Bubbles are cool

---

When liquid is percolated, bubbles form, grow and crash into each other in a frenzy of action. This agitation is perfect for bubblers, bongs and dab rigs. Why? Well, without getting all science-y and using words like 'cohesion' and 'thermal transference,' let's just say more bubbles means more chill rips.

Percs, for short, are special water pipe add ons designed create extra bubble action. While you pull a bong hit or dab through water, the froth may look like a cloud of gas (especially with all that smoke), but it's actually a pillowy solid onto which smoke hangs. That split second longer on the bubble makes all the difference when chilling heat.

Giving smoke particles more room to dance longer with air and water is what percs are all about, really. Water condenses smoke into tighter hits and the water bubbles add extra cooling. It's a magic combination that makes a hit more smooth and powerful than a perc-free pipe.

Percs aplenty

---

Bongs got better as more percs were created. And, it was the cannabis legalization movement that inspired more glass artists to join the field, creating different ways to percolate water. All percs, from simple to complex, do the same thing, but in their own cool styles.
Under the glow of an intense torch flame, skilled glass artists create these unique, water-channeling designs. New ways to chill smoke and vapor are only limited by the imaginations of these glass masters.

Where percs are placed

---

Many percs are commonly fixed to the base of a bong's water chamber. Popular percs fixed to the base include showerheads that spray water in multiple directions, tree percs with multiple 'arms' that hang down from the center like willow branches in a 360o radius, matrix percs that send air and water from multiple slits all around and even percs that move like propellers as you pull a hit. But, there are other percs that work in different parts of the water pipe too.

Percs can also be placed in the neck of the bong, and depending on the space available, you can have multiple percs working in unison for incredibly smooth rips. Percs commonly found in the neck include domes that act as splash guards and keep water from hitting your mouth, honeycomb shapes with dozens of holes all across the glass disc for massive micro bubble action, vortex percs which spin water and/or smoke in a spinning cyclone of action.

Straight perc

---

Even the smallest slits in a small downstem create more bubbles than a plain down tube. It was the strength and durability of boro glass that allows crisp shapes from curves to sharp angles. Thats why this scientific glass is ideal for percs- it's easily shaped by skilled hands and permanently strong. Even simple designs like the straight perc opened a whole new world for torch artists.
Many glass bongs with 45o joints have diffuser downstems. These feature little grooves set at the base of the down stem, which split water and smoke in multiple directions when air is drawn through it, agitating water and creating more bubbles.

Extra performance in a small package, simply designed, is why the diffuser downstem was the first perc ever created. But, once it was clear how such a simple thing can have such a big impact, the door was open to even more bubbles through bigger and better percs.

Inline perc

---

Many bongs with fixed joints, like a 90 reinforced banger hanger rig, don't have a downstem. Instead, the bottom of that reinforced joint leads straight to this sideways glass stem with slits pointing toward the surface of the water.

It's like laying a glass downstem sideways, fixing it to the base of the water chamber and cutting some slits to channel water. An inline perc covers much more surface area of the water chamber than a standard downstream, affecting more surface area and creating a bubble stacking show.

The great thing about inline percs is their potential size. The wider the water chamber, the longer this glass tube can be. The longer the inline perc, the more slits and the more reaction with the water.

Honeycomb perc

---

When torch masters wanted to get a lot of a perc in a smaller space, often in the bong's neck, they created the honeycomb. This is a glass disc with dozens of small holes packed closely together, looking like a condensed honeycomb.

These holes cover the glass disc which is mounted, sideways, inside the neck. Water and smoke are pulled through creating countless micro bubbles that grow en masse. The result grows and rises up as you hit that shit.

A honeycomb perc packs a big punch in a small space. The smaller the holes, the greater the filtration. But, the tighter the space, the harder it is to pull and clear a chamber. This is doubly true when a bong has two honeycomb percs, stacked one on top of the other. Since multiple percs are usually seen in high end glass bongs.

Ratchet perc

---

The ratchet perc's is similar to the honeycomb in that it's mounted sideways across an opening. But, rather than having holes across the entire disc of glass like a honeycomb, ratchet percs have holes only on the outside edge.

Ratchet percs delivered great diffusion by forcing water through a smaller space but that can also mean they get clogged more easily than other perks. They can also be hard to pull for the novice. The effect however is always worth the practice.

Ratchet percs, because of where they are mounted, will only be found in the neck of a piece. However, there are some design principles to the ratchet percs that are similarly used in other designs too.

Matrix perc

---

With multiple slits in every direction, the round matrix or stereo matrix perc's delivers extreme bubble stacking. For this reason it's one of the most commonly found in bongs and dab rigs.

The matrix perc can be mounted either in the water chamber at the base or in its own chamber up in the neck. When used with other percs the matrix requires a powerful set of lungs to get maximum effort. When there are two matrix perks mounted together on a sphere it becomes a stereo version. As you can imagine this delivers even more extreme diffusion.

Showerhead perc

---

Rather than laying sideways like a honeycomb, showerhead percs are made to sit right in the middle of the chamber. Showerheads are perfect fixed to the base of the water chamber but also work well mounted in a separate chamber in the neck. A showerhead perc pulls water from the top and forces it through slits all around, shooting bubbles in every direction!

Showerhead percs are often used in bongs with shallow water chamber depths, like dab rigs. Chilling dabs with too many percs, though, is a no- no because it condenses too much and wastes 710 residue on the inside of the rig. But, showerheads are perfect for shallow water depth, perfect for dabs.

For smoking herb, showerheads work really well with other percs. Being mounted to the base makes it a great jumping off point for stacked setups with multiple chambers and percs. Since a showerhead design sends water out the sides in all directions, this helps keep water from splashing up into the neck too. For all these reasons, showerheads are one of the most common percs found in bongs and rigs.

