There are plenty of perks to smoking a bong over a dry pipe, but you might be surprised to find that there are also many percs, too.Everyone’s favorite glass filter piece that sounds like a bad ‘80s dance. Percolators aren’t complicated when it comes down to function. They all break down the smoke (or vapor) and filter it through bubbling water in order to give the smoke a cooler, more smooth taste. To get a better idea of what you’re walking into, take a look at our guide to the different kinds of percolators.
Diffused Downstem
This is the most basic of perc types, and can be fixed in the construction of the bong or removable. They look like a vertical pipe extending from the bowl piece joint fixture, with slits at its base. The base of the downstem sits under the water and cools the smoke as it flows from the bowl and up through the top of the bong.
Tree Perc
Tree percolators multiply that concept, grouping a number of thin vertical tubes or “arms” with filtering slits together. Naturally, the more arms, the more smoke is filtered. Pillar percs fit under this category as well.
Honeycomb Perc
Another cool option, turbine percs create a dope look as you pull. Commonly paired with honeycomb percs because of their flat-disc construction, these percolators feature angled slits around the main chamber of your rig and create a whirlpool as water and bubbles are pulled from chamber to chamber. This cools and diffuses smoke while making you feel fly AF when you smoke.
Coil Perc
The coil perc can be one of two things; an actual glass coil with two openings at the bottom or a glycerin coil. Both are great for diffusion but you can freeze glycerin coils for an unbelievably icy fresh hit.
Crystal Ball Perc
A combination of a turbine and a ufo, the ball perc has a dome with slits running around the outside in some sort of pattern. A crystal ball perc can be found at the end of a downstem or leading into another chamber.