Quick Answer
Fill the bong with water until the downstem tip sits about 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the surface. Pack 0.1 to 0.3 g of ground material into the bowl. Light the edge of the bowl and inhale through the mouthpiece. Smoke collects in the chamber. Lift the bowl or release the carb, then pull the chamber contents into your lungs.
How to Smoke a Bong: A Comprehensive Guide
What You Need
- Bong with downstem and bowl
- Water
- Ground flower, 0.1 to 0.3 g
- Lighter or hemp wick
- Grinder
- Towel
Steps
- Add water. Pour water into the bong. Check that the downstem tip sits 1/4 to 1/2 inch under the water. Too much water causes splash into the mouthpiece. Too little water gives a hot, harsh draw.
- Grind the material. Use a coarse grind. Fine powder clogs the bowl and restricts airflow.
- Pack the bowl. Add 0.1 to 0.3 g. Pack it loose. Air must move through the bowl and down the stem.
- Test the draw. Pull air through the mouthpiece without a flame. You should hear a steady bubble. If the draw feels heavy, loosen the bowl pack or lower the water level.
- Light the edge. Hold the flame to the edge of the bowl, not the center. Inhale at a steady rate. The chamber fills with smoke. Stop when the chamber reaches about 1/2 to 2/3 full.
- Clear the chamber. Lift the bowl from the stem or release the carb. Inhale the smoke in the chamber. Set the bowl down and exhale.
Technique Notes
- Take small hits. A 1/2 chamber hit is easier to control than a full chamber.
- Keep the flame off the bowl after the material catches. A hemp wick gives a lower flame than a lighter.
- Do not hold smoke in your lungs for a long count. There is no proven gain from a long hold, and it increases irritation.
- Cold water feels cooler on the draw. It does not remove tar or fine particles from smoke.
Common Mistakes
- Overfilling the bong with water. Water enters the mouthpiece and hits your mouth.
- Packing the bowl tight. The draw becomes hard and the material burns uneven.
- Using a full bowl for one hit. Most of the material chars before the chamber fills.
- Leaving standing water in the bong between sessions. The water picks up taste and germs.
- Sharing a mouthpiece without a wipe down. Saliva and germs transfer between users.
Cleaning
- Pour out the water after each session. Rinse the bong with hot water.
- Once a week, add 90% isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. Cover the openings and shake for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Rinse with hot water until the alcohol smell is gone. Let the bong air dry.
- Wipe the mouthpiece with alcohol before and after shared use.
- Replace the water before each session. Do not reuse old water.
If You Use CBD Flower
CBD hemp flower burns like any plant material. Pack it the same way: a coarse grind and a loose bowl. Check the batch lab report for pesticides, heavy metals, and mold before use. Store the flower in a sealed jar away from light and heat.