Advice For Using A Specific Hookah (pics Included)

[Majid]

Hi everyone,

I am an experienced hookah smoker, have owned several hookahs, smoked in many places but for some reason i can't get my current hookah to give me a satisfying smoke (no puns intended) And i was hoping you guys have some tips.

My big problem is flavour. For some reason the flavour remains bland or sometimes terrible whatever i smoke. I´ve always smoked Nakhla and Al Waha, different flavours, use Three Kings charcoal or sometimes some cheaper quicklights. The hookah is very clean, cleaned it with soda and boiling water. Rinced well too. I´ve tried several hoses as well. The bowl is a replacement by the way. It´s a three hose hookah, i keep the other hose openings plugged with some cottonballs or foil. I am quite confident that i pack the bowl properly, loose tobacco, not overstufed, double layer of foil shiny side down and holes spread properly across the surface. Grommets are also properly in place everywhere but the vase to stem one since it´s a screw on.

Here's the hookah and my bowl setup :









I would have never bought it myself, it was a replacement since my friend smashed mine. I thought maybe the vase is too big to smoke by yourself.
Anyway, i hope you have some thoughts for me. Thank you in advance. Edited February 18, 2008 by Majid

[SafeSearchOff]

dude... hose ports plugged with cotton? that ain't right!

if you have nothing to plug your hose ports with, get some sticky tack thumb it into a ball and stick it in there. air permeates cotton...


any other info you can give us regarding smoke? too thin? too harsh? no flavor? what brand shisha do you use?

try checking your hookah for other air leaks after youve sealed up the hose port. set up your hookah like you normally do, except without the bowl. but your thumb over the top whole and try to pull. if you can, theres an air leak somewhere.

[Majid]

Thank for the reply.

I´ve used other stuff to plug the hose ports with, doesnt seem to make a difference.
The smoke is thick enough, could be thicker but a good amount of smoke if i use the right amount of coal. It only gets harsh if i use too much coal in the same spot, so it is what it´s supposed to be in that department. It´s the taste that hardly ever comes through that´s the problem.
Brands i smoke are Al Nakhla and Al Waha, many different flavours. basically those two are all i can find i stores around here.

I just tried it and i can pull quite a bit so i must have a leak somewhere. Too bad i can´t test it untill tommorow, all out of coal for now

[Seanij]

Thank for the reply.

I´ve used other stuff to plug the hose ports with, doesnt seem to make a difference.
The smoke is thick enough, could be thicker but a good amount of smoke if i use the right amount of coal. It only gets harsh if i use too much coal in the same spot, so it is what it´s supposed to be in that department. It´s the taste that hardly ever comes through that´s the problem.
Brands i smoke are Al Nakhla and Al Waha, many different flavours. basically those two are all i can find i stores around here.

I just tried it and i can pull quite a bit so i must have a leak somewhere. Too bad i can´t test it untill tommorow, all out of coal for now

Try and find the leak, and retry it, fix it up good then smoke again.

[Codename067]

Is the Hookah too smooth to pull? If so, then you got a major leak problem somewhere.

What you want to do is to take your bowl off the Hookah, and place your hand right on the top stem, and seal it up, then take a hit off your hose. If your Hookahs is Leak-Free, you should not be able to pull anything at all.

If you are still able to pull with your hand covering the top stem, either your Hookah or your Hose have a major leak in them.

[Hookah_Bob3]

1. Were you able to get "satisfying smoke" with your previous hookah?
2. Is your bowl new/clean?
3. Do you use super-cold water or lukewarm?
4. Hoses: Try different hoses. Hoses can be the culprits in lots of situation and people don't think about that much. If you don't have any others, try pulling from the hoseport itself without a hose and see if you get any flavor.
5. There could very well be a leak that would allow too much airflow and would distort the flavor.
6. Are the coals fully lit (i.e. glowing red all over) before using them?

[Plain Old Me]

I think that hookah has self sealing hose valves on it, so no need to plug em. You should have a grommet to put on top of the base between the base and the stem. I have a screw on and I have a grommet for the base, though I have smoked without and it does not make much of a difference. Definitely try plugging the top and taking a drag. If that is not the problem, it is probably the bowl. If the bowl is too shallow, you will not be able to get the shisha set up right.

[Majid]

Is the Hookah too smooth to pull? If so, then you got a major leak problem somewhere.

What you want to do is to take your bowl off the Hookah, and place your hand right on the top stem, and seal it up, then take a hit off your hose. If your Hookahs is Leak-Free, you should not be able to pull anything at all.

If you are still able to pull with your hand covering the top stem, either your Hookah or your Hose have a major leak in them.

Thanks, i did try that and it seems to have some leakage, ill try and tighten everything as much as i can and maybe tape up where the vase connects to the shaft.

1. Were you able to get "satisfying smoke" with your previous hookah?
2. Is your bowl new/clean?
3. Do you use super-cold water or lukewarm?
4. Hoses: Try different hoses. Hoses can be the culprits in lots of situation and people don't think about that much. If you don't have any others, try pulling from the hoseport itself without a hose and see if you get any flavor.
5. There could very well be a leak that would allow too much airflow and would distort the flavor.
6. Are the coals fully lit (i.e. glowing red all over) before using them?

Thanks for the tips.
1. I did, more smoke and better flavour.
2. Bowl has a burned/charred black ring at the top. No loose material though. It smells clean, i wash it after every smoke.
3. I use cold tapwater, no ice.
4. Thanks, ill try that. It seems my "washable" hoses smell bad for a few hours after washing. But a few days later they're fine.
5 Ill try everyones suggestions on that later today.
6. Yep, i light them, let them burn redhot then wait for them to ash over a bit.

I think that hookah has self sealing hose valves on it, so no need to plug em. You should have a grommet to put on top of the base between the base and the stem. I have a screw on and I have a grommet for the base, though I have smoked without and it does not make much of a difference. Definitely try plugging the top and taking a drag. If that is not the problem, it is probably the bowl. If the bowl is too shallow, you will not be able to get the shisha set up right.

Thanks!
Yeah i think so too, has the ballbearings and stuff. But i was there when my friend bought it and the guy said to plug the hose valves you're not using so i did. Edited February 19, 2008 by Majid

[roadie]

Hi everyone,

I am an experienced hookah smoker, have owned several hookahs, smoked in many places but for some reason i can't get my current hookah to give me a satisfying smoke (no puns intended) And i was hoping you guys have some tips.

My big problem is flavour. For some reason the flavour remains bland or sometimes terrible whatever i smoke. I´ve always smoked Nakhla and Al Waha, different flavours, use Three Kings charcoal or sometimes some cheaper quicklights. The hookah is very clean, cleaned it with soda and boiling water. Rinced well too. I´ve tried several hoses as well. The bowl is a replacement by the way. It´s a three hose hookah, i keep the other hose openings plugged with some cottonballs or foil. I am quite confident that i pack the bowl properly, loose tobacco, not overstufed, double layer of foil shiny side down and holes spread properly across the surface. Grommets are also properly in place everywhere but the vase to stem one since it´s a screw on.

Here's the hookah and my bowl setup :









I would have never bought it myself, it was a replacement since my friend smashed mine. I thought maybe the vase is too big to smoke by yourself.
Anyway, i hope you have some thoughts for me. Thank you in advance.

Maybe try breaking the coals into smaller pieces too, works for me.

[thejoshman]

bro try a different bowl, that one looks messy.