It does not matter what innovations there are in the world of cannabis. One thing will always stay true. Glass is the best material when it comes to smoking.
It will always be the perfect mainstay. Whether you’re new to cannabis smoking or you’re already an experienced smoker, you should know everything about glass pipes.
There are a lot of various types, designs, price points, and terminology out there. Even if you’ve been smoking for years, you might still get confused about the difference between all the available glassware.
Of course, you don’t want to invest in a glass piece that does not offer you the experience you desire, right? To avoid this, you need to learn about pipes as much as possible.
What is Triple Blown?
If you’ve been searching for the ideal pipe in the market, you’ve probably heard of the term double blown and triple blown.
Of course, there’s a reason why people utilize these terms. Though they’re created with good intentions in mind, the truth is that they’re extremely poor descriptions of the thickness of the glass.
For those who don’t know, triple blown glass pipes are created by heating borosilicate glass and molding them. Unfortunately, thin glass is easy to crack and break. Thus, you want it to be thick.
To do this, manufacturers need to layer up the glass. This process also enables them to layer up various colors to create new styles and designs.
People use the term triple blown to specify that the pipe has 3 layers of glass. Thus, why do people call this term confusing?
Well, the reason for this is that not every thickness of the layer is the same. For instance, 3 layers of thin glass are going to be thinner compared to 3 layers of thick glass.
Aside from that, manufacturers might utilize frit. Typically, a layer of frit won’t be as thick as if the manufacturer does a complete layer of the glass rod.
Keep in mind that these are just some of the techniques utilized for layering glass. You should know that there are tons of other techniques out there.
Calling a pipe triple blown totally negates the wide range of techniques utilized by the manufacturer. A person can easily achieve a similar thickness using dozens of layers or two layers.
So, to make things simple, it is always wise to simply describe a pipe by the actual glass thickness instead of the number of layers it contains.
Water vs. Dry Glass Pipes
Now that you know what triple blown is, the next thing you need to know is the difference between a water pipe and a dry pipe.
In general, dry pipes are more convenient, cheaper, and smaller than water pipes. They are also extremely portable. People consider them the standard pipe for smoking.
Of course, a dry pipe will be your best bet if you’re on a budget or simply want a portable and convenient pipe.
On the other hand, water pipes are a bit more expensive, bigger, and aimed toward more avid smokers.
You’ll usually find water pipes in most head shops. This includes bubblers, dab rigs, and bongs. They offer smokers a smoother smoke since the water filters the smoke to help get rid of impurities.
Water pipes are particularly ideal for smoking essential oils since these can often be harsh if you use them with dry pipes. Water pipes work well for a range of smokers.
Why Should You Use a Glass Pipe?
You might be wondering why a lot of experienced smokers prefer glass pipes over other materials. Well, there’s a reason for this.
One of the biggest advantages of a glass pipe is that it won’t change the flavor or purity of the cannabis you’re smoking when you heat up the glass.
Aside from the glass getting hotter, nothing happens when you heat up the glass. If you’re using metal, wood, or other materials, you’ll notice a change in how your cannabis tastes.
On some occasions, toxins will leak into your flower if you use materials other than glass. Because of this, experienced smokers prefer glass because they know they’re only getting the fumes or smoke from their tobacco or flower.
Aside from that, glass is extremely beautiful when used in a smoking pipe. The truth is that blowing glass is a form of art itself.
When it comes to creating a glass pipe, manufacturers have been known to combine color pigments and experiment with unique sizes and shapes.
Looking for a unique glass piece can almost be the same as investing in a unique art piece.
Best Pipe Styles for Beginners
Chillums
Chillums are also called one-hitters. This type of glass pipe is extremely versatile. They’re also very portable and you can put them inside your pocket.
Right-handers and left-handers can use this pipe without struggling. Compared to other glass pipes out there, chillums have the simplest design.
Furthermore, they are very easy to use. So, if you’re new to cannabis smoking, you won’t have a hard time getting a hit using chillums. You can also take it anywhere you like. So, if you’re the type of person who smokes weed at random spots, consider chillums as your main smoking pipe.
Hand Pipes
When it comes to smoking pipes, hand pipes are classic. Every smoke should have this pipe. Hand pipes will never disappoint you. You can even use it as your go-to piece.
Hand pipes can easily fit in any type of hand. They’re best for once-a-day or casual use.
Hand pipes made from glass are thick. However, they’re not too big. They also contain holes that are big enough to prevent the weed from falling inside the pipe.
Conclusion
If you’re a new smoker who wants to prepare your arsenal, you should always include a glass pipe.
However, always keep in mind that everything you read in this article doesn’t apply to everybody. Various people have various needs and preferences.
There are other factors you need to think about before you purchase a pipe for smoking cannabis.