Cheap High Quality American Glass??

[Tstat]

Hey glass fans! So, I have been reading a lot over in the cheap quality bubbler thread and there is a ton of great info. That said, most of it deals with glass from China. It looks like the Chinese are getting better at glass blowing, but so are many new artists in the US!

Now, I have nothing against Chinese glass for cheap, but personally I'd rather spend a little more for nice boro. I have GAS, big time. I have spent a lot on nice glass like Mobius, etc. but I'm starting to realize that you can get nice shit that rivals the big guys for a fraction of the cost. There seems to be a shift toward blowers creating nice knock-offs that are well made and durable.

I bought this for $100, for example:

Nice, right? And to top it off, no horrible Sov label! I believe these are the same ones being sold at Brothers With Glass:

http://www.brotherswithglass.com/American_Glass_Water_Pipes_s/412.htm

I also picked this up at BWG during the sale:

It's made really well and was only $85. It's smaller than I thought it would be, but hits nice and is a great pair for the Solo:

It's got a cool curved look the the perc and flawless welds, etc. I'll probably keep it Oh and it's made by Kraze Glass out of New Mexico.

So, I hope this thread takes off like the other cheap bubbler thread. I'm hoping we can share great deals and websites selling cheap American made glass.

 

[placetime]

Great thread to start Tstat! I've enjoyed following the cheap bubbler thread too, but have also noticed that it has started to shift to just Chinese glass. Not a bad thing, as you have also stated, but, imho, a thread for just American blowers producing inexpensive quality glass is a great idea! Maybe some new blower-specific threads will spring up out of this one....

 

[SoulCaptivesAreFree]

great thread tsat!

i feel like ssfgglass.com should be mentioned here

of course jhanpixel too, they're now using schott glass and have good quality for fantastic prices, and we have a lot of satisfied colie customers on board here...

i think these are some good starting points (leviathan too if you're patient)

good vibes

 

[placetime]

great thread tsat!

i feel like ssfgglass.com should be mentioned here

of course jhanpixel too, they're now using schott glass and have good quality for fantastic prices, and we have a lot of satisfied colie customers on board here...

i think these are some good starting points (leviathan too if you're patient)

good vibes

I agree that jhanpixel and leviathan have shown the quality their work. But is leviathan what one would consider "cheap"? I know that's subjective, but it seems to me that (imho) leviathan isn't really in the "cheap" camp. Cheaper than Mobius or other big names, sure, but I don't know that I'd include his stuff in the "cheap" category. I'm more on the fence about including jhanpixel (in terms of "cheap"--NOT in terms of quality).

 

[Meghan]

I agree that jhanpixel and leviathan have shown the quality their work. But is leviathan what one would consider "cheap"? I know that's subjective, but it seems to me that (imho) leviathan isn't really in the "cheap" camp. Cheaper than Mobius or other big names, sure, but I don't know that I'd include his stuff in the "cheap" category. I'm more on the fence about including jhanpixel (in terms of "cheap"--NOT in terms of quality).

Leviathan is definitely not "cheap" in the sense that I see similar pieces to his for quite a bit less on a regular basis. Which is a shame, since "cheap" is all I can afford right now and I do like some of his pieces...

 

[Tstat]

I once tried to buy a Lev piece, but I won't get into that! So, cheap is tough to define, I guess. To me, it's less than $200. I'll spend up to $300 if it's something amazing, but not $400. As far as this thread goes, it doesn't matter to me what price range we use.

My next one is going to be American Glass 5 arm tree for $90 (BWG)

If you find a great deal out there, post it here!

 

[stickstones]

in the other thread we defined cheap as less than $100.

I LOVE that bubbler, tstat!

 

[Tstat]

Ok, I'd say $200 then. To me that's pretty affordable. And yea, the sidecar is pretty cool. Small, but nice

 

[max]

I don't think you can put a blanket price point on 'cheap'. For a really elaborate and/or large piece, $300 might be cheap.

 

[placetime]

I don't think you can put a blanket price point on 'cheap'. For a really elaborate and/or large piece, $300 might be cheap.

imho, an "elaborate and/or large piece" is unlikely to be a "cheap" piece (maybe I'd call something like that "relatively cheap"? ). I think of "cheap" as meaning not much money (subjective itself, of course, but I think we can assume most of the people on a "cheap" thread aren't what most would consider wealthy...). In this case, imo, that means around $100 or less (preferably less ). I had tried to push the $50 limit for a "cheap" piece in the other thread and found it to be a pretty high bar to clear for quality American-blown glass.

