Friday, December 9, 2016

Buying The Perfect Water Pipe

The perfect water pipe is truly in the eye of the beholder. For some people, this can mean a 20 inch tower of percolation power. For some it's just a small bubbler with some funky, colorful glass. No matter your style, there are some things you should be looking for in your new water pipe, and this is particularly huge for newbies that are just getting into the game. So, without further adieu, let's get to it:

Overall Height

Classic huge water pipeYep, it's a basic concept, for sure, but it can make a difference. The larger your water pipe, the more smoke it can hold, which can lead to some truly monster hits.

On the other hand, something smaller and portable can be handy to have around, and frankly, can be far more discreet. Not everyone wants to have their pipe out at all times, and the ability to stow a smaller piece (like 14" and under) is far, far easier than a larger piece. The fact is, in some closets, a pipe larger than 16" can be incredibly difficult to place on a shelf.

It's all about your taste. While a shorter (12" and under) can work well as a handheld pipe, a 16" double honeycomb'd beauty like this probably won't be a one hander.

AshcatchersA final note on height revolves around ash catchers: do you have one, and if so, a pipe under 10" could make it very tough to use. Some ash catchers are 6-8" tall, so a shorter pipe may not have the clearance. Keep this in mind when you buy, as using an ashcatcher is a great bonus which can not only keep your pipe super-clean, but it can also add some sweet, sweet diffusion.

Mouthpiece Style

Does it make a difference what kind of mouthpiece a water pipe has in terms of usability? Not incredibly so. But some people just like different things. So you probably should determine which kind of mouthpiece you like, one with a thick mouthpiece (and neck), or a thinner mouthpiece.

Going Thick!

One of the bonuses of a thick mouthpiece and water pipe neck is that you can add some nice extras, like an ice pinch, as an example. This 14" water pipe has just that, and has your classic straight neck.

People love the thick neck because it's just so damn ol' skool. It's a classic design that anyone can get behind.

Thin Can Be Beautiful

Yep, when it comes to neck size and mouthpiece, there's no need to go big. This Klein Incycler, as an example, is an absolute vision, and has a bent neck and much smaller mouthpiece than the one above. Same with this 9" bent neck water pipe. Both, as you can see, are quite attractive. It's simply a matter of what you prefer.

Seeing as we're talking size, it's time we talk about something that is absolutely critical to your buying decision: joint size.

Your Choices: 10, 14 and 18mm

For some people, joint size may not mean a lot. You may be just a casual glass buyer looking for a pipe, and you'll probably never buy another. Not so fast: remember that 14mm and 18mm are basically industry standards when it comes to waterpipes. 10mm, less so.

This is important when you're talking about glass, because yes, it does break. Even the monstrously thick glass water pipes from Thick Ass Glass are not indestructible. So you can imagine just how breakable the smaller, detachable pipe accessories are.

Male or Female

It's a bigger decision than you think to choose between a male or female joint, but we'll sum it up. Typically, people looking to use their water pipes for legal concentrates tend to use male ends, simply because most nails and domeless nails are female. Meanwhile, legal herb smokers tend to like female ends, which helps both with ash catchers and the slide.

The Slide

If you use a slide with your water pipe, you will definitely need to know its size. This is because these items come in all sorts of shapes and sizes (which works with whatever esthetic you have), and also because they are typically the first thing to break. These can be dropped quite easily (despite TAG's handy handle built in to most of its slides), and when it breaks, you're going to need to know how to replace it. Obviously, a 18mm slide is not going to fit a 10mm pipe.

Ashcatchers

Do you absolutely, positively need an ash catcher for your water pipe? Well, no. But if you don't get one, you're probably going to be putting a lot of maintenance into keeping your pipe clean. What's more, if you have percolators in your pipe, it's going to be even tougher to clean. This is why an ash catcher, especially for a frequent user, is almost a must: you want your glass to be as beautiful as the day you bought it, and an ash catcher helps keep it that way.

Now, when it comes to choosing an ash catcher for your pipe, remember that 18mm catchers are your most common, followed by 14mm, and then finally, with not a ton of options available, the 10mm.

It all breaks down to this: understand that if you want the most options and potential accessories for your pipe, you're going to need an 18mm joint. These are just standard, and also allow for the best experience overall.

Oils Or Legal Herbs - What's Your Usage?

If you plan to focus most of your smoking on legal concentrates, obviously you're going to want to go with something along the lines of an oil rig. Our dab rigs page is here.

These rigs tend to feature male joints, as most concentrate accessories tend to be female, meaning they fit over the joint. The need for an ash catcher is less with concentrates as well, as they do not leave much in the way of ash or residue (they tend to vaporize with heat). So if this is what you're looking for, a rig with a male end is where you want to go.

With legal herbs, however, a female end is almost always recommended. And while you can use most oil rigs with legal herbs, typically it's not recommended without an ashcatcher, especially if it's equipped with percolators.

Female joints tend to be most for legal herbs, and the ability to accessorize is the absolute boss. This double honeycomb ash catcher, as an example, is a bomb way to add a ton of percolation and diffusion to your pipe without breaking the bank. Obviously, there are many additions to consider, and each can make your smoking experience better.

Percolators

Our percolation page is here. This is something many people don't even consider when buying a water pipe, but oh how it changes the experience. Let's not repeat the whole article, but sum up the key points. An important point you should remember is that percolators with massive diffusion can create "drag", or basically make it harder to suck the smoke from the pipe. Drag is not a major concern with most TAG pipes, but it can make a difference. So here are our fave percs:

The Fritted Disc

Easily the MASTER perc in our opinion, this perc consists of thousands of shards of glass glued together to create pathways for the smoke to go through. More pathways equal more diffusion. Just a genius pick, but may feature drag.

Honeycombs

These tend to be pretty standard for all manufacturers, although TAG has taken to changing the dynamic a bit by using a hex hole honeycomb perc in this pipe. These are basically discs with about 100ish holes in them that diffuse the smoke. Easier to clean, less drag, but also less diffusion than a Fritted.

Tree percolatorMulti-Arm Tree Percs

Another classic style, TAG's water pipes with tree percs are available with anywhere from 6 to 24 arms! Each arm typically features a few slits along the bottom to increase diffusion. These can also create drag, but it's typically similar to that of a honeycomb.

Showerhead

Showerhead percs gain their name because they typically look like a showerhead. For many of TAG's pipes, this often looks like an inverted cup with slits along the bottom. Again, this is a mid-range kind of perc that is not very limiting either drag or in your ability to clean your piece. What's more, this kind of perc is typically combined with another, such as this beautiful 12" Interior Showerhead to Honeycomb pipe. Just a classic medium neck design, and frankly one of our faves. Definitely recommended for people dipping their toes into the percolation arena.

