Please Help. Need The Help Of Real Shisha/hookah Experts. (long)

[khearts]

Hi there,



I've been smoking Shisha for a good 6-7 years and have tried alot of things while smoking.
A problem I've been having recently is getting that really thick white cloud of smoke.


Its stop happening for over a year now, tried doing all sorts of things. Ice in the glass, separating the tobacco really well (even blending it, so its tiny, which smokes quite well actually).
Ive tested for leaks, water levels, but nothing works has changed it for me.

So about a few months ago, I started buying new stuff for the same hookah I had, I bought an ice chamber, Japanese coals, diffuser (filter for pipe in the water) and only use Al-Fakher (real one, im a seller so I know its real lol)

I put it all together, separated the tobacco real well, let it get air for a few hours, prepared the ice and ice chamber, tightened everything up. lit the coals, put it on, let it wait a bit.

and BAM, I had huge smooth, effortless clouds with full flavour that rippled into the air, absolutely great. Lasted a long time and great. This was with the normal instant light coals and really good foil, specially for Shisha foil.

But again, after that 1 session, I cant get the same thing.

The only things that has changed, is the foil, I'm using this 1 now (http://www.hookahshisha.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=31&idproduct=537) which isn't as good, and cant find the other 1 for now, till I see my friend again. and obviously the coals are always different.


What I've noticed is, I light the coals, Japanese or instant (swift-lite), let them get red hot, put them on the head, it sizzles for a bit, then I notice the bottom of the coal isn't red hot anymore. I lift it up and its crap, it's like black and have to blow it till it gets red again and same thing happens. I do get smoke, and after awhile it gets thicker, but not like it was for all these years, and when it gets thicker, it loses the flavour.

So, is it the foil that takes the heat away from the coal and makes the bottom black or not red hot like I want? (I've tried shiny side up and down with the foil). Or are all these boxes of coal and different types I use suck?

Is there a coal that stays red hot for awhile? It only tends to go black or not so red when I put them on the head and wait for cook the Shisha for awhile.



I've also changed my foil around too, using the normal foil I used from years ago.


Anyway, experts, I need your opinion. Help me out. Edited August 18, 2007 by khearts

[NoDeadBodies]

what i do is submerge the stem pretty damn deep in the water, so its hard to draw, then counter balance that with so many god damn holes, not small either...then you get a lot of airflow to get and keep the coals glowing...try more holes in the foil maybe? be sure to make enough space between the shisha and foil so it doesnt burn fast...hope it helps

[NoDeadBodies]

with quicklites (i use two or three) i get the top of one red then hold the other one over the red top and blow on the bottom of the other one to get it really glowing then do the same to the other...then i draw really slow 10 or so times and its a cloud machine

[The fabulous Ian]

Pretty much any coal is going to cool down like that, just think about what you're doing. You've got room temperature foil and beneath it, room temperature shisha. You're putting on top of this a red hot coal. The foil is going to start absorbing heat and then distributing it to the shisha below. So, the instant you set the coal down, it's cooling down and reaching a balance between the temperature of the foil and temperature of the coal. After it sits, the foil and shisha is warming up, and the coal is too. So, as it's sitting, everythings getting hotter. If you've got a lot of heat evenly distributed you can get the tobacco to cook faster. If you've got that heat spread over the entire bowl, then you can have the entire bowl cooking and producing smoke. Once you've got it all fired you can start taking coals off and adjusting your heat to whatever suits you, but lots of heat to start, an evenly packed bowl, ice water and coals that burn really hot (I'm pretty sure that Japanese burn hotter than quicklights, and naturals burn hotter than Japanese.), along with practiced heat moderation, give me thick smoke everytime without all the extra stuff.

Though, it also could depend on the tobacco you're smoking. If it's thick and juicy it'll produce more smoke than something dry or watery.

[MechAnt]

It is natural for the coal to get a little black where it is in contact with the foil. Whenever I ash the coals (between 5-10 min intervals), I always put the red side down. That way, the cool black side isnt the only side touching the foil. The "special" hookah foil is not really necessary. Any foil you buy is just fine. I personally use Reynolds Heavy Duty and that works great. Edited August 18, 2007 by MechAnt

[blacklabelqlewis]

if you hear a sizzle when you put the coal on the foil it means the foil is touching the shisha, and the bottom of the coal going out is because the juice from the shisha is boiling up and putting it out. as for your smoke problem, thats beyond me cause it seems like everything is fine with your setup.

