Wood and bamboo were the primary choice of material for the manufacturing of bongs in yesteryears. Metal and stone were also used for the manufacturing of bongs. However, it has become possible to manufacture bongs in varying shapes with the invention of borosilicate glass. The addition of boron trioxide increases the durability of borosilicate glass. It does not expand as much as soda-lime glass with the application of heat. Therefore, bongs made of borosilicate glass can be safely used for smoking. It is also possible to mold the glass in different shapes since the glass becomes malleable at high temperature. Thus, manufactures created beaker-shaped bongs and bongs with round bases using glass. A glass beaker bong is preferred by many smokers due to its wider base which is capable of offering more support to the bong and can hold more water.

A glass beaker bong is manufactured by especially skilled glassblowers. At the initial stage of manufacturing bongs, a piece of glass is placed upon a hollow pipe after being heated. This pipe is used to blow air into the heated glass in order to turn it into a tube. An artist constantly spins the heated glass alongside blowing the air to ensure uniformity when it is being shaped. A machine may be used to continuously spin the glass at a fixed speed.

Some specialized tools may be used in order to add subtle features to the bong at the initial stage of manufacturing. The chamber of a glass beaker bong is the first part which is manufactured and some special tools are used to create a small hole at the side of the chamber. This hole is used to insert the stem or downstem which bridges the bowl to the chamber. It is used as an opening to release the remaining smoke after removing the stem.

A glassblower starts manufacturing the neck once the chamber has reached the desired size and shape. The chamber of the glass beaker bong is shaped like the base of the beaker. A lathe continues to rotate the cylindrical piece of glass until it is large enough to be used as the neck of a bong. An artist will start to shape the mouthpiece once the neck has been formed.