Fumed glass pieces such as pipes, bowls, rigs and bongs are one of the most beautiful and popular glass implements because of their magical color changing quality. It all began as a mistake from legendary artistic glassblower, Bob Snodgrass, a veteran in the industry. He accidentally vaporized a bit of silver while working and a new style of glass art was shaped. This very technique has given way to some unique inspiring work in glass blowing. The color changing bongs and rigs can even be used as decorative pieces.

Various glass artists began trying fuming processes with different metals in an effort to change the characteristics of glass pipes. To form a fumed glass, a metal alloy is vaporized to create a fume. While blowing, the glass is rotated in until a visible layer of the vaporized metal is on the surface of the pipe. Post this, another layer of glass is added to enclose the metal between the two layers.

Precious metals like silver, gold and platinum are heated to release fumes that give clear glass a semi opaque layer. Silver fuming creates hues ranging from blue to purple. Gold fumes produce more pink and orange patterns. But when light is reflected upon the metals the entire rainbow is possible depending on the amount of fuming and the flaming material used in the pipe. Highly skilled glassblower artist can pull mind blowing variety of shades and hues of colors by fuming metal into the glass.

These days the popularity of fumed glass has hyped such that it looks like it is quite tough to buy an artistic pipe that is not color changing. Fuming delivers transmitting colors and reflecting colors. Transmitting colors are the colors that you see when light passes through the fuming before reaching your eye. Reflecting colors are the colors seen when light only reflects off of the fume and none passes through. This type of glass pieces appears to change colors because of the atomized metal inside it. As you use the pipe, over the time resin builds up behind the thin layer creating a dark background. This, in contrast, makes the colors much more visible. The reflected light when exist through glass, it passes through the fumed layer. Different metals produce different light prisms giving the appearance of a change of color.

As mentioned, fumed glasses actually do not change color. It becomes obvious after the first time you clean your piece. Once the pipe is cleaned, you can start your color changing trip all over again. No matter whether you are shopping for a color changing glass pipe or a crystal clear bong, KC Smokz has what you are looking for.