The nature of the bong accessory is to improve the smoking experience. It’s that simple. Some do a commendable job, others seem sorta superfluous and usually wind up collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. The ash catcher is one of those that has caught on with bong aficionados everywhere, but is that just a case of keeping up with the jones’ or are there real merits to having one? In this post, the staff at our Denver headshop address the issue.
What is an Ash Catcher?
An ash catcher is a type of adapter, usually made from glass or silicone, that attaches to your bong and prevents ash and resin from entering the main chamber of your water pipe.
If you’ve ever cleaned a bong you know that most of the gunk clinging to the inside or floating in the water is just that: ash and resin. By preventing those waste materials from entering the main chamber of the bong you also prevent some of them from reaching your lungs.
Some ash catchers go the extra mile by including percolators that provide a further level of filtration. The end result is a cool, clean hit that tastes better and doesn’t send you into a coughing fit (at least in theory).
How it Works
Ash catchers don’t rely on rocket science. They are simple devices with a simple task: provide the cleanest possible hit. The typical ash catcher that you’ll find in our online head shop or at our Northglenn pipe shop can fit more or less into the palm of your hand and is designed to attach to your bong between the bowl and the main chamber.
When you spark up the bowl smoke travels through the attachment where tiny ash particles from the burn process are filtered out. The ash catcher also removes resin that would either end up stuck to the wall of your bong’s main chamber or perhaps even wind up in your lungs.
Why Use an Ash Catcher?
There are 2 primary reasons why people purchase ash catchers from our online smoke shop.
- The idea of inhaling loose bits of ash and droplets of resin does not appeal to them. And why should it? While cannabis resin is not on par with the toxic stew found in cigarette smoke it still doesn’t belong in your lungs. Neither does ash. In addition, ash particles and resin droplets negatively affect the flavor of your favorite, and often very expensive, weed.
- The process of cleaning a bong is a pain and anything that can make that process simpler and quicker is a good thing. The ash catcher will prevent most of the pollutants resulting from cannabis combustion from ever reaching the main water chamber. You won’t have to clean as often, and when you do, the process will be a relative breeze.
How to Choose the Right Ash Catcher
Now that you have a better idea why people buy ash catchers the next question becomes: “How do I pick the right ash catcher for my particular glass pipe?”
First off, you will need to make sure the design of the ash catcher you have your eye on will work with your bong. It’s possible that the main chamber or the uptake tube of the bong will prevent the ash catcher from installing properly. Or part of the ash catcher may come to rest against the uptake or main chamber. If either is the case you’ll need to look for a different ash catcher.
Next, you are going to have to take some measurements of your water pipe to make sure the ash catcher you plan to buy will fit properly. You don’t want leaks around the joints or an ash catcher whose joints are too small/large to make a proper connection. Most of the ash catchers in our online head shop have male joints, so you will need to ensure the female joint on your bong is the right size to accommodate it.
If everything to this point is A-okay you will next want to consider whether a 45-degree or 90 degree angle is right for your ash catcher. Those are the 2 most common angles at which these devices attach to water pipes. It’s rare to find a bong that will comfortably accommodate both. You will usually have to pick one or the other.
Lastly, you’ll need to decide if you want a percolator on your ash catcher. As we mentioned above the percolator will add an extra level of filtration to your bong, making for extra-smooth, extra-cool hits. But they’re not for everyone. If you like the idea of a perc on your ash catcher you might want to consider a catcher with more than 1 perc.
Is There a Downside to Ash Catchers?
Everything has a downside and ash catchers are no exception. The major downside to this type of device is that it’s going to make you work harder for your hit. Why? Because every filter you install between the bowl and your mouth creates additional drag and the only way to compensate for that drag is to inhale harder. Another potential downside is that a heavy ash catcher might put too much stress on the joint of the bong. The ash catcher will also raise the center of gravity of your bong and make it easier to tip over.
For the best selection of heady glass, bongs and other paraphernalia visit the 710Pipes headshop.