I was interested in the inverted "flip" shisha bowl that I saw on several hookah boards and from video reviews on you tube.
Just by looking at the picture, then by watching the many reviews online, I noted several design issues with what I thought was basically a neat idea.
1- The entire unit was made of metal, allowing heat from the coals to be transmitted to the inhaled smoke.
2- The unit seemed a little flimsy.
3- You could not use your favorite bowls.
Using copper tubing, I build a prototype unit to solve these issues, and improve on the original idea:
1- Fully symmetrical design
2- Insulated coal basket, heat is not drawn away metal sink.
3- Allow the use of any regular bowl
I did learn this (inverted) approach does seem to offer a few advantages over the standard coals-on-top configuration:
- The heat is very adjustable, almost instantly, by raising or lowering the coal basket.
- The coals require almost zero fiddling with, once they are burning.
- The smoke is consistent, for a longer time, with almost no manual adjustment.
- The draw is much easier.
- There was almost zero ash spillage onto the tray, in fact the whole operation was much cleaner.
- My bowl lasted much longer.
The shisha is packed into a standard glass bowl, which is then inverted and pushed onto the down-pointing tube. The coals are in a brass basket, attached to a wooden peg, which is hinged to one copper upright by a leather strap. The coal basket can swing out for adding new coals, with out changing the distance between the coals and tobacco. It also adjusts in height, to regulate heat.
Total parts costs under $20, but there was a lot of soldering, and I spent another $35 in tools.
The issue I did find, is that it's very top-heavy, so I think a complete Hookah design is called for.
I think the pictures are self-explanatory. Comments on prototype #1 are welcome.