Nearly all of us have experienced some moment of despair where we need a bong but don’t have one on hand. Whether you just broke your old faithful piece or are simply feeling crafty, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make a homemade bong.  This knowledge is not only handy to have in a pinch, but it is almost a rite of passage for any professional pot smoker. Read on for detailed instructions on how to craft several different kinds of bongs in the comfort of your own home.

Continue Reading Below
Advertise on Wikileaf

The Anatomy of a Bong

Before making your first bong, it can be helpful to understand the parts that make up a successful smoking device. All bongs typically consist of: 

  • Tube: The main tube of the bong, sometimes called the neck, is usually a hollow cylinder where the smoke rises as you place your mouth over top to inhale all of the smoky goodness. 
  • Base: The base is usually at the bottom of your bong and houses the water that filters and cools the smoke as it passes through.
  • Carb or Carburetor: Not all bongs have to have a carb, but if you see a teeny tiny hole on the side or back of the bong, this is your carb. This little hole helps you control the size of your hits with your index finger. 
  • Bowl: The bowl is the place where you pack your nugs of weed into place
  • Downstem: The downstem describes the thinner pipe that is connected to the bowl that points down into the water. This allows the smoke to travel down into the base, through the water, up through the main tube, and finally into your lungs. 

And that’s really it! If you have these pieces in place, you likely have a functional bong on your hands. Now let’s look at a few different ways to make said functional bong. 

The Water Bottle Bong

This homemade bong is a classic and works great if you're in a pinch and forgot your glass at home. It's also potentially eco-friendly as everything here has the potential to be recyclable. Just don't be that person who tokes and liters. What You Need: 

  • Plastic water bottle
  • Pen, marker, or small hollow cylindrical object
  • Aluminum foil
  • Toothpick
  • Sharp scissors or knife

Instructions: 

  1. Take a plastic bottle of your choice and fill it ¼ full with water. 
  2. Take your scissors or knife and cut a small hole just below the neck of the bottle to make the carb. Cut another small hole just above the water line that will serve as the opening for your downstem. 
  3. To make your downstem, You’ll need a tube-like object, like an old marker or a pen, and some aluminum foil. The wider the marker’s diameter, the more space you will have for your bowl, and thus more space for your weed. If you’re using a marker or pen, you must first get rid of its inner parts, leaving just an empty hollow tube. 
  4. Once hollow, take the aluminum foil, cover one end of the tube, and press softly in the center to create a bowl-like shape and poke a few holes into the bowl. It is imperative that the foil doesn't break because you do not want the plastic below to get burned as it can be highly toxic. 
  5. Lastly, place your downstem and bowl into the hole just above the waterline, adjusting as needed for the perfect fit. 
  6. Fill with buds and enjoy. 

The Gravity Bong

With a gravity bong, you are being way more efficient with your weed smoking, but it's more of an involved process. What You’ll Need: 

  • A plastic bottle 
  • A needle or a toothpick
  • Sharp scissors or knife
  • Aluminum foil
  • Any kind of container like a mixing bowl, just as long as it's bigger than the bottle.

Instructions: 

  1. Take your plastic bottle and remove the lid. Cover the opening with aluminum foil and create your bowl. Poke a few tiny holes into the bowl with your toothpick so that the smoke can pass through freely. 
  2. Cut the bottom off of the plastic bottle so that it is one large hollow piece. Discard the bottom.
  3. Next, take your large container and fill it halfway with water. Place the cut plastic bottle into the water until it reaches the neck of the bottle or as far as you can. 
  4. Fill the bowl with weed, light, and slowly lift the bottle, stopping before it leaves the water. It should fill with a cloud of thick smoke as you go. 
  5. Carefully lift off the aluminum and quickly place your mouth over the opening and slowly push the bottle back into the water. This will force the smoke out and into your mouth. If you cannot take the whole hit one breath, simply cover the mouthpiece with your hand until you are ready for more. 

The Tic Tac Bong

Need to be a weed-smoking MacGyver? Introducing the Tic Tac Bong. What You’ll Need: 

  • Empty Tic-Tac box
  • Pen or marker, hollowed out
  • Sharp knife or scissors
  • Aluminum foil 
  • Toothpick

Instructions: 

  1. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut a small hole on the side of the empty Tic-Tac box as your carb. Cut another towards the bottom of the box as the hole that your downstem will be placed into. 
  2. Take your hollowed-out pen or marker and cover one end with aluminum foil to create your bowl. Poke a few tiny holes in the foil so that the smoke can travel through. 
  3. Fill your Tic-Tac box about ¼ way full of water. 
  4. Pack your bowl, light, and inhale the smoke.