A DIY gravity bong is a great homemade way to take big hits of your favorite marijuana flower.
Fast, powerful and made with recycled materials, a gravity bong is a novel, affordable way to consume your favorite marijuana buds.
Made with household items, homemade gravity bongs are easy to make and can come in handy if you are lacking another smoking device.
What is a Gravity Bong?
A gravity bong is a DIY smoking device that uses pressure caused by raising and lowering the gravity bong in water to fill the bong and then force the smoke into the lungs. These are typically homemade smoking pieces, made with plastic bottles and foil, though some savvy manufacturers are creating high quality, reusable gravity bongs for consumers. Today, we are going to show you how to make your own home made gravity bong and give you hints on how to use it.
What will you need to make a gravity bong?
- Plastic bottle
- Larger plastic bottle, bucket, or sink full of water
- Aluminum foil
- Box cutter, sharp knife, or scissors
- Sharp object for poking holes
Once you have gathered your supplies, it’s time to start making your gravity bong.
Making a Gravity Bong
How do you make a gravity bong? It’s simple and can be done at home with items around your house. This first thing you will need to make an easy gravity bong at home is your plastic bottle – an empty water bottle or soda bottle can be used. Any size of bottle will do, but the larger the water bottle gravity bong, the larger your hits will be. First, finish off any remaining water in your bottle- we’re about to cut it in half (plus, staying hydrated is important).
Now, cut the bottom off your empty plastic bottle. Again, the more of the water bottle you leave on your finished gravity bong, the bigger the hits you get.
Remove the cap and cover the mouthpiece of the bottle with aluminum foil, creating a small bowl for your marijuana to sit in. You want it to be airtight to contain the smoke initially, but not so tight that you can’t remove it later to take your hit.
Poke tiny holes in the aluminum foil over the mouthpiece using your sharp object, such as a toothpick or pin. If you make too many holes or if the holes are too big, your ground marijuana may fall through into the water. Set your bowl aside.
If you plan to use your gravity bong more than this one time, you may want to create a more sturdy bowl. This can be done by attaching the bowl piece from a traditional bong to the bottle’s cap. To do this, drill a hole in the bottle cap and slide in the bowl piece. You’ll want the connection to be airtight, so use sealing putty, a rubber gasket, or something similar to seal it.
Once you have your top piece, you’ll need to find a bucket, sink, or larger plastic bottle into which you can place your gravity bong. Fill this container with water, leaving a couple of inches of air at the top. Cold water in your gravity bong is fine – though it will not effectively cool the smoke.
Put your gravity bong into the container of water. The open bottom of the bottle should be at the bottom of the container, and the neck and mouthpiece of the bottle should be at the top, above the water.
If water is covering the gravity bong’s mouthpiece, the bottle is too far down in the container. Depending on the sizes of your plastic bottle and water container, you may need to hold the gravity bong in place while using it.
Finally, place your “bowl” over the mouthpiece ensuring a secure fit. Your gravity bong is complete! To use it, simply light your herbs while slowly raising the top part of the bottle, remove the mouthpiece and bowl, and lower the top bottle into the water as you inhale from the mouthpiece to enjoy a potent hit.
Benefits a Gravity Bong
Why make a gravity bong? There are advantages to this method for consuming marijuana flower.
First, gravity bongs use less marijuana to achieve the same effects as other consumption methods, like joints, and even glass pipes. That is because gravity bongs push condensed smoke into the lungs for bigger, stronger hits.
Gravity bongs can also be faster than other smoking options such as a traditional bong, vaporizer or joint (learn how to roll a joint). Because each hit is bigger, you can take fewer hits overall, saving time. But watch out! The thick smoke from a gravity bong can be too harsh for some users. Unlike other consumption methods, the smoke isn’t cooled or filtered by the water involved, so use caution when inhaling to avoid discomfort. It’s always good to be aware of your limits when using marijuana. For more on marijuana side effects, we’ve put together a complete overview.
Finally, one of the biggest benefits of using a gravity bong is that they are cheap to make. Most people will already have everything they need to craft a gravity bong at home. DIYers will also enjoy that gravity bongs are made with repurposed items out of your recycling bin.
Why are Gravity Bongs So Effective?
Gravity bongs are more effective at achieving a “high” than traditional smoking techniques because of the method in which the smoke enters a user’s lungs. With a traditional bong, the user inhales the smoke through their own power, while with a gravity bong, the smoke is forced into the lungs as the top component is pressed down into the water. The rise in internal pressure in the bong expels all of the smoke in the bong. This achieves a smooth, even, and full draw with very little smoke lost to the air.
The lack of smoke lost helps conserve your cannabis and can be a good option for the budget-conscious marijuana user. That said, make sure you use caution when inhaling from a gravity bong, as the more intense method can create highs that are too intense for some users.
Want to Go Beyond the Gravity Bong? Find More on Our Cannabis 101 Page
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