What's Your Preferred Hookah Material?

[deltr]

Hey guys. I've gone through a few lower-quality hookahs and they had always rusted on me. In hopes of ending this once and for all, I purchased the following hookah last night:



It's all aluminum. Not just that, but anodized aluminum. This crap isn't going to rust anytime soon.

Also, the area that always rusted in my past hookahs is now an open reservoir, which means even if something did develop, I could very easily clean it out:



And what makes it even better is the fact that the top part of the hookah threads into the base. This not only allows for the open-ended design, but also the ability to carry the hookah around without worrying about the base falling off:



All in all I am in love with it. I just need to get rid of the flowers and paint some ninjas fighting robots, or something like that.

What materials do yall prefer? I assume there are those out there that want authentic stuff, so I want to hear from you. Edited June 28, 2007 by deltr

[poopooshaboo]

Where'd you get that?

[deltr]

From a local shisha cafe, which is appropriately named Shisha Cafe (http://www.shishacafesa.com/) Edited June 27, 2007 by deltr

[deltr]

P.S. It was $59.00

[MAKCuMG]

Those look like the hookahs they have on thehookah.com. I recall a MYA rep telling us they are made of crap materials. At least the QT rip off they have on there.

Maybe I'm wrong, but my eyes tell me thats the same audonized aluminum.

[deltr]

Those look like the hookahs they have on thehookah.com. I recall a MYA rep telling us they are made of crap materials. At least the QT rip off they have on there.

Maybe I'm wrong, but my eyes tell me thats the same audonized aluminum.

Well, the Mya rep wants to sell Mya products, doesnt he? That's like a Camel salesman saying Marlboro's suck, and you believing him.

Lucky this is a product that you can physically look at it and tell it's quality. This is definately, definately, quality. Albeit offbrand by the looks of it. The only thing this lacks is the authenticity one gets from a homegrown hookah.

[Sonthert]

I don't know, I think aluminum is crappy. Those things wholesale for like $9. Brass is better, in my opinion on every score. Even though steel rusts, I rather go with that than aluminum.

[MAKCuMG]

Happy to hear that you like your new purchase.

[deltr]

I don't know, I think aluminum is crappy. Those things wholesale for like $9. Brass is better, in my opinion on every score. Even though steel rusts, I rather go with that than aluminum.

Whats so bad about aluminum? like why do you specifically think its crappy? is brass not subject to rust? I am just curious and want to learn more.

[Sonthert]

I don't know, I think aluminum is crappy. Those things wholesale for like $9. Brass is better, in my opinion on every score. Even though steel rusts, I rather go with that than aluminum.

Whats so bad about aluminum? like why do you specifically think its crappy? is brass not subject to rust? I am just curious and want to learn more.

Brass won't oxidize. Brass kills germs and seems to be more sturdy. Aluminum is more susceptible to chemical corrosion...I don't like the way it looks, its a matter of preference, I suppose. Some people like aluminum.

[jamesh2]

it looks nice and purdy, not bur seriously it looks to be in good shape. i hope you enjoy

[TheHookah.com]

We have been selling similar aluminum hookahs for at least 6 months and have not had one complaint about them. Aluminum tends to be more practical, many of the parts come apart making the hookah very easy to clean. Also aluminum tends to not attract much residue as the brass or steel hookahs. The greatest part of all is that it will never ever rust on you. Some people might prefer the shinier, heavier brass hookah with the stainless finish however I think that aluminum is a great alternative. I would live to hear what other people think of the aluminum hookahs.

[TheHookah.com]

One more thing. Since when is aluminum crap material?

[*HOT&SMOKING*]

I like aluminum quite a bit in comparison to steal but even brass is okay.....

-H&S

[hookahlife]

Hey deltr,

We really like Brass core hookahs with a nickel finish. Mainly because we smoke so much that we need something that can really take a beating. Brass hookahs are usually the most durable, actually when we wholesale them to shops and restaurants we demonstrate the durability by slamming a brass stem against the ground and showing how it stands up to a lot of abuse. Stainless steel is also pretty durable, it won’t rust but you can’t treat it like the brass ones. We have used aluminum hookahs and we do carry them online. They smoke well and are cool because they don’t rust and usually come apart easy. Basically they are great for light personal use.

