How To Use A Water Pipe: All The Important Pieces

The great thing about water pipes is they come in all different sizes and types. From tall, monstrous water pipes that stand at over three feet to small, portable and easy-to-manage water pipes, they all elicit a different experience.

For example, let’s say that you’ve recently just purchased a small, simple beaker water pipe. The instructions for this one are pretty easy: add water, add your substance of choice, grab a lighter and smoke away. Other water pipe combinations may have accessories like ash catchers, drop downs, dab nails and more that may be a little daunting to take in all at once.

Don’t sweat it. We’ll walk you through it. First, we’ll explain two different types of water pipes and their various parts.

Different Water Pipes: Stemless Water Pipes vs. Stemmed Water Pipes

While the water pipes shown here look drastically different from each other, you’ll find the steps it takes to use them are basically the same. Still, you might need to understand the different parts to get what we’re talking about.

Stemless Water Pipe Example

Let’s start by first dissecting this 16-inch water pipe. This awesome device is made up of many components, like the spinning disc splash guard. The neck, sitting slightly above the splash guard, is made of an impressive 50x7MM of Thick Ass Glass.  

As you move down the water pipe, you’ll find …

If you’re considering smoking or dabbing, you might wonder how a dab rig differs from a water pipe. The short answer is that a dab rig is a type of water pipe — but it’s designed specifically for smoking oils or concentrates.

While water pipes in general have a long- established history among the smoking community, dab rigs specifically are more of a recent trend and a peek into the future of smoking.

Both are great options to invest in, but depending on your smoking preferences, you’ll have a clear choice among these two popular smoking accessories.

Learn the major differences between dab rigs and water pipes and which one is right for your smoking preferences.

It’s All About What You’ll Be Smoking

First, you need to consider what you’ll be smoking with this pipe. Smokers who use water pipes primarily use them to smoke tobacco, dried herbs or flowers.

Meanwhile, if you are using a dab, also known as an oil rig, you’ll be using a legal concentrate along with wax, oil, or honey. To use the dab rig, you’ll heat up whatever you choose as your concentrate on the dab nail to vaporize it.

Dab Rig vs. Water Pipe Parts and Accessories

Just like how you’ll be smoking different things with these items, dab rigs and water pipes have different parts to help you do so.

Water pipes will use the traditional bowl piece along with a …

Most Popular Dab Rigs at Thick Ass Glass

The most popular dab rigs at Thick Ass Glass consist of a variety of glass water pipes. From funky shapes and designs to classic pieces, our dab rigs are highly sought-after. One of these reasons is the quality. Our glass quality is some of the best in the business. When you purchase a dab rig from us, you know that it will last. Check out these popular dab rigs and try one yourself!

TAG – 12″ BENT NECK FIXED 8 ARM TREE WITH HONEYCOMB PERC

Leading off for us is the TAG – 12” Bent Neck Fixed 8 Arm Tree with a Honeycomb Perc. Try and say that one three times fast. This monster of a water pipe stands at exactly one foot high. You need all that extra space with this honeycomb percolator. This honeycomb perc water pipe is made with strong borosilicate glass to provide enhanced reliability. The bent neck allows for ease of use. This piece is not just one of our most popular dab rigs; it’s one of the most popular dab rigs online, period.

TAG – 3.5″ PENDANT RIG WITH INLINE DIFFUSER

This small but mighty 3.5” pendant rig is built with an inline diffuser, which helps make the smoke smoother. This dab rig also comes with its own dab nail, so you have everything you need to get started in one package.

TAG – 8.25″ HAMMERHEAD

Top 4 Weirdest and Coolest Water Pipes

Looking for a unique water pipe for yourself, or maybe a kick-ass gift for someone else? We present to you our top four weirdest,coolest water pipes. But these babies are so much more than water pipes. They’re conversation pieces. Works of art. And anything but ordinary. Scroll through crazy colors, dizzying spirals and more.

