Cannabis glass art is not only functional, it’s often beautiful. Artists evolve and learn, creating new decorative flourishes or practical components referred to as “tech”. New tech may help filter water, cool smoke, or something entirely new. Thick Ass Glass recently released a new product that could take an artisanal innovation into the mainstream.
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The latest piece from Thick Ass Glass (TAG) stands almost nine inches tall with a bent neck and a bellow flare out at the base. A closer look at the chamber shows that the downstem and percolator are fused to the inside wall. Most dab rigs will feature a separate downstem that looks like a straw inside of the chamber. The industrial glass skill that creates this fused appearance is called a sculpturally applied linear tube (SALT), also referred to as gill sealed.
TAG co-founder Brian explained more about the brand’s gill seal application with GreenState.
“Gill seals are essentially half cut tubes, welded to the side of the chamber wall,” Brian said. “We took it a step further and used this gill seal-style in the bottom of the chamber for a diffuser. This style has opened up more space on shorter rigs since we can get the diffuser slits lower than ever before.”
The TAG application moves water throughout the entire chamber more efficiently than some other percolators. The piece makes a version of SALT available at an all-time low price point, but they were inspired by U.S. glass artists like aptly named Salt Glass.
What is a SALT perc, and why do we care?
Salt Glass, known for decorating art with eyes akin to the Hocus Pocus book, is one of the first to exhibit the SALT perc. He calls them rip curls and has been credited with teaching it to fellow artists. The artist even live-streamed his method with the Corning Museum of Glass in 2017.
His intricate designs indicate the use of this inventive downstem if you look closely. Salt adds color and design flourishes that show where it has been structurally fused into the piece.
Since Salt, others have made the tech their own. Rycrafted glass, Chubby Glass, Dabberjaws, and many more use the gill seal tech in recyclers, or “gill-cyclers”. JeffGlassArt utilizes gill seals in his Worm Tech which features downstems that look like colorful worms.
Avant-Garde uses a similar percolator technique though it does not appear to use the SALT method. Their glass is often laden with sacred geometry and designs that fuel the imagination. On the inside, some of the pieces include a sealed percolator that fully runs along the wall of the chamber which appears to create a similar filtration effect to the TAG piece.
TAG gill seal glass vs. similar dab rigs
Gill-sealed glass existed long before TAG released its latest dab rig, but this is the first time many have seen the method utilized on an affordable piece. Salt and the other artists make pieces that are considered heady. A rig comparably sized to the TAG glass would cost at least one thousand dollars. Meanwhile, the TAG piece runs $150. This still isn’t cheap, but it is 95 percent off of the least expensive Salt rigs.
The price difference comes down to the artisanal value. Until now, most of these percolators were made solely by glass artists on heady pieces with intricate designs. This is likely the first imported from China. However, unlike some companies importing wholesale glass, TAG pieces have grown a reputation for being durable. It may be due to their hands-on design and manufacturing approach. TAG designs products in-house before seeking out skilled Chinese glass blowers who bring them to life.
Affordability creates accessibility, but it is important to credit deserving artists. Salt and other artists have paved the way for manufacturing to reach this point, and deserve their flowers. And while getting one still may take some saving, this percolator and downstem combo has likely hit its lowest-ever price point.
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Those interested should note that these may be best used for dabbing rather than flower. Doobie snacks sneaking into the downstem are more apt to get clogged in these holes, but wax can be easily cleaned away in most cases.
There will always be a place for artisan-made glass art, but some people aren’t making the big bucks. The amount someone earns shouldn’t stop them from enjoying exceptional filtration. Now, it doesn’t have to–as much.
