Downstems

Tired of your old downstem? Looking for a new one to replace it?  Whether your old one is broken or you want to buy one for your new bong - You've come to the right place! Here on our online headshop, we have downstems that would fit anyone's needs. We're talking metal, tree perc, or fire cut downstems.  Fair warning - before you check the best downstems for sale, ensure you know what you're purchasing. Any lover of cannabis pipes knows how vital a downstem is to a bong. It plays a significant role in your hit quality, so making the right choice will upgrade your pipe and take you on a better ride!

What is a Bong Downstem, and How Does it Work?

The downstem is one of the essential bong accessories  - it impacts your hit level! If you've used a bong before, you can tell just how big of a role a downstem has in bubbling your cannabis the right way.  The long pipe tubes that extend from the bong bowls and end in the water in the bong chambers are known as downstems.  The downstem guides the smoke into the water, where it can get filtered before you inhale it. Without it, the smoke would directly go to your throat and lungs, giving you a very dry taste, void of any pleasure.  How does it work? Simple!  The downstem makes a suction that pulls the smoke. In turn, this makes the water bubble. This way, you get more fume as you inhale - simple as that.  Most bubblers will come with a downstem. Some can be fixed and permanently attached to them, and others can be removed.  The fixed downstems are easier to use - just pack your dab and hit!  When the downstem breaks, your bong will be no good to use further.  As a rule of thumb, it's better to always go for removable downstems. Removable downstems are easier to clean and change if needed, not just fragility-wise.  

How To Measure and Buy a Downstem?

When looking at the best downstems for sale, keep two things in mind: length and width.  With the width, you need to watch out for the size of the joint. This is where the downstem goes in, so it's essential to get it right. There are three types of bong joints:

• 10 mm
• 14 mm
• 18 mm

Take a measuring tape and check the width of your bong. Unless it's a mini rig, it should be 14 mm or 18 mm.  Next is the length - which can be trickier to manage. Take a pen and jab it into the joint. When the tip reaches the bong bowl, mark the size you currently have on the pencil, marking where the pencil exits the joint.  Once done, take it out and measure it. Start from the tip to the line you've marked.  And there you have it - that's the downstem's length you'll need! With these two things out of the way, you can freely purchase any downstream type you want.  Afraid you've bought the wrong one? No need to take it back - especially if you really like it! Check out some bong adapters and leave the worries behind!  

What Makes a Good Downstem?

There are a few things that can make a downstream desirable.  First - there are the downstem size and width. As we said, you need a downstream that easily fits your glass bubbler - or any other. Sealing in the smoke is precisely what you want to achieve here.  If you have a pipe travel kit, you'll need a downstem that can fit into that size, too. Because the accessory is made of glass, moving it around in your bong cases is not advisable. The next thing to watch out for is whether you're talking about a removable or a non-removable downstem. Non-removable downstems might be easy to use, but they are still harder to clean.  So, consider getting a quality bong cleaner, but note that it might still require effort to clean the downstem well. If this accessory is removable, then you can clean it more easily. Removable downstems come in the shape of straight pipes - so a rinse or two should do the trick!  What if it breaks? Easy! You replace it with a new one and go back to your smokes! Another good thing is that many other accessories can be attached to a downstem.  For example, you can add glass adapters or ash catchers and get a clean, perfect hit.  

How To Get a Stuck Downstem Out of a Glass Bong? 

If the size of your downstem doesn't fit the bong's joint, it can easily slip or fall further into the chamber and get stuck. Or, if there's too much residue, it can get stuck within the downstem.  If either of these mishaps happens, you won't be able to use your bong further.  But, try this! First, flush the downstem out with cold water. But don't use any tools when pulling it out - we're still talking about fragile glass here.  Try to pull the downstem out using your hands. You can also take tweezers but be careful with the amount of force you're using. If you don't feel safe with them, get a simple toothpick. If this fails, your next option is to use alcohol. Like water, pour the alcohol around the downstem and use your fingers or tweezers to pull it out.  When all else fails, use an adhesive remover. These will clear all residue around the downstem, making it easier to wiggle and eventually pull out.  Add a small amount of the adhesive to the downstem and use the toothpick, tweezers, or fingers to pull it out. After that, it's back to flying up in the clouds!