So I made the journey back to my hometown today to catch up with a few buddies from high school and sit back and burn one down for old times sake. Anyways since we were all back for the weekend, we decided to head down to our LHS that has always treated us well. I was just lookin around the glass just for fun, not really lookin to buy but just keepin my eye open for their 4/20 sale (this shop does 50% on all glass on 4/20 and 30% off storewide that day). I found a few small spoons that interested me and I am for sure going back for discs on that day anyways (I have had a really crappy month and lost two of my favorite frolf discs) Anyways after talking to the guy he was trying to get me to look into diffuser beads. The bong I will be getting from GC in the near future hopefully (as in it should arrive soon) has a 19 arm tree perc and a decent ash catcher (but nothing fancy), and I was thinking about also getting a showerhead downstem from my LHS as well, but what are your guys' thoughts on diffuser beads, personally I feel like I don't need them for this particular bong but my roommate has a simple bong, no percs though, but this shop is selling a can (if that is what it is called) of diffuser beads for $20. Worth it for my buddy to get or no? I know what they do but I have never personally used them which is why I am asking
I've liked mine but it all depends on the piece your putting them in. You have to be able to fill up a volume of them as high as you would normally put water so a good inch above your downstem's end. They're usually only effective for straight tube pieces then because you need way too much for beakers
I would say they are pretty good for simple bongs with no percs. I had a bong that had them and it made a difference. Just gotta be careful putting them in, I broke a downstem lol.
My buddy has a very simple beaker bottom bong, no percs, I mean if he did end up getting them I would try them in my perc bong once I get them but to me I feel like I'll have plenty of percs to be satisfied with a smooth hit that the beads won't do me all that much of a difference to care..but so a canister or whatever it is of diffuser beads might not be enough for my buddies bong? I couldn't tell you any of the statistics of the bong, he got it at my hometown's LHS like 4-5 years ago and we haven't used it since we moved away (about 3 years ago) so I barely remember it besides that its green and yellow glass pretty sick lookin actually especially since I live in Wisconsin (packers)
Ya. Not sure the diffuser beads your LHS has but mine had 2k. One can of 2k was perfect for my buddies straight tube. It would take 3 maybe even 4 to effectively fill my beaker bottom.
Really? damn man, I'll try and look to see if I can find what my LHS was selling, I am sure if I saw it I'll recognize it again, it seemed like a really good amount though, then again what do I know
Also this porn shop around me sells tons of bongs and smaller pipes, but in all of their bongs they have these pebbles, like not diffuser beads but colored pebbles almost like you would see in a aquarium tank, I am certain the effect is the same but I feel like they could chip the glass?
Agreed. It'll definitely fill up a beaker better but you gotta be more careful about putting them in as to not hit the downstem
Like as in metal marbles? I actually take my statement back about the 2k diffuser beads, I know they sold some that looked like the blue 2k diffuser beads, but they also sold some that looked more like these marbles; Metallic Black Marbles in Pebbles, Rocks | Crate and Barrel as in the color, idk if they were actually marbles or actually diffuser beads (the container didn't have a sticker or logo on it I am just worried about like metal or something super hard clanking against glass..especially when I don't know the quality of my buddies glass, it looks 5mm thick though
Ya i wouldn't trust it especially if its a no brand piece. If you wanna make it smoother for not too much try a carbon filter. I fell in love with mine and keeps the piece crystal clean
I should clarify more, by no name I meant more along the lines of local glassblower, our LHS doesn't usually sell china glass from what I can tell, its 75% local blown (which they mark with a sticker that has a cheesehead on it) and like 25% roor, toro (on the rare occasion), etc. From my experience with locally blown spoons I have really appreciated the glass quality, the bong is pretty thick but still something about metal or even glass clanking around in it sketches me out
Don't buy 2k Diffuser beads, especially for $20. All they do is buy Airsoft BBs in bulk for like 2-3 bucks for a bunch of them and then repackage and sell them as diffuser beads. The company rips off images from glass artists without permission and uses them to promote their product, when called out about it they basically told the glass community to fuck off. Don't waste your money on this junk.
Everyone I know says they are a pain, especially when you have to change the water in your piece. Then you have to dump the beads out into like a strainer, wash those off, change your water, put them back in. They also constantly get stuck inside percs and downstems and such. It's just a gimmick. Money would be better spent on a nice diffusing downstem. If you really want them just order the cheap Airsoft BBs from eBay and wash them off real good.
Ya I didn't have my heart set on getting any but if someone said they were completely amazing I would get one, but I think I talked my roommate into getting a showerhead downstem anyways for it