking concentrates which can be expensive and hard to come by. A lot of seasoned stoners tend to go with the simple diffusion offered by a fixed downstem with just a few holes in a much smaller bong. This gives the hot vapor a chance to cool ensuring a smooth hit without the potential of the vapor turning back into oil as there isn’t much glass to pass through. This is why the term “dab rig” was coined, as these pieces are more akin to that little gun Will Smith uses in the first Men in Black movie, small but packs a huge punch. Whereas bongs for dry herbs can reach almost unmanageable sizes.

What bongs hit the smoothest?

While in our opinion almost all bongs hit much smoother than a joint. If you’re looking for even smoother rips and want to get away from the chugging effect most basic bongs offer, you’ll need to look for is the number of cuts in the diffuser. Almost all types of percolator listed come in varieties with many cuts put into them. honeycomb disc, matrix percs, and other laser-cut percs offer this much sought-after function. Usually a bit more pricey, these pieces will offer a high-quality hit that is silent, efficient, and fun to look at.

Other important design features

While this article focuses on percolator technology, this would not be a comprehensive guide in buying a bong for smoking cannabis if it did not mention these also important design features:

• Ice Notches (aka Ice Catchers)

These small notches built into the top part of the bong make it so that you can fill a bong with ice cubes without it falling into the water chamber where it would potentially cause problems. If you are looking for cooler smoke, this is essential for your next piece

• Thick Glass

It goes without too much explanation that a thick glass bong will ensure a more stress-free smoke session. This way you can be at ease every time your clumsy friend (we all have one) uses your beloved piece. If you really don’t want to deal with a glass, consider a silicone bong as they are unbreakable and easy to clean.

• Bent Neck vs. Straight Neck

While this feature doesn’t play much of a role in the overall function of your piece, it does influence the way you smoke the piece. If you like setting the bong in your lap to take a rip, chances are you’ll be better off with a straight neck. If you like to keep the piece on the table, a bent neck will provide a subtle curve at the end of the mouthpiece making it easier to enjoy your smoke.

• Straight Tube vs. Beaker Base

Straight tube bongs are easier to clean and store, however they hold a lower volume of water and only offer so much percolation. On the other hand, the beaker base not only gives your percolator more water to bubble up, but it also provides a more sturdy weighted base giving it more stability when you set it on the table.

Which type of bong is the best to smoke out of?

As much as we’d love to point to one definitive piece as being the best, the truth is that in this ever-expanding world of percolator bongs and bubblers the best one to smoke out of is one that speaks to you in a way that all the others don’t. It could be the colors, the way the percolators are designed and oriented, or it could have a rather risqué image on the tube that you just love looking at. At the end of the day when you go to purchase your next bong, explore your options and don’t feel pressured to buy what others are recommending. That’s because chances are this will be just one bong in your ever-growing collection of them, so it’s good to have variety!

If you can’t make it into a smoke shop, or if it’s early in the morning and you just want to look at your options why not stroll over to the grasscity.com webstore to start looking for the piece of your dreams?