Natural Charcoal.

[Johnny_D]

Well chaps.

I am thinking of making the change to natural wood. My past endeavours into this area have been terrible at best.

However would it be ok to just use normal everyday bbq lump charcoal (NOT brickettes). Or is this the same thing we have been banging on about the past few days?

Do I need to ensure i purchase proper hookah 'natural' coals?

JD

[oggie505#2]

you can use natural "lump charcoal", but you have to make sure it is natural with not other additives. I have noticed all the stores sell natural and most impregnate it with a quicklite.

If you get natural hookah charcoal, to me they are all prety much the same. Only thing I do not like about them is they ash a hell of a lot more, and usually come in weird ass sizes, so you have to break them up a lot. I say stick with jap ones u use, I use them too and have found that style to be the best

[lazria]

i'd stay away from "natural wood coals" unless you know where they came from and who made them (or they are listed for hookah or direct food use). Oggie is right that many do pre-soak them in lighter fluid.

Certain types of wood coals for "smoking" may work, but they normally don't come in "characoal" form, but raw wood (like cedar chips).

the biggest issue with lump hookah NW coals is the uneven chunk issue, maybe try some "finger" style coals, see if they are too your liking. I like the Smiley Cocoshell ones, but they still suffer from uneven chunks (but they did better than the Rommans coals I bought)

[Allia22]

How do you prevent the coal pieces from rolling off your bowl?

[newsman]

How do you prevent the coal pieces from rolling off your bowl?

Before I light finger coals, I flatten out one side by using a cheese grater. They sit perfectly on the bowl after that. If I don't, they roll all over the place.

[djbomberto1]

JD My Brother, StarGate Natural Coals, they get my Seal of approval. I use them and i love them.