Bowl Packing

[kajon]

Hey guys, I am pretty new to hookah smoking and have some questions. I always smoke with my friends and their hookahs, but now I got my own. When packing a hookah, is it better to keep the shisha fluffy(more airflow i assume) or packed? Also, when palcing holes on the foil are smaller but more holes better, or large but few? And finally, does anyone have a coal rotation that seems to work best for them, I know hookah is about baking not burning the shisha, and I usually seem to burn it. Thanks

[Hookah_Bob3]

Fluffy vs packed: Depends on the shisha and how wet it is. Generally, you want it to be fairly fluffy so that the air can pass by it without restriction, causing an even heating.
Small vs large holes: I'd say a lot of large holes, 16-20 of them for a standard egyptian bowl works for me
Coal rotation: What kind of coals are you using? 3K and other disk-shaped coals is good to start with 2 coals, 1/2 of each coal hanging off the sides. For naturals like exoticas, I generally use 2/4ths of a stick placed on opposite sides of the bowl

[ryno]

Welcome to the forum!

With most shishas, you want it fluffed in there. At first I used my tongs to put the shisha in the bowl, but anymore I use my fingers. If you're using Tangiers shisha, you want to pack it tight.

As for coal rotation Hookah_bob said it best.It all depends on what coals you are using. With 3 Kings quicklites, I usually use 2 coal, on the sides of the bowl, and rotate when i ash them. If I'm using natural (I use exoticas) coals, I uses either 2/4 of a stick or 3/4 depending on the shisha. I also rotate these everytime I ash the coal.

With the holes. I use toothpick sized holes, in a # formation, with each line being two rows of holes. Then in the square gaps, I poke slightly larger holes. Now the straight lines are usually more even sized and spaced.

[HookahGuru]

I say it can be packed or fluffy, long as the holes at the bottom are not clogged

[kajon]

I am using 3 kings coals.

p.s. did you go to art school? Your drawing really did help though thanks a bunch

[NickReppinThe909]

WRONG every shisha need to be packed different depending on the cut and the heat you need to get a decent smoke

I say it can be packed or fluffy, long as the holes at the bottom are not clogged

[Codename067]

Different Tobacco requires more/less heat as well as different packing methods.