When it comes to glass pipes (bongs that is, not glass hand pipes) it’s important to be familiar with the different kinds, lest you end up with something that you didn’t want. Glass bongs come in an astonishing variety of styles, but for the most part, each one of those styles fits into one of two categories: they’re either heady glass or scientific glass. In this guide, the team at the Smoking Buddha headshop will take a forensic look at the differences between scientific glass and heady glass so that you, the cannabis consumer, can make informed choices going forward.
What is Heady Glass?
Heady glass is where pipe designers let their imaginations run wild. The only limit on heady glass design is that the finished pipe must perform the basic functions of the water pipe in that it provides large, cool, well-filtered hits. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit.
You’ll be able to recognize heady glass the minute you walk into our Parker head shop. Heady glass bongs are visually striking, typically one-of-a-kind pieces that look more like surreal glass sculptures than something you’d use to smoke herb. Besides fulfilling their role as cannabis delivery vectors, heady glass bongs also serve as objects of wonder and meditation once the herb kicks in.
Heady Glass: An Overview
| CHARACTERISTICS | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|
| Incredibly detailed designs | If you prioritize aesthetics over everything else, you’re sure to love heady glass. | If your best bud drops your very expensive heady glass and it shatters on the floor will he still be your best bud? Really? |
| Typically one-of-a-kind | Heady glass devices are an excellent focal point while smoking or dabbing. | Heady glass can be challenging to keep clean. |
| Brightly colored | Most heady glass bongs are valid collector’s items. | Heady glass cannot be easily modified. |
| More expensive than mass-produced alternatives | They speak to the romantic side of the human spirit. | Heady glass bongs also have an unfortunate habit of growing legs and walking out. |
| Your heady glass bong is likely to seriously impress your friends. |
How Heady Glass Is Made
Heady glass bongs are essentially functional art pieces, prized for their aesthetic appeal and intricate designs. The production of heady glass typically involves the following steps.
- Design Concept — Glass artists conceptualize their designs, drawing inspiration from various sources such as nature, pop culture, or abstract ideas.
- Glass Blowing — Skilled glassblowers manipulate rods and tubes of borosilicate glass using a variety of techniques such as blowing, pulling, and twisting. This process requires precision and control to shape the glass into the desired form.
- Decoration — Once the basic shape is achieved, artists adorn the piece with intricate designs and patterns using colored glass rods or frit. These decorations can range from simple geometric shapes to elaborate figurative motifs.
- Annealing — To ensure durability and prevent cracking, the glass is slowly cooled in a kiln through a process called annealing. This relieves internal stresses and strengthens the finished piece.
- Quality Control — Each heady glass bong undergoes rigorous quality control measures to ensure that it meets the artist’s standards for craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal.
Heady Glass Gallery
What is Scientific Glass?
If you’ve ever taken an art history course you know that art is divided into two general categories: classical and romantic. Romantic art is colorful, full of emotion, and not so concerned with realistic detail. Classical art on the other hand is clean and clear, often very realistic, and gets its point across in more subtle, cerebral ways.
If heady glass is romantic (and it is) then the scientific glass is classical. Scientific glass features clean lines, a lack of ornamentation, and emphasizes function over individual expression. Scientific glass is often mass-produced and is often the first type of bong people buy.
Scientific Glass: An Overview
| CHARACTERISTICS | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|
| Very simple designs that emphasize function. | More affordable than heady glass. | Unless you have a cool analytical mind and appreciate things like minimalist architecture you may find the design of scientific glass bongs to be cold and uninspiring. |
| Typically mass-produced. | They often produce larger hits than you’ll get from heady glass. | Scientific glass pipes are often mass-produced so you’ve got the same pipe 1,000 other people have. |
| The simple design allows for the integration of percolators. | Scientific glass bongs are easy to clean. | |
| Often resemble scientific beakers, which is where they get their name from. | Most scientific glass bongs are made of borosilicate glass, which is very durable. | |
| You can modify your scientific glass bong in various ways without too much trouble. |
How Scientific Glass Is Made
Scientific glassware, on the other hand, is designed with functionality and precision in mind, often used in laboratory settings for experiments and research. The manufacturing process for scientific glass differs from heady glass in several key aspects.
- Precision Engineering — Scientific glassware is engineered to precise specifications, with a focus on uniformity and consistency in design. This ensures accurate measurements and reliable performance in laboratory applications.
- Standardized Components — Unlike heady glass bongs, which often feature unique designs and decorative elements, scientific glassware typically includes standardized components such as joints, percolators, and filtration systems. These components are designed for specific functions, such as maximizing smoke filtration and cooling efficiency.
- Quality Assurance — Scientific glassware undergoes stringent quality assurance testing to ensure that it meets industry standards for durability, thermal resistance, and chemical inertness. This is essential for ensuring the reliability and safety of laboratory experiments.
Heady glass and scientific glass are both created using the same fundamental material — borosilicate glass — but they serve different purposes and are crafted through distinct processes, resulting in unique final products. In summary, while heady glass bongs prioritize artistic expression and intricate designs, scientific glassware emphasizes functionality, precision engineering, and reliability – whether they’re designed for a scientific laboratory or as a smoking device.
So Which Type is Better?
If we polled 100 people at our head shop in Parker, chances are the results would show people split pretty much right down the middle on which is better. The truth is people choose a bong based on a few simple criteria: Does it get the job done? Does it speak to their sensibilities? And is it within their financial wheelhouse? Those working with a limited budget will typically pick scientific glass even if they are more aesthetically in tune with heady glass. Because you gotta do what you gotta do.
Shop the Smoking Buddha Headshop for Your Next Bong
Whether you are drawn to the cool, calculating precision of scientific glass or the emotional roller coaster produced by heady glass, you will find outstanding examples of both at the Smoking Buddha. We’re here seven days a week if you want to stop in.