 The Choice Is Yours

If you're a water pipe newbie, hopefully the article above was helpful. Meanwhile, if you're an experienced smoker, we hope this helped you hone in on exactly what you're looking for. Choosing a water pipe online is very simple to do, but because you can't touch the pipes, there are things you should always be thinking about before you make a decision.

Although many of these things may seem like a "given", it's always surprising how many of us forget how the little things can strongly shape the smoking experience. So, now that you're armed with this knowledge, check out our waterpipe page!



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/buy-best-water-pipe

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

The Best Way To Light Your Water Pipe: Torch, Lighter or Hemp Wick?

When it comes to igniting their herbs and tobacco, smokers have a handful of different devices easily at their disposal. What you use or how you light you water pipe is completely a personal preference. It's your call, but there are some pretty strong differences.

Torch

The Big Shot TorchTorches are an essential dabbing tool. These are typically butane-powered devices that will generate flames that get as hot as 2000ºF. They will quickly heat up a quartz banger or other heating element. Standard lighters are not going to get hot enough in order to heat up nails. When picking out a butane torch, you need to determine:

  • How portable do you want your torch to be? You will be able to find both large and small torches. We have an extensive torch collection here.
  • What are you heating? Smaller torches are going to generate a smaller flame. If you’ve got large bangers, large titanium nails, or ceramic nails, you will want to go with a larger torch. You will spend less time heating your nails with larger torches.

The hottest part of a torch’s flame is thought to be the bright blue cone that is generated close to the torch but combustion is not complete at this part of the flame. In reality, the hottest part of the flame is the light blue part of the flame.  It is best to make sure the nail is sitting in front of the bright blue tip of the primary combustion zone for the quickest light.

One last thing... Typically, if you're simply lighting herbs or tobacco, why bother with a torch?

You don't want to ignite all of your material at once, as you'll probably not be able to smoke it all at once, right?

Slow down with herbs, friends. No need to finish your bowl in one sitting, my mother once said.

Lighters

Lighters come in many shapes and forms. You will find anything from fuel powered Zippos to the stoner-staple Bics.

Most of your disposable lighters are made very cheaply and it is very common for the igniter or flint to go dead.

You get what you pay for, obviously, so should you expect a 99 cent lighter to last forever?

 Meanwhile, Zippo lighters look amazing but they require a serious amount of upkeep. Plus, the flame on these tends to be always pointing up, which is a problem for any water pipe user.

Hemp Wicks

A hemp wick is a phenomenal all-natural alternative to butane lighters. In order to use a hemp wick, you just need to light the wick (usually with a lighter) and use the wick to light your bowl.

Hemp wicks have advantages over butane lighters. The wick is made from hemp fibers and is normally wrapped around a lighter so that it can be easily lit.

With the use of a hemp wick, you lessen the risk of breathing in any butane or noxious gases from your lighter when lighting your bowl. Also, you also will have more control of the flame and can corner your bowl with more precision.

Hemp certainly does not combust at the high temperatures that butane burns at. Your smoke will be less harsh and you can take more intense hits without feeling as much strain on your lungs with the use of a hemp wick.

The Herb Iron

The Herb Iron (available here) is officially the smoker's premium combustion device. There's really nothing else like it. First, it's electric. It's a lot like an old school soldering iron, and even better, there is no flame.

There's a safety switch that will automatically turn off the herb iron once it's left for a while, a crucial element when it comes to these devices.

Not only that, but Hemp wicks do tend to have a taste and a smell. Not so with the Herb Iron.

Make no mistake: there is no cleaner way to smoke than with a Herb Iron. It is a genius device.

Conclusion

If you want your smoking experience simple, you may want to just stick with your lighter.

If you are more of a dabber, you should go with a torch. If you are interested in going butane free, you are going to want to look into a hemp wick. Beyond the potential health benefits over butane lighters, waxed hemp twine tastes cleaner.

On the other hand, nothing lights a bowl like the Herb Iron. Nothing.

The choice is yours, friends.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/the-best-way-to-light-your-water-pipe

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

How To Choose A Bubbler

A bubbler is a smaller, hand-held version of a water pipe. The compact size and portability is what makes bubblers so popular to so many people.

A water bubbler with recycler built in!Bubblers can take a variety of sizes and shapes. In many cases, they are simply a dry glass hand pipe with a small water chamber that provides some diffusion. On the other hand, they can seriously resemble small and rather complex water pipes with high end percolators and a very scientific glass-oriented look. TAG, naturally, carries more of the latter type of glass bubbler, and our collection is here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/bubblers 

Bubblers use water, which will cool your smoke for smooth hits and bring down the harshness to your lungs and throat. As mentioned above, these mini-water pipes also use percolation systems that will filter, diffuse and cleanse your smoke to make your smoke as healthy as possible. The combination of water and a quality percolation system will ensure you're good to go.

What all bubblers share, of course, is portability. These pieces are small, solid, and can be easily transported.

There are drawbacks, however, and they include:

  • Get dirty very easily
  • Cleaning is not easy
  • Cheap versions can break easily

Choosing The Best Glass Bubbler Pipe

Affordability should not always be why you purchase a particular bubbler. Some things to consider with these solid smoking devices include:

  • Decent-sized carb: Carbs will eliminate stale smoke and will also help clearing your pipe. Always look for bubblers that have carbs that are not too small in size.
  • Look for newer bubblers: Do not purchase a bubbler that has been sitting around for a long period of time.
  • Look for bubblers that have structural stability: it's obviously critical to buy one that can be placed down without having your water spilling out.

Types of Bubblers

Hammer Bubblers

Hammer bubblers have a mouthpiece and bottom chamber on them that sits flat on your surface with the neck that leads diagonally upwards in order to connect to the top of the chamber. Essentially, they balance and look a bit like a judge's gavel, or, as per the name, a hammer.

Sidecar Bubblers

Sidecar bubblers are bubblers that include a sidecar mouthpiece which is going to branch off of the chamber and will move on an angle from the side of the chamber instead of to the top of the chamber. The sidecar design is going to eliminate any type of splashback and will prevent any water from leaving your bubbler. TAG offers a few very cool sidecar bubblers like this.

Sherlock Bubblers

Sherlock bubblers are bubblers that have the S shape that is seen in sherlock pipes. That classic Sherlock Holmes shape is a big winner, my friends.

Pendant Bubblers

Pendant bubblers have a notch and string so that you can wear the glass piece as a necklace. These bubblers are pretty seriously compact and are good to bring to concerts or to other large gatherings. These tend to be not extremely common.

Concentrate Bubblers

Concentrate bubblers give you the ability for use with legal concentrates and essential oils. You will notice that many of this type will have a male joint, which makes it easier to add a titanium or quartz nail An example of a concentrate style bubbler is this.

Double Bubblers

Double bubblers contain two chambers; many times with each chamber with its own percolator. This design of bubbler is going to create a great amount of filtration because of the dual percolator system it has.

