How to measure a downstem for a bong : Smoker Pro Tips

Finding The Right Downstem For You

So What Is A Downstem?

Think of a downstem as a glass tube that goes from the main chamber of the piece you use to your joint. It is a downstem that actually does the work of cooling down your hit so that it is easier to take. It does this by a couple of different ways, most common are holes or slits that work as the filter. You can get a pipe that does already have a downstem as part of it, but many do not. It is very easy to purchase a downstem and it could not be any easier to use as it simply is attached via the joint that is on the pipe. There is a lot of downstems for you to pick from as well as more than a few accessories so be sure to have a good look at the selection and the kind of pipe you have before you order.

How Do The Pros Measure?

The main thing a person does not want in a downtstem is for it to be hitting the bottom of the pipe and that is what we go above and beyond to avoid. We achieve this by measuring downstems to the most common joint sizes which are 10 mm, 14.5 mm and 18.8 mm. the way we measure means that if you pick the right downstem for your pipe. It is going to fit like a charm and ensure you get a nice, smooth high that cannot be beaten!

How Can I Measure To Make Sure I Order The Right One?

There are some things that you have to take into account before you measure your downstem. The most important one is if the pipe you have is male or female. This is because a downstem is only usable with a pipe that has a female joint, this is because the downstem needs to be actually inserted into the joint. So once you realize if you have a female pipe or not you can move onto the next step. This is figuring out what size you joint is. This is easier than you would think and the most common sizes are 10 mm which is about the size of your pinky finger. 14.5 mm which is around the size of your index finger and the last one is 18.8 mm which is about the size of your thumb.

Now you can figure out what size of downstem you need. There is a very simple way to do this and all you need is a pencil. Place your pencil into the joint. You want it to go pretty far in, but not touch the bottom. You want it to be where the water is going to be, that is the easiest way to think about it. Make a mark on the pencil at the point where the pope begins and the joint ends. Once you take the pencil out you need to measure from the end of the pencil to the mark you made and that is the ideal length for your downstem.

Different Ways Of Filtering Smoke

There are different styles of downstems and this means that there are different ways that they will be filtering smoke. Slits are the most common and classic design that is used. You get a nice diffusion with every hit. If you want a more cleaner filtration then you will want to consider a tree perc downstem which does require a bit more effort when it comes to pulling and it will also require a more regular cleaning. If you are all about that flavor then a firecut downstem is for you as it is just awesome at preserving flavor! There is also showerhead and honeycomb downstems which are their own thing and can help give your pipe that extra bit of kick.

Downstems do not have to be as confusing as you would think. If you have any questions, we are more than happy to help you out.