Phunnel Bowl Problems

[Hookah Pig]

I just got in a Tangiers medium Phunnel Bowl (w/ glass mod) the other day. I've set it up a few times, and each time I get no smoke. Every now and then, a little bit of a puff will come out, but that's it.

I've checked the hookah up and down for leaks, and I haven't found any. I've tried changing the holes I poke in the foil: i've tried holes just under the coals, two concentric circles of holes, lots of holes everywhere. Nothing works. I've also tried packing different amounts of tobacco and packing it looser and tighter. Still no effect.

There's definitely air flowing around the coals and through the bowl, but the tobacco never even heats up. The glass mod does, as does the bowl, but not the tobacco.

Here's what I'm using:

Hookah: Egyptian two-hose with rotating vase (I cant remember the name and I cant find it online anywhere anymore)
Coals: Easy-Lite silver coals
Foil: Standard "Best Choice" from a grocery store
Tobacco: Hookah-Hookah various flavors

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Dekon]

Well i don't think this has to do heat management, just lighting your coals incorrectly. I've never owned Q.L silver coals, but put two on the phunnel instead of one, also let the coals get a coat of ash before putting them on the foil/glass screen.. Using the phunnel bowl is a lot bigger so (from my point of view) you need more heat. If two coals makes it too hot break one into quarters (1/4's). That's pretty much all i can think about for now. Edited November 3, 2007 by Dekon

[Hookah Pig]

Well i don't think this has to do heat management, just lighting your coals incorrectly. I've never owned Q.L silver coals, but put two on the phunnel instead of one, also let the coals get a coat of ash before putting them on the foil/glass screen.. Using the phunnel bowl is a lot bigger so (from my point of view) you need more heat. If two coals makes it too hot break one into quarters (1/4's). That's pretty much all i can think about for now.

I've actually tried using up to three coals, moved around the bowl pretty evenly.

[boulderkid303]

Well ur shisha might be the first place to start, considering ur using hookah-hookah.

[Hookah Pig]

Hookah-Hookah hasn't given me any problems before.

[Dekon]

Well i don't think this has to do heat management, just lighting your coals incorrectly. I've never owned Q.L silver coals, but put two on the phunnel instead of one, also let the coals get a coat of ash before putting them on the foil/glass screen.. Using the phunnel bowl is a lot bigger so (from my point of view) you need more heat. If two coals makes it too hot break one into quarters (1/4's). That's pretty much all i can think about for now.

I've actually tried using up to three coals, moved around the bowl pretty evenly.

Well even if you use 5 coals it won't matter unless they're lit up correctly. Try putting them on the stove for about a minute on the highest setting.

[Hookah Pig]

I've done that too. The coals are definitely lit up red hot. They're extremely hot when i put my hand over them.

[Dekon]

Are you transferring them from stove or what ever to a plate to transport them? If not take pictures when you set it up.

[waterboi]

yea maybe a pic of the set up wil help. Maybe pics of bowl before you put fowl over it and pic of how you have coals layed out.

[Hookah Pig]

Here are some pics


First, my gear:



The empty bowl w/ mod:



Filled bowl:



Foiled:



And w/ coals (not lit):



Like I said, I get no smoke.

Thanks for the help.

NOTE: the coals aren't lit. Normally, I light them until they're thoroughly red. Also, I've tried all different types of hole configurations, not just the one pictured. I've tried multiple circles, random places, big holes, small holes, etc... Lots of configs. Edited November 5, 2007 by Hookah Pig

[poopooshaboo]

Use at least twice as many holes in the foil as you are currently using, to start. And get that silver shit off of your coals. Edited November 5, 2007 by poopooshaboo

[ZenSilk]

You packed down the shisha too much.
You need another row of holes.

Also.... if the Mod and Bowl are hot, the shisha HAS to be hot.

And..... Some Hookah Hookah doesnt have enough juice in it. If it's not juicy enought there won't be even near the normal amount of smoke. Check to see how dry it is compared to AW or AF.

[RayVer]

you not heating your coals enough. You can still see the silver on there. It should just be a red glow and only show the black portion of the coal (no silver coating at all). Later in the week I'm putting up a guide on how to properly light coals on the stove

Also use two rows of holes..one near the outer rim and one near the inner rim. In that pic you have too few holes.

[TheAlmightyClaw]

lol, guys he said that the COALS ARE NOT LIT, and he has tried different hole arrangments. I think hookah hookah might not be juicey enough.

EDIT: I would throw on an extra (4 total) coals to see if that helps next time. It can take a lot of heat to use anything other than tangiers in there. Edited November 5, 2007 by TheAlmightyClaw

[waterboi]

Like others have said, another row of holes. I do two rows of holes all the way around. Also you may want to try 4 coals to start with then remove one when you get it going and also looks like the shisha may be packed a little to tight.

[Zildjian]

i dunno. I use sb and af in mine, all i use is a split 40mm in an L shape now. looks good except the holes. the more holes the more air gets pulled through!

[MechAnt]

WAAAAY more holes and pack a little bit less shisha where the flanges are.

[kitefanatic]

I agree with AlmightyClaw. Use a 4th piece of Jap coal and wait a bit before taking your first hit. Then when your smoke is coming through, remove the 4th piece and set it aside to add back later. I use a similar setup (different tobacco), and it does take some time for everything to heat up.

[garykainz]

make sure you get all the silver shit off the coal before it goes on your bowl, that adds a ton of shit flavor.

my buddy doesn't get the sliver off and makes fun of me when i take the coals off the bowl, go out side, and blow them off, but i can't stand the flavor they add

[thegreengoblin707]

my understanding is that the sole purpose of holes on the foil are to (1) get enough oxygen to shisha to avoid CO formation (2) allow you to pull! holes have little bearing on heat management as heat can conduct through foil. therefore, if he isn't getting smoke - the problem is not lack of holes. am i mistaken? my guess (as i'm not as experienced or knowledgeable as many here) is that your shisha may be a little too dry. so this begs the question...what is the best soaking agent to use that is safe and will increase smoke and make the shisha last longer? Edited November 5, 2007 by thegreengoblin707

[chinamon]

therefore, if he isn't getting smoke - the problem is not lack of holes. am i mistaken?

im afraid you are mistaken.
when i first got my funnel i would only make one row of holes along the outside of the bowl. i didnt get much smoke with this pattern.
then i made two rows of holes along the outside of the bowl and got more smoke.
now i poke random holes everywhere and i get smoke like crazy.

[thegreengoblin707]

lol, thank you. let's see what he says with more holes.

[ZenSilk]

I'm telling you guys, the shisha is packed too tightly. Look at that shit in there. It needs to be loose.

His coal is fine, 2 rows of holes will work perfectly fine. Just loosen up the shisha.

[thegreengoblin707]

I'm telling you guys, the shisha is packed too tightly. Look at that shit in there. It needs to be loose.

His coal is fine, 2 rows of holes will work perfectly fine. Just loosen up the shisha.

that could be a possibility - i'll keep it in mind when my funnel arrives later this week. i'll sprinkle the shisha into the funnel.

[kitefanatic]

I'm telling you guys, the shisha is packed too tightly. Look at that shit in there. It needs to be loose.

You've got a point there. I get the best smoke when I just sprinkle the shisha in.