Retro Active Smoke Shop Dictionary

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In this industry there are several terms that are used that may need some explaining for users not extremely familiar with the products. Throughout our site you will see many of the terms below used for products and product descriptions. We've created a list of the most common terms that may need further explanation.

9mm/12mm

These millimeter sizes are in reference to the glass slide measurement for the standard non-glass-on-glass product they are describing.

10mm/14mm/18mm(19mm)

These millimeter sizes are in reference to the ground joint on the glass-on-glass product they are describing. There are three common sizes in the industry 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm. Sometimes 18mm will be described as 19mm. These are actually the same size and the real measurement is 18.8mm, the numbers are rounded for ease of conversation and sometimes rounded up rather than down.

Ashcatcher or Ash Catcher

Ashcatchers are waterpipe or bong attachments that help prevent the accumulation of resin in the bottom of your piece. The ash catchers will "catch the ash" that normally travel into the water of your pipe. Ashcatchers also provide an additional level of filtration so you can enjoy a cleaner, smoother smoking session.

Bat

See "One-Hitter"

Bong

A bong (aka "Waterpipe") is a large pipe that holds water for filtration. Unlike a bubbler or handheld piece containing water, a bong is usually much larger and consists of a tube mouthpiece that your lips go inside rather than outside like a handheld bubbler. Bongs can come in a variety of shapes in sizes and usually consists of a tube, downstem and bowl. For the ease of organization on our site all products under "Bongs & Waterpipes" are typically used for dry herb while products under "Dab Rigs" are used for waxes and concentrates.

Bowl

The bowl holds your herb. Either on a hand pipe, bubbler, or bong/waterpipe the bowl-shaped area where you insert your herb is referred to as "the bowl". Bowls usually have a single hole at the bottom to allow airflow for your smoke; however, some bowls contain multiple holes or even built in screens.

Borosilicate

Borosilicate is a high quality glass used to make pipes. Borosilicate glass is strong and durable but cannot handle extreme temperature changes such quartz.

Bubbler

A bubbler is a hand pipe that can hold water. Bubblers are much smaller than bongs and can usually fit in one hand. Bubblers feature a downstem that is usually fixed on the pipe that filters your smoke through water before inhalation.

Carb

A carb is a small hole found on glass hand pipes and some acrylic pipes. The carb is covered while first inhaling to build smoke inside the pipe. Release the carb to allow airflow through the pipe and an easy inhalation of the built up smoke. Sometimes referred to as a "power-hitter".

Carb Cap

A carb cap is a device used while dabbing. Usually used with domeless nails, the carb cap is placed over the nail causing the oil on the nail to spread over the entire surface due to the increased pressure. This in turn helps to vaporize waxes that would have otherwise been wasted.

Chillum

Chillum are a lot like one-hitters or bats but tend to be slightly bigger and made of glass. Chillums can come in a variety of sizes and designs but always consists of a small, straight pipe without a carb.

Color Changing

See "Fumed/Fuming"

Dab/Dabbing

A dab is a small portion of wax used to smoke on dab rigs. A dab usually consists of enough wax for one hit. Dabbing is the act of smoking a dab.

Dabber

A dabber is a tool used for smoking dabs. It is usually a 2"-5" long metal or glass piece that has at least one pointed tip. There are several variations of dabbers, some double sided, some glass, and so on. There are also several different dabber tips which all have different functions.

Dab Rig

A dab rig has the same function as a waterpipe or bong but is used for smoking concentrates or waxes. Dab Rigs will usually consist of a male joint with a nail and dome. Sometimes there is no need for a dome on a rig if it uses a domeless nail.

Diffusion/Diffused

Diffusion is the action of water passing through a percolator to create small bubbles in the water. This is what creates a cooled, smooth hit. If a product is "diffused" such as a downstem this means it will create the small bubbles and therefore a cooler, smoother hit.

Domeless Nail

A domeless nail is used for smoking concentrates. Domeless nails require you to get them really hot and then touch your dab directly to the nail for your smoking pleasure without the need for a dome. The smoke travels through a hollow center unlike a standard nail where the smoke travels around the nail and is held in by the dome.

Dome

A dome is a (dome-shaped) glass piece with a female connection that fits on dab rigs. A dome is used on a male connection with a non-domeless nail. The dome holds the smoke from escaping before passing into your piece.