Conclusion

Let's face it, many water pipes above 10" just aren't as portable as many people would like. Meanwhile, your classic dry glass pipe can make for a rough smoke, to say the least.

A bubbler is a beautiful hybrid of both. If you don't have one, what are you waiting for?

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/glass-bubbler-pipes

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Metal Herb Grinders

You may be wondering if a grinder is a good investment. Perhaps you're poking around with some old scissors wondering if you should upgrade. Well, we can tell you this: a Gold Metal Herb Grindergrinder is literally one of the best investments that you as a frequent smoker can make.

How Grinders Help You

Grinders are going to help you be able to speed up and simplify the process of separating your dry herbs. They also make it much easierfor you to conserve your herbs when they are finely ground up.

It's an important note to remember that when you pull apart your herbs by hand, the pollen and other plant matter are most likely going to stick to your fingers. The problem with this is that you can very easily reduce the effects of the herbs as a result!

When herbs are ground up, they can be packed more tightly into a bowl or rolling papers. When your herbs are exposed to less oxygen, they are going to burn less before you inhale them and the airflow will dramatically increase, a major benefit.

Essentially, grinders are going to help give you more control over how fast and smoothly your herbs are going to burn.

Your grinder is also a good way to store small amounts of your herbs when you are not quite ready to use them yet. Our collection of herb grinders is here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/grinders

How Grinders are Manufactured

Grinders are:

  • Either made out of metal or plastic
  • Have at least two interlocking pieces that form as upper and lower chambers
  • Upper chambers contain different teeth that will slice and grind up any dry herb that you insert inside them
  • Ground up herbs will then fall through the small holes between the two pieces and land in the lower chambers
  • The number and shape of the teeth are going to vary by brand

Different Chambers

Many of your grinders you find on the market are going to have more than just the two chambers.

One very common chamber is going to be the grinder that has four pieces. The four-piece chamber typically has a bottom chamber that is separated from the other chambers by a metal mesh screen.

This metal mesh screen is meant to catch any pollen that falls off your herbs when you are grinding them up in your grinder. The grinder will then store your herbs you have ground up in a separate chamber so it they can be used whenever and however you like them to be used.

You can also find five-piece grinders are have a second mesh screen on them that is finer and will further separate the ground-up herbs you place in the grinder.

Maintenance

You should always make sure that you routinely clean your grinder in order to keep it from getting clogged and you never want to use a dirty grinder.

Sizes

 You are going to find out that grinders are going to come in a variety of different sizes. The size of your grinder is not going to affect its function. The size of the grinder you have will only depend upon how much herbs you would like to grind up at one time.

We should also note that you don't necessarily need a $90 grinder. There are certainly levels of pricing, but to be fair, most users can get away with something under $50.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/metal-herb-grinders

Monday, September 12, 2016

Talking Downstems

Downstems are a smoking accessory that you attach to certain water pipes using a joint. Basic diffused downstemNot all glass pipes have them, of course, but if yours is broken, you probably need one fast.

For most pieces, typically the old skool "beaker style", detachable downstems are going to provide you with an extra layer of filtration and percolation.  In most cases, when you have a pipe with an attached or removable downstem, you can usually customize it with a different downstem based on either design or diffusion level.

 Downstems work by filtering smoke through a nail or flower bowl and diffusing the smoke into the water in the main chamber of your pipe.  The added layer of diffusion is going to make for a cooler, smoother and better filtered smoke time and time again. It's a mild diffusion, but it does work. Check out our collection here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/downstems

Benefits of Downstems

A downstem can even add a lot to a simple straight tube or beaker base.  With the use of an additional layer of diffusion, you are going to get a completely different chug and taste out of your next smoke. 

The key to downstems is for you to experiment with them. While they certainly can't replace an ash catcher (like these), they do add a diffusion level that can smooth things out. The different styles and different lengths in downstem styles are going to lead to quite different smoking experiences.

Downstems are not going to just add layers of filtration and percolation to your rips.  Some of your diffused downstems are also going to work as adapters or drop downs. 

The diffused downstem will simply fit as one gender or size but will extend into a second joint of a different size and/or gender.  This is going to be perfect for smokers who want that added filtration and a new fit for a different slide all rolled into one simple accessory: a downstem.

Sizes and Styles

Downstems are going to come in all standard glass joint sizes:

  • 10mm
  • 14mm
  • 18mm

Your diffused downstems are going to be traditionally used only on your female joints because your male joints are external only.  However, an adapter can easily turn any of your female joints into male ones. 

Downstems also come in a variety of length sizes from two to seven inches. The size of the main chamber in your glass piece is going to help to determine how long or short of a downstem you are going to need to go with.

Downstems also come in a variety of diffusion styles.  Many of the styles are going to be based off of your classic percolator designs which are going to include:

  • Slitted style
  • Matrix

Finding the precise amount of filtration and percolation is something that is very easy to do.

Conclusion

You can find a wide variety of unbranded downstems which are going to be very affordable and of high-quality.  Many high-end vendors of diffusers are going to provide their own twists on diffused downstems. In the end, remember that the more holes in the end, the smoother the smoke.

It's hard to go wrong with a good downstem, believe us.



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/downstems

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Carb Caps

A carb cap is a tool that is designed for use with domeless nails, either titanium or quartz. These tools have a small hole to maximize airflow to your nail. When using a carb cap, you will heat up the domeless nail, put the oil or concentrate on the nail and place the carb cap over the domeless nail.

Carb caps are going to offer you a flavor that is far superior, and will allow you to keep the smoke where it belongs: in your piece. A carb cap will also restrict airflow and help to maintain the nail's heat.

Using a Carb Cap

A carb cap can come in handy no matter if you are new to concentrates or have been using them for years. The following will give you a detailed account on what to do with your carb cap.

Dabbing at Low Temperatures vs. Dabbing at High Temperatures

Dabbing at high temperature is what people who are new to concentrates will experiment with. Learning to heat your nail correctly is not easy. Properly heating up your nail will make all the difference when it comes to preserving your glass piece. Experienced users will take preventative measures to make sure that the heat will not be applied directly to their glass piece.

Hottest Part of Flame

There are two major areas that you need to consider in order to get the most out of your flame. The two areas are the bright blue part and the light blue part.

  • The bright blue part of the flame is where the primary combustion will occur; it is where the initial burning happens. It is NOT the hottest part of the flame.

  • The hottest part of the flame is at the tip of the inner flame. When you use this part of your flame, you will find that you are left with far less combustion byproducts and a much faster heating time.

  • The high temperature dabbing trend may have also come about from the common misconception that your nail needs to be red hot in order to use it but this is not true. The perfect temperature for vaporization is going to occur between 350 and 410 degrees F.

    If you try to use your nail when it is red hot it will only result in less efficiency while burning away your materials. The type of nail you are using will not affect this. If you have nails that are made out of glass, quartz, titanium or ceramic, they will all still work the exact same way.