TAG – 8″ MULTIPLYING INLINE SEXTUPLE RECYCLER – 14MM FEMALE

Kicking off our coolest water pipe list is the Multiplying Inline Sextuple Recycler. At first glance, this piece is completely insane! With crisses and crosses of tubes, this may not even look like a water pipe to the untrained eye. With a plethora of recyclers, the hit gets smoother and smoother.  

TAG – 9.25″ FABERGE EGG KLEIN W/ SUPER SLIT PUCK

The design of this water pipe varies. However, it’s efficiency is the same across the board. The Faberge Egg Klein water pipe is one of the coolest water pipes to come across your screen. Do you know what the original “Faberge” is? It’s described as a jeweled egg that was created for royalty in Russia in the 1800s. And as you can see,this water pipe is a jewel. Standing at just above 9 inches, it showcases dazzling percolators, and it’s available in a variety of radiant colors.

TAG – 10″ FABERGE CAN SUPER SLIT DONUT WITH BELLOW BASE

It’s a little more subtle than the colorful …

Most Popular Water Pipe and Dab Rig Accessories

Water pipe and dab rig accessories from Thick Ass Glass can help make your already-awesome water pipes and dab rigs even better. Add-ons like percolators, quartz bangers and more can help you enjoy your piece more. Whatever part of the experience you’re looking to improve, we’ve got an accessory for every water pipe or dab rig out there. And when you purchase a water pipe or dab rig accessory from Thick Ass Glass, you know it’ll last. Check out these popular accessories and try one yourself.

TAG – PINCHED SCREEN SLIDE WITH HANDLE

If you’re looking for a replacement water pipe slide, this one will do the trick. This water pipe accessory comes with a pinched screen, which stops excess debris from falling through and clouding the water pipe. At an affordable price, this slide even comes with a handle! You can also choose your color and size.

TAG – QUARTZ BANGER – HIGH AIR FLOW – 16MM DIAMETER BUCKET

An extension of your dab rig, this accessory works perfectly with most all the dab rigs we offer. Choose between three different sizes, including a 10MM female and either a 10MM or 18MM male joint size. Made of our signature quality glass, this quartz banger has a wall thickness of 2MM. On top of its special ability to retain heat, it also offers great high air flow.

TAG – 18/18MM DOWNSTEM

Most Popular Water Pipes for Smoking Dry Herbs

The most popular water pipes at Thick Ass Glass span a wide range of sizes and come with all different features. So there’s a little something here for everyone. Plus, our quality is unmatched. When you buy a water pipe from Thick Ass Glass, you know it’ll last. So check out these popular water pipes and try one yourself!

TAG – 16″ DOUBLE HONEYCOMB TO SPINNING SPLASHGUARD

This water pipe is a spectacle. Whether you prefer blue, red, white or black — pick the one to suit you. This water pipe has a glass thickness of 7MM and stands at 16 inches. As you probably guessed based on the name, this water pipe has a double honeycomb disc. And there are more than 90 holes in each for extra smooth hits. It also features a cyclone spinning splash guard so that no water splashes into your mouth! Check this dry herb water pipe out now.

TAG – 18″ BEAKER 50X9MM – 18/14MM DOWNSTEM

Sometimes, the classic water pipe does the job. There are no bells and whistles on this one, just great quality glass for smoking dry herb. At 18 inches tall,  it towers above other beaker type water pipes across the industry. These beakers feature a 50x9MM thick neck along with a SUPER THICK beaker bottom, ranging from 10-12MM thick. This all-around thickness is what sets our beakers apart from others. …

Most Popular Quartz Bangers at Thick Ass Glass

When it comes to dab nails, quartz bangers are all the rage these days! With the explosion of concentrates onto the scene, we have seen more and more sales of this product. Now, our name is Thick Ass Glass, and we specialize in glass. But even we love quartz bangers. There are many reasons you might prefer a quartz banger over another type of dab nail, including durability, heat resistance, and easy cleaning. Check out our top quartz bangers below.

