Ice Chamber? Is It More For Show Or Does It Really Work.

[jcep]

I've been trying to figure out what hookah to get for my girlfriend's birthday and I can't seem to settle on a particular one. There are so many options it's amazing.

In any case I was wondering if I should get one with an ice chamber or not. I have no experience smoking with one that has an ice chamber (unless I wasn't aware of it, or if the person didn't put any ice in it) but someone told me that hookah's that didn't have an ice chamber weren't meant for smoking. That even if you didn't use the ice chamber, just the fact that it had it meant it was designed for smoking, and not for any illegal smoking or just for adornment (none of which I am interested in) I told the person that eventhough I don't know much about hookah's I was pretty sure she was wrong but I thought I would ask you guys just to have someone to validate my opinion which I am pretty sure is right.

Also if you guys dont mind these are some of the ones I have it narrowed down to. Can you let me know what you guys think?

1) http://www (dot) hookah-shisha.com/store/pc/configurePrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=103

2) http://www (dot) thehookah.com/store/product.php?productid=16243&cat=274&page=1

3) http://www (dot) southsmoke.com/pd_the_frost.cfm

4) http://www (dot) hookah-shisha.com/store/pc/configurePrd.asp?idcategory=15&idproduct=157

5)http://www (dot) thesocalhookah.com/bohemian/swirl/swirl.htm

6)http://www (dot) socialsmokehookah.com/item--Oasis-Large-Single-Hose-Ice-Bowl-Hookah--SS17L


http://www.hookahculture.com/buy_hookah.html

[ydnaHnairB]

there are lots of good hookahs that don't have ice chambers, and you can always add ice into the base.

just because it doesn't have an ice chamber doesn't mean it's not meant for smoking

[Shifty]

I have a 19" simple hookah with a mod I can add to the top. I find that if you don't put ice in the base, it does a good job of chilling the smoke, but with the ice in the base, there is "almost" no differance. Quite possible because I am seeing the mod and the ice below, I am thinking it is going to be twice as cold.. Therefore, it is... Or at least my brain makes it so. Is it needed? Not really, does it work? I'd like to think so.

S

[hbomb]

I don't have an ice chamber on any of my hookahs, but my friend does. There isn't a huge difference if there is ice in the base, but I'd say there is still a difference. What I like to do is stick my base (w/ ice), stem, and hose in the freezer for 15 minutes while I prepare the coals and bowl. When I start it off, the smoke is super cold and warms up a little over 10 minutes, then stays at a cool temperature.

[disturbedguru]

The only advantage that a ice chamber as compared to putting just ice in the base is with a ice chamber you can add salt to the ice which lowers the temperature the ice melts at which cools the smoke more effieciently...but i always request that cold water and some cubes be put in the base as well....Its a preference like anything else in hookah; some like cobra hoses others mya's and alot of people like phunnels while some still like clay or ceramic and then the foil vs. screens....its just a preference, test one out and see what you like.

[cemab4y]

I bought some ice trays at a novelty shop, that freeze the ice into spheres about 3/4 inch in diameter. These are just right, to fit in the neck of a hookah reservoir. I prefer to load the chamber with ice-balls, and add enough cool water to get good "bubble action". When you draw on the hookah, the bubbles make the ice "dance" and "clatter" unlike ice cubes. This enhances the visual experience, and makes for a really cool smoke.

You don't "smoke" a hookah, you EXPERIENCE a hookah!

[Echo_419]

I would think crushed ice or maybe even get a sluchie machine and make snow and put that in the base. I happen to have one that I got from a friend because They happened to get a new one and I was always using it.

[coolguyjimbo]

excellent idea of getting a hookah as a gift i got one for my girlfriend and my best friend, i havent tried a ice chamber but i know from expience that if you leave the base with water in it in the freezer before using it, leave it for about 15 to 20 mins it works just as well and after that add ice to the water and it keeps that ice chill for longer.
i say get her a pretty one like i got my girl a marble spine but there these new ones that glow in the dark on the spine and when the lights are out it looks like the rings are flooting and damn its sick, hella trippy

[Zerodynamic]

Ok, I feel that is should disperse a lot of these myths.

1. Salt doesn't slow down the process of the ice melting. Actually, the salt absorbs water which in turn speeds up the melting process. Why do you think they salt roads at winter time? To keep them icy? I think not.