  • A red hot ceramic nail and a red hot titanium nail will be the same temperature. Titanium does have a tendency to lose heat rather quickly and this is why people using titanium are told to wait until the red glow from their nail fades before applying their concentrates.

Low Temperature Dabbing

Low temperature dabbing is a concept that more experienced users generally consider. Low temperature dabbing will optimize your flavor and provide you with a much smoother hit.

Using Carb Caps with Open Air Systems

Carb caps will help you in the low temperature dabbing process. If you want to use a carb cap, you must make sure that you are using a product that is going to operate as an open air system. An open air system is when your concentrates rely solely on the heat from the dish of the nail for vaporization. You can use carb caps on:

  • Domeless nails
  • Bangers
  • Curves

Operation of Carb Cap

A carb cap creates a chamber with restricted airflow for your concentrates to vaporize. Most of your carb caps are going to have a single hole which will in turn help to create suction within the chamber. The carb cap will then produce a vortex that will help to cool down both the air and vapor that is trapped inside the piece.

Most carb caps are similar in design. They all will feature a hollowed, rounded end which will function as the cap and the pointed handle end.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/carb-caps

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

A Comprehensive Guide To Incyclers

It's all in a name: incyclers are basically internal recyclers. They are a very popular water pipe and dab rig style for many smokers and dabbers these days, and that is for a few serious reasons.


A key one is that incyclers will give you smooth hits by making sure to keep water constantly moving throughout the water pipe. They are one of the best ways to break your smoke down to vapor and are most commonly used for dabbing concentrates but are also used as a pipe for smoking flower.

They typically feature a unique dual chamber design which houses a percolator that will begin the diffusion process. These chambers are perfect for getting the most flavor from your concentrates with superb functionality. After the vapor and water travel through the main chamber, it will then move through the separation tubes to the recycling chamber. The water and vapor loop will then move between the two chambers. The vapor will often pass through the percolators multiple times before leaving out of the mouth piece, which ensures it is completely filtered and smooth.

Benefits

There are many benefits to using an incycler.  The second chamber is going to work as a splashguard which will make sure you won't find yourself with a mouthful of water. Another advantage of incyclers is that you get a constant filtration of the smoke as it passes through the loop from reservoir to second chamber. As the vapor is cycled, it will pass through the percolator numerous times to provide you with a clean dab every time. Hits are going to be cooler and allow for larger dabs. A great example of a fine piece is this 7" Klein Incycler by TAG.

Functionality

The process is going to begin as vapor is going to be pulled into the primary percolator of the incycler. The vapor will diffuse into the pipe’s main chamber. Water and vapor are then going to be pulled into the internal section of the incycler. The intakes will be positioned at an angle which will maximize the vortex function characteristic of the incycler. Vapor will then make its way through the mouthpiece of the pipe and into your lungs. This is where water is going to be constantly drained through the internal section of the piece and replenishing the main chamber.

Why Use Incyclers

You should use incyclers because water is going to be constantly moving within the incycler and your vapor will have zero time to sit there and get stale. This is going to make sure that you will taste the full flavor of your waxes and oils. Incyclers are water-driven and the vapor will be cooled down to a comfortable temperature for your sweet enjoyment.

It is common to hear people that use incyclers to talk about how they love the drain on their incycler. What this basically means is the amount of time it takes for the internal chamber to replenish the main chamber and empty completely. When this happens, you exhale your dab which will take several seconds to completely carry out.

Dabbers will give you long and steady drains to perfected incycler function. If you find an incycler that drains for a while, you should grab it up. There are many budget-priced incyclers and scientific art incyclers, so there is one for everyone to get the most out of. Some of the Dab Rigs TAG makes do have incyclers. See them here.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/guide-to-incyclers

Monday, August 29, 2016

Why Quartz Nails (Domeless Or Not) Are King for Dabs

Quartz nails are made of quartz crystal. A quartz nail has a somewhat massive ability to withstand high amounts of heat. Quartz nails are going to last longer compared to other nails because they are not going to break.

When choosing a nail, many smokers are going to choose quartz nails over titanium or ceramic nails because quartz nails are going to heat up three times as fast. Quartz is also considered safer and tastier for the lack of harmful gases that it can release. 

Additionally, quartz is ideal for lower temperature dabs on your wax rig.  A quartz nail can be quickly heated up and then allowed to cool to a temperature that will be better suited to capture the natural flavors of what you are smoking.  This is going to preserve your stash and give you better hits and more sweet, sweet clouds. As an important note, it is extremely important that you do not overheat quartz because it can still break at extremely high temperatures.

Knowing When A Quartz Nail is Heated Properly

It is easy to know when a quartz nail is heated up because you will see flecks of red that will start to glow in the quartz itself.  You should not heat quartz until the entire bottom is red because this is going to make your nail too hot. You should always allow for a cooling time of 10 to 60 seconds.  You should also make sure that you are also using a carb cap when taking low temperature dabs to make sure you are not wasting any of your concentrates.

Flavor

When it comes to flavor, a clean quartz nail is going to have all of the benefits of glass. You will not lose the impact of the taste of your dab at all with the use of a quartz nail.

Cools off Fast

You sometimes have to be fast when using a quartz nail because quartz is going to cool off fast. Once you heat your nail, you have to be quick to put it to use otherwise you risk dropping oil into something else that is not going to create a vapor.

Seasoning of Quartz Nail

Quartz is a food-grade material and you can improve the flavor that you get off your quartz nail by seasoning it before using it. You can do this by simply heating your nail up and adding just a small amount of your essential oils or legal concentrate to the edge of the quartz nail. 

Some people like to use the reclaim from a previous sesh to season their nail in order to preserve their stash.  If you season quartz, you are going to avoid any burnt tastes from an overheated quartz nail.  Seasoning the quartz nail is going to enhance the natural flavors of your concentrate and give you the chance to experiment with different temperatures and different tastes.

Conclusion

Depending upon how you like to smoke your concentrates, you can always find a quartz nail that will work for you. Many people like quartz nails that are lightweight and that will keep heat away from their face. TAG's selection of quartz nails is here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/quartz-nails

A quartz nail has a superior ability to withstand high amounts of heat. Any smoker can trust them to last and be far superior, definitely to glass, and depending on your personal choice, even titanium.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/quartz-nails-domeless

Friday, August 26, 2016

Cooling Down Your Smoke

If you want to cool down your smoke, it is as easy as using ice or glycerol. The following will explain in detail how you can easily do this process.

Thick glass water pipe with ice pinchUsing Ice to Cool Down Your Smoke

Water pipes do a lot in order to cool down your smoke just by filtering the hot, ash filled air through water. There are many people, even after running smoke through percolators, that believe the smoke created is still too harsh for them.

