Chill Steel Pipes | Interview
It’s that time of the year where most want to cuddle up in a warm blanket or by a nice cozy fire to avoid the cold. It’s that time of year where you can really enjoy a nice hot cocoa or hot coffee. It’s that time of year where you can fire up a nice bowl and relax some. With all these warm ideas and relaxing bowls there is something I still want and like cold year-round. What is it? Well it’s my bong water. I like nice chilled bong rips no matter what time for the year it is and I’m sure you do too. Oh, and I may have found the latest fireside bong that stays cold and keeps my rips chilled.
Who are you and what do you do? Like job, hobbies, etc….
I am the inventor and CEO of Chill Steel Pipes. I have been in both the retail and design/manufacturing industries for a combined 30 years. For the last 6 years I was working as the Director of Sales & Marketing for the fastest growing and most innovative home goods design and manufacturing company in the world called Core Home. I had the idea and started writing the patents for the Chill when I was working on the creation of the reusable water bottle brand Manna Hydration about 5 years ago. I really only have 3 hobbies and passions. My wife and daughter, creating beautiful and useful products and billiards.
A bong is basically a bong, well until I saw these. The most noticeable difference is that it is made primarily of stainless steel and has a ceramic interior. What is not noticeable is the experience. What’s the biggest noticeable and unnoticeable difference between Chill and a normal bong you’d say?
When I created the Chill, my goal was to have cold hits from an extremely durable device and have a similar smoking and cleaning experience of my favorite glass pieces. It wasn’t until I received the first usable vacuum insulated sample that I found out how unique the device really was. The flavor profile and the rush of supercooled smoke I got from it was definitely not like anything I had ever experienced in my 33 years of consumption. I love getting videos of people’s first experience with it. The looks on their face’s lights me up.
So most people know about the thermos and ice chest named after the Abominable Snowman and how it works. Is Chill similar in design?
Sort of. The device uses two layers of stainless steel with a void between them. The air is sucked out of that void and then the chamber is sealed. The lack of air in between the layers dramatically slows the heat transfer from the outside to the inside or vice versa.
What was the inspiration for these and where are they made?
I was tasked with researching the reusable water bottle market for a brand we were working on at Core Home called Manna Hydration. Manna is sold in all major retailers in North America now. Eventually we launched another brand called Tal Hydration, which you can purchase at Walmart. Even though I ended up in the corporate world, my roots are in cannabis culture. When I was in my teens you could find me at Dead shows or in someone’s garage using their parent’s random parts to build bongs. The way I see it, it was fate, I was meant to create this for my extended cannabis family to enjoy. I traveled such a unique path to creating it that it is the only way I can explain it.
After seeing your set up at Las Vegas Champs I’m not sure if this question is relevant but here we go… How many designs do you currently have and do you take custom orders?
I have about 20 designs either in production or in stock now. I have about 124 designs that have samples that are ready and will come over the next 12 month, but I have hundreds more in my head waiting to get out. Yes, I can take customer requests for sure, for larger quantities I will manufacture them to specification for smaller quantities I will match your design ideas to one of the dozens of artists that are currently using the Chill as a platform for their art. The custom designs that are getting done are truly amazing and I feel nothing but honored to get to be a part of the creative network that is participating.
What’s it like being one of the coolest bongs in the industry now?
The greatest thing about this industry is the “cannabis culture.” There is no other industry that I know of that has this diverse group of people all helping each other and giving each other some love. It has been nothing short of amazing to be a part of it.
What is in the future for Chill? Any cool collaborations or new products we can expect?
Absolutely! We are working with the amazing team over at iSpire to create bundle deals and possibly a new device that combines both technologies. Dabbing with the Chill is awesome. I was never really into concentrates because they would make me cough up a lung. The combo of the iSpire and Chill gets rid of that problem, and I am now an avid consumer of them. We have also partnered with a well-known public figure in the industry and we will be launching a new shape and some new functionality with them spring of 2022. Keep an eye on @gettingchill on IG for the announcement.
How could someone get in touch with you all for more questions and orders?
The fastest is through the “contact us” form on chill.store. We are pretty fast to respond on IG as well.
Ok been ripping the bong… so…. Is there anything I missed or you want to add?
Just want to add that Budsfeed.com & Justin Johnson were instrumental in bringing the Chill to life. If you are a cannabis entrepreneur, I highly recommend that you “Seed” your product or idea there.
Hold on, just packed another fresh bong bowl and gotta rip it.. Ahh, still just as cold as the 1st rip when I started this interview. WOW! Just wow. So much history, experience, knowledge, and passion put into these must have bongs. When chatting with Rich you could see how much care and passion he has for these bongs and the future of them. Some people in life have an idea, others have a dream. The difference between the two is… well what you do with that original thought. Like Rich says, traveling that unique path it’ll lead to success and happiness.
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Shane Stanford is a dank dad living in New Mexico. Read more of his articles and follow him on Instagram @NMBeardedMan