Many, if not most, weed lovers have been here at one time or another: you have the flower but no way to smoke it. In the golden age of weed accessories, these moments are becoming fewer and further between; still, well-rounded cannabis enthusiasts should have a simple solution for when they find themselves in a jam.
Not only can knowing how to make a weed pipe be useful, but these DIY projects can also be downright fun. If you want to try your hand at making a weed pipe or bong, here are a few tips along with ten of the most common go-to options.
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Tips for making homemade pipes and bongs
Before you tap into your inner Martha or MacGyver, remember that you will be using your homemade pipe to inhale smoke, which means that you should be mindful of the materials used.
You may want to avoid anything that could introduce chemicals or contaminants into your smoking experience. If you do have to use less-than-ideal materials, remember that these pipes and bongs are not meant to be ongoing or permanent solutions. In other words, use them sparingly. Don't use plastic for bowls or any other components that will be subjected to flame as it will melt and is toxic.
For our all-natural options, including fruits and veggies, use the freshest produce for the best structural integrity possible. Old and/or soft foods may not perform the way you need them to.
10 DIY weed pipes and bongs to try at home
There are many jerry-rigged pipe or bong options out there, from Tic-Tac boxes to Pringle's cans and even McDonald's meals. We've collected ten of the most easy-to-construct options that keep materials and execution as simple as possible. And read through for a few other interesting ways to smoke flower with household items.
Apple bong
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There are few DIY pipes as classic as the apple pipe — sometimes called the apple bong. Natural and inexpensive, the apple pipe is a great option for DIY since there's a good chance you've got an apple lying around.
- Remove the apple stem and poke some holes at the top of the apple
- Poke a hole straight through the side so you have one hole for your mouthpiece and one hole for the carb
- Check the airflow, adjust as needed, pack the bowl and you're ready to smoke
Watermelon bong
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The watermelon bong is a playful and tasty step up from the apple pipe. It's a little more involved and requires a carrot in addition to the watermelon, but the extra effort is rewarded with a smooth and downright delicious smoking experience.
- Make three holes in your melon: one for the mouthpiece, one to insert the carrot-crafted bowl, and another for the carb
- Carve a bowl into the top of the carrot and then use a drill or long-necked screwdriver to make a tunnel running from top to bottom of the carrot for airflow
Tip: keep some mashed-up melon in the body to act as bong water.
Pumpkin bong
If the watermelon bong is the summer solution for consumers in a bind, then we can turn to our friends in the squash family for a fall fix. The pumpkin bong is quite similar in construction to the watermelon bong but requires a little more work when clearing out seeds.
It's easiest to use glass downstems and bowls, but if you don't have them on hand, you can use two carrots in their place, a la watermelon bong. You can also carve a bowl into the pumpkin itself, but that requires a little more finesse.
Banana pipe
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This pipe is bananas and is very easy to make. Keep in mind that a green banana will offer the most stability.
- Cut off the bottom 1.5 - 2 inches of the banana to make your bowl
- Trim off the black flower tip and hollow the whole bowl out
- Using a chopstick or a straw, insert your tool into the center flesh of the banana, starting from where you cut off the bottom and stopping around the halfway mark to create a hollow chamber
- Cut into the skin of the banana to create a connection directly above where the chamber ended. Slowly increase the size of this hole in the skin to accommodate your bowl; it should be a snug fit
Pen pipe
This option is quick and easy to put together but hinges upon having the right kind of pen. The pen pipe needs a pen with a detachable metal screw top, which serves as the bowl.
- Remove the top and bottom of the pen and empty the pen of the ink chamber, leaving a hollow plastic tube
- Insert the metal tip back into the top of the pen upside down and fill it with flower, leaving you with a one-hitter that is ready to go
Soda can pipe
The soda can pipe is another classic DIY option thanks primarily to the ubiquity of the soda can and its ease of construction.
- Remove the tab from a clean can and use your thumb to dent a bowl in the middle of the can
- Use a pin to poke holes in the bottom of the bowl
- Punch a carb hole in the side and you're done
Be aware that many cans have chemical coatings on the inside or printed graphics on the outside that can be toxic when burned and inhaled, making this a good option for single use only when you're really in a jam.
Gravity bong
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The gravity bong, also known as a grav, GB, or geeb, is a DIY bong made from water bottles. Gravity bongs can be made in a couple of different styles, notably the bucket bong and the waterfall bong, but both rely on the power of gravity and water to create suction and to draw the smoke into the bong's chamber. If you've never tried a geeb before, it can be a fun and novel way to smoke.
For the bucket bong, you'll need — at a minimum — a plastic water bottle, a pitcher (or other larger container for water), sharp scissors, and/or a drill and foil.
The waterfall bong needs even less: a water bottle, sharp scissors, a pin, and foil.
Water bottle bong
If you're looking to craft a smokeable device from a water bottle but want a more classic bong-style experience, the water bottle bong is your best bet. You'll need a water bottle, sharp scissors (or a box cutter), and either a proper downstem or a makeshift downstem — think fat marker or highlighter hollowed out — plus a pin and some foil for the bowl.
Again, repeated smoking from a plastic bottle is not ideal both from an experiential or a health perspective, so ditch that water bottle bong when you're done and head to your local dispensary to get some proper paraphernalia.
Steamroller pipe
When associating weed smoking with a toilet paper roll, many will think of the sploof: a toilet paper roll filter that has been used for decades to dampen the smell of cannabis smoke. But leave it up to creative cannabis smokers to find a way to smoke out of a toilet paper roll, too.
Enter the toilet paper roll steamroller: a super simple solution that needs nothing more than a roll, a sharp implement, and foil.
Not to be confused with its glass pipe counterparts, the toilet paper roll steamroller is made by simply fashioning a bowl from foil, making a hole near the bottom of the roll, then securing the bowl in the hole and packing it with weed. When you're ready to light it, cover the bottom hole of the roll with your hand while covering the top with your mouth.
Ice pipe
You can, in fact, smoke weed using nothing more than a frozen block of ice. The only major downside for this pipe is finding the right mold and the time it will take to freeze the water. But, if you can be creative and patient, you may be rewarded with some truly chill hits. Alternatively, you can buy pre-made molds for this very purpose.
- Fill a rectangular or cylindrical object with water and freeze
- Carve out a bowl at one end and an air chamber running through the length of the body and stopping just under the bowl
- Fill up the bowl and light it to enjoy some smooth and chilly pulls
Other ways to smoke weed with household items
Aside from these ten classic DIY pipes, folks have also reported fashioning a pipe using Starburst candies, pieces of bamboo, and even Lego.
You can also use a rose petal or other ingestible plant leaf to roll up a makeshift joint — just be sure the plant is safe to consume.
Bottom line
When put between a nug and a hard place, cannabis lovers have come up with some pretty creative approaches to making DIY pipes and bongs. Next time you find yourself without a way to smoke, consider one of these weed-lover-approved approaches, being mindful of the materials used and how those materials could impact your smoke and your lungs.
These DIY pipes are not meant for long-term use or regular consumption, but they can be a fun way to mix things up for your next session. Be safe and have fun.