Removable glass downstems can be very handy, but sometimes they break and sometimes you just want to experience a new style of diffusion. The Dab Lab has a sweet selection of new downstems in a variety of sizes for virtually any style of bong or waterpipe. This handy guide will show you what measurements are needed to ensure the ideal fit and function on your new downstem from The Dab Lab!

Removable and interchangeable downstems are pretty rare on dab rigs, and are not as common as they used to be on waterpipes and bongs either. Still, they are nice to have. They make cleaning your bong so much easier, and allow you to change up the diffusion if you have multiple downstems each with their own array of holes and/or slits at the bottom. 

Here at The Dab Lab, we carry a super affordable selection of downstems, and a common question that we often get is: How do I know what size or length I will need my new downstem to be?

There are actually a few different measurements that you need to keep in mind when buying a new downstem. These measurements are given in millimeters (mm). If you do not have a metric ruler handy, remember that 1” = 25.4mm

DOWNSTEM LENGTH

Here at The Dab Lab, we determine the length of a downstem to be the clear section only – from the bottom of the frosted glass joint, down. Nothing is worse than getting a new downstem and it’s too short to reach the water, or too long to even fit at all! We have options ranging from 75mm (roughly 3 inches) to 140mm (roughly 5.5 inches) to make sure that you get exactly what you need every time you shop at The Dab Lab.

If your downstem broke and you are unable to measure it, don’t worry, we have an easy solution.

1. Take a strand of uncooked spaghetti pasta. Stick it in your bong where the downstem would normally go. Position it parallel with the joint (don’t angle it or your measurement may be off) and make sure it is as far in as it can go.

2. Break off the extra that sticks out past the joint. Take the strand of spaghetti out of your bong and measure it.

3. Take that measurement and subtract 22mm (that accounts for the length of the joint) .

NOTE: Some bongs, like the ones made by MIO Glass, are made with hand worked joints. In that case, you will need to measure the frosted section on the bong where the downstem goes in and use that number to subtract from your spaghetti measurement.

That’s it. Now you have the exact measurement of the downstem you will need. If the exact length is not available go with the closest available size down.

JOINT SIZE

The size of the joint on your dab rig or waterpipe will most commonly be either 14mm or 18mm. If you are unsure of what you have, simply measure the widest part of the opening on the joint, from inner edge to inner edge.

If you do not have any way to make that measurement, you can use the ol’ Dime Trick. See, a dime coin will fit in an 18mm joint, but will be too big to fit in a 14mm joint.

BOWL OR SLDIE SIZE

If you already have a bowl or slide that you’ll be combining with your new downstem, or if you are buying a new one of those too, you need to make sure that the opening at the top of the new downstem is the correct size to fit your slide into.

Again, most common sizes are either 14mm or 18mm. It can get tricky as many downstems fit into an 18mm joint, but accommodate a 14mm bowl, so be sure to read the product description to be sure you are getting the right accessory!

Still unsure? Hit us up with pictures and we can get you what you need. With this handy guide from your buds at The Dab Lab, you should have no problem determining exactly which new downstem will help you keep the sesh lit!