QUARTZ BANGER – HIGH AIR FLOW

Take this high air flow quartz banger. You get the high quality of the TAG brand, the benefits of quartz and the added air flow for a better hit. This quartz banger is available in a variety of sizes. From 10MM to 18MM and in both male or female presets.

QUARTZ TROUGH – HIGH AIR FLOW

As an evolution of the high air flow, the trough quartz banger leaves more room for concentrates. The opening of the banger is cupped to extend the amount of concentrate that you’ll be able to use. That makes it extra efficient, and it still comes at an affordable price. The quartz on this banger is FDA approved quartz crystal. It comes in sizes ranging from 10MM all the way up to 18MM. You also have the option of choosing either a male or a female piece.

CONICAL PYRAMID QUARTZ

Water Pipe Buying Guide – Everything You Need to Know

If you’re reading this maybe you’ve never bought a water pipe before. Maybe you’re looking for all of the valuable information you need to make a smart purchase of your very first water pipe. Good news, this is where all that valuable information lies. Within these words are lessons that you can hold dear for a lifetime. From first steps to potential after-thoughts, we cover all of the basics and more.

Price of the Water Pipe

Just like anything else, the price is the main factor whenever you’re purchasing something. Look at your bank and determine what kind of shopping you’ll be doing. While it’s fun to window shop, it’s best to go in with a budget. You can find fairly quality pieces for a lower budget, if you’re looking to spend that hard earned cash as a reward to your self, pay close attention to our bells and whistles section. Determine your budget and move forward.

Will This Be For Dry or Concentrate Usage?  

Now that we have our budgets laid out, let’s talk about the different types of glass pipes you could potentially come across. Water pipes can be divided into two categories, water pipes for dry usage and water pipes for concentrate usage. If you are using the latter, then you’ll also want to look for a few other things like quartz bangers and nails. If it’s …

Oil Rigs and Dab Rigs — Their Different Shapes and Sizes and Why They Matter

When you’re choosing an oil rig or dab rig, the first thing to consider is quality. But if you’re buying from Thick Ass Glass, you’re already covered there. So the next thing to figure out is the size and shape. There’s no right or wrong choice, but the oil rig or dab rig you choose will affect how you can use it — specifically, what accessories will work and how much you can smoke at once. Read on to find out what questions to think about.

Is The Joint For Your Dab Rig Male or Female

No, we aren’t talking about the joint paper you use. We’re talking about the joint shape of a dab or oil rig. The joints can be either male or female, and they also come in various sizes. Now, this is not a sex education class, but the concept is basically the same. The male joint piece can go inside of a female joint piece, and a female joint piece can slide over a male joint piece. It’s not too hard to see if the joint piece you’ve selected is a male or female. You’ll just have to look at the “parts.” If you are using a female joint piece, then all your accessories must be male pieces, and vice versa.

What’s The Proper Joint Size For Your Dab Rig?

What Is A Glass Recycler?

What is a glass recycler? No, it’s not some cool recycling project from your local elementary school. Instead, it’s a revolutionary, easier way to inhale smoke. Glass recyclers “recycle” the smoke in additional chambers. While older and more traditional water pipes have been known to leave you coughing, these new aged futuristic glass recyclers will leave you feeling smooth.

Benefits of Glass Recyclers

Smooth Hits

The way the glass recycler water pipes “recycle” smoke makes it easier to clear. Without a recycler, you may experience the harsh and hot smoke of a more traditional water pipe. So how does it “recycle”? Once you start to inhale, the smoke begins a filtration process. Often, there are percolators that help the smoke to become more refined. It is pulled through the percolator and then put into another chamber that rids it of bubbles. As a result, a glass recycler water pipe provides a smoother hit.

Cooler Hits

Yes, you may look cooler if you use a glass recycler. Especially one with the TAG log on the side. But here, we’re talking about the temperature of the smoke. With traditional glass water pipes, the smoke only comes into contact with the water once, so it’s still hot when it hits your lungs. Say goodbye to that burning sensation with glass recyclers. In contrast to older water pipes, glass recyclers run the smoke past water again and again for …

The 5 Best Selling Downstems in 2018

Downstems are an important part of a water pipe. It carries the smoke from the chamber or the bowl. Because they are such an important piece of your water pipe, we thought it would be best if we gave you the rundown on the best-selling downstems in 2018. Drumroll, please!!

