fritted-disc-vs-honeycomb

Fritted Disc vs Honeycomb Percs: Key Differences Explained

Percolators changed glass forever. A good perc doesn’t just send smoke through water; it transforms the draw into something cooler, smoother, and easier to clear. Once people felt that difference, there was no going back, which is why percs dominate today’s best bongs.

The two styles we’re talking about here, fritted discs and honeycombs, share a disc design but handle smoke diffusion very differently. 

fritted disc looks like a porous puck made from fused glass particles. When smoke hits it, the disc spits out thousands of microbubbles that churn water and strip away harshness. 

Honeycombs are flat discs drilled with dozens of precision holes. They do not create as many bubbles as fritted glass, but the airflow feels easier and the cleaning is a whole lot friendlier.

So which belongs in your collection? That is the real question. Plenty of guides out there skate past the trade-offs or toss out buzzwords, but the truth is each style has diehard fans, and each creates headaches if you do not know what you are signing up for.

Thick Ass Glass focuses on solving these functional problems with thick borosilicate glass, reinforced bases, and engineered airflow. Other companies may treat percs as decoration, but our design process makes them perform consistently. 

This article breaks down fritted disc and honeycomb side by side so you can decide which one deserves a place in your rotation.

Disc Percolators: The Backbone of Both Styles

When people talk about fritted discs or honeycombs, they are really talking about two branches of the same family tree. Both belong to the disc perc category. 

The idea is simple: flatten the smoke against a glass surface and force it through openings that create bubbles. That surface might be porous like a fritted disc or precision-drilled like a honeycomb, but the underlying principle does not change.

The disc approach caught on because it delivers a lot of filtration power without taking up much space inside the tube. Unlike bulky tree percs or complicated recyclers, discs sit low, spread the smoke evenly across the chamber, and keep drag relatively controlled. 

You can stack more than one if you want to crank up the diffusion, although there is always a tradeoff in terms of airflow.

What makes disc percs different from downstems or showerheads is how they interact with water. A downstem pulls smoke through slits or holes on its bottom, which can sometimes channel unevenly. 

Discs spread smoke across the full diameter of the chamber, so the bubbles stack in a way that looks clean and feels smooth to inhale.

This is why both fritted discs and honeycombs became staples in modern glass design. They each use the same foundation but take it in different directions. Fritted disc pushes diffusion to the extreme, while honeycomb aims for balance.

The Fritted Disc: Micro-Diffusion on Steroids

The fritted disc has a reputation as one of the most aggressive percolator designs ever put in glass. Smokers debate it because it pushes diffusion further than nearly anything else. Some call it the smoothest way to smoke flower, while others see it as overkill that creates more hassle than payoff. 

That split opinion is exactly why this perc deserves a closer look.

Unique Look That You Can’t Miss

A fritted disc looks cloudy, almost frosted, because it is made from fused glass particles rather than a flat piece drilled with holes. 

The result is a porous puck full of microscopic channels. When smoke passes through, it bursts into thousands of tiny bubbles at once. Instead of streams coming from a few slits, the entire surface erupts evenly. 

The effect is striking in motion, with water churning across the chamber and smoke dispersing in a dense fizz.

What Fritted Discs Do Well?

This perc shines when used with flower. The microbubbles create intense surface contact with water, cooling smoke more thoroughly than most other designs. Hits feel soft on the throat and easier on the lungs even when the bowl is packed heavy. 

Many smokers describe the experience as high-end because the draw feels refined and complete. Simpler percs often feel hollow after you’ve experienced a well-executed fritted disc.

Why Some People Stay Away from Fritted Discs

The same micro-pores that make fritted diffusion impressive also clog quickly. Resin settles into the surface fast, and performance drops if the piece is not cleaned regularly. For many users, daily rinsing or soaking is the reality. 

Oil makes this issue worse. Concentrates can gum up the disc almost immediately, which is why most people reserve fritted setups for flower only. Drag is another sticking point. The airflow feels heavier compared to honeycombs, and clearing the chamber takes more lung power. 

Some enjoy that denser pull, while others find it tiring.

TAG Picks for Fritted Fans



 

The Honeycomb: Everyday Diffusion Done Right

Honeycomb percs became a staple in modern glass because they hit a sweet spot between performance and practicality. They deliver enough diffusion to take the edge off harsh smoke while keeping airflow open, and they don’t punish you with constant maintenance. 

Smokers who want a daily driver that feels smooth without demanding daily scrubbing often gravitate toward honeycombs.

You’ll Know the Honeycomb When You See One

A honeycomb perc is a flat glass disc drilled with dozens of small, precise holes. When you pull, smoke spreads across the disc and rises through each opening, stacking bubbles evenly across the chamber. 

The look is instantly recognizable: a sheet of bubbles rising in unison with very little turbulence. The effect is smoother than a basic downstem but not as overwhelming as a fritted disc, which makes it easier to handle for most sessions.