Downstem

Downstems are used in most bongs and waterpipes. The downstem is the portion of the pipe that the smoke travels through from the bowl into the water. Downstems come in a variety of lengths and sizes and can be easily replaced on most pipes.

Dugout

Dugouts are small pocket-sized boxes used to store tobacco or herb. They also feature a slot for a one-hitter or bat for a quick and convenient smoke.

E-Nail/Electric Nail

E-Nails are devices used with dab rigs that allow you to control the temperature of your nail without the need for torches or domes. The nail is heated electronically and can stay on and ready to use for hours.

Female/Male

The term female or male is used to describe a joint or connection to a glass on glass pipe. A male connection fits into a female connection exactly like what you're probably thinking about.

Flower

Flower is another name for your tobacco or any other dry herb you're using to smoke with your pipe. For example a "flower bowl" would be a bowl used to smoke dry herb.

Fumed/Fuming

Fuming is a technique in glass blowing where small gold or silver flakes are put into the glass. This will make the glass change colors when placed on different surfaces or in different temperatures. Pipes can be "gold fumed" which usually appear to be a yellowish color or "silver fumed" which tend to be a pinkish color before any color change.

Glass on Glass

Glass on Glass or "GoG" refers to any pipe that uses two glass ground joints to make a sealed connection unlike standard pipes that use a rubber o-ring to seal a connection.

Ground Joint

A ground joint is the frosted area of any glass on glass connection. Ground joints will typically be 10mm, 14mm or 18mm and either male or female.

Heady Glass

The term "heady" is used to describe pipes that are of extremely high quality and made with advanced techniques. Typically these pipe are one of a kind or limited runs.

Marble

A marble is a glass extrusion from a pipe. A marble either magnifies the design on the pipe underneath or has it's own unique design inside such as a flower, millie or opal.

Millie

Millies are images made with colored glass using a technique similar to making patterns in taffy candy. The images are cut into small chips and used to incorporate into glass pipes.

Oil Pen

An oil pen is an electronic, portable, pen-shaped vaporizer used for smoking waxes and concentrates discreetly and on-the-go.

One-Hitter

One-Hitters (aka "Bats") are small cigarette-sized pipes that have no carb. They are usually made of glass, metal or quartz and come in 3 different sizes. One-Hitters are used in dugouts for quick, discreet smoking.

Opal

An opal is a small gem usually encased in a glass marble to add a decorative and unique touch to a pipe.

Percolator/Perc

A percolator or "perc" is an additional filtration feature of a bong or waterpipe. As smoke passes through the perc, it is forced to filter through another stage of water creating an even smoother, cleaner hit. Percolators come in a lot of different styles but the most common are tree, showerhead, barrel, and inline.

Quartz

Quartz is a type of glass used to make several domeless nails, bats and other accessories. Quartz is a more fragile glass than pyrex but can withstand high temperatures without cracking.

Recycler

A recycler is a bong/waterpipe feature that takes the water that would normally travel up the mouthpiece into a cone shaped spiral that flows back to the bottom of the waterpipe. This creates a better flow than most standard bubblers or waterpipes.

Reversal

Reversals are a type of linework in the glassblowing process. The result is a colorful back and forth motion with spirals at each end. Also known as "wig-wag".

Sandblasting

Sandblasting is a technique used on bongs and other glass pieces that takes off layers of the glass to engrave a logo or design. Sand is literally blasted onto the pipe around a stencil to remove these layers.

Sherlock

A Sherlock is a type of pipe named after Sherlock Holmes for the traditional hook-style pipe he was always known to use. Any piece with a bowl dropping down and sitting lower than the mouthpiece may be referred to as a sherlock pipe.

Slide Also referred to as a "bowl", the slide is the part of a waterpipe or bong that sits inside the downstem where the herb is packed. Slides are usually glass on glass but can also be standard 9mm or 12mm slides with a rubber o-ring.

Spoon

A spoon is the most common type of hand pipe. Spoons contain a bowl and carb and resemble a spoon shape.

Spubbler

A spubbler is a type of glass hand pipe that is in the shape of a spoon that also holds water like a bubbler. These pipes are smaller and more convenient than regular bubblers and still allow for water filtration.

Waterpipe

See "Bong"

Wig-Wag

See "Reversal"