There are many different water pipes that will use an ice pinch, which is a tried and true method of cooling the smoke even more after it has passed through the water. Using ice is a wonderful way to cool hot smoke in order to make it condense and create a more powerful hit while also making it easier for you to inhale. This is especially true for smokers that have sensitive throats or lungs. TAG does sell some pretty cool water pipe ready ice cube molds here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/silicone/products/smoke-cubes-ice-cube-mold-for-water-pipes

There are also kits that are available that allow you to smoke out of a smoke piece of ice that is molded into a functioning water pipe. Ice is very nice when you are looking for a cool smoke but it is going to have a few drawbacks that you need to be aware of.

When you use ice in an ice pinch, the melting is going to cause the water level to rise and this is very possible that it will cause a reduction in the functionality of the water pipe and it is also going to increase the chance of you getting water inside your mouth.

Using Glycerol to Cool Down Your Smoke

Glycerol (otherwise known as glycerin) is a simple compound that is made out of sugar alcohol and boasts a wide variety of useful attributes. Glycerin is useful to the functional glass industry because of the fact that it has an extremely high freezing point, which means that it can be cooled down to extreme temperatures without freezing and expanding.

Water pipes that utilize glycerin are going to have a hollow cavity somewhere on the piece that can be filled with glycerin. It will then need to be sealed either with a rubber stopper or a small amount of molten glass that is will be melted over the hole. Water could not be used for this purpose because it would expand in the freezer and crack the glass that houses it.

Beakers that have simple glycerin chambers with tubes going through the built in glycerin are going to provide you with more surface area available for cooling your smoke.

There are many ways that glass blowers create more surface area for smoke to travel through glycerin chambers. One common way to increase the surface area that is affected by the cooling power of glycerin is by the use of a glycerin coil. There are a wide variety of water pipes that have these glycerin coils.

To help save on freezer space, there are some glass blowers that include the glycerin chamber on a detachable portion of the piece. Beakers with a massive glycerin coil on a detachable neck can be kept in the freezer to cool while the beaker is filled with water and the bowl is filled. There are even some water pipes that can be modified to be a glycerin piece with the inclusion of an adapter.

Conclusion

Glycerin is a great option for cooling down your smoke. Remember, ice is nice to use in order to get your smoke cooled down but the best way to get your smoke cooled down is with the use of glycerin.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/cooling-down-your-smoke

Monday, August 8, 2016

Water Pipes Vs. Dry Pipes

If you use a water pipe, whether you have a percolator or not, it is going to filter the tobacco and other legal substances that you put into the pipe, which in turn is going to make them healthier to smoke. 

water pipe with fritted discBelow we will talk about a few advantages you are going to get when you smoke with a water pipe compared to just smoking with a dry pipe:

Advantages of Using Water Pipes

  1. Easy to Use

Water pipes are easy to use, even if you are new to smoking. The bubbles that the water pipe is going to produce when you inhale are going to make the smoke smoother on your throat than even the average cigarette or cigar.

When you take shallower breaths for shorter time periods, it is going to help even a newcomer ease into the experience of smoking for the very first time.

  1. Smoother Smokes

Water pipes are used by so many smokers because they do not want to irritate their throat like when they smoke cigarettes, rolled up tobacco or cigars. The water that is in the pipe is going to kill off any bacteria in the smoke, which is going to offer you a cleaner inhalation while cool water will subsequently cool it.

This is going to reduce exposure to common smoking-related conditions, such as bronchitis, when used in moderation. While passing through the water, the smoke is going to cool down to a large extent and become laced with some moisture which is going to be less harmful for you and is also going to reduce the chance of burning your mouth.

Using A Glass Water Pipe

A glass water pipe is going to help to reduce additional chemicals in your smoke. If you use plastic or aluminum water pipes, you are not going to get the same reduction of chemicals. It is always best to go with a glass water pipe. Some great tips for care include:

Clean the Water Pipe After Each Use:

You will want to clean your glass water pipe regularly. You do not want to reuse the dirty water or cleaning solutions because it is not healthy to do so. If you neglect to clean your glass water pipe it is going to cancel out part of the filtering effect that you are getting when you are going with a glass water pipe.

If you are not going to clean your glass water pipe, you might as well go with a cheap alternative pipe. The best thing you can do for your glass water pipe is to make sure that you clean your pipe thoroughly and regularly.


Great for Casual Use:

Glass water pipes are great for casual use. Your glass water pipe filters out a number of carcinogens every time you inhale which is going to be very important. Glass water pipes are going to drive the smoke deeper and faster into your lungs, so you should always use your glass water pipe in moderation if you want to avoid canceling out these health benefits with overusing it.

Conclusion

Not everyone likes to use a glass water pipe but if you do, you are going to get a better smoke with less carcinogens.

Glass water pipes are effective devices that can help filter out the toxic elements and leave you a clean vapor to inhale time and time again.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/water-pipes-vs-dry-pipes

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Oil Rigs: A Primer

An oil rig is a type of concentrate pipe that is used to smoke your legal essential oils and concentrates. These oil rigs are designed to hold and make use of a nail made from titanium, quartz or glass that are heated with a hand-held torch.

TAG's thickest glass oil rig (10mm)The person that is using an oil rig will dab a small amount of the extract onto the hot nail that will trigger the concentrates to give off a vapor that the smoker will then inhale.

Dabbing is done at high temperatures, but the oil rig is not going to create combustion, which will in turn give you a cleaner and more pure inhalation experience.

Small Mouthpieces On Your Rig

If you have a small mouthpiece on your concentrate rig, it is going to let you taste the vapor better. On the other hand, when smoking flowers, you will get a large hit if you smoke with a wide mouthpiece.

When you dab, you are not going to have to pull a bowl over in order to clear the chamber. The nail in the oil rig is going to allow air to constantly pass through the piece. Small mouthpieces are not going to dampen your chances of finishing a dab but are going to allow you to truly appreciate the taste of the vapor you are smoking.

Smaller Oil Rigs

If you have a smaller oil rig, it is going to also theoretically provide you with more flavor. There is no real reason you have to use a big water pipe as a dab rig. The more volume you have means that the more room you are going to have for the vapor to lose potency and dissipate. To get the best flavor, you may want to look for glass that is on the smaller side.

Water Filtration

There is nothing worse than taking a dab out of a dry rig. Some rigs are made to be used without water, but it is not recommended that you take a lung full of concentrates without allowing it to cool off in the water first. For mobility and convention, you may want to have a waterless rig, but it is not recommended to use this type of rig daily.

Percolation

Smoke can be harsh on your lungs and throat but with the use of internal glass percolators, you will get a smooth hit time and time again. Water is definitely your best friend when dabbing and not as much percolation is going to be required for your concentrates, as opposed to flowers.

You should look for percolators that are not completely complex because they are not going to chop up your water up too much but they are going to cool off the dabs, giving you the best smoke possible.

