Smoking pipe (non-tobacco)

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[edit] Metal

Metal pipes are more generally associated with cannabis and other drugs than tobacco use. Though steel was a common material, aluminium and brass are more popular materials now. The advantages of a metal pipe generally include interchangeable parts for optimization and certain components are limited to fit only a metal pipe, such as a threaded metal bowl with optional cap via thread interface that will prevent spills or accidentally blowing the cannabis from the bowl ("blow outs"). Their retention of heat can make them uncomfortably and even dangerously hot but most have rubber or plastic grips on the outside of the pipe. Another common method for burn prevention is one or more rubber rings, which can be placed at the base of the threaded area and prevent conduction of heat. Another drawback of the metal pipe is its typical top heaviness which makes it prone to spills. This is compensated for by flat or squared ends on the 45° or 90° angled elbow piece. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of a metal pipe over a glass piece in many users' minds is that they are, in all normal circumstance, basically indestructible.

A variety of metal pipes. From bottom up : a carbed pipe, a chamber pipe with cap, two stem pipes, a bong slider and an extra bowlhead and elbow.

Metal bowls are usually overlooked by tobacco smokers because metal bowls require a break-in period of resination. During that time, when tobacco is used, the smoke passing though the piece has an aftertaste. Cannabis smoke usually does not have an odd after-taste and resinates the piece faster. A type of metal pipe usually associated with Marijuana is the chamber pipe, which has an accessible central chamber, which is usually packed with Marijuana to resinate, adding extra THC content when smoked. Also, loose bits of the Marijuana fall down into the chamber and also resinate, speeding up the process of resination. The biggest drawback to a metal-stemmed or -bowled pipe is that the metal also creates a lot of condensation in the stem, making for a wet smoke.

All metals create odors when heated and although the metals themselves can withstand temperatures of thousands of degrees they still release harmful toxins when heated. Steel has the least odor followed by brass which tastes horrible and irritates the throat after just a few uses, followed by aluminum, on the bottom of the list is copper which is extremely reactant and can create malicious chemicals when triggered by one of the thousands of chemicals inherent in any smoke^{[citation needed]}. Gold is inert and has no taste and is sometimes offered as a bowl plating. Metal pipes are typically short because the metal absorbs the heat from the smoke extremely well whereas long pipes or roomy glass pipes use their larger air space to cool the smoke.

A hand-blown glass pipe (sitting next to a ballpoint pen for size reference). The black ring on the bottom-left is the carb.

[edit] Glass

Hand-blown glass pipes are one of the most common kind of hand pipes today. They can be quite elaborate. One reason for their appeal is that since the glass is completely inert, it does not affect the flavor of the smoke. As the pipe is used, resin build-up provides for a more contrasted background. Glass pipes sometimes have a small hole on the side that, when covered, enables continuous inhalation. When inhalation is completed, the hole may be uncovered to flood the smoke with air thus lending it the name carburetor or "carb" (also 'choke', 'rush', or 'shotgun'). Due to their lack of porosity and tendency to retain heat, glass pipes are usually used to smoke cannabis and other substances besides tobacco. The added space inside a glass pipe as compared to a metal one, combined with proper use of the carb, result in the potential to take a much larger and smoother-feeling inhalation of smoke, which also appeals to cannabis users. Glass pipes are usually more expensive than ones made from plastic or metal. They are also highly prone to irreparable damage. There is also a chance of the pipe cracking as it gets too hot.

[edit] See also

• Bong
• Bowl (drug culture)
• Chalice (pipe)
• Chillum
• Crackpipe
• Sebsi