Just Recieved My Km Tri-metal

[ghelyan]

So I just picked it up from the post office.

Now I know that none of these hookahs are perfect and you never get exactly what you order, but I was wondering whether or not these imperfections on mine are a problem?

My stem has quite a few of these little holes on it with the biggest being on that air valve thing and one on the upper part of the stem:

http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00041kl4.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00042qx2.jpg

I already know that the one on the air valve leaks (is this a problem since its the air valve?)

How can I know if the little ones on the actual stem are just on the surface or go deep? Is there a leak test that I could perform?



ALSO:

I unscrewed and opened the valve and there was no ball bearing!?

What do I need to clean before first use? and how?

[SmokinMoose]

I would contact the vendor and notify them.

If thats not really an option i would just solder the holes.

I got a KM and no ball bearing either just take one from another hookah.

[MechAnt]

Try focusing on the hole a little by using Macro Focus on your camera.

[vaypourus]

Macro mode FTW...I really can't make out what the pictures are showing boss.

[ilikemyusername]

are you sure its a real trimetal?

[NickReppinThe909]

+1 for a possible knockoff

[liquidglass]

use bb for ball bearing

[antouwan]

yeah, i just got my exotica in (WOW, that's another story in itself...KM ftw) and the same thing, there was no ball bearing, so just go down to the hardware store, or use an airsoft pellet

[ghelyan]

My camera phone doesn't have Macro Focus.

And I got this from DPG so It's not fake plus the thing is covered with Khalil Maamoon signitures (vase, tray, tray holder)

the holes are like little dents if you know what I mean. I just smoked it and it seems like the stem is fine, but I don't get how the air valve is supposed to work without a ball bearing. I've heard that only some hookahs have the ball bearing anyway. So how does that work? While smoking it, I found that air goes in through the air valve even when screwed all the way in. I ductaped it for that session, but whats the deal? what's the point of the screw-in if it doesn't tighten anything in?

@ antouwan: any specific north american hardware stores for ball bearings?

[boulderkid303]

Contact neal....

[Snoopy1966]

I lost my ball bearing this weekend, headed to Wal Mart and got some airsoft 6mm .20 gram bb's
Works great and it wont rust! 3 bucks is all it cost. I bought a cartridge for a air gun that had the bb's in it. Otherwise it was 10 bucks for 5000.
I do not have a air gun, so 5000 would last a few generations of Hookah smokers.

[Scoop]

i dont think its fake. a lot of the handmade hookahs have small holes in random areas. as long as they aren't in the hose port, or blow off port, it shouldn't matter. Edited May 27, 2008 by Scoop

[ghelyan]

okay this is slowly starting to piss me off. As if the holes weren't enough, the red design on the vase is now peeling off really really easy! I've only smoked it twice, and cleaned it once and there's already huge chunks of red missing!! I get red on my fingers just by holding it! What's the deal here? Edited May 27, 2008 by ghelyan

[MechAnt]

Handmade quality for you!

These things aren't indestructible and you have to keep in mind, the people making these pipes cannot afford the greatest of materials to make hookahs for people. They use whatever scrap metal or paint chips they can find to rig something up. These are imperfections that are common of handmade things. You don't want flaws? Get a MYA or any other machined piece. Edited May 27, 2008 by MechAnt

[jfaltous]

I might be off on this, but it seems that the first hole that you are encountering on your stem is just an aesthetic flaw, you can ignore it. The other hole that you are mentioning is meant to be there for the air valve. As other people have suggested, go to a hardware or craft store and get a 6mm ball bearing (or call Neal, I know he's hooked me up with some in the past). Place the ball bearing inside the valve and screw it on, that way when you suck in the air it holds the ball in place and when you blow into your hose, it pushes the ball out and allows you to purge the smoke.

As for the paint peeling from the base, thats normal with hand-made ones. For my KM vases I usually avoid cleaning the outside of them, I just clean the inside and try and keep the paint on the outside dry. No matter what you do, don't scrub on the outside surface of it or you will rub the paint off for sure.

[MechAnt]

After looking at the pics again, you really need to either find a camera with macro focus or just take the picture from a little farther away so it can focus, can't really tell much.

[antouwan]

i think ace carries ball bearings...i go to a local family owned business here in town, i doubt that would help you.

yeah the base decor does come off on other bases i have, but not my km base, that's solid, i know neal plays with base combinations. but i would call him up and let him know, legit shops SHOULD have legit customer service (not a shot at neal, just a shot at all you pricks who don't give half a shit after we've paid you)

[Scoop]

my km vase is peeling, my friends trimetal vase peeled me. i cant wait for it to be all clear though, its gonna look spiffy. then i can spray transparent black over

[ilikemyusername]

my km vase is peeling, my friends trimetal vase peeled me. i cant wait for it to be all clear though, its gonna look spiffy. then i can spray transparent black over

mmm... candy apple red with clear and buffed... very sexy

[SmokinMoose]

my km vase is peeling, my friends trimetal vase peeled me. i cant wait for it to be all clear though, its gonna look spiffy. then i can spray transparent black over

What kind of paint do you use to make it transparent black?

[NickReppinThe909]

go to a hobby shop moose and ask for transparent black and if they dont have it go to an auto parts store and get some lens smoke paint

[erufiku]

Handmade quality for you!

These things aren't indestructible and you have to keep in mind, the people making these pipes cannot afford the greatest of materials to make hookahs for people. They use whatever scrap metal or paint chips they can find to rig something up. These are imperfections that are common of handmade things. You don't want flaws? Get a MYA or any other machined piece.

I don't agree with you. Flaws are indeed to be expected from any handmade product, but if you're buying a KM or any other "brand name" hookah, you expect a certain standard of quality from the company. As a consumer, I couldn't really care less about the manufacturing process itself; if I'm to pay premium, I want something in return. It's up to the company to establish quality control so that their brand name doesn't devaluate in the long term.

[SmokinMoose]

Handmade quality for you!

These things aren't indestructible and you have to keep in mind, the people making these pipes cannot afford the greatest of materials to make hookahs for people. They use whatever scrap metal or paint chips they can find to rig something up. These are imperfections that are common of handmade things. You don't want flaws? Get a MYA or any other machined piece.

I don't agree with you. Flaws are indeed to be expected from any handmade product, but if you're buying a KM or any other "brand name" hookah, you expect a certain standard of quality from the company. As a consumer, I couldn't really care less about the manufacturing process itself; if I'm to pay premium, I want something in return. It's up to the company to establish quality control so that their brand name doesn't devaluate in the long term.

I would love to see you say that to the people that work in the shops.

They don't care Khalil Mamoon is the #1 hookah in Egypt and for most people around the world. And for them the issue of the design peeling off is not a big deal.


I agree with what you are saying.