Glass Joints On Your Rig

Not all glass joints are going to be of the same size. The glass joints on your rig are going to come in sizes of 10 mm, 14 mm or 18 mm.

The size of the joint is what is going to determine the amount of airflow. The sex of the joint is what is going to determine the kind of nail you should purchase. If you have a small rig, 10 mm is going to be the preferred size because there is going to be more restriction on the dabbing.

Female nails are going to tend to drip reclaim on the outside of the joint and are commonly known for getting stuck to the glass, which can be avoided as long as you treat it with proper care.

Male nails are great but the titanium nails are better off in a dropdown in order to prevent glass expansion.

It is always important to always research your options to determine what exactly you are looking for in your next oil rig.

Our collection is here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/oil-rigs

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/oil-rigs

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Thick Glass Pipes - Why They Rule

One of the most important factors that you should consider before you purchase a glass water pipe is the thickness and quality and the glass. The thicker and better quality of glass piece you have, the better your pipe is going to be, and the longer it will TAG specializes in thick glass water pipeslast.

Glass Quality

The quality of your glass piece is important because it will let you know the strength of the glass. You do not want to purchase a low end glass piece that is not of good quality because the glass may be weak and have flaws, which means it could break easily.

The higher quality of glass you have, the stronger and more pristine the glass is going to be. The quality of the glass piece you have is often determined by the material the glass is made out of. It's critical to note, of course, that quality is also determined by the skill level of the glass blower making the glass piece.

You are going to find that most brand name glass pieces (like Thick Ass Glass, of course) are made in the United States and are made of high quality borosilicate glass (which is the same material that is used to make glass for lab equipment).

Some glass water pipes that you will find at your local head shop are most likely going to be made of a low quality Chinese glass. You can tell what the skill level of the glass blower was by simply looking at the glass piece you have. If you have clean joint welds in the glass piece, it is a sign that a talented glass blower created your glass piece.

Glass Thickness

The thickness of your glass piece is definitely going to affect the weight and durability of the glass piece. The thickness of a glass piece is usually counted in millimeters. You will find glass thickness typically ranges from 3 mm to 12 mm. Usually, the thickest of glass pieces that you will find is 9 mm, although in many cases this is overkill.

Usually, 5-7mm will be a great level of thickness, with above 10mm being a good call for the base (although again, not totally necessary).

The thicker glass piece you have, the more durable and heavy weight your water pipe is going to be. The heaviness of the glass, of course is more of a personal preference.

If you are looking for the best thick glass pipe that you can find and you have to pick between higher quality versus thicker glass, you should go with the better quality.

You can have an 8 mm thick water pipe, but if the glass quality is poor, it is not going to be as good as a good quality of glass that has a 4 mm thickness. Of course, with a name like Thick Ass Glass, you never have to make the sacrifice. Our water pipe selection features very thick glass, and top notch quality:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/water-pipes-1

Thin Glass Can Be Brittle

If you have thin glass on your pipe or oil rig, it is going to heat up faster but the piece is not going to last very long. If you are looking for a good piece, you are not going to want to go with anything under 3.5 mm in thickness.

Glass pieces that are between 4 and 5 mm are going to be sturdy glass pieces but if you want an extremely durable glass piece, you may want to go thicker.

And it goes without saying that you are going to want to stay away from glass pieces that are made in China because the glass is going to be much thinner than glass water pipes that are made in the United States.

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/thick-glass-pipes

Sunday, July 31, 2016

How To Clean A Glass Pipe

It is important to keep your pipe clean if you want to keep it working its best and if you want to get the best smoke you can possibly get out of it. Also, if you want to keep your clean your pipepipe in great shape for a long time, you need to clean it on a regular basis. The following items will be needed in order to clean your pipe:
  • Ziploc bag (bigger than your pipe, obviously)
  • Water
  • Salt or Rock Salt (coarser grain)
  • Alcohol
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Q-tips
  1. The first thing that you are going to want to do is to fill up your Ziploc bag with alcohol. Once you have filled the Ziploc bag with the required amount of water, you then need to add some salt to the Ziploc bag. Once the alcohol and salt have been added to the bag, you need to shake the bag a small amount to make sure that the salt is mixed in with the alcohol.
  2. Now you are going to want to pour a small amount of salt in the stem of your pipe. You must take care not to put too much salt into the pipe because you need to make sure that you are able to pour the rubbing alcohol into the pipe. You also then want to pour a small amount of salt into the bowl of the pipe as well.
  3. Now you are going to want to put the pipe inside the bag of alcohol and salt that you have already combined together. Once the pipe is inside the bag, you need to close the Ziploc bag. Once you are sure the Ziploc bag is tightly closed, you need to shake the bag for approximately 30 to 45 seconds. The longer you shake, the cleaner it should be (within reason).
  4. As a last step to clean your pipe, you are going to want to take the pipe out of the Ziploc bag and scrub the pipe with your pipe cleaners or Q-tips. You only need to do this is you see any type of residue on the pipe.

Once you have completed all of the above steps in order to clean the pipe, your pipe is now ready to be used again. It is always best to clean your pipe after every use to make sure that you are going to get the best smoke as possible out of your pipe.

Of course, it's not totally necessary. But bi-weekly or monthly cleanings will ensure that things don't get too stained that future cleanings become difficult.

Preventative Maintenance

If you want your pipe to last a long time, you are going to want to make sure to have preventative maintenance on the pipe. The best thing that you can do for your pipe is to keep it clean.

If you wait to clean your pipe until it is bad need of cleaning, it is going to be very hard to get it completely clean, if at all possible to clean. There are some cleaning products that you are going to be able to find to clean your pipes but as long as you clean your pipe after each use or before it gets heavily dirty, you are not even going to need these types of products.



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/how-to-clean-a-glass-pipe

Monday, July 25, 2016

Why Choose An Online Headshop

One of the main reasons you should choose an online headshop is because no matter how you look at it, online shops simply have the best selection to choose from. You are not going to find anywhere near the wide range of selection in any smoke shop that you visit as you will get from an online head shop like ThickAssGlass.com.

Besides the wide range selection of products, an online headshop is also going to offer much better prices than you will find any at smoke shop you go into. And especially at TAG, where American made glass rules the day, you can be guaranteed that you are getting solid, strong glass products.

Plain and simple, you get a large selection, better prices and quality products with an online headshop. Tough to hate on that.

Wide Selection

The absolute massive difference you get when you buy with an online headshop is the selection. You are not going to find a brick and mortar smoke shop that is going to offer you as much of a wide range of water pipes and accessories as an online headshop. Some of the types of products you are going to find from an online headship are:

  • Scientific glass: TAG's selection is literally massive
  • Heady glass: big variety of artists that you cannot find in smoke shops
  • Acrylic smokeware: quality craftsmanship only
  • Glass and Oil accessories: large selection to choose from
  • Vaporizers: trusted brands only

Better Prices

You are going to find lower prices from an online headshop compared smoke shops but this does not mean that the products are cheaply made. And although many other online head shops do offer cheaply made, Chinese-manufactured products, that is definitely not Thick Ass Glass. Nope, this is high quality, US blown glass with the kind of craftsmanship you should expect.