 

[max]

To me, it's the comparison that makes it cheap. 'Cheap' probably isn't the best adjective, but if you can get a fancy piece of glass, design wise, for 20% of the price of what it's copied from, that's cheap. Maybe 'highly discounted' or 'bargain priced' is a better description.

 

[Tstat]

Well, I only used "cheap" to copy whats going on in that other thread. Max, please change the title if you feel a better description is needed

 

[stickstones]

this is the same conversation we had in the other thread...see that one for a spoiler as to how this one is going to end.

 

[max]

Well, I only used "cheap" to copy whats going on in that other thread. Max, please change the title if you feel a better description is needed

No, it's no big deal. Just putting in .

 

[Tstat]

Well, yea. I mean I would love it if this thread became a place to share good quality American glass at a good price point. I think I'm thinking of it differently that lets say M&M Tech or even EFS. Those, to me, are like mid-tier glass. What sparked my interest was the knock-off Sov tubes made with quality german glass at a huge savings over a labeled Sovereignty. Or blowers who copy Mobius percs, etc. I'm done paying exuberant prices for a label!

 

[max]

I'm done paying exuberant prices for a label!

The markup on brand names is BIG. The only reason I bought a Mobius Ion was that KultureVA had a big sale a couple of years ago, and I got it for 25% off- $217. Even then buyer's regret made me sit on it, unused, for quite some time, while I fought with myself over using it or selling it as brand new. I've enjoyed it immensely and it's like a flawless grade diamond to look at, but I too will likely never pay that much again, especially when I can (and did) get the same form factor for under $30.

 

[Tstat]

OK, so in the interest in keeping this thread moving, I'm going to make a purchase in the coming days. Strictly a scientific endeavor.

Here's what I'm looking at:

American Glass Water Pipe - 18mm 5 Tree Arm Perc $90

American Glass Water Pipe - 18mm UFO Perc $90

American Glass Water Pipe - 18mm Orion Perc $90

So, they used to have more on there, but today they are gone. Not even "sold out" but removed from the page. They had one with an inline and a tree for $130. I think (and from what I have heard) that if you want one at this price and without the label, you should get one now.

I'm just undecided as to the type of perc I want. Any suggestions?

 

[placetime]

in those pics, it looks like the orion perc pipe has the best clearance above/around the joint.

 

[SSVUN~YAH]

I don't understand the water levels in the pictures of the first two? Lol, there is no water after 2nd look! The clearance is nice in the third picture but I can't tell for sure if it is a donut perc or a disc perc similar to the lattice???

 

[LetsAllMeltDownTogether]

You only fill the top chamber on the first two. The bottom is dry.

 

[Tstat]

it looks like the orion perc pipe has the best clearance above/around the joint.

Yea, great point. And since I'll be using this with the EVO the Orion is probably the way to go

Edit: Shit, I didn't realize they didn't take PayPal. All of my toy money is PP, that way the wife doesn't see what I spent (and on what!)

 

[way2]

Swagger Glass has 2 or 3 DI bubs on their site for $100-$120 plus 10% off with the code "EYESMOKE"

There are a few pricier options too....I want the gridded puck to turbine

www.shopswaggerglass.com

 

[Tstat]

Ok, BWG emailed me back and said that they WILL take my PayPal money! I'm going to certainly get the Orion and maybe something else.

 

[canj00digit?]

BWG just updated their American Glass page.
Also they're currently having 15% off sale.

Couple more interesting ones:

18 mm Upline* to Turbine Perc $145

18 mm Upline* to UFO Perc $135

14mm Upline To Recycler Concentrate Rig $153

*Note: The top two tubes say 'upline' in their description but they're actually downline as you can see in the photos. I have the 2nd one, the gridded downline-to-UFO (circ), and it's a VERY smooth hitting little tube.

 

[Tstat]

I ordered the American Glass Orion Perc from BWG. I also just came across this site:
http://www.afrosmoke.com/Water-Pipes_c_11-1-1.html

Edit: and this place:

Spunkysglasspipes.com