Glass hand pipes are a perennial hit with pipe lovers from all walks of life. And why not? They're unique, infinitely engaging art objects that also happen to fulfill a practical function. But beyond filling them with their favorite pipeweed and sparking it up, there are few things glass pipe owners love to do more than personalize their pipes.

Still, some might ask “Why bother customizing a glass pipe?” And it’s a fair enough question considering pipes are simply delivery vehicles that facilitate enjoyment of your favorite smoke. So we thought we’d take a look at some of the most common reasons people take the extra step of turning their customized glass into a personal statement.

Four Good Reasons to Choose Custom Glass

Here are some of the most common reasons people choose custom glass over off the shelf glass pipes.

1. To differentiate it from everyone else’s pipe - A lot of glass hand pipes have similar shapes and are of a similar size. If you’ve spent the evening hanging with your buds sparking up bowl after bowl of Green Gelato it’s easy to mistakenly grab somebody else’s pipe if they’re a similar size and shape. By personalizing your glass you ensure that, no matter what, you’ll walk out with the right pipe in your pocket.
2. To give you something to focus on when you zone out - Let’s say you just got your hands on some Godfather OG and have been conducting research to see if it really is the most potent cannabis strain on earth. After a bowl or two you’re probably going to need something to marvel at when you disconnect from the material realm, right? Of course. Your custom glass will make a fine focal point when you’re spacing out.
3. To match your decor - Nobody wants to introduce something into their house that’s going to clash with the furniture, paint job, wallpaper or drapery. Milk crates and a futon just won’t do it for you. You’re a together type of person. You put some thought into what style of sofa you plop down onto your carpet, what artwork you hang on the walls and what type of lights you have in your home. So you want to be sure your custom glass melds with the decor.
4. Because you can - Hey, it’s your pipe so you can and should do whatever the hell you want with it. That means creating a pipe that’s going to provide endless visual pleasure and express your tastes and personality. A pipe you’ll be proud to pass to your buds when you’re researching that Godfather OG. Personalizing your pipe - no matter which route you choose to achieve that personalization - is how you do that. So go to town with it. Have your name etched into the side. Paint the crap out of it. Whatever it takes.

How are Glass Pipes Customized?

There are three different ways to create custom glass…

1. During production - Let's get something out of the way right upfront. Essentially, all glass pipes made in the traditional manner are unique, i.e. custom. That's because, regardless of the skill level of the glassblower, if they are trying to make a dozen pipes of the same style slight variations from pipe to pipe are inevitable. But that's not the kind of customization we’re talking about.

   A true piece of custom glass is the result of the artisan consciously setting out to make a unique object. There are a lot of ways they might do that. As long as the glass is hot the pipe maker can alter the size and shape of the bowl or vary the length and shape of the neck in whatever way they wish.

   In addition, the pipe maker can vaporize a semi-precious or precious metal onto the surface of the glass to produce interesting effects. They can also add bits of clear or colored glass to the surface of the pipe while it’s hot, and they can etch the hot surface to create ridges, depressions, swirls or whatever.

2. After production - Many novelty pipe sellers offer a way to have text or imagery etched onto the surface of your glass pipe before it is shipped to you. Typically, you select the pipe you want from their website, then click a button that says “customize” or something similar. You’re then taken to a customization app where you input the text or imagery you want etched on the pipe, before proceeding to checkout.
3. After reception - Some people take it on themselves to customize their pipe after they receive it. This is actually pretty easy to do. If you are interested, there are numerous tutorials on YouTube that will take you through different ways to paint, modify or otherwise turn your pipe into a one of a kind piece of custom glass that will express your individuality.

The Bottom Line

The widespread legalization of recreational marijuana has allowed the beauty and wonder of the glass pipe to come out into the open where it can be appreciated by everyone. Custom glass pipes are amazing works of art that provide a wealth of aesthetic and practical benefits while at the same time shining a complimentary light on you for your outstanding taste.

Make sure you check out our full line of glass pipes, wood pipes, metal pipes and more. Don't miss Puffr's additional smoking devices and accessories either - with water pipes, e-nails, portable dab devices and much more available online today.