TAG – 18/18MM Downstem

First up, we have the mighty TAG 18/18MM downstem. Now listen folks, this downstem is equipped with just the right amount of umph to get the job done. This downstem has plenty of sizes to choose from! Whether you’re looking for a small sized downstem or one much bigger, you can purchase it here. This downstem fits both beaker water pipes and straight tubes.

TAG – 18/14MM Downstem

Next, we have the versatile TAG 18/14MM downstem. The adjective versatile is a great way to describe this glass downstem. This downstem fits beakers and straight tubes with an 18MM Female Fitting. It can also converts the beaker from 18MM Female to 14MM Female. Pretty impressive, right? If you have more than one water pipe, check this downstem out!

TAG – 18/18MM 5 ARM DOWNSTEM

Get fancy with this 5 arm downstem. The TAG 18/18MM 5 arm downstem is a gift from the design gods. Want to wow your friends? Pull this glass downstem out! With its 5 arms, it does a magnificent job to filter the smoke and reduce the …

4 Reasons To Own A Quartz Banger

What is a quartz banger, you’re wondering? A quartz banger is a type of dab nail made of quartz. If you didn’t pay attention when the teacher was talking about rocks and minerals, then here’s a quick refresher. Quartz may look like glass, but it isn’t. Quartz is another type of mineral or crystal. It’s actually one of the most abundant minerals on the earth’s surface. And quartz bangers have a range of benefits compared to glass and titanium nails.

The Durability of A Quartz Banger

One of the best things about quartz bangers is that they will last you a long time. In fact, quartz is said to be one the most durable minerals. It’s used for its hardness properties in many industries. This makes quartz bangers more durable than either a glass or a ceramic type nail banger. The durability factor alone could be a great reason to look into getting a quartz banger.

Tasteless! Quartz Bangers Are Tasteless!

Another huge reason quartz bangers have gone viral in the last few years is that of their tastelessness. When you get pure quartz, which we have, then you get quartz made from pure silica sands, so there are no other chemicals released from the quartz when you heat it. This allows you taste only what you put in it.

Quartz Bangers Are Heat Resilient

On top of being so durable overall, quartz …

If you’re a dabber looking for the best dab tools or cheapest dab rigs then coming to Thick Ass Glass’ holiday sale is going to be your best choice of the year. As an experienced dabber, you know that the right tools can make or break a good dabbing session, and that quality tools make for a better dab.

So when you’re looking at 30% off the entire store at TAG, with everything from dab rigs to ceramic nails and quartz bangers to dabbers on sale, you’re going to come out a winner. Here are just a few highlights for folks who love the dabbing scene:

Quartz Bangers

One of the beautiful things about TAG is that we don’t just stock “the same old” when it comes to smoking and dabbing accessories. A prime example we should talk about here is probably the TAG 30x2mm Quartz Banger. Now, it’s important to note that this is a freakin’ big banger.

If you’re new to the dabbing game, we probably would recommend AGAINST such a huge banger, but seasoned pros asked for this particular bucket, and TAG provided. Not only is this thick, high quality quartz… it’s also laser engraved with the TAG logo. And hey, who can doubt the words of TAG customer Felixe B., who notes, “It’s lit”.

Yes Felixe. It is.

Quartz bangers aren’t always the same old at TAG, as we noted. A good example might be …

Just because you enjoy a certain hobby doesn’t necessarily mean you want to broadcast it to the entire world. Many people like to keep their hobbies private, and when you’re talking smoking, you’re probably talking about some kind of stigma involved. Hence, when you enjoy legal herbs and concentrates for either recreational or pain management, you might not want the universe to know.