2. The ice chamber is useless. Say for example, you have an ice chamber, and ice in the base. Now, the smoke goes through the ice, gets filtered through the base. The problem with this is if the water is already cold (its logical to assume if you have an ice chamber you are putting ice in your base) there is no point in running it through an ice chamber, it will be just as cold. We are talking smoke, not solid matter, so then temperature will change when the smoke hits the water, rather than get it cold when its passing through ice, and keep it at the same temp when its going through the base.

3. Ice chambers are bad. Pretty much, you have to have the smoke travel more of a distance than without one, which means the draw will be harder. Also, the risk of losing an air tight seal is greater, the more grommets/connections you have, the more there are that can break the seal.

4. Ice in base is good. Now that I have told you why ice chambers are bad, this is why ice in the base is good. You suck on your hose, and smoke goes down the stem into the base, rattles the ice, and up to your mouth. Now, why is it rattling? Because the smoke is in contact with the ice. The ice acts as a diffuser! Smoke can't go through a solid chunk of ice, so it gets broken down by the ice, which means the smoke gets more contact with the water than with no ice in the base. Also, if you had just an ice chamber and no ice in base, all the smoke would cool down in the chamber, but heat back up when it was filtered through the water.



In a nutshell, ditch the ice chamber, stick with ice in base.

[ASUSEAN1]

Ok, I feel that is should disperse a lot of these myths.

1. Salt doesn't slow down the process of the ice melting. Actually, the salt absorbs water which in turn speeds up the melting process. Why do you think they salt roads at winter time? To keep them icy? I think not.

the purpose of road salt is to lower the freezing point of ice. it doesnt absorb water. As salt is spread over the roadway, it forms a brine (moisture and salt) as the snow and ice melt. The snow and ice that remain float on the brine, breaking the bond with the roadway. The brine’s freeze point is lower than zero and breaks up the bond formed between the road and the snow. This is why road salt doesnt work when it is too cold out becuase it doesnt break the bond

[Echo_419]

Holy crap I totally understood you Zero, I have to Try That #4, Sean I never knew about road salt, I guess you do learn something new everyday

[The King]

Ok, I feel that is should disperse a lot of these myths.

1. Salt doesn't slow down the process of the ice melting. Actually, the salt absorbs water which in turn speeds up the melting process. Why do you think they salt roads at winter time? To keep them icy? I think not.

the purpose of road salt is to lower the freezing point of ice. it doesnt absorb water. As salt is spread over the roadway, it forms a brine (moisture and salt) as the snow and ice melt. The snow and ice that remain float on the brine, breaking the bond with the roadway. The brine's freeze point is lower than zero and breaks up the bond formed between the road and the snow. This is why road salt doesnt work when it is too cold out becuase it doesnt break the bond

+1

[ShishaFred]

Hmm i'm pretty sure the chemical reaction of salt dissolving in water actually takes up some energy witch cools the liquid. Just take a sip out of a glass of water , then put some salt in it , I think it will be cooler.

Ang good description on the salt road Sean

[The King]

Hmm i'm pretty sure the chemical reaction of salt dissolving in water actually takes up some energy witch cools the liquid. Just take a sip out of a glass of water , then put some salt in it , I think it will be cooler.

Ang good description on the salt road Sean

No what it does is lower the freezing point, which allows it to just get colder than normal, so it will stay colder while it melts too

[timmediahOU]

That is why they use rock salt when making homemade icecream, sorry zero but i think it is a chemistry thing like ASUsean said.

[hmpitags2006]

It isn't chemistry, but physics and oceanography. When salt is dissolved in water it is denser than freshwater. That is why you can float freshwater on top of seawater. Due to the physical properties of H20 and the amount of salt in the water you can lower the freezing point 4 degrees celcius.

[Zerodynamic]

haha, ok I stand corrected on number 1. I suck ass at chemistry.

but #2,3,4 are still correct in my opinion.

....Wait a second! Couldn't we add salt to our bases to make them stay colder, longer?

[Allia22]

Would that crack it?

[ASUSEAN1]

i cant imagine salt water making the smoke taste good, my friend keeps asking if we can try adding salt to the water but i dont think im gonna let it happen

[mcknight]

Ok, I feel that is should disperse a lot of these myths.

