Glass bongs are a great way to smoke cannabis, but when you go with a cheaper water pipe the glass can be weak. This results in every stoner's worst nightmare: a broken bong. There's nothing worse than a smoke sesh ending before it even had the chance to start. But it's something every bong owner experiences at one point or another. If you're lucky, it's just the downstem or bowl that breaks, and not the base of the bong itself. Otherwise, you'll likely be stuck replacing the bong entirely.
Can you actually fix a broken bong, and how? Depends what broke. Fixing a downstem is a totally different job than fixing a cracked base. Let's go part by part.
What Causes a Broken Bong?
Most of the time, it's dropped. You're mid-toke, your grip loosens, and the bong hits the floor. If you're lucky, it's just the bowl or downstem that shatters. With cheaper, thinner glass, the whole thing can go.
It can also happen from a bump while walking with it, or from cleaning it in the sink (we've done that one too). Cracks usually come from pressure in one spot, someone sitting on it, or just from thinner glass under normal use. That's the whole case for buying a piece built from thicker, better glass in the first place: it survives what a cheap one won't.
Mouthpieces chip too, usually from a hit that's a little too enthusiastic and makes contact with your teeth. Ouch.
Can You Fix a Broken Bong?
Depends on what's broken and how bad. A cracked base is usually done, you're replacing it. A broken downstem or bowl is often just a replacement part away. A small crack can sometimes be patched with superglue as a last resort, but it's not a real fix, just a way to buy time.
Fixing Each Part
The Base
Short answer: replace it. If you've got a small crack that's just leaking, you can limp along for a bit. Fill it over the sink, use the bare minimum water, and tilt the bong away from the cracked side to take pressure off it.
People will tell you a torch, superglue, or duct tape can fix a cracked base. A torch might work if you really know what you're doing, which most people don't. Superglue might hold a hairline crack. Duct tape does nothing but buy you a laugh. None of these beat just replacing the base.
The Downstem
A crack can sometimes be sealed with superglue or epoxy. Fully broken means replacing it, which is an easy fix as long as you match the joint size. In the meantime, you can technically hit a bong with a broken-down stem, you'll just lose most of the filtration, which is most of the point of using a bong in the first place. Works in a pinch.
The Bowl
Easiest piece to replace if it's beyond saving. A small crack can sometimes take superglue or epoxy, but keep it away from anywhere your weed sits or your lips touch. You don't want to be smoking cured glue. If it's not fixable, a replacement bowl is cheap and easy to find, just match your joint size.
The Mouthpiece
You can technically still use a bong with a broken mouthpiece, but check for sharp edges before you put your mouth anywhere near it. A small chip can take superglue or epoxy, kept well away from where your lips actually land.
If It's Not Fixable
Sometimes the glass is just done. If you're in the market for something that'll hold up better next time, the Capsule Water Pipe comes apart into individually replaceable pieces, so next time a bowl or downstem breaks, you're not starting over on the whole bong.
Bottom Line
Base broken, replace it. Downstem or bowl broken, patch it or swap the part. Mouthpiece chipped, check for sharp edges and keep using it if it's safe. If you're done patching and ready for something built to survive better, check out our Path Pipe too, aluminum instead of glass, so this whole article stops being relevant to you.
Browse the rest of our smoking accessories while you're at it.