Ash Catchers Explained: What They Do and Do You Really Need One?

If you’ve ever cleaned your bong and wondered why it gets so dirty so quickly, then you know the type of residue we speak of. It’s a combination of the ash from whatever you’re burning, the burnt material itself, and lastly a very sticky type of residue. Cleaning the bong can be very tedious, to say the least.

Whether or not an ash catcher is a worthwhile accessory is a topic that has caused much debate amongst bong users, and we explore this further on in the article.

An in-depth look at the inner workings of an ash catcher, including the good, the bad, and whether or not it is something you should add to your accessories collection.

What Is an Ash Catcher?

An ash catcher sits between the bowl and bong water chamber. Instead of allowing ash and loose particles to travel through the water of the bong, the ash catcher collects some of them in a separate chamber.

An ash catcher is simply an extra chamber to clean before you have to clean the main part of your bong.

There are various designs of ash catchers available, including simple glass ash catchers and those which include additional water filtration. The type of ash catcher will depend upon the bong you use and how much cleaning up you wish to avoid.

So for all you new bong users out there looking for bong accessories, this will give you a good rundown of an Ash Catcher before you go spend any of your hard-earned cash.

What Does an Ash Catcher Actually Do?

The basic function of it is to prevent ash and debris from going into your bong. But there are some practical benefits to be known.

1. Helps Keep Your Bong Cleaner

If there is no additional chamber, the residue can get into the downstem, the water chamber, and into the rest of the interior. It may even cause cleaning to become more time-consuming as time goes on.

An ash catcher collects some of that debris separately, helping reduce the amount reaching the main piece. You will still need to clean your bong regularly, but maintenance may become easier.

2. Eases the cleaning process.

It may be easier to clean a removable small piece of gear than a bong with multiple chambers or a round tripper.

The trade-off? Now you've got another piece of glass to take care of! Regular rinsing is crucial, as it prevents much of the purpose from being averted by leaving it dirty for too long.

3. Can Add Another Stage of Filtration

Some designs store water and have a diffuser or percolator inside of them. These can provide an additional layer of water filtering and alter the airflow into the system.

As the amount of filtering can increase, however, it doesn't necessarily affect the end user's experience. Flow resistance varies for various designs, and smoke filtration doesn't make smoke safe or harmless!

Dry vs. Wet Ash Catchers: What's the Difference?

When shopping online for ash catchers australia, there are two designs to bear in mind.

Dry ash catchers: These have no need for adding water. They concentrate on gathering ash and straggle material, normally of more simple design. If being less parts to handle means you can make them a viable selection.

Wet ash catchers: Those that contain wet ash catchers, which may have a percolator. They offer a second water chamber and require more labour and water-level regulation. They can also add extra weight to your setup.

Both are not necessarily the better of the two choices. A dry design might be the best option if you're looking for something simple. A wet filtration system might be considered for an extra filtration chamber.

Do You Really Need One?

Honestly, no. While some will notice the difference, others won't, and your bong can operate without a catcher.

Consider including one if:

• You find cleaning your main bong time-consuming.
• There are various chambers or difficult-to-access internal parts of your bong.
• You would prefer a detachable part that separates a portion of the debris.
• You feel comfortable with having another piece of glass around.
• You might not require one if your bong already has the slag easy to clean; you just prefer to have less parts or it already happens to be quite compact and top heavy.

Keep in mind: the top-heavy attachment, the thicker the glass, the thicker the cleaning, and the thicker the handling!

How to Choose the Right One?

It's not about looks, it's about compatibility. When considering an ash catcher, look out for these three.

• Joint size: Make sure your bong and attachment have the same joint size. The most popular sizes of common glass fittings are 14 mm and 18 mm, but the specific size may always be determined by checking.
  
  
• Joint Angle: The angle will define the angle at which the attachment is positioned when attached. Typical designs include both 45° degrees and 90°. Improperly positioning the angle can lead to bad angles or affect stability.
  
  
• Weight and clearance: There is another chamber that increases weight on the connection point. Ensure that your bong has proper clearance and is stable after assembly.
  
  

It's a fact that one can decrease the frustrations of obtaining a part that doesn't fit if one owns glass bongs and checks the product specification prior to purchasing.

The Bong Shop has a number of choices, such as the Planet X Aries 14 mm and its Glass Chamber (Bonja to Bonza). It is also compatible with various types of chambers: be sure to carefully find out what the fitting details are for each product before making a choice.

Final Thoughts

Ash catchers are a great add-on to some people's systems if they want to minimise the amount of debris that ends up in the body of their main bong and to add one more item to a system they have to deal with when in need of cleaning. It's not necessary, however, and increased weight and upkeep should be taken into account.

When trying to compare ash catchers in Australia, one can pay significant attention to the ease of cleaning, stability, and fit rather than anything else. The most suitable is the one that will fit your set-up without being too cumbersome.

After all, a good accessory should solve a problem, not create another one.

Keep Your Setup Cleaner

Make your bong cleaning easier by finding an attachment that suits you and your bong.

Shop Ash Catchers!

FAQs

1. What is the main purpose of an ash catcher?

An ash catcher collects some of the ash and debris that fall off of a joint before they enter the main part of the bong, allowing for a cleaner bong and easier maintenance.

2. Do ash catchers fit all bongs?

Compatibility with your bong depends on several factors such as the joint size, joint angle, and the overall design of the bong part you want to attach something to. Please check the specifications of your bong part before purchasing an attachment.

3. Are wet or dry ash catchers better?

Ash catchers are either wet or dry designs, depending on the model. A dry ash catcher is the simpler of the two to clean, whereas a wet ash catcher includes a water chamber which may incorporate a percolator.

4. Is an ash catcher worth buying?

They can be worthwhile for those who want to prevent debris from entering the bong, while also making cleaning easier. However, they are an extra part that has to be cleaned and are not necessary for every bong user.