Just like when you filter coffee grounds out of a delicious cup of coffee, pipe screens work to keep unwanted debris and flavours out of your mouth. Although some people insist there’s no need for screens, other smokers swear by them. Much like coffee drinking culture itself, it all comes down to the personal experience you want to cultivate. Read on for a quick guide on how to use pipe screens.
Why Use Pipe Screens?
At Parkdale Brass, we produce rugged, brass smokeware, and that’s why we value screens. Using screens helps make sure that the only thing you get when you take a pull from a pipe is high-quality clouds. Whether you smoke flower or tobacco, there’s no fun in getting a load of unwanted ash, resin, or flour in your mouth during a smoke session. Screens filter out everything else and leave behind only terpene-rich smoke.
Common Types of Screens
Screens are arguably one of the most important parts of a pipe, especially when smoking cannabis. Nowadays, you can buy screens in various styles and materials. Of course, the type of gear you have will influence the kind of screen you’ll need. Some common screen types include:
- Stainless steel
- Brass
- Glass
- Quartz
As a general rule, whenever you can, you want to choose a material that corresponds with your type of pipe, except for maybe wooden cannabis pipes for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, as the story goes with all other smoking accessories, style and preference tend to lead the way here.
Inserting Your Screen
Of the two main types, metal screens are easier to use than glass pipe screens. All you need to do to insert your metal pipe screen is first to select the right size, place it over your bowl, and adjust it to fit securely inside. After that, you can smoke away to your heart’s content. On the other hand, glass screens are a little trickier as it’s best to size up to fit the accessory. Since glass screens aren’t malleable like metal screens, they need to fit perfectly and adequately cover the draught hole before you drop it inside and start smoking.
Tips for Using Pipe Screens
Some smokers often question whether or not they really need a screen. Honestly, the choice is completely yours. There are more and more pipes and bongs coming out these days that use screenless technology to cut out the middleman. If you do decide to use a screen, here are some key tips to bear in mind:
- Don’t overheat screens - This will reduce their lifespan and send them to an early grave.
- Sizing is key - Screens should be able to cover the bowl, helping to keep them from slipping out.
- Keep it clean - Cleaning your screens regularly will allow you to get more use out of them. When using glass screens, this is doubly important as it helps keep the screen working properly!