keep the screen, in a metal bowl the hoels are too big and yuo need a screen. ive had one of thsoe v bowls on an 18" bong like yours. if i ground it up ncei and fine anc packed it, i coudl get 3 big chabers off it. and that gets me stoned. but for when theres more peole around, i bught a bowl that fits a .5-.7 for sessions with multiple people . Lesson? buy a bigger bowl, its only 2$