Iamademig0d Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hey guys. I just purchased my first hookah from a place in philadelpia. It's a Social Smoke Here is a link to it on the social smoke website:http://www.shopping.socialsmoke.com/item--...ah--EG12G1.htmlNow i've been smoking hookahs at local bars and at friends houses for quite a while, but I wouldn't call myself an expert by any stretch. My problem is that I'm just not getting a good smoke. The smoke is not as smooth as I have had before and is harsh. There is also very little volume. At most of the bars I go to, I get lost behind the cloud of smoke, but with this I put out barely more than a cigarette. I'm using Starlight carbon charcoals, and El Nakhla tobacco (mellon), and tin foil. I've read through all the tips and tricks and nothing seems to really work. Ice in the base helped with the harshness, but only for a little while.Please help. I just wanna have a good smoke! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhishPhood Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Well, give us some more info on your set up?What type of bowl, how many coals and how are you poking holes in the foil?If I had to guess it sounds like its not air tight to me.. Put the bowl on unpacked with no heat. Cover the bowl with your hand and pull on the hose. If the base bubbles or you easily pull through it then its got a leak somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamademig0d Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Sorry, I didn't know how much info was pertinant. I'm using one coal. The bowl I'm using is the one that came with the setup. It would seem to be clay, and about an inch and a half in diameter. I'm poking the holes with a tooth pick. Just using the tip and making about 4 or five circles from the center out. I just checked if it was airtight, and it seems to be. No bubbles at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhishPhood Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Try breaking your coals in half and using one on each side. rotate them on the outer side of the bowl moving them every once in a while.When you pack the bowl you should "fluff" up the shisha before packing. Then put it in just barely heaping over the top of the bowl and push down with the foil so its flat. Then do your holes like you are now.I think the reason you're getting the harsh smoke and not alot is your heat is too concentrated and your burning the shisha on that part of the bowl. Let us know if breaking the coals in half works. You may even be able to go with 3 halves but try two to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamademig0d Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Great. I'm excited that this might just be a quick fix like that. I was worried i would have to drop more money on a new hookah. I'm on my way into work now and won't be home until about 2 am. So i'll smoke it tomorrow and let you guys know how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addicted2shisha Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Make sure there is enough water to ensure your stem is submerged at least an inch into it... An make sure the ball bearing is in place as a missing ball bearing can cause this kind of problem! I smoked one of these hookahs once and it was hard to pull clouds of smoke but i hadnt set the hookah up it was a friends. You should be able to make any hookah smoke particularly well so just go through the forum tips there are a few vids of how to set up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikon1323 Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 try moving your coal around....i dont break my coal i set it on the edge of the bowl....almost never the middle (till close to the end of the coal) and just keep rotating the coal around the bowl that way you burn all the shisha and the coal doesnt stay in one spot and burn that shisha up to create that bad smoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codename067 Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Here are some things that you can check for to enchance your experince:1. Make sure that there are no leaks in the hookah [take the bowl off, and put your hand on top of the stem, and inhale through the hose. You should not be able to take any thing in, and the water in the base should not girgle.2. Make sure that you have enough water in your base. Too little water will decrease the amount of smoke3. Make sure that you are not under packing your bowl. Do not over pack either.4. The Tobacco you are using could be dry, so you need to try using more than one coal to get it heated up faster, and it should start hitting better.Check all these steps off and get back to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny_D Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Nahkla!Do what Phisy said earlier to ensure air-tightness.Nahkal is a tobaco that likes heat, so don't be afraid of heating the tobacco. As mentioned earlier.. 'fluff' the tobacco into the bowl (IE : pull it apart then pack it down)... Now this is the balancing act... you need to ensure you have a nice full bowl of tobacco - but not too full or you will struggle to pull.Good luck!JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhishPhood Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 You will learn in time. My first smoke or two was crap compared to what I get on a regular basis now...If its a crappy smoke, dont be afraid to pull off the foil and repack the bowl. No harm in trying different techniques either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmediahOU Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 poke more holes, i had that same problem, with a normal bowl (i use a phunnel now) poke random holes throughout the foil after you make the first outside circle. tl;dr : lots of holes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldog_916 Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Acclimation. Keep the tobacco out uncovered for an hour or 2 before you smoke. El Nakhla is an unwashed shisha so what you might be getting is humidity shock, similar to Tangiers. I was having that problem today. Not enough acclimation = bowl wasted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamademig0d Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 Well I made some progress. However being forever impatiant, i don't know what caused the progress. Firstly, I was washing out my stem (the part between the bowl and the base, i think thats what it's called) and i noticed some sediment in there. I took a rolled up paper towel and clean it out as best I could. And it was green. 'Why the fuck is it green' you may ask, I have no idea, but it was. I also tried one coal broken into 3 pieces (tried to break it in two, it ended up in three, you know). And finally I got my shipment of starbuzz tabacco (blue mist). So it could be any of these factors. But i'm not complaining. Not the best smoke I ever had, but definately enjoyable. Now I just want more volume on the smoke. Any suggestions on just that? Also, why green sediment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhishPhood Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Green sediment is rust... I think atleast.Try 4 halves or even 2 whole coals. Just play around with the heat. Its different for ever bowl so a trial and error thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texico Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 (edited) The green is oxidizing brass. You don't really need to worry about it, just clean your hookah like normal.Oh yeah, and I'd try with three halves of coal first. Then add a fourth if you're still not getting the smoke you want but the flavor is still there. Edited February 13, 2008 by Texico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamademig0d Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 I just tried adding another half to the bowl. It's working great. Thanks everyone for your tips.While I have you here though, I have 2 more questions.1.) How big of a difference does the hose make or is it mostly decorative? Basically, is it worth me getting a new (nicer looking) hose, and if so which one.2.) what are the differences between bowls (smilely, egyptian, phunnel, etc) and which would you recomend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhishPhood Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hoses make a surprising difference. I have a Razan hose which I ordered off Nazar hookah. Its 100% washable and is a wider hose, which means easier pull and more smoke. Totally worth every cent in my opinion.Smilely bowls are all clear glass with, you guessed it... A smiley face on them. I hear they smoke really well, but I can't justify spending $40 on only a bowl..Phunnel bowls have the part teh smoke goes through raised up, so that juice cant leak down into the bowl and then the stem and finally into your water. It allows you to smoke longer, with more flavor since the shisha will sort of sit in its own juice. If you're smoking tangiers this is pretty much a must have. I enjoy it for most other shisha brands too, as it lengthens and makes my sessions much more enjoyable.I'd recommend a Razan/Nammor hose (same thing, but razan has better color) and a Phunnel bowl. If you're smoking by yourself get a small phunnel, or if you like to smoke with others get a medium/large.Anyway, happy smoking and I'm glad we could help you get a better smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 i had a few rotator hookahs, and i have always liked them. they are convinient for groups, but i have never gotten as good of smoke as i have from my mya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr!m Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I agree with everything said here. It's all about your technique. Check out my setup video for people new to hookah, also for people who need just a little extra knowledge...Check it out here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ud5sVM6dDHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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