Superior Customer Service

When you go with an online headshop, you are going to get superior customer service unlike you are going to find in many smoke stores. Online pipe manufacturers like TAG have representatives that know the products and will help you when you need it most.

Having a knowledgeable staff is critical to operating to an online headshop and that knowledge is going to pay off for you. Let's face it: many of your local retail shops are going to lack in quality staff, and that can often make for a big waste of time.

Many times, the staff at smoke shops is not going to be able to serve you best because they are just not very knowledgeable in everything that the shop can offer you. What's more, they may not often be able to answer even basic questions that you may have.

Finally, and it has to be said: nobody likes a pushy salesman. And if you've ever been to some smoke shops (although not all, of course), you know that sometimes the sales pitch can get a little, to incredibly aggressive. Like cell-phone plan salesman aggressive. It can make the whole experience a huge downer.

24/7 Shopping

There is nothing lamer than not being able to find a retail smoke shop open when you need one to be open. With an online headshop, you can shop whenever the time is best for you. You can order your products and the items will be shipped out to you, sometimes within the next day.

Quality Materials

When you go with an online headshop, you get the assurance that you are getting quality products, as you are not always going to find when you purchase items from your local smoke shops.

There are many brands that online head shops are going to stay away from because they only offer quality materials and products. You are also not going to find cheap plastic material in the products you find from a shop like ThickAssGlass.com.

If quality matters to you (and it should, because you're here!), you definitely are going to want to go with an online head shop and to not waste your time with a local smoke shop.

Get what you want! Not what a sales dude wants you to buy!

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/online-headshop

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Choosing The Best Herb Grinder

A grinder in one of the best investments a smoker can make. Grinders are going to speed up and simplify the process of separating dry herbs. Grinders are also going to make it easier for you to conserve your herbs when they are finely ground up.

The Best Herb GrindersWhen you do all of this by hand, perhaps with the classic "small scissors and shot glass technique", pollen and other plant matter is going to stick to your fingers, which in turn will reduce potency.

When herbs are ground up, they can be packed tightly into a bowl. Using herbs this way, helps you to conserve your stash. 

Grinders do need a small amount of maintenance and cleaning in order to prevent them from getting clogged up. Depending on the quality, i.e. steel vs. aluminum vs. plastic, this cleaning can be quite simple.

Variety of Sizes

Grinders come in many different sizes ranging from 1.5” in diameter to 3” and above. In most cases, unless you're grinding a couple of pounds, the size of the grinder does not factor into the overall functionality.

The function of the grinder is going to depend on what amount of herbs you would like to grind up at one time. There are some grinders that are going to come equipped with features, such as vibration functions. Any features you find on grinders are there to improve your overall experience. They do, however, sometimes come with a price.

Choosing the Best Grinder

Smokers choose to buy grinders because of the many benefits they give them. Grinders are used strictly with dry herbs. Dry herbs must be separated to allow for better combustion and this is what a grinder is going to do for you. 

Many times, smokers will pick herbs apart instead of fully grinding them up. This, as mentioned, is not always a good idea. When you grind up the herbs, you can sprinkle the herbs into your bowl and it will give you the full potency that you are looking for.

The grinder also helps you to pack the herbs in tighter which will give you better control over how fast your bowl will burn. Thick Ass Glass has a solid grinder here:

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/grinders

Styles

  • The multi-piece grinder is the most common style that you are going to find. The multi-piece grinder has many different pieces that connect to one another in order to create a separate area for grinding and a separate area for storing the herbs you have ground up. Many people really like the multi-piece grinders because of the extra storage space that it gives them.
  • The Tobacco Chopper grinders have an automated style of grinding. These grinders are going to grind herbs with the simple process of you pressing a button.
  • Shredder card grinders are grinders that are similar to a cheese grater. These grinders are for people that are on the go and need a quick grind of their herbs.

Brands

You are going to find a wide variety of different brands of grinders. You will also find different brands with different quality of grinders. A popular feature to look for in different brands is ones that have extra storage spaces inside the grinders.

Pieces and Pollen Catchers

Some of your grinders that come with multiple pieces are going to have a separate chamber with a thin metal net that is going to catch only the tiniest of pollen.  This pollen is especially important to smokers because it is very potent. The multi-piece grinders are going to come with 2 to 5 pieces. The more pieces that the grinder has, the more flecks you are going to be able to cultivate. 

Many people will put a coin in the main storage section of a grinder in order to help to push pollen down into the catch area of the grinder. It's a little trick of the trade that you may want to consider.


 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/best-herb-grinder

Friday, July 15, 2016

Ash Catchers FAQ: Keep Pipes Clean, Add Diffusion

What They Are

Ash catchers are portable attachments can be added to or removed from water pipes. The key focus of an ash catcher is to help you to keep your favorite water pipe clean by keeping herb ash and residue out of the main chamber. They can ensure that you're not continually cleaning your beautiful glass piece.

In many cases, they feature different kinds of percolators to help diffuse and filter your smoke before it hits the main chamber and percolator of your pipe.  The following three items will help you decide what kind of ash catcher to purchase.

  • Joint size and angle
  • Joint gender
  • Type Of Perc

 

Joint Angles

Ash catchers come in four different standard glass joint angles:

  • 45-degree ash catcher – 90 degree joint
  • 45-degree ash catcher – 45-degree joint
  • 90-degree ash catcher – 45-degree joint
  • 90-degree ash catcher – 90-degree joint

 

Joint Sizes

While there are certainly custom sizes, your main ash catcher sizes are 10mm, 14mm and 18mm.

 

What Ash Catchers Are Used For

Ash catchers come in all shapes and sizes and feature all sorts of percolators. The core idea behind ash catchers is very simple. An ash catcher is going to act as a removable barrier and an extra layer of diffusion for your water pipe. Without the use of an ash catcher, the ashes would fall into your piece. With the use of an ash catcher, the ashes are going to fall into the ash catcher.

After you are finished smoking, you can simple remove the ash catcher from your pipe. Cleaning an ash catcher is quite easy, and can be done extremely quickly.

 

Talking Percolators

There are different percolators that are going to further diffuse your smoke, making each hit that you smoke much smoother. This is a serious advantage for people who use perc-less water pipes.

Ash catchers, with the use of adapters, may also provide a change in joint size or gender, can have the addition of a reclaimer for your concentrates and can act as a sidecar. In fact, with the proper adapter setup, it can drop down when using a nail as it makes sure your piece is not going to be exposed as much to the heat from your torch.