Hope this helps.

[MechAnt]

That hookah and a lot sold on TheHookah.com are made by King. The same company that makes the tobacco. I actually have one (different model than this one) and I'm quite satisfied with the quality of the hookah and it does smoke surprisingly well. Some may not like the look of aluminum because it looks almost glossy like and seems cheap, but they are satisfyingly sturdy and nothing to worry about. I love mine for personal use and I usually take out a more ornate Egyptian for showing off.

I'd recommend an aluminum hookah to anyone for personal use. However there are some great looking ones out there too like "The Ballerina" that some retailers carry. Edited July 5, 2007 by MechAnt

[deltr]

I gotta say that I am still loving this hookah. I'm not too worried about banging it around since afterall, it IS a hookah, not a knife or a shield of a baseball bat. I don't really let any of my hookahs hit stuff. It's just form follows function really, as opposed to the ever-popular brand loyalty route.

[zeppyrkr]

your hookah looks very nice i like the look of it, but really i think you can get any hookah to work well, its all about the setup, i have a cheap ebay one at the moment that smokes really good but i may just think that because my lack of experience well anyways tell us if you end up having any problems with it , thanks

well i did a little research and im not sure if aluminum is the best material, something weird with heat and chemicals , it could be false but you may wanna double check that Edited July 5, 2007 by zeppyrkr

[Sonthert]

One more thing. Since when is aluminum crap material?

Since the process for reducing it made it extremely cheap. Before that, it was considered a precious metal.

If I define crap material as a material that is cheaper than a standard material but with similar or worse performance characteristics, than aluminum is a crap material. Which is cheaper...aluminum, brass or steel? Aluminum. Crap material. Hookahs aren't routinely made with it...if it is cheaper and as good as other metals, we'd make only aluminum hookahs. If a metal is cheaper, but has worse performance characteristics than other metals, it will be used in cheap applications. As is the case here. Lets put it a different way:

If Kias are in every way as good as Mercedes and Honda, everyone would switch to Kias, more or less, same quality, cheaper price. If Kias are cheaper, but inferior in some quality aspects, expect people who don't mind spending more for a car to go with a Honda or a Mercedes. Substitute the phrase "aluminum hookah" for Kia and steel hookah and brass hookah for the other automobile manufacturers. Aluminum must be a lower quality metal, otherwise everybody would be using it.

Do aluminum hookahs smoke well? Probably. Are they cheaper construction and have a simpler design? Definitely. I'm looking at the pictures. I can see how it's designed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_series

Aluminum is not as corrosion resistant as stainless steel or brass. Hookahs are not made out of stainless steel, on the other hand, but even cold steel will be better than aluminum. Aluminum tends to be reactive. Fresh cut aluminum burns almost instantaneously to form a layer of aluminum oxide that protects the aluminum...but it reacts easily and quickly. People using vinegar or lemon juice for cleaning may find out that it is more reactive...the alkaline nature of nicotine and water probably induces hydroxide formation (a whitish scale). Aluminum will burn, like magnesium under certain conditions, an aluminum hookah won't burn, obviously, but it is not as corrosion resistant as brass or steel.

[Allia22]

One more thing. Since when is aluminum crap material?

Since the process for reducing it made it extremely cheap. Before that, it was considered a precious metal.

If I define crap material as a material that is cheaper than a standard material but with similar or worse performance characteristics, than aluminum is a crap material. Which is cheaper...aluminum, brass or steel? Aluminum. Crap material. Hookahs aren't routinely made with it...if it is cheaper and as good as other metals, we'd make only aluminum hookahs. If a metal is cheaper, but has worse performance characteristics than other metals, it will be used in cheap applications. As is the case here. Lets put it a different way:

If Kias are in every way as good as Mercedes and Honda, everyone would switch to Kias, more or less, same quality, cheaper price. If Kias are cheaper, but inferior in some quality aspects, expect people who don't mind spending more for a car to go with a Honda or a Mercedes. Substitute the phrase "aluminum hookah" for Kia and steel hookah and brass hookah for the other automobile manufacturers. Aluminum must be a lower quality metal, otherwise everybody would be using it.

