Facts about Bong Percolators and Diffusers
A bong, popularly known as a water pipe, is a tool generally used for smoking tobacco, herbal mixtures, and other related substances. In Thailand, a bong is referred to as ‘baung’, a cylindrical wooden type of tube, pipe, or container cut from bamboo shoots, which is also used for smoking. Bongs can be developed from air- and water-tight containers by adding up a bowl and stem tool, also known as a slide.
A bong percolator is primarily known as the small additional water channel found in the main stream of the bong cylinder, which functions to further filter the smoke through the water. It has different types of designs, including a dome, a tree, a pedestal and, the latest design, called a double helix. All these designs focus on the interactive process of smoke and water to provide a filtered and chilled ‘hit’. Some companies have developed a bong design by incorporating both percolator and diffuser. This design divides the smoke into smaller portions to create a cooler smoke; the cooler the smoke, the better it was filtered.
A diffuser is another kind of down stem that can be found in a bong, though it looks similar to a test tube because the end of it is either sealed or stabbed with many slits. These slits break the smoke into smaller bubbles than the usual down stem, making it easy for the bubbles to scatter onto the surface and interact with the water to filter and cool the smoke effectively. This process results in a virtually silent bong.