Best Sides of Honeycomb Percs

Honeycombs are all about balance. They create strong diffusion that noticeably cools smoke but keep drag low enough that the chamber clears with minimal effort. Upkeep is easier compared to fritted discs because the larger openings resist clogging and clean out more quickly with a simple rinse. 

For those who want more punch, honeycombs can be stacked in twos or threes without killing airflow. This stacking potential is one of the reasons the design remains popular years after it first appeared.

There is also a design improvement that my team at Thick Ass Glass discovered. Most brands position the disc too high above the downstem intake, which creates a slight thump or lag in the pull. We solved this by placing the disc closer to the intake and adjusting the splash guard for smoother drainage. 

It might sound small, but anyone who has used both setups can feel the difference right away.

TAG Picks for Honeycomb Lovers

TAG – 16″ Double Honeycomb to Spinning Splash Guard Bong: Two honeycomb discs deliver wide, even bubbling, and the spinning splash guard keeps water where it belongs during faster clears. A reliable choice for people who want daily smoothness with real airflow.



 

TAG – 25″ Double Honeycomb to Worked Double UFO Super Slit Showerhead Bong: A taller build that marries honeycomb diffusion with UFO and showerhead action for bigger cooling capacity. Designed for smokers who like long pulls, steady stacking, and a visual show without giving up clearing speed.

Airflow and Maintenance: Constant Battle with Fritted Discs and Honeycombs

Airflow and upkeep shape how a perc feels long after the first hit. Every smoker talks about smoothness, but what keeps people using a piece daily is whether it still clears fast and whether it stays clean without turning into a chore. 

Fritted discs and honeycombs take two very different paths here, and knowing how each behaves in the long run will save frustration later.

Keeping the Draw Open

Fritted discs load the chamber with thousands of microbubbles, but that performance comes with heavier resistance. The pull feels thicker and clearing the chamber takes more lung power. Some smokers like that denser draw because it feels substantial, while others find it slows down the rhythm of a session. 

Honeycombs, in contrast, breathe much easier. The flat disc with drilled holes gives plenty of diffusion without pinching off airflow, so pulls clear quickly and stacking multiple discs does not choke the tube as much as you might expect. 

Stacking any perc adds drag, but the difference between fritted and honeycomb discs becomes obvious when you try to push them in series. Smart combinations keep airflow comfortable; thoughtless stacking turns even the best perc into a slog.

Keeping Your Percs Alive

Clogging is the complaint that comes up most. Fritted discs demand constant attention because resin seeps into the porous surface after only a few bowls. Honeycombs clog less quickly, but regular rinsing still matters if you want consistent performance. 

Many experienced smokers consider ash catchers mandatory with both styles. They trap debris before it reaches the perc, extending time between deep cleanings. A simple rinse with hot water after every session makes a difference as well. It keeps resin soft and prevents buildup, so later ISO cleanings are faster, cheaper, and less frustrating. 

Over time, these habits are what keep percs firing like new rather than feeling sluggish after a week.

Fritted vs Honeycomb: The Ultimate Showdown

When smokers weigh fritted discs against honeycombs, the debate usually comes down to how much effort you want to put in for how much payoff. Both styles live in the disc perc family, and both have their loyalists. 

Fritted discs push diffusion to the extreme, but they also bring heavier drag and a cleaning schedule that never lets up. Honeycombs don’t reach quite the same level of micro-diffusion, yet they land in a spot that feels more practical for everyday use. To make the differences clear, here is a side-by-side look.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature

Fritted Disc

Honeycomb

Diffusion Level

Ultra-high (microbubbles)

High (macro-bubbles)

Drag

Higher resistance

Low drag

Cleaning Frequency

Daily to every few uses

Weekly or less

Best For

Heavy flower smokers

Everyday users, oil

Flavor Retention

Can mute terps slightly

Retains more flavor

Price Availability

Mid–high

Budget–premium

Declaring the Winner

Honeycomb takes the win here pretty easily. It offers a level of diffusion that satisfies most smokers without demanding constant scrubbing or lung-busting clears. 

The draw feels smoother than a basic downstem but freer than a fritted disc, which keeps sessions moving naturally. Maintenance stays reasonable, and the design handles both flower and oil with consistency. 

Fritted discs will always have their fans among people chasing the softest possible flower hit, but for the widest range of smokers, honeycombs deliver the right balance of performance, airflow, and usability. 

Honeycomb or Fritted Disc, You Get Lots of Bubbles

As a lifelong devotee of smoke science, I can tell you that it takes a lot of practice to learn everything there is about percolators. That’s especially true for the more complex styles like disc percs, as they require perfect condition to deliver their magic.

Unless you are a hardcore fan of filtration, you would probably be better off with a honeycomb design. Well-made honeycomb bongs are easier to pull and require less work to keep pristine, which may not sound like a big deal when you are choosing your model but becomes painfully obvious after a short period of daily use.

To find your perfect percolator bong, go straight to the Thick Ass Glass bong collection and see for yourself what our design team came up with.