Foil Or Screen?

[nat3r]

normally, people use foil for their hookahs, its cheap, effective, and easily managed. however, the fumes given off by common household foil is hazardous

so that would leave special hookah foil, which doesnt come in large sheets, which would mean i would have to buy a crown (i like outdoors)

or, should i go with a metal screen?

basically, what do you all use?

[Nikon1323]

ok screens suck they let in alot of ash and the holes are so big the heat is sometimes to much.......go with foil you can use household foil but you have to treat it...by that i mean you take the foil and run a lighter over the foil on both sizes to burn off any chemicals on it that way you dont get a stomach or headache from the foil...im sure almost all on the site will say go with foil

[gaia.plateau]

The only advantage to screens, is the ability to easily take it off and mix up your shisha. Useful sometimes for smoking Tangiers in a regular bowl. Edited March 3, 2008 by gaia.plateau

[HookahDude831]

just dont buy shitty foil!

[everydayshisha]

I believe this discusion has taken place on the forums 10000's of times.
Aluminum foil does NOT release fumes except when under extreeme heat (over 900'C). Food grade aluminium foil is made to be put in ovens that reach up to 300-350 degrees celcius and i Dont believe that those companies are playing with our lives byselling a product tobe used in extreme heat conditions when it releases harmful fumes.
Cheers

[mathuv]

and to add..if you run a lighter over the foil you are heating it up more than the coal heats it up..

[BDA88]

NEVER USE SCREENS!! They suck horribly. Just don't buy really thin foil and if you're worried about the health part of it all, well you shouldn't be smoking hookah in the first place!! Foil or screen you're still smoking tar and coals and nicotine...

Go with foils

[jaker29902]

Meh, I use a screen, works fine for me everytime, yes I do occaisonally have to watch my heat management, but that usually just means starting with coals on the outside of the bowl and working in.

[staygone]

I smoke with screens when I want to have a crap smoke session. Screens will never get as airtight as aluminum foil.

Reynolds heavy duty ftw.

-QM

[Ceraziefish]

I don't think I've ever smoked with foil. Only screens, ever. I ought to try foil if it's really that much better -- but I've definitely never had a problem with screens.

[chinamon]

the first few sessions i used a screen because it came with my hookah. i didnt use foil at the time because the screen was convenient. i eventually tried using foil and have never looked back. foil ftw!

[DRainh2o]

I used a screen once..........foil is better.

[Canon]

i didnt notice a difference.. then again i only used screen when i was new to hookah.

[mitchell8621]

I used a screen when I was new to hookah, then I discovered foil, which has lead to GOOD smokes...I never knew they existed when I used a screen

[shisha fan]

foil... i hate it when the ashes fall through the screen and ruin a perfectlly fine bowl.

[Raziel510]

I tried using a screen when I got my first hookah. The smoke was horrible and ash was falling in the bowl like crazy. I'm sure a main part of the problem was that it was my first time packing a bowl so I'm sure I did wrong but still, things got so much better when I started to use foil. I've never touched a screen again after that.

[chinamon]

foil... i hate it when the ashes fall through the screen and ruin a perfectlly fine bowl.

exactly how does ash ruin a bowl if its sitting on top of tobacco anyway? its not like the as will burn and ruin the flavour. if the ash can make its way through all the tobacco, down the stem, through the water, through your hose and in to your mouth then worrying about ash should be your last concern as there are probably other things wrong.

[shisha fan]

foil... i hate it when the ashes fall through the screen and ruin a perfectlly fine bowl.

exactly how does ash ruin a bowl if its sitting on top of tobacco anyway? its not like the as will burn and ruin the flavour. if the ash can make its way through all the tobacco, down the stem, through the water, through your hose and in to your mouth then worrying about ash should be your last concern as there are probably other things wrong.

i`ve had little burning pieces of coal fall through the screen when i was using natural coals. and those little burning particles burned the tobacco and in turn ruined the bowl.

[chinamon]

foil... i hate it when the ashes fall through the screen and ruin a perfectlly fine bowl.

exactly how does ash ruin a bowl if its sitting on top of tobacco anyway? its not like the as will burn and ruin the flavour. if the ash can make its way through all the tobacco, down the stem, through the water, through your hose and in to your mouth then worrying about ash should be your last concern as there are probably other things wrong.

i`ve had little burning pieces of coal fall through the screen when i was using natural coals. and those little burning particles burned the tobacco and in turn ruined the bowl.

i see. so it wasnt ashes that was coming in contact with the tobacco. it was pieces of hot coal.

[mathuv]

foil... i hate it when the ashes fall through the screen and ruin a perfectlly fine bowl.

exactly how does ash ruin a bowl if its sitting on top of tobacco anyway? its not like the as will burn and ruin the flavour. if the ash can make its way through all the tobacco, down the stem, through the water, through your hose and in to your mouth then worrying about ash should be your last concern as there are probably other things wrong.

the ash might mix with the tobacco and make it taste weird. i always get a weird taste when using a particular brand of coals, which ash alot.

[shisha fan]

i see. so it wasnt ashes that was coming in contact with the tobacco. it was pieces of hot coal.

thats right, i should have been more specific.

[r1v3th3ad]

Here we go again....
another screen and foil thread, I think I've seen four in the past month

I like screens, they give me a chance to adjust my shisha...stir it around and what not. They take more care however. Big holes and not sealed on. I usually ash coals by picking up the screen with tongs and dropping into the ashtray. Then putting all back on top. No ash that way.
But ya, they can be a hastle.
And I imagine that there would be chemicals coming off. When I put foil on the gas stove, to light naturals, it burns up and it practically turns to paper.

[mathuv]

Here we go again....
another screen and foil thread, I think I've seen four in the past month

I like screens, they give me a chance to adjust my shisha...stir it around and what not. They take more care however. Big holes and not sealed on. I usually ash coals by picking up the screen with tongs and dropping into the ashtray. Then putting all back on top. No ash that way.
But ya, they can be a hastle.
And I imagine that there would be chemicals coming off. When I put foil on the gas stove, to light naturals, it burns up and it practically turns to paper.

why dont you just put the coals directly on the stove? well the stove would head the foil to waaaaaay above coal temp so id imagine something would happen.

[r1v3th3ad]

I couldn't figure out how to, I've only used electric before that night, which is easy. They are too small to set on the brims, or whatever you wanna call the part that holds the pot

[BrotherBuford]

Some screens are crap, some work decently. I have one that has reasonably small holes in it and it fits exactly on a Mya bowl. I like it better than using foil.