A Little Help

[roadie]

The first 5 or 6 puffs off my pipe are great, but soon after the smoke seems much more sweet and harsh. I've tried using anywhere from 1.5 to 3 coals on the bowl. I'm relatively new to hookah. Is this from my lungs not being used to it, or is the smoke too hot, cold, etc?? Please help, thx.

BTW, the water level is about 1/2" above stem, bowl is packed loose just below foil, no leaks in pipe, using primarily Starbuzz Melon, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry, and Double Apple.

[Lysolz]

Try less coals? The only reason I've ever gotten harsh smoke is from it being entirely too hot.

I'm still essentially a newbie too, so I'm not sure what else to suggest. As far as my own personal experience though, I'm assuming the smoke is too hot.

[jfaltous]

It could be any of a number of reasons... try to snap a pic of the bowl so we can see how many holes and how much coal you're using, that's most likely your problem.

What type of bowl and coals do you use anyways?

[shisha fan]

definately less coal. it takes a little while for the smoke to build up in the beginning.
you can put on a windcover for the first 2-3 to warm the bowl up, and then take it off.

[roadie]

It could be any of a number of reasons... try to snap a pic of the bowl so we can see how many holes and how much coal you're using, that's most likely your problem.

What type of bowl and coals do you use anyways?

I'm using the bowl that came with my Mya. It's relatively flat and wide. I'm using the square quick-lites with the silver coating on them. I make sure the coating is removed and the coals are red hot before using them. I use a standard swirl hole pattern with a toothpick or push-pin. Edited January 28, 2008 by roadie

[MechAnt]

Of those tablets you're using, three tops. Once it gets going very well, take one off. Once it's up to heat, two is suffice to keep the bowl going well. Add the third as needed

[r1v3th3ad]

how much are you packing it?

[roadie]

how much are you packing it?

I don't pack it, I fill it loosely just below the foil.

[r1v3th3ad]

sounds like, in some way, you may be burning the shisha. With how many coals you have on and the little amount in there, it could be that the molasses is burning up real fast.

[roadie]

sounds like, in some way, you may be burning the shisha. With how many coals you have on and the little amount in there, it could be that the molasses is burning up real fast.

Is there a very fine line between getting alot of smoke with more heat, and getting a harsh smoke with too much heat? I noticed that the shisha is very close to the foil and is sticking to it, burning it. I'm going to use two layers of foil and pack the shisha down a little more to get more of a gap between it and the foil. What do you think?

[AKammenzind]

I wouldn't say there's a fine line, at least not with al waha and layalina (the two I usually smoke). Your problems might be that you're putting the coals in the middle instead of around the edges, that can give you problems.

Also it's not impossible that you're heating it up too fast, try easing the coals on. With a normal-sized bowl I usually only use 1.5 coals, then add another half a coal after about 5-10 minutes.

Unless you're using really thin foil you shouldn't need more than one layer, and you definitely don't want to pack the shisha down. That'll do nothing except make it harder to drag, and in turn kinda ruin the chill.

Oh, and you might simply be taking hits too often (and by that I mean taking them non-stop) and overheating it. Hookah is much better about that than a pipe usually is, but it still can happen when you're smoking a smaller bowl, and even more so if you have too much heat on.

[PhishPhood]

I cut QL's in half, and use 2 halves on the outer rim of the bowl for my QT. I assume if you're using a mya bowl its about the same.

When you pack it up, heap it over the top a bit, then push down with the foil so it actually packs down a tiny bit. Yuo might not have enough shisha in there and all the molasses is just burning/dripping off of it really quickly.

[roadie]

I cut QL's in half, and use 2 halves on the outer rim of the bowl for my QT. I assume if you're using a mya bowl its about the same.

When you pack it up, heap it over the top a bit, then push down with the foil so it actually packs down a tiny bit. Yuo might not have enough shisha in there and all the molasses is just burning/dripping off of it really quickly.

Has anyone tried to add a little moisture to the shisha, water, etc? I checked the bowl after about 15 minutes of smoking and the shisha was dry, but it wasn't burned or black yet.

[Bulldog_916]

Never EVER put water on the shisha. Once the coal is on and you inhale, you'll feel like you're drowning. I could never do that again. I did it by mistake when I blew water up into the stem.

[PhishPhood]

If you feel its too dry add some honey, or glycerin that is used for cooking. Or you can get a phunnel bowl, which will stop the liquid from dripping down into the stem

[roadie]

If you feel its too dry add some honey, or glycerin that is used for cooking. Or you can get a phunnel bowl, which will stop the liquid from dripping down into the stem

How long do you typically wait after getting your pipe together and ready before smoking it?

[austinthecity]

Start your coals around the edge at first. Let them sit there for about 30 secs/1min.

On your first 8 or so pulls, take long, slow, soft inhales. You wont get much smoke. What you're doing is heating up the shisha and coals slowly. When you start to get smoke this way, take a few medium puffs.

Then puff away..

[New2Hookah]

roadie...Add more water. Youll see the difference. Also, dont use too many coals and use a separator if possible

[roadie]

roadie...Add more water. Youll see the difference. Also, dont use too many coals and use a separator if possible

I think I found my problem. I did some experimenting, and also purchased a wind cover/larger bowl combo. After about 15 minutes, I discovered that the top of the shisha was black, dry, and a little burnt, while the underpart was fresh. I was heating it up to quickly and burning the top instead of letting it come up to temperature gradually (I'm impatient ). It also seems hard to put enough shisha in my bowl loosely without it touching the foil, which makes it easier to burn it. I think for me the ideal way is to use less coal, be patient and let the temp. come up and regulate using the wind cover.

Also, has anyone noticed that certain flavors turn the water colors while others leave it clear? The only flavor that turns my water a color (red) is double apple by Starbuzz. All the other flavors don't do it............????

[cassinho]

I've noticed the water darkening once, not sure if it was the smoke going thru it or if something went from the bowl down to the base

[staygone]

The juices warm up, lose viscocity, and run down the stem into the base. Tis alright, but if you don't want that a phunnel bowl will prevent that.

-QM