Before you pick out your ash catcher, it is super critical to consider the joint size of the piece you want to put it on. You should also consider the type of bowl or nail you plan to put on it. As for percolators and other add-ons, it is really up to you. You simply choose your favorite type of percolator, slap it on your piece and you are on your way to real enjoyment.

 

Cleanliness and The Negatives Of An Ash Catcher

An ash catcher can work wonders for your piece. Ash catchers are inexpensive and will deliver an extra level of filtration. They also help to keep bongs and pipes cleaner and easier to maintain.

If there is one single downside, it is that you should also remember that the percolator within the catcher will need to be cleaned as well. As a result, we would not recommend using a fritted disc ash catcher for smoking herbs. This form of perc can be very tough to clean.

This is why we always suggest people who purchase fritted disc water pipes also purchase an ash catcher.

A second, and decidedly smaller negative is that an ash catcher may cause additional drag, which basically means it can increase the amount of suction necessary to get your smoke from the bowl to the mouthpiece of your pipe. Fortunately for most people, the amount of drag most ash catchers add is practically negligible, and can't really be felt anyway.

 

Standard Clear Glass Ash Catcher with Honeycomb Percolator

If you are looking for a good ash catcher that is cheaper in price, you should go with the Standard Clear Glass Ash Catcher with Honeycomb Percolator like this one: https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/ash-catchers-1/products/interior-honeycomb-ashcatcher-18mm

This ash catcher doubles the filtering power of any water pipe. Water and smoke will pass through the disc before going through the regular water chamber. This is a pretty standard ash catcher, but also features a water recycler for concentrate users. It's a winner in anyone's book!

 

8 Arm Tree Ash Catcher

Another killer ash catcher is TAG's 8 arm tree ash catcher, as seen here. This is a very low priced catcher, and pretty fantastic when added to any pipe. The diffusion is remarkable, and makes a huge difference.

 

An Excellent Investment

Ash catchers are a worthwhile investment for anyone who enjoys smoking no matter if you smoke everyday or just on special occasions. If you own a nice glass water pipe, consider it an investment. People who know smoking know that they should never go without a decent ash catcher.

There is nothing out there that will lessen your pipe maintenance more than an Ash Catcher. If you don't have one, get one today!

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/ash-catchers-faq-keep-pipes-clean-add-diffusion

Monday, July 11, 2016

What Do Water Pipe Percolators Do?

If you're looking into a waterpipe that goes beyond the simple straight-tube or beaker style, you are probably looking at water pipe percolators. Water pipe percolators, according to wikipedia, are an "additional sub chamber within the shaft of a water pipe that provides in-line smoke interaction via heat exchange and dissolution". These are the two key reasons why percolators are so valuable to the water pipe user.

Heat Exchange (Cooling)

To explain, the heat exchange mentioned above comes when the smoke touches that naturally cool water within the water pipe. Smoke is naturally pretty hot, and because of the denseness of the water, it cools extremely quickly.

Meanwhile, "dissolution" is essentially a fancy way of saying that it "breaks the smoke into smaller pieces", allowing water to filter and cool the surface area of that smoke.

A good way of looking at the cooling factors with dissolution might be with ice cubes in a drink. Consider a glass with two large ice cubes: the liquid inside will cool, albeit not very quickly. Crush that ice into many tiny pieces, however, and your liquid will cool much faster.

The key idea in the example above is that by crushing the ice, you just increased its surface area. A good percolator, such as a honeycomb, or even the far more advanced fritted disc, increases the amount of smoke surface area (not by crushing it, but by splitting it up quite a bit), allowing more of it to come in contact with water.


A good percolator also helps to contain the smoke, making it cooler and more even.

Water: The Perfect Smoke Filter

Water is the perfect filter for smoke because much of the "bad components" of smoke are water-soluble. This means that they will typically be absorbed by the water in a pipe.

The "good components" of your smoke, on the other hand, are non-water soluble. So a percolator is an excellent way of getting rid of a lot of the bad of smoking (cough cough), while retaining all of the fun parts.

Talking Drag

One of the minor downsides of percolators is that they can cause drag. This means that the smoke is not as free to move, and may require extra suction in order to continue moving through the smoking device.

So, as an example, a fritted disc, because it has far more holes than a honeycomb, may have more drag. A honeycomb, meanwhile, has more drag than a simple, perc-less pipe, as well.

It is important to note, however, that modern perc designs tend to offer some drag, but it does generally tend to be minor, and in some cases practically non-existent.

If you're interested in a water pipe or oil rig with solid percolation, well, you've come to the right place. Thickassglass.com has always been on the leading edge of percolation technologies, as seen in our collections which include:

Fritted discs: This type of perc bounds thousands of tiny glass fragments together leaving tiny holes in between each fragment. The amount of diffusion on a fritted disc, therefore, is pretty much unbeatable. The smoothness a fritted disc delivers is simply unparalleled.

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/fritted-discs

Honeycomb: These diffusers are basically a disc with as many as 100 or more holes. Once bubbles are created in the water, the bubbles are forced through the Honeycomb, which then reduces the size of the bubbles, and increases the amount of interaction between smoke and water. These are a solid choice, and are extremely popular.

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/honeycomb-discs

Showerhead: These percs feature slits or holes in order to increase diffusion and filtration. They offer lesser diffusion, but are still quite effective.

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/showerhead-percs

Tree: Tree percs offer a great level of diffusion, depending on the number of "arms" they feature. Each of the arms of a tree perc will usually have slits in the side and either a closed or an open bottom. The smaller the slits, the more the diffusion and filtration. The more arms, obviously, the more slits and the more total diffusion.

https://www.thickassglass.com/collections/tree-percs

So is a percolator water pipe for you? Well, if you love the harshness of smoking and that burning feeling at the back of your throat after a huge hit, then, er, no.

On the other hand, if you love smooth, cool smoke every time you use your water pipe, then, yes. You're gonna love your percolator. So will your lungs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/what-do-water-pipe-percolators-do

TAG Blog First Post

Just wanted to pop by and let everyone know that the official Thickassglass.com blog is coming here, so bookmark us now. Over the next weeks and months, we will be writing about water pipes, bubblers, oil rigs and more, along with a variety of information on TAG products in general.

We aim to provide the best smoking related information out there, so stay tuned. We'll be talking everything from grinders to percolators, ashcatchers to recyclers and so much more.

Don't miss out!



source https://www.thickassglass.com/blogs/enlightenment/tag-blog-first-post

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Welcome

This, of course, is the new Thickassglass.com Blogspot blog. We're happy to be here, and hope that you enjoy our content. This is our first venture on Blogspot, and we hope to provide the kind of information our readers can truly benefit from.

Feel free to check out our main website at http://www.thickassglass.com/ and thanks for showing up. Believe us when we say there is much more to come in the weeks to come!