6 Ways to Get A Stuck Downstem Out of a Bong

You definitely protect your bong with your life if you own one. You are also aware that maintaining frequent cleaning of each item is a good practice for enjoying high-quality hits. You have to clean your bong, of course. However, you wound up couch-locked and got high.

You didn't forget to clean your bong once, twice, or so many other times—and it wasn't your fault. You don't get chills down your spine until you get your best cannabis home and discover that the percolation is a disaster and you can no longer use your bong. And you need to act quickly to address it.

Even worse, the down stem is impervious to removal. Holy sh*t! What a pain! How did this happen, and how will you remove your bong's jammed down stem? Long before the debris causes issues with your percolation, there is a good chance that a lot of muck has already been made down the down stem.

How Did My Downstem Get Stuck In My Bong?

Wear and tear is one of the main causes of a stuck down stem. Another typical problem is not routinely cleaning your down stem. Many smokers frequently disregard the down stem as long as it's still functional, even though it can be easily removed and cleaned.

It just takes a small amount of resin or sticky debris to accumulate between the bong joint and the down stem for it to become obstinately trapped. Heat is another factor that might result in a jammed down stem. The resin buildup along the downstream is encouraged by the heat transfer between the bowl, joint, and down stem. This epoxy becomes resistant and extremely stiff when heated, making it impossible to remove your down stem without making a mess.

Unexpectedly, cleaning your bong frequently—especially when you take it apart to give it a good wash—can also lead to a jammed down stem. This occurs if you don't give your bong's stem and glass joint enough time to totally dry out. It may be challenging to remove the down stem because of a tenacious seal caused by moisture that has been trapped between the two sections.

Removing a Stuck Downstem Out Of A Bong

Below are tips to help you loosen and remove your down stem without breaking anything.

Try Hot Water

Yes. It might work to use hot water. The residual must be loosened in the same manner as if it were stuck in the bong chamber. In essence, you will need something hot, and hot water may be sufficient. Your skin should be sufficiently heated by the water. Run it down the down stem of your bong, directly into that area.

To test your ability to withstand the heat for a short period of time, quickly wave your palm over the down stem. If not, you can always gently twist the stem with tweezers while carefully removing it. If you're lucky, the hot water will liquefy the residue and provide lubrication, enabling you to liberate your down stem.

Try Rubbing Alcohol

Alcohol is a different alternative. If hot water alone wasn't effective, perhaps alcohol would. The idea is to remove all of the caked-on cruds and create a simple exit for your stem. Pour a suitable amount of alcohol directly into the glass portion where the down stem connects. Firmly pinch the downstem's exposed areas while you carefully and gradually twist your way up and, hopefully, out.

Don't worry if your efforts appear pointless; we're not done yet. Let's be creative; go fetch some toothpicks. Anything to securely remove your stem, right? You might try using a toothpick to try to make room for your stem now that the muck has already been freed. This can further loosen the grime, making it simpler to remove the stem!

Try Fire

If things haven't gone well up to this point and your stem is still lodged in the bong, all is not lost. We can also attempt a variety of additional techniques, such as upping the ante and using a dab flame. Let's burn things down, figuratively speaking of course. But using your dab torch to apply heat to the downstem's surface will help us to soften the hardened resin.

But be cautious! The glass item shouldn't be exposed to the flame for too long because doing so could harm it. You should use tweezers to gently twist and try to pull the downstem out while the clogged resin is still very hot because the down stem is now heated.

Tap the ends.

All of the aforementioned solutions are effective if dirt or resin is the cause of your stuck stem; however, if the down stem became stuck due to retained moisture between the glass components, tapping on the stem is the surefire cure for your problem. Even better, combine this technique with inserting ice cubes into the stem.

You'll need a really large spoon for this trick; don't worry, we won't go all karate on your bong! The spoon should be made of wood, and you can choose whether to cover it with a towel or use it bare. Use the spoon head to gently hit the stuck glass piece several times. The theory is that the resulting vibration will unstick the trapped down stem, so you can pull it out with ease.

Try Ice Cold Water

Ice-cold water might save the day if everything else fails. Smokers who have previously utilized ice-cold water claim that simply pouring the water downhill works like magic. The glass and its contents can be removed more easily and without breaking when ice-cold water comes into touch with them.

Use A Glass Cleaner

Keep holding on if the resin has set and the stem is stuck so severely that none of the aforementioned methods even made a dent. We can use a scientific trick!

If you don't already have one inside, all you need to do is get a very efficient glass cleaning detergent from the market. Fill the bong with water and liberally spray it with your cleaning solution. Make sure the solution reaches the downstem and joint, as well as the water chamber.

Kindly let it soak all night. It is anticipated that the muck will soak up the solution and make it loose so it can decompose. You can effortlessly twist the bong's down stem out and start smoking again!

Please try to remove the stuck down stem gently and cautiously to avoid damaging or shattering the glass. Don't worry if the stem didn't come out. All you'll need to do is carefully clean your bong after each session, and it should keep working just fine—hopefully for a long time.