FAQ — East Loud

Everything you need to know about picking, matching and caring for your gear. Can't find your answer? Contact us — a human replies.

General Questions

How do I choose between glass, silicone, and metal pieces?

Glass gives the purest flavor and the widest variety; silicone survives drops and travel; metal lasts forever in a pocket. Most collections end up with glass at home and silicone or metal for the road.

Are these products authentic branded items?

Yes — we stock genuine products from the brands named on each listing, sourced through authorized distribution. Brand, specs, and materials are listed on every product page.

What should my first piece be?

For dry herb: a spoon pipe (cheapest start) or a 10-12" beaker bong (smoothest start). For concentrates: a compact rig with a quartz banger and carb cap. Every product page lists specs to help you match parts correctly.

How do I clean smoking accessories?

The universal recipe: 91%+ isopropyl alcohol plus coarse salt as an abrasive, soak or shake, rinse warm, dry fully. Silicone can go in the dishwasher; metal parts prefer a brush and iso soak.

Do you have more information on sizing and fitment?

Every product page lists the specs that matter — joint size, angle, and gender for glass; model compatibility for vape parts. If a listing leaves you unsure, reach out through the contact page and we'll match you to the right part.

Bongs & Water Pipes

What size bong should I choose?

Smaller bongs (under 10") deliver more flavor and are easier to store and clean; larger pieces (14"+ ) give bigger, smoother hits thanks to more water filtration and cooling distance. If it's your first piece, a 10-12" beaker is the classic starting point.

How do I know what joint size my bong uses?

Most bongs use a 14mm or 18mm ground-glass joint; smaller pieces sometimes use 10mm. Check the product specs above — the bowl included with your bong will match. If you're replacing a bowl, measure the inside diameter of the joint or compare it to a dime (14mm) or a nickel (18mm).

What does a percolator actually do?

A percolator breaks your smoke into smaller bubbles as it passes through water, increasing surface contact for cooling and filtration. Tree, honeycomb, matrix, and inline percs each trade off smoothness against drag — more diffusion means cooler hits but slightly more pull resistance.

How often should I clean my bong?

For the best flavor, change the water daily and deep-clean weekly with 91-99% isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. Shake, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Regular cleaning prevents resin buildup and keeps percolators working like new.

Is thicker glass worth it?

Thicker glass (5mm+) survives the bumps and tip-overs that end most bongs' lives, and it feels noticeably more solid in hand. If you use your piece daily or have pets, kids, or clumsy friends around, thick glass is the best insurance you can buy.

Hand Pipes

How do I use a hand pipe?

Pack the bowl loosely with ground material, cover the carb hole (the small hole on the side) while lighting, then release it as you inhale to clear the chamber. A loose pack burns more evenly and keeps the draw open.

How do I clean a glass hand pipe?

Seal the pipe in a zip bag with 91%+ isopropyl alcohol and a spoonful of coarse salt, shake well, let it soak 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. For daily smokers, a weekly clean keeps flavor fresh and airflow open.

Should I use a screen in my pipe?

Screens keep ash and small bits from pulling through into your mouth. Glass daisy screens are the cleanest-tasting option; brass and stainless screens are cheap and cut to fit any bowl. Many spoon pipes work fine without one if you pack properly.

What's the difference between a spoon, a sherlock, and a steamroller?

A spoon is the compact all-rounder. A sherlock's curved neck cools smoke slightly and sits nicely in hand. A steamroller has an open end that acts as a giant carb, delivering fast, unfiltered hits with maximum airflow — great for experienced smokers.

Are silicone pipes safe to smoke from?

Quality silicone pipes are made from food-grade, heat-tolerant silicone that never contacts the flame directly — the bowl itself is glass or metal. They're virtually indestructible and dishwasher-safe, which makes them the go-to travel and outdoor piece.

Dab Rigs

What's the difference between a dab rig and a bong?

A dab rig is built for concentrates instead of dry herb: it's usually smaller to preserve vapor flavor, uses a quartz banger instead of a bowl, and favors tighter percolation. Less air volume means terps reach you before they degrade.

Why are dab rigs smaller than bongs?

Concentrate vapor loses flavor and potency the longer it travels. A compact rig with minimal water keeps the path short, so you taste everything. Bigger isn't better with dabs — 6-9" is the sweet spot.

What do I need to start dabbing?

Four things: a rig, a quartz banger that matches your rig's joint (size, angle, and gender — check the specs), a dab tool to handle concentrate, and a torch. A carb cap is the fifth essential most people add immediately — it makes low-temp dabs actually work.

What temperature should I dab at?

Low-temp (500-600°F) preserves flavor and is easier on your throat; high-temp (600-700°F+) vaporizes more instantly but harsher. The classic method: heat the banger until it just starts to glow, then let it cool 30-60 seconds before applying your dab with a carb cap on.

How do I clean my rig and banger?

Swab the banger with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol while it's still warm (not hot) after each session — this keeps quartz clear and flavor pure. Deep-clean the rig itself weekly with iso and salt, same as a bong.

