DIY GRAVITY BONG: WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO MAKE ONE

Learning how to make a gravity bong at home is one of the more popular cannabis rites of passage, similar to learning to roll your own joint.

You don't have to worry if you never made one, or if you don't know what a gravity bong is. This tutorial will explain it all to you and show you how to make one from things you have in your recycling bin. You will just need to clear some counter space and grab a bottle.

With that said, let's get started!

WHAT IS A GRAVITY BONG AND HOW DOES IT WORK

A gravity bong (geeb, GB, or bucket bong) is a custom water pipe that employs water displacement to pull smoke into a chamber and push it into the user's lungs. A gravity bong delivers an instant and extremely potent hit, which is one of the reasons it is extremely popular.

Additionally, gravity bongs use very small amounts of flower and are very popular among budget smokers. Gravity bongs can be used to smoke dry herbs and shisha, and they can also be used to smoke concentrates and tobacco, if desired.

A gravity bong is typically made out of a small plastic bottle with the bottom cut off. A bowl is fitted to the cap of the bottle and a larger container of water.

How does a gravity bong work?

When the capped bottle is lifted, the water drains out, and in the process of doing so, creates a low pressure area. Air rushes in to fill the low pressure area, and since the only way in is through the bowl, the bottle fills with smoke.

To consume the smoke, the bowl is removed and the bottle is pushed back down, which pushes the smoke out through the neck of the bottle and into the user's lungs. The water is what is doing the pulling, which is why the lung's don't have to do as much work and the hit is significantly more potent and quicker than a normal drawn hit.

HOW TO MAKE A GRAVITY BONG AT HOME

Making your own gravity bong, or “geeb,” is a fun and easy project! If you enjoy a little DIY and have a curious mind, this is a great way to experiment with physics. The classic bucket-style gravity bong is the easiest version to build, and you probably have most of the parts in your recycling bin right now.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS REQUIRED

• 1 Small Plastic Bottle: A standard 16 oz or 20 oz soda or water bottle works best.

• 1 Large Container: A 2-liter soda bottle, a wide-mouthed pitcher, or a small clean bucket. (If using a 2-liter bottle, you will cut the top off!)

• 1 Socket Wrench Head OR Aluminum Foil: A small metal socket (like 3/16 inch) makes a fantastic reusable bowl. If you don't have one, aluminum foil works in a pinch.

• A Box cutter or Scissors: Perfect for smooth, precise cuts.

• A Lighter or Pin: To create a small entry hole in the bottle cap.

• Water: Enough to fill your large container.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BUILDING A DIY GRAVITY BONG

1. PREPARE THE SMALLER BOTTLE

Cut the Bottom: Start by cutting a hole in the bottom of the smaller bottle. Make sure it’s large enough for water to flow through easily.

Create a Bucket: If using a large bottle, cut the top to make a makeshift bucket for the lower half.

2. MAKE THE BOWL

Poke a Hole: Take the cap from your smaller bottle and poke a hole in it using your box cutter or scissors. If you prefer, you can also melt a hole with a lighter.

Insert a Bowl: If you have a bowl from another bong, fit it snugly into the hole. If you don’t, wrap the cap in aluminum foil and poke small holes through it with a toothpick to create a makeshift bowl.

3. ASSEMBLE YOUR GRAVITY BONG

Fill the Larger Container: Pour water into your larger container and submerge the smaller bottle. Once everything is set up, put the cap back on the smaller bottle.

4. PACK AND LIGHT

Add Your Cannabis: Place your ground flower into the bowl you created.

Light and Inhale: Light the cannabis while gently pulling on the smaller bottle. This action allows the water to flow out of the bottom, creating a vacuum that fills the bottle with smoke.

Important: Don’t fully lift the bottle out of the water; this can cause the smoke to escape through the bottom hole.

5. TAKE A HIT

Inhale the Smoke: When you’re ready to inhale, remove the cap or bowl. Push the smaller bottle back into the water while inhaling through the mouthpiece. As you do this, the water refills the bottle, pushing the smoke into your lungs.

Tip: If you don’t inhale all the smoke immediately, put the cap back on to keep it in the bottle until you’re ready. Just be cautious not to push the bottle too far down; that can force the smoke out through the bowl.

TYPES OF GRAVITY BONGS

Bucket gravity bong

This is the one you just built. For this, you need a small bottle that fits inside a larger bucket or jug of water, and you pull it up to fill the chamber. The reason this one is the most common is because it requires the fewest parts and pieces, and it gives you the most control over the size of the hit.

Waterfall bong

A waterfall bong flips the script. Instead of pulling a water-soaked bottle out of a larger body of water, you start with a single bottle of water and a small hole in the bottom. Plug the hole, light the bottle's cap, and let go. Smoke is pulled in through the top and drained water through the bottom. Unless you enjoy mopping, do this one over a sink or outdoors.

Glass gravity bongs

If you’re not a fan of the arts-and-crafts look, glasses and acrylic gravity bongs are available at most headshops. Some designs utilize a sliding chamber while others use an hourglass design. There are even electric models that use a motor to lift a chamber for you. They all function the same way principle. These have the added benefit of being easier to clean, and don’t get soggy, and won’t give your flowers a hot plastic taste.

BENEFITS OF USING A GRAVITY BONG

Many people who smoke weed are curious about gravity bongs, and it’s easy to see why. They deliver big, potent hits, which is definitely a plus. One major benefit is efficiency; with a gravity bong, nearly all the smoke from a small bowl gets trapped in a sealed chamber. This means that, unlike other smoking methods, most of the smoke doesn’t just float away. It's particularly handy if your supply is running low because a little bit of flower can go a long way.

Another great thing is that they’re inexpensive to make, and you can often find the materials around your home. However, there are some downsides. The hits can be pretty harsh and unfiltered compared to using a regular bong, which some people might not enjoy as much.

COMMON SLANG NAMES FOR GRAVITY BONG

Part of the fun of DIY culture is the colorful vocabulary that comes with it! Depending on who you talk to or where you live, you might hear a gravity bong referred to as:

• A geeb, the most popular nickname by far. We dig into where it came from in our post on what a geeb is.

• GB

• A Bucket Rig

• The Waterfall

• The Sinker

• A Pitcher Pipe

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use aluminum foil for the bowl safely in a Gravity Bong?

Foil works for a one-time use bowl, but shouldn't be used for regular sessions. There are unresolved health concerns for inhaling fumes from aluminum.

Also, thinner foils can scorch and even catch on fire. For foil, fold a few layers and keep the flame on the flower rather than the foil. Replace the foil for each session and, if possible, use a glass or metal bowl for regular use.

Why isn't my gravity bong filling with smoke?

Nine times out of ten it is an air leak. Make sure that the socket or foil is snug in the cap and that the cap is screwed on tight. If the seal is good, you might be pulling too quickly for the flame to keep the bowl lit, or your bowl might be so tightly packed that air can't pull through. Pack the bowl a little less tightly and lift slower. A crack in the bottle will kill the suction, so swap it out if you see one.

How much water do I put in the bucket?

You want the small bottle to be almost fully submerged, with a couple inches of space at the top of the bucket. Any less and you'll have a small chamber. Too much water and it will spill over the edge when you push the bottle down.

Read more on| How much water to put in a bong guide

How do I clean a gravity bong?

For a DIY bottle bong, you can just discard it and make a new one. To clean a glass gravity bong, take it apart and soak the pieces in a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. Once the pieces have soaked for a while, rinse them thoroughly with water. The same method as our bong cleaning guide will work. To clean a metal socket, soak it in isopropyl alcohol.