Hey people. I just recently got really good at throwing on the wheel. So respectively, I began making "flower pots" ranging from 5-8 inches tall. I know they're a bit small, but I intend to use a few of them to attempt to make a bong after I fire them then glaze both the inside and out of them. (Ceramic/Clay bongs). I'm wondering what are the SAFEST/HEALTHIEST materials to work with to create a downstem, and potentially a chillum/bowl(otherwise I'll just buy the bowl from my dealer). *The 2 materials I've been looking into the most is brass and wood. If anyone has significant knowledge on either one, and whether they can withstand typical heat from a lighter along with being submerged in water, let me know. *Please reply any sort of input u believe cud be helpful, try to include why certain materials are more beneficial than others, and the Pro's/Con's. I'm still living at parents so things around the house/hardware supplies stores are my options. *PLEASE* Avoid posting about why glass is the best, I've been smoking for 3 years, I don't want to be reminded of that, and if glass was obtainable and not suspicious then I wudn't have posted this thread to begin with
Brass is fine. Not sure how easy it is to find brass tubing though...I've never seen any. What I do for downstems is buy glass test tubes off ebay and either take a propane torch, heat up the bottom, and poke a hole through it; or I simply break it off with some pliers or something. I find test tubes the perfect choice because a) they're glass. And b) they're cheap. And you also don't need to be 18 to buy them. If you can't buy them online (I get mine from eBay) due to lack of Paypal/credit card access, ask your science teacher if they have any broken ones lying around (or extra ones that are intact). I would stay away from wood downstems because for them to not rot because of the water, they'd have to be treated (unless there's some hardwood I don't know about that's extremely water resistant). Other than that, you could use aluminum tubing, as long as it's not in direct contact with the flame. As for a bowl, head to a home improvement store and look in the plumbing section. There's brass pieces that are used for fixing hoses that work wonders. They're called something along the lines of 'hose barb adapter'. Happy toking.
how can u be sure those hose adapters are brass/safe? and wow alot of good info, might try the test tube stuff
Yes it says it's brass right on the package. Of course it could be lying. It's probably gold-plated uranium.
Wood works great for the bowl but don't use it as a downstem. When it gets wet the wood can expand and it gets hard to pull out.