Do aluminum hookahs smoke well? Probably. Are they cheaper construction and have a simpler design? Definitely. I'm looking at the pictures. I can see how it's designed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_series

Aluminum is not as corrosion resistant as stainless steel or brass. Hookahs are not made out of stainless steel, on the other hand, but even cold steel will be better than aluminum. Aluminum tends to be reactive. Fresh cut aluminum burns almost instantaneously to form a layer of aluminum oxide that protects the aluminum...but it reacts easily and quickly. People using vinegar or lemon juice for cleaning may find out that it is more reactive...the alkaline nature of nicotine and water probably induces hydroxide formation (a whitish scale). Aluminum will burn, like magnesium under certain conditions, an aluminum hookah won't burn, obviously, but it is not as corrosion resistant as brass or steel.

+1 to almost everything... But how come car manufacturers are slowly making the leap into aluminum? (Yeah, they said they were going to do it years ago, but it's just starting to now, they suck) It has incredible strength for the weight it has, I will give it that in a heartbeat. We had to put a dent into an aluminum hood and try to take it out. Wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. Also, I was taught that aluminum, when abraded, will form some sort of aluminum oxide coating similar to rust, but unlike rust it prevents further degradation of the metal. Just keep it away from unlike metals or it WILL corrode.

[jaker29902]

Aluminum is a great metal for some things, such as airplanes, cars, etc. However there is a reason that aluminum isnt used in kitchenware, it WILL react, hence why they have developed a special paint for some planes that will change color when the aluminum begins to oxidize (technically nothing but iron actually "rusts"). So aluminum is a great metal because it is, for its cost, strong and of lighter weight than steel. So yeah aluminum isnt bad but just realize it will react so dont use anything acidic when cleaning it

[Kae]

Hey, I drive a Kia, and it cost me a lot more than the Honda I used to drive =P

[azcoyote]

Although I find the colors of anodized aluminum weird on a hookah, the process does protect the underlying metal from corrosion. The process also hardens the surface, making it less like to suffer scratches. It is a complicated industrial process, requiring a high level of chemical purity and exact control of temperature, voltage, and time. Such precision may be beyond the ability of most middle east makers in countries like Egypt or Syria.

[frankenstein_666]

Well, i use aluminum in EVERYTHING that I do and it is truely an amazing material. It will oxidize in time BUT it is extremely easy to polish and get back to it's original luster. I have parts anodized 2wice a week and love the looks although the process is extremely dangerous and with my parts I could not see them being used in a consumption device.

I used to anodize products myself and you use sulfuric acid with electricity to extrude air from the aluminum and it allows the color to be introduced. Then you steam/heat etc. the part to close the pores and trap the color in the material (at least I think that's how it goes...)

it's a great way to color aluminum BUT a dangerous one for consumable products...I think? Aluminum straight up is great though and so are cast parts.

[Hobocans]

Im surpirsed no one has stepped up about the virtues of stainless steel. The best hookah Ive smoked out of, up at the now deceased Casbah Rouge in Manhattan, used these huge Egyptian style stainless steel pipes. They were heavier than hell, but I swear I've never had a better hookah in my life. The place was always packed, so Im sure those pipes had been through many, many bowls.

Nickle or chrome plated steel is another good option, but depending on the steel they use it could get busted pretty easily.

Shisha tobacco is pretty nasty to metals. The glycerine in a lot of tobacco will hold moisture to the pipe if its not cleaned often (same way lotion works). This will rust out all but the most water resistent metals over time.

In the end, my belief, is that if you know that a pipe is stainless and it look good (good welds, etc), than its going to be a good pipe and last a long time. You maybe pay for it up front, but the pipe will last and clean up nice.