Dome perc

---

For multiple functionality you can't beat a dome perc and it's UFO look. This is a simple, one-piece design that acts not only as a perc, channeling flow and creating more bubbles, but also stops water rising to your mouth! There are lots of splash guards in bongs from bent necks to domes to the shape of the bong itself, but the simple dome looks like a bell ready to get rung.

What sets a dome perc apart from other percs is it creates two separate chambers. With this design, water and smoke are pulled through a bottom chamber and up a glass tube resting inside the dome, to be shot out under the edge in all directions.

Dome percs have different sizes, shapes and slits cut in them to diffuse water and chill smoke. This second chamber diverts water from splashing up while bubbling. Most of domes use clear glass so you can see the action splashing inside the dome.

Multi piece percs

---

Intricacy is the great thing about multi piece percs because it take precision to make something spin. Adding a propeller, for example, and the action get a pretty wicked.

These things can look fun and funky spinning but still do an extreme job diffusing and condensing smoke. Moving parts usually send water in all directions very effectively.

Multi piece percs can have several pieces fused into a solid piece, or can even be designed to move! The cool thing about these percs is that they are designed to be different. Not only do they do the job but they are made to look cool too!

Tree perk

---

Like the name suggests, tree percs look like something you would find growing in a glass jungle. They can come in multiple arm numbers like a four-arm, 8eight-arm or even a double-digit arm perc. Tree percs do a great job of diffusion for all the different ways it sends, using any number of arms to channel smoke while percolating water to chill smoke with every extra bubble.

Tree percs are wicked cool attention grabbers, even before you take a hit. Their intricate designs are created by undeniably gifted glass masters. These percs come in all shapes and sizes but have one thing in common- using multiple hollow glass tubes as the 'arms' of the tree to send water and smoke in all directions through its branches.

Tree percs are extremely good at condensing smoke because of their great designs and the show they put on is wild to watch. It's part of the tree perc's great appeal! Whether you're chugging your own bong hit or watching a buddy go, these percs always put on a good show!

Moving perc

---

The latest wave in bong design is the moving perc. They use kinetic energy for extra agitation, using your lungs as the power. One of the coolest moving percs is the spinning propeller! It shows it's stuff with light fluffy clouds of bubbles which take you to heaven and back!

Moving percolators do rely on special design and are more prone to break than a solid, one piece perk. As designs get more fine tuned and new ideas get put to use, you'll see more moving pieces in the future it seems certain. It's kind of like seeing something new at a carnival, an old attraction with a new twist.

All glass bongs means finding a way to get spinning parts moving efficiently. Fortunately great glass artists are always looking for the new, especially when it moves! Bongs with moving percs really move... off the shelf! People love watching that kind of display, hit after hit.

Body percs

---

A bong designed with special features built into its shape is said to have a body perc. Designing a bong like this takes artistic style to the next level, so body perc bongs are usually very flashy pieces.

From simple bent necks on bongs that keep splash away to high end faberge eggs, good design is matched with great function. So, keeping water away from your bong hole while diffusing and cooling hits takes thought to be beautiful.

The ability to affect how a water pipe works with its form is really noticeable with the Swiss perc. Beautiful spaces are created that water has to splash around before it reaches your lungs. All those holes keep water agitated longer, working around an inner dome for extreme diffusion and percolation.

Coil percs

---

One of the coolest developments in water pipe percs is the coil perc. This extremely delicate design comes in two flavors-an actual hollow glass tube with holes at the bottom and top or a freezable glycerin coil.

Both of these coil percs are extremely good at condensing rips, but the nod goes to the gel-filled coil which goes beyond chill. With the ability to hold extremely cold temperatures for an extended period of time, glycerin coils can be built into the bong or connected as an add-on.

Coil percs may be delicate but the way they chill smoke after bubbling clouds on a froth of water make them highly prized to the high minded. Freezable glycerin applications are being used in other smoke wires too like with hand pipes, But should be avoided for dabs. As mentioned earlier concentrates are already condensed, so condensing them further will actually create more residue inside the water pipe that cannot be reclaimed.

Barrel percs

---

White the name suggests barrel percs look like something you'd find attached to a glass Saint Bernard. The water pipes that use these designs are full of power because it utilizes every angle in the water chamber.

Widest in the middle and smaller on the ends, barrel percs use strategically placed grooves for air and water to flow through. Since the barrel is round, the glass artist gets to create movement in 360° for full affect.

This chill design is usually fixed to the bottom of a water chamber with a downstem flowing in from the top, but it can also be found in the neck in its own chamber in Finn from the bar. The cool thing about barrel percs is the shape lens itself to multiple applications.

Circ perc

---

The Circ perk is another design that utilizes action in the round. These shapes can be thinner like a crescent or thicker like a tire. Being able to channel water in 360° means maximum effort for elevated action.

Glass masters use their torch skills to mount circ percs anywhere they want. They can be set securely in the base or in the neck. But, the bigger the space where the circ perc works, the more bubbles you're going to see created. The location in which they are mounted determines why they can range in size from millimeters to inches. It all depends on the design on the rest of the bong.

Powerful percs

---

Improving upon the practically perfect water pipe took the curiosity and passion of the cannabis community's glass artists. You're part of the community that desires the best products to enhance your weed experience, which is completely understandable, so keep your head high!

Nothing is cooler than chilling a hit so it rests well inside your lungs, cooler than with just water alone. So, with your new knowledge of percs, which are the best for you? That's the best part- finding out for yourself requires a lot of research!