Bongs do a good job of filtering ash and particulate while you smoke but have you heard of an Ash Catcher? True connoisseurs use an ash catcher attachment to keep their bong cleaner for a much longer time.
What is an Ash Catcher?
This glass attachment accessory fits between the glass on glass bong stem and the bong bowl. Besides keeping your glass piece cleaner the purpose of an ash catcher is to provide extra water filtration for a much smoother smoking experience. It’s like having a bong for your bong!
Ash catchers come in as many varieties of joint sizes as bongs do so you can match it to any bong that you have if it has a glass on glass joint. Typical joint connection sizes include 14mm and 18mm (some call this 19mm) in 45 or 90 degree joint angles depending on your bong. Straight tubes typically use a 90 degree while beaker shapes will use a 45 degree.
Just like many bongs, ash catchers are usually made with transparent borosilicate glass so you can see what is happening inside. They come in a variety of glass colors so you can grab one that matches your water pipe. Some designs on the market are also made from medical grade silicone.
Ash Catcher Types
Ash catchers come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your individual needs. The best ash catchers utilize water filtration while others are dry with no percolation. Some designs have an extra chamber that help prevent any ash from going into your bong which keeps it extra clean.
Ash Catcher Percolators
Most ash catchers use an internal percolator (perc) to filter smoke through water much like most bongs do. The best ash catchers expose as much surface area of smoke as possible to the water inside by creating a bubbling action.
Ash Catcher Perc Types:
Tree Perc - This style has a number of “arms” with slits on the bottom that bubble your smoke. Different tree percs feature varying numbers of arms. The more arms there are the more bubbling action that is created and therefore a smoother smoke.
Turbine Perc - Turbines have a disc with an angled slit pattern that swirls the smoke through the water in a swirling vortex action. This style adds an extra sensory element to your smoke sesh and is fun to watch. Kinda like a science experiment for adult stoners ;-).
Showerhead Perc - Similar in function to a Tree Perc, the showerhead has one arm with many slits at the bottom and designed to produce a lot of bubbles.
Honeycomb Perc - This perc is named because of its similar appearance to honeycomb. Made up of a disc that fits the width of the chamber with small holes through its entirety. These small holes produce microbubbles for super percolation action.
No Perc - Some ash catchers feature no percolator at all. You can use this type of ash catcher dry or with water. These are much lighter than other ash catchers so they can be used on a smaller bong or rig. While they don’t filter the smoke as much, they do a good job of helping to prevent ash from getting into your piece.
Swiss Diffuser - While not a percolator, this diffuser has holes reminiscent of swiss cheese and helps to smooth out the smoke before you inhale.
How Do You Clean An Ash Catcher?
Much the same as a bong. In fact, it is easier to clean an ash catcher since it is much smaller and easier to handle during cleaning than most bongs. You can use the same cleaning solution that you use for your bong, just plug the holes with the solution inside and give it a vigorous shake to remove and nasties from the surface of the glass. Rinse it out, fill it with enough clean water to cover the perc openings and you are good to go for your next sesh.
What’s The Best Ash Catcher?
This will depend on your preference and bong size. Because bongs and ash catchers come in a variety of sizes you will want to make sure to use an ash catcher that is proportionate in size; you don’t want to add one that will be too heavy for your bong to support and cause it to fall over. Large ash catchers with intricate percolators will work better on a larger well balanced pipe while the smaller dry ash catchers are more likely to pair well with smaller rigs.
Browse our collection below and find a great ash catcher that will work with your bong.
