Belgian Qls

[teq]

I ended up trying a new smoke shop today and definitely regret doing so.

My first indication that I should've walked out was when I saw that their pornography collection was larger than their hookah section. I figured since I was already there, I might as well buy something. They had a nice selection of Layalina and three different types of coals to choose from(and none of them were Rolland QLs, thankfully). Two of the brands were ones I haven't seen before and the third was Rolland Japanese coal, which I decided to avoid after reading mixed reviews. I ended up getting a box of 100 33mm Belgian QLs(belgiancharcoal.com), only to come here and read the review of how bad they were.

They burn fine until they reach the bowl, where they impart a bad flavor throughout. I have yet to experience any headaches, like Dom mentioned in a past thread, but it's because I'm burning them until there's pretty much nothing left before using them.

Since I can't return them and I doubt the company that makes them would care enough about their customers to make any concessions(obviously they don't since they still manage to sell them), I was wondering if there's anything I could try to make them work.

Could it be possible that using propane to light them could be causing them to absorb fumes?

[teq]

I hate having to bump my own thread, but I could use some help...

[SimplexCoda]

I dont know about the propane causing anything because a lot of people use propane to light their coals. Im not saying its not possible, Im just saying that its not too probable. IF you have an electric stove or coil burner you can use that to light it and find out though.

[teq]

I just tried lighting them with a butane lighter and pointing a heater at them. I've tried building up a deposit of ash into my ashing bowl and caking the coals in the ash, seeing as how SocialSmoke recommended these ones sit for a while before use.

Even after they appear to be red-hot, there is a faint odor to them. One of the coals even developed a phosphor coating. The shisha becomes unsmokable because of the aftertaste. I believe Dom mentioned headaches from them, but not any sort of taste.

It's odd how they have the same consistency as Pharohs 33mm QLs, aside from chipping away more, yet they burn so differently.


Any recommendations, other than the obvious one of scrapping them?

[mushrat]

Sorry friends..but there isn't a bloody thing you can do to make them taste less like the chemicals they are treated with.

Keep them as emergency back ups and go get something else.

[teq]

This isn't the same company that makes your Belgian naturals, is it, mush?

If so... I think I wouldn't feel like it was such a lost cause to write them an e-mail.

You're probably familiar with them, but just in case, the website is BelgianCharcoal.com

[mushrat]

Yup, that's them. I guess it's possible to contact them and see if they will refund your money or some such because you didn't like thier porduct, never hurts to try. But I wouldn't count on it. I'd say chalk it up to "should have read about them first" kinda deal and get soemthing else.

[teq]

If they were US based, I might have more leverage, due to the fact that I did find phosphor deposits when burning a coal. Alas, they're in Belgium... slightly out of reach.

Considering how badly the dollar is doing compared to the euro, they would probably laugh at the $10 spent on the box of coals.

I could probably get them to exchange the rest of the box for either the naturals or the 40mm QLs, but shipping wouldn't be worth it.

[mushrat]

nope..live and learn...