What is a downstem?
A downstem, also known as a down stem, is the piece of the bong that connects the slide/bowl to the body of the piece. Its purpose is to provide the suction needed to pull smoke through the bowl and into the water-filled main chamber. Pulling the smoke through water produces a smoother hit compared with other methods of smoking. Downstems ensure the proper suction necessary to pull the smoke from the bowl, through the water, and up through the mouthpiece without having to overwork your lungs.
Choose the right downstem
To create the necessary airtight seal between the bowl and the main chamber, the downstem must be the right size for the bong. Most downstems measure 14 millimeters (mm) or 18mm at the joint, which is the part that cradles the bowl piece. Downstems often measure 4” in length. Bern Gallery now also offers The TitanStem, the first precision-machined adjustable length downstem that can adjust from 2.5” to 8.5,” in an unbreakable aircraft grade aluminum using the latest in CNC machining technology. Here’s how to figure out the size of your downstem.
Benefits of a removable downstem
Downstems may be fixed or removable. Fixed downstems are sturdy and provide a good seal. Removable downstems can also provide a good seal and offer other benefits too. Removable downstems are easy to clean, for example. Just scrub the downstem with a hot, soapy cloth or submerge in isopropyl alcohol for a quick cleaning.
Removable downstems make it easy to upgrade your bong without spending a lot of money – simply purchase a downstem in your preferred color or style and swap out the old downstem with the new, improved model. Having a removable downstem also comes in handy if you should happen to break the downstem, in that you can merely replace the downstem instead of replacing the entire bong.
Bongs with fixed downstems are also called “Stemless” tubes, and are frequently found utlizing advanced percolators or filtration systems. Removable downstems can also feature percs of various types, including Laserholes, Tree Percs, Matrix Percs, Showerhead/Circ/UFO percs and more!
Where to buy downstems?
You can purchase downstems at retail stores anywhere functional glassware is sold. You can also score high-quality and attractive downstems at top-notch head shops like the Bern Gallery! We can even custom make one for you!