If you’re not very familiar with hand pipes, you may not know what the purpose of the carb is on the pipes you have seen for sale online. In this article, we will explain what a carb is, what it’s for and how you can use it, which should help you to enjoy the advantages of hand pipes compared to alternatives right from the start. If you still have any questions about hand pipes or carbs after reading this article, please do not hesitate to call or email us and we will be delighted to tell you everything you need to know.

Carbs on Hand Pipes: What Do They Look Like and Where Are They Located?

Almost all hand pipes have a carb and you will usually find them either on the side or the front of the bowl, a short distance below the rim. A carb is basically just a hole in the bowl that allows more air to flow through it and along the stem when it is not blocked by your finger or thumb. If you take a look at the hand pipes for sale on our site, you should be able to see the carb holes in the product pictures quite easily.

Why Do Hand Pipes Have a Carb?

If you know anything about car or motorbike engines, you’ll probably already know that the primary function of a carb or carburetor is to mix air with a combustible substance so that it burns at maximum efficiency. In the case of a car or motorbike, the combustible substance is, of course, gas, whereas with your hand pipe, it will be the herbs you are smoking. A carb on a hand pipe is there to provide you with greater control over the airflow so that you can light the pipe more easily and enjoy a cool smoke once it is lit. Without a carb, the only way to control the airflow in hand pipes is by altering your packing density: the firmer you pack your pipe, the less airflow you will have. The problem with relying purely on packing density is that you are unable to alter the airflow after you have lit it. This is a major drawback, as you will find out in the next section.

Why Would I Want to Alter the Airflow?

Now you know the purpose of a carb – to control the airflow in your hand pipes – you are probably asking yourself why you would want to be able to control the airflow. What benefits does having more control over the airflow in your pipes actually give you?

• Easy to Light – By holding your thumb over the carb hole, you can ensure that air only flows through the top of the bowl when you are lighting your herbs. If you don’t block the hole, air will also be entering the bowl lower down, which won’t help you to light the surface.
• Cooler Smoke – Hand pipes with carbs allow you to enjoy a cooler smoke simply by removing your thumb from the carb hole once your herbs are lit. Without a carb, you would be unable to do this.
• Easier to Enjoy All the Smoke – The increased airflow when you open the carb by removing your thumb helps to drive the smoke through the stem and into your mouth, making it easier for you to clear the bowl of all the smoke you create each time you ignite your herbs.

Pipes without a carb may be easy to light or provide a cool smoke but they usually have to make a compromise between the two. Without any way to control the airflow, they either have to be designed to provide greater airflow, which can make them more difficult to light, or with less airflow, which can make them hotter to smoke.

How to Use the Carb in Your Hand Pipe

If you’re new to hand pipes with carbs, you may need a little help at first. The tips below will ensure that you enjoy your new pipe from the start.

• Cover the Carb Hole When You Light the Pipe – As you are lighting your herbs, cover the carb hole to concentrate the airflow where it is needed: flowing over and down through the herbs at the surface.
• Keep the Carb Hole Covered as You Begin to Inhale – To maximize the amount of smoke produced and ensure your herbs stay alight, keep the carb hole covered as you start to inhale.
• Uncover the Carb Hole as You Continue to Inhale – Roughly halfway through the inhaling process, uncover the carb hole to allow greater airflow. This will not only provide you with a cooler smoke, but it will also ensure that you clear the bowl of all the smoke you produced, making for a more efficient smoke.

Buying Hand Pipes with Carbs

As we mentioned earlier, some hand pipes have the carb hole at the side of the bowl while others have the hole at the front. If you’ve never used one before, ask a friend if you can try theirs so you can find out which position is the most comfortable for you. Once you know whether you prefer a side or front carb hole, you can select a suitable hand pipe from our site based on aesthetics, size and price. And don’t forget, if you need any help, the Puffr team is just a phone call away.