An 18mm bowl can be referred to as a bowl piece, bong bowl, bowl head, or bong slide, and there’s a few things to know about it if you’re looking for one.
Female and male 18mm bowls
The joints of bowls are referred to in terms of gender, with choices of either an 18mm male bowl or an 18mm female bowl. The male piece will essentially be put onto something while the female piece will have something fit into it.
In general, most pieces made these days will have female joints, and use male bowls. You will often find older pieces with male joints on them, which for several years were the industry standard for all oil pieces. Today, male joints have largely fallen out of use, and female joints are the industry standard for both flower and oil pieces. If you’re still unclear on which one you’re looking for, the downstem will give you all the information you need.
18 mm bowls vs other sizes
While 18mm bowls are not the most common selection, they do make a fine choice. 14mm bowl pieces are more common when people are faced with the choice of a 10mm, 14mm, or 18mm. Bowls smaller than this are rarely used for smoking dry flower, and are generally used for oil pieces or dab rigs. You may find certain pieces with 10mm flower slides to allow them to swap back and forth between smoking styles. People who are looking for an increase in airflow prefer the 18mm size as it allows more air during pulls.
Add a built-in screen to your 18 mm bowl
If you’re worried about residual matter left behind, a bowl with a built-in screen can make it easier to keep the piece clean, even with the extra width. If you want an 18mm glass bowl with plenty of space for packing everything in, make sure you get a deeper bowl over a shallow one.
Choosing the right 18 mm bowl can be difficult
It can be difficult to decide between two different 18mm bong slides, particularly if they look identical at first glance. However, it’s worth noting that quality will have a lot to do with how you use the piece and how long it lasts you. Bern’s Gallery is here to give you all the advice you need so you end up with exactly what you’re looking for.