[Xeft]

Hi there,



I've been smoking Shisha for a good 6-7 years and have tried alot of things while smoking.
A problem I've been having recently is getting that really thick white cloud of smoke.


Its stop happening for over a year now, tried doing all sorts of things. Ice in the glass, separating the tobacco really well (even blending it, so its tiny, which smokes quite well actually).
Ive tested for leaks, water levels, but nothing works has changed it for me.

So about a few months ago, I started buying new stuff for the same hookah I had, I bought an ice chamber, Japanese coals, diffuser (filter for pipe in the water) and only use Al-Fakher (real one, im a seller so I know its real lol)

I put it all together, separated the tobacco real well, let it get air for a few hours, prepared the ice and ice chamber, tightened everything up. lit the coals, put it on, let it wait a bit.

and BAM, I had huge smooth, effortless clouds with full flavour that rippled into the air, absolutely great. Lasted a long time and great. This was with the normal instant light coals and really good foil, specially for Shisha foil.

But again, after that 1 session, I cant get the same thing.

The only things that has changed, is the foil, I'm using this 1 now (http://www.hookahshisha.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=31&idproduct=537) which isn't as good, and cant find the other 1 for now, till I see my friend again. and obviously the coals are always different.


What I've noticed is, I light the coals, Japanese or instant (swift-lite), let them get red hot, put them on the head, it sizzles for a bit, then I notice the bottom of the coal isn't red hot anymore. I lift it up and its crap, it's like black and have to blow it till it gets red again and same thing happens. I do get smoke, and after awhile it gets thicker, but not like it was for all these years, and when it gets thicker, it loses the flavour.

So, is it the foil that takes the heat away from the coal and makes the bottom black or not red hot like I want? (I've tried shiny side up and down with the foil). Or are all these boxes of coal and different types I use suck?

Is there a coal that stays red hot for awhile? It only tends to go black or not so red when I put them on the head and wait for cook the Shisha for awhile.



I've also changed my foil around too, using the normal foil I used from years ago.


Anyway, experts, I need your opinion. Help me out.

Alot of things I could say. For starters. I'd stop messing around and trying to find out whats wrong by buying new upgrades or w/e. Stick to one brand of coals and one method of foil or shisha cover. From what I read I'd say your problem could be how many and how big are the coals. Also how many, how big and where you poke holes in the foil.

The method I found useful (becasue I love thick clouds too) is to makesure the top is flat and level. The foil is smooth and no wrinkles. Then poke several small holes in the middle and then 4 lined wholes at the egde of the bowl...one line per direction...so like North,South,West,East kinda thing. I'd use 3-kings coal brand OR Taru. Either way, quicklights are best for this method. Makesure you get about 3 big pieces of coals to place ontop. I'd put them near the center and try leaving the side holes open. Also, if you have a tin cover then use it. This will conceal the heat more, making it harder to inhale but giving thicker smoke.

[cafesaden]

if you hear a sizzle when you put the coal on the foil it means the foil is touching the shisha, and the bottom of the coal going out is because the juice from the shisha is boiling up and putting it out. as for your smoke problem, thats beyond me cause it seems like everything is fine with your setup.

ummmm. no. the coal will and SHOULD sizzle. means its hot and ready to go. has nothing to do with juices or shisha touching the foil. i put a fat airspace and it always sizzles. the bottom goes out due to lack of oxygen (i think)

what I would reccommend.... take your hookah session "back to the day" set it up like you did when you first started. if your using that diffuser that could be a problem.

STIR up your tobacco in its juices as the glycerin (stuff that makes the smoke uber thick) is there. try a little egyptian head/bowl and back it loosely but a little packed down so its even all around. try 2 rings of toothpick/pin holes. try naturals.

if all this fails then i don't know. I was having issues with my diffuser and these japanese knock-offs are treating me like shit and are nothing compared to my stargate naturals.

[Sonthert]

You might need a new hookah or a better hookah. Smoke varies from time of year to time of year. It would tend towards being thinner in the summer, when its warm, I would think. Several manufacturers of tobacco have cut back the amount of glycerine they've been putting in their tobacco, from what I've noticed, too...that might explain it.