It’s midnight, and you stood up with the bowl on your lap. It hit the floor and shattered. Your favorite bowl is no more. You probably want to smoke some weed about it. If you don’t have papers, fear not. You can fashion a bong out of things you probably have in your recycling bin, cabinet, or even your fruit bowl.
Things like gravity bongs only take a few minutes to make. Mason jar bongs take longer, but they’re also designed to last longer. There’s a bong for every level of commitment. It all depends on what you have laying around and how patient you’re willing to be.
Be careful with DIY bongs
DIY bongs aren’t generally the most reliable or safe. Bongs that involve applying heat directly to plastic can release harmful fumes that you don’t want to be breathing in. A DIY bong can be used in a pinch, but don’t rely on it for everyday use. Most of them should be thrown away as soon as you’re done with them.
It helps to keep some extra rolling papers on hand in case you run into an emergency. If your bong or pipe breaks, you’ll always have papers as a backup. Alternatively, silicone hand pipes or bowls are unbreakable, easy to clean, and safe for long-term use. If you or someone in your smoking group tends to drop everything (we all know that guy), a silicone smoking device will prevent mishaps.
Gravity bongs
Gravity bongs are almost exclusively DIY devices. If you’re looking for an easy temporary gravity bong, you can have one made in just a few seconds. Take a two-liter bottle, remove the label, and cut the bottom off. Cut the neck off at the halfway point. Take a large piece of aluminum foil and fold it over itself at least four times to make it nice and thick.
Place your aluminum foil over the cut-off neck of the bottle, gently pressing the center down into the open neck of the bottle. Press the foil around the neck of the bottle to keep it in place. Poke a bunch of tiny holes into the aluminum foil. You’re good to go.
You can use your gravity bong in the kitchen sink or in a bathtub. You can also submerge it into a bucket filled with just enough water to make it work. This is a little more environmentally friendly than wasting a ton of water.
Apple bongs
Any hearty fruit can make for a great impromptu smoking device. Although this is technically a pipe, it will work just as well if you have an apple you won’t eat before it goes bad. Start with a ripe apple and remove the stem. Then, take a pen to it. Use a pen as a sharp instrument to go straight down to the center of the apple. Make a hole to meet it on the side of the apple to act as a carb, and another hole to act as a mouthpiece. All three holes should meet at the same central location in the middle of the apple’s core.
The indentation at the top of the apple where the stem once was, serves as your bowl. Just put your weed on top, plug your apple carb, and smoke it just like a bowl. You might appreciate the fruity flavor that a fresh apple imparts. Just don’t try to eat the apple afterward. It’s not going to taste very good.
If you have a banana, a similar concept applies. Cut off one end of the banana at about half an inch long. Use a wooden skewer to poke a hole on the side of the banana at the opposite end, rotating the skewer to widen the opening. Stick the skewer into the cut-off end of the banana to meet that hole. Poke another hole connected to the tube to serve as a carb.
Remove the banana pieces from the end you cut off, and poke a hole in the bottom. This is going to serve as your bowl. Stick the bowl into the big hole, and turn your banana so that the bowl is facing upright. All you need to do is pack it and smoke.
Potato chip can bong
If you have any food in your house that comes in a tall cardboard container, that container is going to become the simplest homemade bong you’ve ever made. These containers are easily upcycled to create all sorts of things. Just keep in mind that cardboard isn’t intended to be wet for long periods of time. This is a one-and-done solution that needs to be tossed when you’re done smoking.
Empty out the can and wipe down the inside with a soapy wet paper towel. Rinse away the residue. Take a bowl and downstem from your broken or defunct bong. Cut a small hole in the lower third of the can, and stick your downstem into the can at an angle. Use duct tape to secure and reinforce the downstem. Cut another hole in the side of the can to serve as your carb.
Fill the bottom of the can with enough water to submerge the bottom of the downstem. The top of the can becomes your mouthpiece. It’s as easy as can be. When you’re done, take the stem and bowl out, pour the water down the sink, and toss away the chip tube.
Mason jar bongs
If you’ve spent a lot of time looking at DIY projects on Pinterest, you’ve probably accumulated a fair amount of mason jars. If you don’t know what to do with them, turn them into bongs. Unlike other bongs, this one can be reusable. It’s easier to clean and maintain, making it a great go-to if you’re waiting for a new glass piece to arrive.
If you have a stainless steel drinking straw, use a sharp tool to cut it in half. If you have a bent end, save this for the top of the lid. The long, straight part is going to act as your downstem. Trace the diameter of the straw three times in a straight line down the center of the mason jar’s lid.
Your first option is to use a drill to put the holes in. If you don’t have a drill, you can use a screwdriver or a nail to cut out the circles you’ve traced. Don’t be precise. You want the straw to fit snugly into these holes. Set your lid on a hard surface like a baking tray. Place your screwdriver or your large diameter nail over each traced circle, and use your hammer to bang the screwdriver or the nail through all three holes. Put the lid back on the jar.
Leave the middle hole alone. This hole will be your carb. Place the straight part of the straw down through one hole, down into the jar. Place the bent part of the straw in the other hole. If you have rubber grommets, place one on either side of the jar lid around each straw. This will make the fit a little more air-tight. If you don’t, don’t worry. Just be sure the fit of your stainless steel straw in your jar lid is snug.
Then, take a metal bottle cap and poke a bunch of holes in it with a thumbtack. Cover the lid with foil, leaving excess at the bottom. Use the excess aluminum foil to fit and secure the bottle cap to the straw that goes down into the mason jar. Go back in with your thumbtack to poke holes through the foil to the holes into the metal bottle cap. This serves as your bowl.
All you need to do is fill your mason jar with enough water to cover the bottom inch or two of the downstem, and you’re good to go. If you like an icy bong hit, it’s very easy to place a few ice cubes in your mason jar.
Don’t forget to wash your mason jar and its components after each use, and to empty the bong water when you’re done using it. It will last you a long time if you keep it clean.
The takeaway
Impromptu bongs can be fun, especially if you’re using them to show off. It’s great to be the hero when everyone wants to smoke, but no one has anything to smoke out of. Other than glass and metal bongs, every other kind of impromptu bong should be tossed away after the first use.
Before you make a DIY bong, order a sturdy glass bong or clumsy-proof silicone bong to keep on hand. These simple solutions will hold you over until your bong arrives.
If you have your bong but no weed, that’s where Emjay comes in handy. We can deliver weed to your house in as little as half an hour. If you don’t have the gumption for a DIY bong project, we can also deliver your papers or a hand pipe. Just focus on getting your snacks together and picking a good movie to watch. By the time you’re ready to settle in, we’ll be there.