There are certainly eye drops you can get to minimize the redness but smell of smoke is one of those things that’s a bit harder to cover up. People who smoke tobacco run into the same issue: the smell can cling. It clings to your hair, your clothing, your shoes, vehicle; anything. There are ways to manage and minimize the smell while still enjoying your hobby to the fullest. Maybe you need to manage it for work or maybe you just don’t like the smell of it yourself. Whatever your reason, here are some handy tricks for you to try.

When It’s On Your Person

Having the smell of legal herbs clinging to your clothes can dampen anyone’s mood. You don’t necessarily want to broadcast to your office what you do on your spare time and maybe you just want to save yourself the sermon from a conservative relative.

The best option to remove the smell from your clothes, skin and hair is to have a shower and change your clothes. Sounds simple, right? It might be …

When you have a hobby that requires more than one piece of gear, it’s really easy to get caught up in collecting. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, friends. When it comes to recreational legal herbs there are many glass pipes that can not only add to your collection and serve a different functional purpose. This makes it pretty seriously easy to justify hitting up your wallet for another piece.

Different situations call for different water pipes and it’s nice to be able to handle anything that gets thrown your way. But there’s a difference in assembling a huge collection just for the hell of it, and creating somethign special. There are some basics you should think about in order to round out what you’ve got. We’ll walk you through what pieces are a must for any avid collector.

Basic is Best

If you’re into the herbs and smoke on a regular basis you’ll want to ensure you’re stocked with a basic water pipe like this. While there are many cool designs out there that work pretty awesome as a conversation starter, if you’re smoking alone that doesn’t really matter.

It’s a smart idea to have your basic water pipe be made of scientific glass and to try to keep the size under 15”. This glass beaker pipe, as an example, will let you see the amount of smoke and water inside which will help you control your …

When is there a better time to save money on smoking accessories than Thick Ass Glass’ amazing holiday sale? We’re not sure. In fact, it may not exist. This is a serious sale that many glass enthusiast wait all year for. Well, it’s here, people. Time to stock up on some excellent glass items.

Slides

Alright, so hands up anyone that has dropped a slide in their porcelain sink? Who have had one slip through their fingers during a session, and crash heavily onto the floor. Well, if ever there was a time to buy some extra slides, friends, it’s now.

The TAG Pinched Screen Slide With Handle, particularly the On-Sale Black Label 18mm version, is literally at wholesale-type prices. Do you know anywhere else that you can get a solid, thick glass slide for under $3? We don’t either. The regular version, labeled or not, no matter the color, is under $6.

Don’t forget to also take a look at the newer version of this TAG slide, the Built In Screen Slide With Handle. Also under six bones. Tons of designs. 14 and 18mm sizes.

Great design, superb functionality, and with the screen built in. If you haven’t picked up a few extra slides, what exactly are you waiting for?

Drop Down Adapters

Find that your water pipe’s main joint is a little too high for your ashcatcher plus a reclaim adapter? Worry not, oh smoking accessory loving …

If you dab, it’s pretty likely you’ll have an essential piece of hardware called a nail. In most applications, you need this to complete the dabbing experience. But did you know that carb caps like this are also useful for dabbing? Lots of people think that carb caps are unnecessary but there’s a lot they’re missing out on by not using one. We’ll go through the different types of nails that are available to help you decide which one suits your needs. We’ll also give you a rundown on why carb caps are so misunderstood. A basic list of dab essentials is here.

Nail Me to the Wall

Like we said before, nails are an essential tool for dabbing. You can’t dab without them but they come in so many different types of materials it can be hard choosing the right one for your needs. You can get nails in glass, ceramic, quartz and titanium. Most dab rigs will come standard with a glass nail but you’ll probably want to upgrade that sooner rather than later.

What a lot of people don’t realize, especially when they’re new to dabbing, is that glass is weak and fragile. Glass can’t withstand consistent high temperatures in one spot without breaking. And that just leaves you with a hot mess you should probably avoid.

A great, light-weight alternative to glass is quartz. These nails are just as pretty and come in …