Glass pipes are among the most popular and widely spread smoking devices, and for good reason. They come in various shapes and sizes but are typically quite easy to carry around, and are very easy to use. However, there’s one annoying pain point when it comes to smoking out of a glass pipe, and that is the notorious “pull-through.”

The pull-through happens when a user takes strong pulls that are too hard on ash and herb, which in some cases results in herb pieces being pulled through the pipe and they then end up in the user’s mouth. This occurrence can ruin your pipe smoking experience, but luckily, there’s a rather simple solution and it comes in the form of glass pipe screens.

What Are Glass Pipe Screens and How Do They Work?

Most typically, glass pipe screens are metal mesh circles that are placed inside your bowl so large pieces and chunks cannot fall through, while fine ash and smoke can. Not only do these screens come in handy when it comes to preventing herb chunks from ending up in your mouth, but they also help you a great deal with keeping your glass pipe clean for longer periods of time.

Another great thing about these simple pipe smoking accessories is that these are not used only for smoking out of glass pipes, they can also be quite helpful while smoking out of bubblers and bongs as they make your bong water stays clean for longer AND keep the unnecessary herb waste at bay.

Different Types of Glass Pipe Screens

There are two main types of screens:

  • Metal screens
  • Glass screens

The metal ones are made from brass, stainless steel or aluminum and are typically quite affordable. Glass ones, on the other hand, are a better long-term option, but are not as cheap.

Tips on How to Use Pipe Screens Properly

Metal pipe screens are very user-friendly. All you have to do is get the right size screen, place it over the hole of your glass pipe’s bowl, and you’re good to go. Then, simply place your tobacco or herbs on top of it, and fire away.

When it comes to glass pipes and screens, size does matter. The general rule is – bigger pipes require bigger screens that are closer to 1 inch in diameter, while smaller pipes can fit smaller screens that are usually closer to 0.5 inches in diameter. As metal screens are made of malleable mash metal, they bend quite easily and can be pressed so the pipe screen disc is squeezed into your pipe’s bowl. The glass ones need to fit perfectly.

When choosing the right screen for your pipe, be sure to get the optimal size so that the screen is able to cover the entire bowl hole. Once you’ve purchased the right glass pipe screen, clean it regularly, and use a brush in order to avoid clogging. Also, be sure to check the screen every once in a while to see if all the holes have been clogged with resin, or if the mash metal net developed holes in it.

Pro Tip: if you are using metal screens, be sure not to overheat it. Screens that get overheated for longer periods of time can be damaged, and during this process, may release chemicals that are toxic to humans. To prevent this from happening, we recommend changing pipe screens once every 15 days or so, especially if you smoke regularly and on a daily basis.

If, however, you opted for using pipe screens made out of glass, you only need to clean them every once in a while, without buying new ones. Screens that are made of glass, if cleaned thoroughly and regularly, can last for very long periods of time (or until you break them or chip them).

Which ones do you prefer? Metal or glass pipe screens? Drop us a line below, or come visit Smokey News glass pipe shop near you.