1. Salt doesn't slow down the process of the ice melting. Actually, the salt absorbs water which in turn speeds up the melting process. Why do you think they salt roads at winter time? To keep them icy? I think not.

2. The ice chamber is useless. Say for example, you have an ice chamber, and ice in the base. Now, the smoke goes through the ice, gets filtered through the base. The problem with this is if the water is already cold (its logical to assume if you have an ice chamber you are putting ice in your base) there is no point in running it through an ice chamber, it will be just as cold. We are talking smoke, not solid matter, so then temperature will change when the smoke hits the water, rather than get it cold when its passing through ice, and keep it at the same temp when its going through the base.

3. Ice chambers are bad. Pretty much, you have to have the smoke travel more of a distance than without one, which means the draw will be harder. Also, the risk of losing an air tight seal is greater, the more grommets/connections you have, the more there are that can break the seal.

4. Ice in base is good. Now that I have told you why ice chambers are bad, this is why ice in the base is good. You suck on your hose, and smoke goes down the stem into the base, rattles the ice, and up to your mouth. Now, why is it rattling? Because the smoke is in contact with the ice. The ice acts as a diffuser! Smoke can't go through a solid chunk of ice, so it gets broken down by the ice, which means the smoke gets more contact with the water than with no ice in the base. Also, if you had just an ice chamber and no ice in base, all the smoke would cool down in the chamber, but heat back up when it was filtered through the water.



In a nutshell, ditch the ice chamber, stick with ice in base.

To # 3, Don't you want the smoke to travel a long distance? Isn't that what makes a hookah a hookah? Isn't that why you buy a big one as opposed to a smaller one, to get a smoother smoke? My ice chamber came on my hookah, I can't take it off and I always throw ice in it. It seems to me the cooler you can make the smoke, the better. If you can cool the smoke before it gets to the water woudln't the ice water cool it down even more? When you put your finger in a flame for a split second it's not that hot, but when you leave ur finger in the flame it burns ur finger. Can't the same logic be applied with ice chambers? If you run the smoke through two cooling sources as opposed to one wouldn't it be cooler?

I honestly coulnd't tell you how much of a difference the ice chamber makes. In order to be able to tell a difference I think I would have to set up two of the exact same hookahs packed the exact same way except for having an ice chamber and smoke the simultaneously. Is anyone capable of doing this? I think the ice chamber makes for at least a neat novelty. The ice chills more of the hookah which is a plus in my book.

[mcknight]

Ok, I feel that is should disperse a lot of these myths.

1. Salt doesn't slow down the process of the ice melting. Actually, the salt absorbs water which in turn speeds up the melting process. Why do you think they salt roads at winter time? To keep them icy? I think not.

2. The ice chamber is useless. Say for example, you have an ice chamber, and ice in the base. Now, the smoke goes through the ice, gets filtered through the base. The problem with this is if the water is already cold (its logical to assume if you have an ice chamber you are putting ice in your base) there is no point in running it through an ice chamber, it will be just as cold. We are talking smoke, not solid matter, so then temperature will change when the smoke hits the water, rather than get it cold when its passing through ice, and keep it at the same temp when its going through the base.

3. Ice chambers are bad. Pretty much, you have to have the smoke travel more of a distance than without one, which means the draw will be harder. Also, the risk of losing an air tight seal is greater, the more grommets/connections you have, the more there are that can break the seal.

4. Ice in base is good. Now that I have told you why ice chambers are bad, this is why ice in the base is good. You suck on your hose, and smoke goes down the stem into the base, rattles the ice, and up to your mouth. Now, why is it rattling? Because the smoke is in contact with the ice. The ice acts as a diffuser! Smoke can't go through a solid chunk of ice, so it gets broken down by the ice, which means the smoke gets more contact with the water than with no ice in the base. Also, if you had just an ice chamber and no ice in base, all the smoke would cool down in the chamber, but heat back up when it was filtered through the water.



In a nutshell, ditch the ice chamber, stick with ice in base.

