What exactly is a percolator bong? We are so glad you asked. That’s where we step in to shed some light on the subject. From a scientific standpoint, percolation is the process of filtering fluid through a porous substance. With percolator bongs, the fluid is the smoke, and the porous substance is the array of tiny holes in the glass. The smoke is forced to disperse into various paths before escaping through the perforations, creating small bubbles that maximize the smoke’s contact with the bong water. And as killer as bongs with percolators may look on the shelf and especially while in use, it’s their function that gives them their mass appeal.
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The Cooling Process
This process not only cools the smoke but is also considerably healthier due to the number of contaminants removed from the smoke. This may seem complicated, but the primary purpose of a percolator bong is to make incredible filtration. That, and the fact that they look really cool when in action, doesn’t hurt much either.
Types of Percolations
We carry a nice selection of percolator bong types that feature different color variations and sizes, with multiple percolator types. Honeycomb percolators, along with showerhead perc bongs and matrix percolators, are just a few of the perc styles we carry. We will discuss exactly what is a honeycomb perc, and what is a matrix perc, along with many other popular options.
Downstem
Usually referred to as a diffuser downstem, downstem percolators are the most basic type of perc. They feature a vertical downstem that boasts multiple slits at the bottom which sit underwater so you can force the smoke through, diffusing it before it reaches your lips for a much less harsh hit.
Tree
A tree percolator is a perc that resembles a tree, with a central trunk and overhanging branch-like glass tubes (AKA arms) that are diffused by multiple small slits. The smoke comes from underneath the perc as it’s forced up through the main trunk before it’s forced down the arms of the perc where it comes into contact with the water, creating bubbles. A good rule of thumb with tree percolator bongs is the more arms your perc has, the more diffusion you’ll get out of it.
Showerhead
The name comes from their appearance looking like that of a showerhead. These percs make use of a tube attached to the main chamber that draws smoke up and through a bigger tube before pushing it down and out of a spherical base with various sizes of slits or holes to enhance diffusion. It’s the showerhead perc’s radial symmetry that ensures uniform distribution of smoke bubbles. And the more diffusion from the differently sized bubbles, the smoother your hits will be.
Matrix
The matrix perc is typically cylindrical and resembles that of a woven basket. It works in the same manner as a showerhead perc mostly, with multiple, complex rows of horizontal and vertical slits where only the top row filters your smoke. This results in extremely high volumes of diffusion thanks to all the different directions the smoke can travel. Matrix percs are also quite similar to the tree percs symmetrical design, offering even dispersal of bubbles via every one of the tiny slits along the grid.
Honeycomb
Named after their honeycomb appearance, honeycomb percs are probably the most basic percolator you can currently find. Because of their slim, flat design, you’ll often see multiple stacked on top of each other to increase the diffusion. A part of the disc perc family, the honeycomb percolator features a series of tiny holes that resemble a cheese grater more so than a honeycomb. They lie parallel to the base of the bong, which allows the perc to shoot bubbles directly up through the bong. You’ll find that honeycomb percolators don’t cause as much drag as other percs, but still offer some great diffusion of your smoke.
Swiss
If a different, somewhat weird percolator design gets your motor running, then a Swiss perc may be just what the doctor ordered. The Swiss perc has a look reminiscent of a ball of Swiss cheese or the aftermath of a hail of gunfire. It’s this special design that makes Swiss percs one of the most difficult percs for glassblowers to make. The smoke is filtered in and out of the holes to help break it up into small, smoke-filled bubbles. You can’t go wrong with a Swiss percolator bong if you’re looking for a terrific conversation starter.
Inline
You’ll traditionally find the inline percolator in the bottom half of the bong, where it lies horizontally and is typically connected to the joint. It’s essentially a long glass stem that boasts slits or holes that commonly face the side or down. This is to divert the water to the sides or downwards, which in turn cuts down on splash back. Since the level of filtration provided by inline percolators is on the lower end of the spectrum, you’ll rarely find a bong that only features one. Therefore, they usually combine an inline perc with one or multiple other percolators. And the inline percolator works on the principle that the more holes there are, the better the filtration. They usually use these percolators in smaller pieces because they don’t perform as well with the large amounts of water used in regular-sized bongs.
UFO
To the blind eye, the UFO perc may just look like your average showerhead perc. And you wouldn’t be that far off, with the primary difference being the UFO perc taking things a step further by featuring several more slits than the showerhead version. If you’ve learned anything, you know that more slits equal more percolation, which leads to smoother hits, which leads to a big ‘ole smile on your face. The icing on the cake is that those dreaded anal probings you keep hearing about are of no concern.
Turbine
If visually pleasing filtration is what you crave, then a turbine percolator is a fantastic option. It looks like your basic slitted disc except, instead of the slits being vertical or horizontal, they’re angled. This forces the smoke to spin around like a mini-tornado inside your bong. You’ll commonly find these stacked with honeycomb percs given their flat design. But if your sole purpose for using a percolator is filtration, then you’ll want to look elsewhere since the turbine percolator doesn’t provide the best option. It’s hard to deny how insanely cool they are to watch while in use, though.
Donut
A donut perc is fairly similar to the Swiss percolator, with the primary difference being donut percs only feature one hole instead of the multiple holes that Swiss percs have. This singular hole forces water and smoke around the perc, diffusing your smoke besides acting as a natural splashguard to boot. Glassblowers tend to place the donut hole along the base where you can have a marvelous view of the show once it’s in action. And, while they shape some like actual donuts, they don’t have to be classified as a donut perc.
Coil
Sometimes referred to as a spiral percolator, the coil perc has to be one of the most elaborate designs currently available. There are two different types of coil percs with one being an actual glass coil that spirals around the center of the chamber (typically with two openings at the bottom), and the second type of coil perc being a glycerin coil. Both designs work by utilizing a downstem filtration system along with multiple cross-shaped tubes that stem from the center. This forces the smoke and water away, sideways from the center of the bong, which helps to promote better airflow in addition to preventing any splashback that may occur.
How to Use a Percolator Bong
If you’ve ever used a regular bong without percolators, then using a bong with percolators won’t seem that different. And for everyone else who hasn’t used any type of bong before, it’s still a straightforward process.
Why Use a Percolator Bong?
The point of using a percolator bong (just as with a regular bong) is to aid in the removal of any nasty contaminants, tar, or ash. And just as with a regular bong, you need to begin by filling up the chamber with water until all the downstem slits/holes are fully submerged.
Water Levels
You’ll also want to make sure that the water level stays well below the carb to prevent any spillage (that is, if your piece even features a carb). Bongs with percolators usually have several chambers to filter the smoke, which you’ll also need to ensure have the correct amount of water. If any of your water levels are off (the slits/holes of the percolators aren’t submerged), your smoke will be diffused, but significantly hotter and harsher. After you’ve filled the chambers with water, it’s always a good idea to test for splashback. Simply inhale as you regularly would to see if any water reaches your mouth. If it does, then adjust the levels accordingly until the splashback is no more.
Spark it Up!
Once your water levels are where you like them, it’s time to pack the bong bowl with your preferred strain of weed. Next, light the packed bowl and inhale from the mouthpiece for a short period before removing the bowl to inhale the remaining smoke left in the chamber. As long as you keep an eye on your water levels, you shouldn’t have any issues.
If a straight tube bong with a honeycomb perc is what you’re looking for, we got you. How about a wicked recycler bong with a matrix perc? We got you! Long story short, if you’re looking for nice bongs with percolators, you’ve come to the right place. Because nothing is impossible with Nothings Impossible Glass!