Why You Should Just Cut Your Own Bong Screens
You're standing in front of your bong, ready to pack the bowl, but the new screen sticks out miles over the edge or bunches up? No worries, that's completely normal.
Here's the truth: there often isn't one single perfect screen size. So before you fight with screens that are too small and just slip through the hole, go straight for a larger option and trim it to fit yourself. Why that's the best approach, you'll learn in this short guide.
1. The problem with standards (and funnel bowls)
Even though standard diameters exist, glass and clay bowls in particular don't always stick to rigid norms. Because much of the making is handwork, the size can vary slightly even from batch to batch.
With funnel-shaped bowls especially, there's no "correct" size anyway. Depending on whether you want the screen sitting higher up or right down at the hole, you'll need a different diameter.
2. The solution: custom trimming (but only for drop-in screens!)
The solution is dead simple: when in doubt, buy a set of slightly larger screens and cut them to fit yourself!
- Important: This naturally only works with classic drop-in screens (the flat, round mesh discs without a handle).
- Hands off hanging screens: The hook-in screens with a metal rim or handle are usually made of far too hard a material. If you try to cut those, you'll only ruin your tool.
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3. The right tool makes the difference
Please, whatever you do, don't grab the good paper scissors or the kitchen scissors, you'll only blunt them and the screen will fray unevenly.
Ideal is a sturdy, slightly curved pair of nail scissors or a small electronics side cutter. That gets you a clean circular cut without much effort.
4. Safety first: don't forget to tap it off!
Cutting metal mesh creates tiny, razor-sharp wire particles along the edges. You definitely don't want to inhale those while smoking!
Pro tip: Before you drop the freshly cut screen in, be sure to tap it a few times on a hard surface or rinse it briefly under running water. Better safe than sorry. Short and sweet: just fit your screen to your bowl, not the other way around. One quick snip of the nail scissors and the draw is perfect again!