One of the most annoying traits about water pipes is the frequency at which they need to be cleaned. Dirty water pipes can significantly alter the taste and overall experience of a session. Therefore, they need cleaning after every session—deep cleans at least once a week for heavy users. Ashcatchers prevent the dirty stuff from reaching your clean water pipe, thus cutting down on the scrub-out sessions and leaving you more time to enjoy those smoking sessions.
How does an Ashcatcher Work?
Ashcatchers attach to your waterpipe or rig via a joint. They will hold your product and act as a go-between from the product to the water pipe or rig. Many ashcatchers include percolators that initially filter the vapor before it even reaches the water pipe. This creates an even smoother hit many find enjoyable. Since the ashcatcher is filtering the smoke first, it catches all of the ash and other debris before it reaches the main water chamber in your pipe. Although you will have to clean out the ashcatcher between uses, it is much easier to clean an ashcatcher every time than a large water pipe.
How do I Choose the Right Ashcatcher?
There are several ashcatcher features that will make them compatible with your rig. After you meet the basic compatibility requirements, you can choose one based on preference and style. Take a look at some of the qualities below that you should keep in mind when choosing the perfect ashcatcher for your piece.
Joint. The joint size, gender, and angle are all crucial for finding an ashcatcher that will fit your pipe. First, measure the joint on your pipe to determine what size ashcatcher you will need. Often times joints come in 10mm, 14.5 mm, and 18.8 mm sizes. Next, take note of the gender of the joint. If your pipe’s joint is a “male” joint, you will need a “female” ashcatcher, and vice versa. Lastly, don’t forget the angle of the joint. You will want to match 45-degree joints with 45-degree ashcatchers, and 90-degree joints with 90-degree ashcatchers. This ensures that the mechanism works properly, nothing spills out, and the glass on the joints don’t scratch from being rubbed the wrong way. If you’re set on a specific ashcatcher, but it doesn’t quite fit with your current pipe, you can always use an adapter piece to make it work.
Percolator. There are a variety of percolators on the market, both in water pipes themselves and within ashcatchers. Preference goes a long way when it comes to choosing the best percolator, and you won’t know which one you prefer until you try. Keep in mind, all percolators will cause a slight drag with each hit, but the more complex percolators may cause more resistant drags than the simpler ones. If your water pipe already includes a percolator, take this into consideration before adding another percolator to the process.
Weight. Some larger ashcatchers can add a significant amount of weight to the pipe, which may cause an imbalance in smaller or lighter pipes. Since the weight is hanging off the side of the pipe, make sure your pipe has a sturdy base before adding an ashcatcher or other type of attachment. You don’t want the whole rig tipping over during a session!
