How To Smoke A Pipe? Step by Step Guide

Smoking a pipe has been one of the most common ways to consume weed for centuries, ever since some long-forgotten genius packed a pipe bowl of cannabis and sparked it up.

Based on the traditional tobacco pipes, the cannabis pipe is quite simple to use.

Anatomy of the pipe

Consuming cannabis in a pipe is one of the best options given its various advantages such as reducing the amount of plant material used in addition to saving time. In addition, the smoke is cleaner and fresher.

Here are the different parts that make up a pipe that you need to know to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Bowl: the part at the end of the pipe where the plant material is placed.

Carb (Carb hole): this is the small hole that is usually on one side of the pipe that is used to control the amount of smoke you inhale.

Chamber/Stem: The chamber or stem, depending on the pipe, is where the smoke accumulates and is controlled by the carburetor.

Mouthpiece: Placed at the other end of the pipe it allows you to inhale.

How do you choose a pipe?

1. Material

To narrow down your choices, it's key to first determine the preferred material.

Do you prefer traditional briar pipes or affordable corn cob pipes?

Briar pipes are favored for their sturdiness and high heat resistance without residual tobacco flavor.

Corn cob pipes are the least costly option, and are known for their light weight and good absorbency.

Whichever bong you choose reflects your taste and needs, and there is no absolute right or wrong.

Each material has unique advantages and characteristics, the key is to find the one that suits you best.

2. Stem Length

The main difference between a long pipe and a short pipe is the temperature of the smoke. 

The shorter the pipe, the hotter the smoke.

Brule gueule (extra short pipe) is not recommended for beginners.

Because the smoke is too hot, you may feel uncomfortable. It would help if you started with a medium or a long pipe first.

3. Shape: bent, Half-bent, or Straight?

There are many different shapes of pipes on the market, and for smokers, choosing the right one often depends on personal habits and preferences.

Here we will introduce you to three different pipe shapes: Bent Pipe, Half-Bent Pipe, and Straight Pipe.

Straight Pipe:

Straight pipes with a straight mouthpiece. Provides a direct and strong smoking experience.

Half-Bent Pipe:

Half-bent pipes with a slightly curved mouthpiece.

Bent Pipe:

Bent pipes with a strongly bent mouthpiece. 

Designed to help minimize the direct impact of smoke on the throat, they may tend to pool in the bottom of the bowl. 

Nonetheless, they are usually well-balanced and easy to use and carry.

4. Price

When choosing your first smoking pipe you don’t need to spend a fortune but rather evaluate where you will be smoking and for how long. 

Look for a briar pipe and make sure that it feels comfortable in your hand. 

How to pack a pipe?

When it comes to packing your pipe, ground cannabis is always your best option. 

It makes for a uniform burn and airflow, which means you’ll get the most consistent hits. 

Grind your cannabis in a grinder if you have one,  or use your fingers to tear the flower into tiny bits. 

Fill the bowl of your pipe with a few pinches of ground herb.

If it is a larger bowl, you may need to grind up more cannabis, whereas smaller bowls and one-hitters require a small amount to fill the bowl.

How to smoke a pipe？

Pipe smoking is a leisurely treat, taking time out of your day to sit back and savor it.

Once you have set aside time to enjoy pipe smoking, follow these 8 steps to get started:

Step 1: Grind Your Flower

Before adding your weed to your pipe, you need to make sure it is well-grounded and easy to manipulate.

You can use a traditional weed grinder, scissors, a kitchen knife, a smoothie maker, or even your fingers.

Cut or grind up your flower until you have enough small pieces to fill your pipe's bowl to your liking.

Step 2: Add the Weed

Take a small clump of your recently ground marijuana and add it to the “bowl end” of the glass pipe.

You’ll need to pack the weed in enough so that it doesn’t drift out of the bowl on its own.

However, you also need to make sure not to pack your bowl too tightly, as this will make it more difficult to heat up and allow smoke to pass through.

Step 3: Light Up

Reduce the marijuana in the bowl with a match or lighter. 

Keep an eye on the heat of the pipe bowl, if it is too hot, too much heat may have been applied, and handle it with care to avoid burns.

Step 4: Mind the Carb (Optional)

Most glass cannabis pipes come with small holes on the side of the bowl called a carb.

This tiny hole helps regulate airflow when breathing in from the mouthpiece.

The carb should remain covered while you inhale and released at the end of your hit to clear the smoke from the pipe.

Step 5: Puff, But Don't Necessarily Inhale

Unlike smoking a cigarette, most people don’t inhale the smoke into their lungs when smoking a pipe.

As with smoking a cigar, pipe tobacco tends to be rather strong, and the whole experience is about flavor.

Enjoy taking little puffs of smoke into your mouth.

Keep an eye on your weed as you smoke; if it cools down, you’ll have to light up again to get the smoke flowing.

Step 6: Pace Yourself

Don’t smoke your pipe too fast, or else you may experience what pipe smokers call “tongue bite” — a burning, irritated sensation on the surface of your tongue.

Puff slowly, and savor the richness and complexity of the tobacco.

If your pipe goes, don't worry.

Relighting several times within a single smoking session is not uncommon.

Step 7: Clean Out Your Pipe When Finished

After your session, tap or scrape out leftover tobacco from the bowl.

Allowing your pipe to sit for too long can make it difficult to clean later.

If your pipe makes a gurgling sound or sensation, moisture has built up in the stem, and your pipe will require deeper cleaning.

Regular cleaning is also important for ensuring that the taste of the tobacco isn’t tainted.

If you struggle when you smoke for the first time, don't worry.

Smoking is an art form. You just need a little practice.

If you find a pot pipe irritates your throat or lungs consider a bubbler or water pipe.

How to clean a weed pipe？

Keeping your weed pipe clean is important because it will hit much better if it's clean and not clogged.

Cannabis resin will build up as you use the pipe. So you must do some maintenance on the pot pipe.

Now that you have what you need to adequately clean a pipe, follow the steps below and know that practice makes perfect.

Step 1: Put 1 teaspoon salt and some 90%+ isopropyl alcohol in a plastic bag.

Step 2: Immerse your pipe in the salt and alcohol, let it stand and soak, then shake the bag and let the solution shake around.

Step 3: Then, you can wipe off the oily resin with a rag or paper towel.

It is important to remove all the resin because it is mixed with alcohol, and smoking will be poisonous, so be sure to wash the pipe thoroughly with a little detergent then rinse the pipe well.

Some people like to boil marijuana pipes in water and then clean them with alcohol and rags.

Other clients use nail polish remover, but you must ensure that the chemically treated pot tube is soaked in dishwashing soap and thoroughly rinsed to remove all traces of potentially harmful cleaning chemicals.

To make cleaning less of a chore, be sure to empty the ash from the pipe and wipe it after each use.

This will mean you don't have to clean it as often.

Conclusion

By now, you'll have learned how to smoke weed out of a pipe, how to pack a bowl, how to smoke weeds without a pipe, and how to clean your pot pipe to maximize your pipe-smoking experience.

The best way to smoke pot is the one that works best for you, but we've provided you with the basics to get you off to a solid start, whether you're doing it for the first time or want to make sure you're still doing it right.