To # 3, Don't you want the smoke to travel a long distance? Isn't that what makes a hookah a hookah? Isn't that why you buy a big one as opposed to a smaller one, to get a smoother smoke? My ice chamber came on my hookah, I can't take it off and I always throw ice in it. It seems to me the cooler you can make the smoke, the better. If you can cool the smoke before it gets to the water woudln't the ice water cool it down even more? When you put your finger in a flame for a split second it's not that hot, but when you leave ur finger in the flame it burns ur finger. Can't the same logic be applied with ice chambers? If you run the smoke through two cooling sources as opposed to one wouldn't it be cooler?

I honestly coulnd't tell you how much of a difference the ice chamber makes. In order to be able to tell a difference I think I would have to set up two of the exact same hookahs packed the exact same way except for having an ice chamber and smoke the simultaneously. Is anyone capable of doing this? I think the ice chamber makes for at least a neat novelty. The ice chills more of the hookah which is a plus in my book.

Could someone critique what I just said?

[monkey]

Could someone critique what I just said?

sure thing. The problem with what you said is that you've put too much thought into it. I find this is the same problem with audiophiles, they spend so much time worry about their setup that they never actually learn how to listen or enjoy what thier listening to. I say be happy your getting the chance to taste the fruits of modern day science and engineering, because as of a hundred years ago (dont quote me on that), you would have to travel to the middle east to get yourself a hookah and a brick of granpapy akmed's questionable date shisha.

edit: you want to know the difference an ice chamber or ice makes? try smoking the hookah with no gimmicks and nothing in the bowl. You'll find that water is more of a sound effect than a filter.

you know, cooling/filtering effects aside, im wondering what adding dry ice would do for the smoke and the buzz. All that co2 has to do something. Edited April 17, 2007 by monkey

[ASUSEAN1]

Ok, I feel that is should disperse a lot of these myths.

1. Salt doesn't slow down the process of the ice melting. Actually, the salt absorbs water which in turn speeds up the melting process. Why do you think they salt roads at winter time? To keep them icy? I think not.

2. The ice chamber is useless. Say for example, you have an ice chamber, and ice in the base. Now, the smoke goes through the ice, gets filtered through the base. The problem with this is if the water is already cold (its logical to assume if you have an ice chamber you are putting ice in your base) there is no point in running it through an ice chamber, it will be just as cold. We are talking smoke, not solid matter, so then temperature will change when the smoke hits the water, rather than get it cold when its passing through ice, and keep it at the same temp when its going through the base.

3. Ice chambers are bad. Pretty much, you have to have the smoke travel more of a distance than without one, which means the draw will be harder. Also, the risk of losing an air tight seal is greater, the more grommets/connections you have, the more there are that can break the seal.

4. Ice in base is good. Now that I have told you why ice chambers are bad, this is why ice in the base is good. You suck on your hose, and smoke goes down the stem into the base, rattles the ice, and up to your mouth. Now, why is it rattling? Because the smoke is in contact with the ice. The ice acts as a diffuser! Smoke can't go through a solid chunk of ice, so it gets broken down by the ice, which means the smoke gets more contact with the water than with no ice in the base. Also, if you had just an ice chamber and no ice in base, all the smoke would cool down in the chamber, but heat back up when it was filtered through the water.



In a nutshell, ditch the ice chamber, stick with ice in base.

To # 3, Don't you want the smoke to travel a long distance? Isn't that what makes a hookah a hookah? Isn't that why you buy a big one as opposed to a smaller one, to get a smoother smoke? My ice chamber came on my hookah, I can't take it off and I always throw ice in it. It seems to me the cooler you can make the smoke, the better. If you can cool the smoke before it gets to the water woudln't the ice water cool it down even more? When you put your finger in a flame for a split second it's not that hot, but when you leave ur finger in the flame it burns ur finger. Can't the same logic be applied with ice chambers? If you run the smoke through two cooling sources as opposed to one wouldn't it be cooler?

I honestly coulnd't tell you how much of a difference the ice chamber makes. In order to be able to tell a difference I think I would have to set up two of the exact same hookahs packed the exact same way except for having an ice chamber and smoke the simultaneously. Is anyone capable of doing this? I think the ice chamber makes for at least a neat novelty. The ice chills more of the hookah which is a plus in my book.

Could someone critique what I just said?

it makes sense what you said, ice chambers aren;t bad but the actual affect of an ice chamber on cooling smoke is slim and that is why people say hey are a waste. If i had one on my hookah I would still probably fill it up, any chance to make a session better so why not plus they look cool so why not