A holistic smoking experience is something that every weed enthusiast aspires to. And, a pertinent tool to help achieve this is an ash catcher. The subject of maintaining bong’s cleanliness, improving smoke taste or quality of smoking session is often misunderstood by people that an ash catcher may be very useful for this purpose.
Thanks to its relative obscurity, selecting the appropriate ash catcher can appear quite challenging. The options available in the market, vis-a-vis style, size, material and percolation systems, are many. The slightest difference in features might greatly affect your smoking experience. This blog will discuss the ways of selecting the ideal ash catcher for your bongs.
Understanding Ash Catchers
An ash catcher is a small glass chamber that sits on the joint of your water pipe (between the bowl slide and the pipe itself). The ash catcher is filled with water and may come with some extra percolators. The primary purpose of an ash catcher is to catch loose debris before it lands inside your bond. Simply put, a bong catcher serves as a removal barrier and an extra stratum of diffusion for your bong’s water pipe.
Remember that not all bong catchers are the same. Different percolators diffuse and filter smoke before it reaches your pipe’s main chamber and percolator. Choosing the appropriate size and material for your ash catcher is crucial.
There are many reasons why opting for an ash catcher is worth it. These include –
- An ash catcher keeps your bong pipe cleaner for a longer time
- Every puff is fresh and pure
- It is much easier to soak and rinse an ash catcher as compared to a full-size water pipe
- You can refurbish old bongs without even buying a whole new pipe with the help of an ash catcher
- They also look very aesthetic
After learning what an ash catcher is and why it’s necessary, let’s discuss how to choose one.
Choosing the Right Ash Catcher for Your Bong – A Four-step Guide
- Types and Varieties
The first step in buying the right ash catcher is to understand its various types and varieties. The most popular ones include –
- Tree Perc Ash Catchers
The percussion catchers come with simple arms that resemble tree branches, each equipped with slits or holes for diffusion. As smoke travels through these arms, it gets filtered and cooled down, culminating in smoother hits. The tree perc design also offers a picturesque visual display as the smoke moves through the arms.
- Showerhead Perc Ash Catchers
Like shower heads, perc ash catchers have a vertical tube with many slits or holes at the bottom. After inhaling, smoke flows through these perforations, creating bubbles that cool the smoke and enhances surface area contact. The result is a smoother hit and a visually appealing experience.
- Inline Perc Ash Catchers
These catchers have a horizontal tube with many holes or slits. These perforations split smoke into smaller bubbles. Thus, you receive optimal diffusion and filtration.
- Compatibility and Joint Size
The second and very crucial step to choosing an ash catcher is ensuring that it is compatible with your glass bong’s size and type. Where the bowl sits will help you choose the correct ash catcher.
For glass bongs downstem the measurement should start from the downstem itself. On the other hand, if your bong is stemless, you can measure it directly from the piece joint. The key is to ensure that your ash catcher’s joint is the same as the piece joint.
- Materials and Durability
The material of the ash catcher affects its durability and smoke-handling. Catchers for ash are typically constructed from glass, ceramic, silicone or titanium. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
A glass ash catcher is fragile but offers better airflow. Likewise, silicon is extremely durable but not heat resistant. Thirdly, titanium is strong but very expensive. However, a titanium or ceramic ash catcher might be the best option if you frequently travel with your bong.
- Factors Influencing Selection
You want the proper length, style, and material on your bong ash collector. To stop air from escaping, use an ash catcher that fits snugly inside your bong’s downstem.
Choose an ash catcher that fits your bong’s downstem angle. Additionally, your catcher must prevent debris and beautify your setup for a splendid smoking.
Now that we understand the four steps to pick out the high-quality ash catchers, let us wrap up by checking out a few maintenance and cleaning pointers.
Maintenance and Cleaning of Ash Catchers
Regular upkeep of an ash catcher guarantees that its performance remains intact.
To ensure that your catcher is working excellent, you need to take the subsequent steps–
- Disassemble the ash catcher and note down wherein every piece goes to keep away from confusion while re-assembling.
- Soak all of the parts in heat water and a cleaning solution of Isopropyl alcohol for a few hours. Then, rinse the apparatus with lukewarm water.
- Dry every separate part with a cleaning towel.
- Reassemble the ash catcher to make sure that every part is tight fit and there aren’t any air leaks.
Finally, keep the ash catcher in a dry and cool place. Moreover, clean the catcher after every use to prevent resin buildup.
Key Takeaways
So, there we have it, a crisp analysis of the four easy steps to pick out the exceptional ash catcher to your bongs. However, the ultimate decision will be based totally on your personal preferences and bong compatibility.
