hshah Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I have had my hookah for about 1.5 years now, and seem to be spending a lot more on coal and tobacco recently as I am doing it for a few hours every day. I have gradually been perfecting the technique, but I really need to cut costs and the best way of doing that would be to manage my tobacco and coal more effectively.I have a clay bowl which is about 75mm wide and 9mm deep and I use the Swift-Lite coals (usually go through a 10 pack a day). I put one piece of foil on top and make some random holes with a sewing needle. I tend to start of with 1 coal and add another after about 15 minutes.What improvements would you suggest?I am thinking of the following:- cut some coals in half and use halves instead of whole ones- blend the tobacco to make it finer so I use less- change to a "better" bowl- change to "better" coal type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterboi Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Well I will def look into to checking out the Exotica coals. I just got a pack of these and they last a long time. They are pretty long and I split them into 1/4ths or sometimes 1/3rds. I am very impressed with them and the add no smell to the shisha at all. My new coal of choice. A lot of people on here will agree. Also a phunnel bowl may be nice to add. And maybe a scallimod also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 QUOTE (waterboi @ Nov 18 2007, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well I will def look into to checking out the Exotica coals. I just got a pack of these and they last a long time. They are pretty long and I split them into 1/4ths or sometimes 1/3rds. I am very impressed with them and the add no smell to the shisha at all. My new coal of choice. A lot of people on here will agree. Also a phunnel bowl may be nice to add. And maybe a scallimod also.Where could I buy these from in the UK? Shipping from the USA is a little expensive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterboi Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 hmm. i am not sure. Maybe someone else could chime in and give you a little help on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 I have just tried using two layers of foil and breaking to coal up into two pieces... seems to be working better Although the smoke is not as thick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moisty Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 You can get a whole kilo of natural coals for the price of a box of swift-lites! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Messiah Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Poke bigger holes. A sewing needle isn't very big. You must poke hundreds of tiny holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 QUOTE (moisty @ Nov 18 2007, 04:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You can get a whole kilo of natural coals for the price of a box of swift-lites! Now where can I buy these from, and how do I light them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaia.plateau Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) QUOTE (hshah @ Nov 19 2007, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (moisty @ Nov 18 2007, 04:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You can get a whole kilo of natural coals for the price of a box of swift-lites! Now where can I buy these from, and how do I light them?You'd be hard-pressed to find a hookah charcoal supplier that doesn't have natural coals, but for the Exotica coals that seem to be all the rage these days, you can go to Pirate Hookahs, NazarHookah, Hookah Company, or Exotic Imports. I've also heard good things about Baroodi and Stargate natural coals.The most widely accessible way to light finger coals is with a conventional oven burner-element, but you can use anything from a blowtorch to a new-fangled electric coal lighter. Edited November 19, 2007 by gaia.plateau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 The only problem is, I am in the UK and shipping costs are greater than the actual cost of the coals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaia.plateau Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) QUOTE (hshah @ Nov 19 2007, 07:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The only problem is, I am in the UK and shipping costs are greater than the actual cost of the coals I hear you buddy ~ I just ordered 2 kilos of the exotica coals, $16 for the coals and $22 for the shipping. But that's the nature of the beast- if it makes you feel better, consider it the price to pay for having universal healthcare. It will come in handy with all the lung cancer you're going to get (jk ).I found that Exotic Imports and Pirate Hookahs have the best shipping rates. EI is slightly better, but I ordered from Pirate Hookahs because of superior customer service, website interface, infinitely better selection, and an absence of crappy music on their home site.As to where you could find natural coals in the UK, I wouldn't have the first clue; Johnny D might know. My guess would be to check around in head shops, they often sell water pipes, tobacco and other various hookah paraphernalia (though I imagine that they would be much more likely to carry quicklites). Edited November 19, 2007 by gaia.plateau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 My friend knows a place near us that sells the coals, so that is not a problem... now need to find somewhere in the UK that sells the charcoal heater I have gone through 2 rolls of quicklites in the last day and a half Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaia.plateau Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Do you have a stove? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 QUOTE (gaia.plateau @ Nov 19 2007, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Do you have a stove?We do... but its too far from my room... it takes effort walking to the kitchen, lol!Can you light these natural coals from already lit coals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaia.plateau Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 QUOTE (hshah @ Nov 19 2007, 08:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (gaia.plateau @ Nov 19 2007, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Do you have a stove?We do... but its too far from my room... it takes effort walking to the kitchen, lol!Can you light these natural coals from already lit coals?Theoretically you could, but I imagine that it would take, like, 40 minutes. Morever.. that would negate your coal savings.You could probably find a portable burner (either electric or gas) at a department store, or you could buck up and walk to your kitchen You'll probably want a metal plate or dish to transport them if you were to do that, however. Another good option is to pick up a micro torch from a department store or eBay, but you'll probably find that you'll run through an expensive amount of gas doing that all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 19, 2007 Author Share Posted November 19, 2007 Would something like this do:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-PORTABLE-GAS-FIS...1QQcmdZViewItemorhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-ELECTRIC-S...1QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaia.plateau Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 QUOTE (hshah @ Nov 19 2007, 08:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Would something like this do:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-PORTABLE-GAS-FIS...1QQcmdZViewItemorhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-ELECTRIC-S...1QQcmdZViewItemBoth should work - I would go with the gas burner, since the hot plate only has 1500 watts of power and has a safety shut-off if it gets too hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shisha fan Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) you could consider ordering from a german site called shisha-world.com, they have a good assortment of natural coals. the cococha cocobrico coals are very clean burning and long lasting. they also sell so called "pocket torches", wich are basically large lighters with a big blue flame that you can refill. Edited November 19, 2007 by shisha fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hshah Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 I picked up a 1kg pack of Abo Alabed Wood Coals from a shop in Birmingham on Friday, and I have to say that they are brilliant. They take me about 1 minute longer to light than the Swift-Lite ones but they smell far better and are a lot cheaper I picked the bag up for £1.50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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