Do You Like Symmetric Or Asymmetric Charcoal Arrangement?

[Sonthert]

I noticed some people like to arrange their charcoal asymmetrically, or crowded over to one side of the bowl, usually later on after the bowl's been smoking for awhile. I, and a lot of other people I know, always space it evenly, symmetrically (as close is as humanly possible)...what do you do...have you tried the other way? Do you find that one has advantages over another?

[SafeSearchOff]

i dont do asymettrical, but i dont consider my coals to be very symetrical. with a normal bowl ill move the coals around alot and theyre always pretty far from each other unlessi ts a small bowl.

with a phunnel, i have 3 finger pieces sittign there, doesnt get more symetrical than that

[Scoop]

i started putting 3 jap coals in the middle of the phunnel. it works well for me. it seems that ive been smoking rather evenly when taking the foil off as well.

used to do 3 in the triangle shape, or 4 in the t shape

[arik]

i use 3kings... i put the coal on one side when coal finishes i put a new one on the other side.

[spoolinspoon]

I use stargate fingers on my phunnel.

3 around the circle spread out even.

[Sonthert]

I think the ratio is about 2:1 or 3:1 symmetric over asymmetric...so far...

[Erica]

symmetric...

Just how i have always done it....

I guess I dunno.... Seems liek it would cook the tobacco more even?

I know my buddy mike... does it symmetrically at first..(when the coals are new) and then as the start to die... he puts them all to one side.. hahaha

[Calcartman]

I start symetrically, with 3 or 4 spaced evenly, but when im out of coals (and not lighting more), i pile my coal on one side of the bowl, because with the coal everywhere it just doesn't get thick enough; and i would rather just fry the bowl with as much smoke as possible at the end.

[MatthewLee]

Very similar to Cartman's approach.

I start off spaced evenly and as coals start to wane I shuffle them or add my wind cover, leaving them symmetric.
When the coals become little pebbles, I then pile them up in one spot.

Over center of bowl is bad though right?

[Hookah_Bob3]

Asymmetric. I normally use 2 squares of jap coals (still connected) and place them on one side of the bowl, then move them to the other side when it gets too hot

[Halon2]

Two 33mm 3 kings. One on each side, each hanging over the bowl just a little. Always like this.
Never done asymmetrical.
If the coals aren't big enough to get good smoke then I put on a fresh pair. Works perfect every time.


TYLER

[camelflage]

ice cream is in a strong second.


i just throw coals into a combo bowl and shake it up. more exciting that way.

[sambookamax]

I like to evenly space the coals out, in a triangular pattern a square pattern, or parallel pattern ... I just can't bring myself to setting them up any other way! lol

[stryet]

Very similar to Cartman's approach.

I start off spaced evenly and as coals start to wane I shuffle them or add my wind cover, leaving them symmetric.
When the coals become little pebbles, I then pile them up in one spot.

Over center of bowl is bad though right?

I always do symmetric. When the coals die down and get smaller, I move them over the center to get thicker smoke. Since there's more tobacco in the middle, I've found it prolongs the smoking experience with a single set. That's how I get my bowls to last so long...less coals at a time, escalating heat in the center.

[MatthewLee]

I always do symmetric. When the coals die down and get smaller, I move them over the center to get thicker smoke. Since there's more tobacco in the middle, I've found it prolongs the smoking experience with a single set. That's how I get my bowls to last so long...less coals at a time, escalating heat in the center.

Nice stryet!!! Glad to hear that method works for you too.
Also good to hear that I have'nt been ruining my sessions.
I always see posts about 'coals around the edges', 'keep them on the edges'.
I thought center was off limits and that I might be setting up wrong.

[KillZedKill]

If i'm using a funnel I use 4 jap coals, in the + formation. If im using any other normal bowl, its every coal for himself!

[racemyghost]

If i'm using a funnel I use 4 jap coals, in the + formation. If im using any other normal bowl, its every coal for himself!

x2

[Sonthert]

Who's done both and finds an advantage one way or the other?

[Calcartman]

Who's done both and finds an advantage one way or the other?

The advantage i find to using a-symetrical is, among other things, i can get a lot more smoke from places i know aren't burned yet.
It wont always smoke quite as thick, but it works pretty well and keeps the flavor better than if i rotate coals, but know a certain area is burned to a crisp.