Burnin The Baccy

[MonkeyBiz]

It seems as though I've lost my touch when it comes to the hookah.
Around my fraternity I'm known as "The Hookah Master" because of the
usually flawless smokes I produce (thanks in no small part to you guys)
but it seems like I've been burning the tobacco like crazy lately. I
couldn't really smoke over the summer (mom and sister are allergic), so
I don't know if I was just losing my touch or what. I try and pack the
bowl about 3/4ths full, either use a grate, foil, or both, and always
try and use cold, clean water. Any ideas?

[Mathazar]

Pack a half a bowl,  and use one coal instead of two.

Or,  pack half a bowl and use 2 coals piggy-back style.....//

Only poke enough holes to surround the coals you're using.

Use Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil.  Don't use metal screens,  they suck!!!

Try not to power-puff.  The harder and more frequent that you
puff,  them more likely that your ma'assel will burn 

[jakescakes]

im not gonna lie here.
do not pack the bowl lightly

to simply get the best smoke, Overpack the bowl than you normally would. to the point where its a small mound on top.
that way only the top thin portion of the tobaccoo will burn to the
foil, while the rest will remain fresh and unharmed. since you will
smoke from the bottom tobacco anyways, you will have a noticably better
smoke. just trust me and try it

[mushrat]

And screens are just fine, if you have the know how to use em.
Are you using a new brand of coals? its possible that the coals are burning hotter than you are used to. Even if you are using the same brand coals, a variation in the BATCH could make a difference, try forgetting what you KNOW and go back to the begining.

[uselessdreamer1]

i get my best smoke by useing 2 3 king coals at first burning hardcore.
then move to piggy back once started, unless its a bastard then i keep
it at 2. when the smoke starts to get thin i go back to 2 coal full.
this is a good heat management, usually piggy back is best method.

[NERV]

[quote name='jakescakes']im not gonna lie here.
do not pack the bowl lightly

to simply get the best smoke, Overpack the bowl than you normally would. to the point where its a small mound on top.
that way only the top thin portion of the tobaccoo will burn to the
foil, while the rest will remain fresh and unharmed. since you will
smoke from the bottom tobacco anyways, you will have a noticably better
smoke. just trust me and try it[/quote]

So you're saying to pack it slightly above the bowl, then place the
foil flat, right onto it? i question it, however back in the day my
best smokes came form a similar method which i seemed to lose the touch
of so i went to the standard method of bowl packing

[Sariél]

I use different methods depending on which bowl I use. The black Mya
bowl is just over 2" wide and 1" deep. I use the thin hookah foil, and
the hole pattern and size varies, depending on my mood. I fill the
bowl, then tamp it down to about 1/8" below the rim. I use 1 Golden,
centered, with the windscreen on until its giving me good, full hits,
then remove the wind cover. After that, I don't have to touch it, the
coal is usually still perfectly shaped until I replace it, repeating
the proccess. I usually get an hour to hour and a half smoke off of
that, with 2 coals in succession. I could get another 30-40 minutes
with another coal if I turned the puck over, but by then I'm usually
done or ready for another flavour.

If it burns, I take the foil off and pick away the charred stuff that is on top, or more likely stuck to the bottom of the foil.

I also have another cowl that is just under 3" wide, and 3/4" deep. For
that one, I use 1.5 quicklites or 1 3" stick of natural broken in half.
It requires more maintenance; shifting the coals and scorches easier,
and doen't last quite as long.

This is all for Al Fakher tobacco, Al Waha, El Basha, and Sultan take more work, are not as flavourful, and scorch easier.

Next time I order, I'm probably going to try Romann, ans sooner or
later I've got to try HookahHookah. I've also got some Zag soaking in
Cinnamon syrup, we'll see how that goes. I tried it before with Zag ,
sprinkled some cinnamon, and added Goldschlager; I think I coughed up
several internal organs.

[MR Bubble]

NERV! Long time no hear! Welcom back.
MR Bubble

[Mathazar]

Yeah NERV,  welcome back,  hope you'll be around more often