Bangers, Nails & Dab Tools

How do I pick the right banger for my rig?

Match three things: joint size (10, 14, or 18mm), joint gender (if your rig has a female joint you need a male banger, and vice versa), and angle (90° for most upright rigs, 45° for angled joints). The specs above list all three for this piece.

Quartz vs titanium — which is better?

Quartz is the flavor king: it heats fast, tastes clean, and shows you exactly how dirty it is. Titanium is nearly indestructible and holds heat longer but can add a metallic note and needs seasoning. Most dabbers today run quartz and treat bangers as a consumable.

How do I season or care for a new quartz banger?

Quartz needs no seasoning — just a gentle first heat cycle to burn off any manufacturing residue before your first dab. The real care is swabbing with iso-dipped cotton after every session; puddles left to burn off are what turn quartz cloudy and yellow.

What is a carb cap and do I need one?

A carb cap sits over your banger and restricts airflow, dropping the pressure so concentrate vaporizes fully at lower temperatures. If you dab low-temp (you should — the flavor is night and day), a cap isn't optional. Bubble caps fit most flat-top bangers.

What are terp pearls for?

Terp pearls are small quartz or ruby balls that spin inside your banger under carb-cap airflow, spreading concentrate evenly across the hot surface. The result: bigger, more even vaporization at lower temps and no wasted puddle in the corners.

Grinders

Why do grinder pieces matter (2 vs 3 vs 4-piece)?

A 2-piece just grinds. A 3-piece adds a storage chamber below the teeth. A 4-piece adds a fine mesh screen that sifts kief into a bottom chamber — the bonus layer that accumulates into a potent reward over weeks of normal use.

What is the kief catcher actually catching?

The screen sifts off trichomes — the resinous crystals that carry most of the potency. Collected kief can be sprinkled on a bowl, pressed, or saved for special occasions. A coin left in the kief chamber helps knock more through the screen.

How do I clean a metal grinder?

Disassemble and freeze it for 30 minutes (resin snaps off cold), brush out the loose material, then soak parts in isopropyl alcohol and scrub with a brush. Rinse, dry fully, and it grinds like day one. Save the iso — evaporate it to recover the resin if you like.

Aluminum vs zinc grinders — is there a difference?

Aircraft-grade aluminum is lighter, machines sharper teeth, and lasts for years of daily use. Zinc alloy is heavier and cheaper — fine for occasional use. If a grinder is suspiciously cheap and doesn't say aluminum, it's zinc.

Why does my grinder get hard to turn?

Resin builds up on the thread ring and teeth. A quick brush-out weekly and an iso deep-clean monthly keeps it turning smoothly. Storing it in a warm spot (not the fridge) between cleans also helps the threads move freely.

Vaporizers

How do I know which parts fit my vaporizer?

Match the brand and model exactly — coils, pods, and chambers are rarely cross-compatible even within a brand. The product title and specs list compatible models; when in doubt, check your device's model number before ordering.

How should I care for vape batteries?

Use the charger designed for your device, never leave batteries charging unattended overnight, and stop using any battery with a torn wrapper or dents. Store spares in a case — loose batteries and keys/coins in a pocket are a genuine fire risk.

How often should I replace coils or atomizers?

When flavor turns burnt or muted — typically every 1-3 weeks for daily users. Priming a new coil (a few drops on the wick, then a 5-minute soak) dramatically extends its life.

Dry herb vaporizer vs dab pen — what's the difference?

Dry herb vapes bake ground flower at precise temperatures without combustion; dab pens vaporize concentrates from a coil or chamber. Different materials, different hardware — they're not interchangeable.

Why is my vaporizer producing thin vapor?

Usually one of: a dying battery, a spent coil, too-fine or too-packed material blocking airflow, or temperature set too low. Work through those four and you'll find it — thin vapor is almost never the device dying.

Rolling Papers & Trays

What size rolling papers should I get?

1¼ papers are the everyday standard (holds ~0.5g). King size fits more and suits sharing. Pre-rolled cones skip the skill requirement entirely — fill, tamp, twist, done.

What's the difference between rice, hemp, and wood pulp papers?

Rice papers burn slowest and cleanest but are trickier to roll. Hemp papers are the modern favorite — easy grip, even burn, subtle flavor. Wood pulp is the classic fast-burning, forgiving roll. Thinner always equals less paper taste.

Why do I need a rolling tray?

It keeps your grind contained, your papers organized, and your couch clean — and every stray flake funnels back into the next roll instead of the carpet. Once you use one, rolling without it feels chaotic.

What are filter tips for?

A tip gives structure to the mouth end, keeps material out of your lips, improves airflow, and means you smoke everything instead of tossing a soggy end. Glass tips are reusable and taste-neutral.

How do I keep papers and cones fresh?

Store them flat, dry, and away from heat. Cones especially benefit from a rigid case — a crushed cone is a sad cone. Humidity is the enemy: dry papers crack, damp papers won't burn evenly.