Exotica Coals Just Came In...

[Travis Moore]

Well, a fresh box of Exoticas are waiting for me at home (first natural coal purchase). I've got a few questions for you pros..

1)I'm used to using one 40mm 3 kings broke in half-what is that equal to in amount of exoticas?

2)What is the proper way to light them? We have an electric stove, I think I saw a vid of someone using one to light them? How long do they normally take to light?

Thanks!

Travis

[NickReppinThe909]

send them back and get some coco naras or silver japs

[SimplexCoda]

I dunno about equaling a 40mm but when i used exoticas i cut them in quaters and used two pieces on a bowl. Yes you can use an electric stove to light them. I always just started them when i started puttin the hookah togeter and then flipped them when i started packing the bowl then when they are completely red they are ready.

[Santino]

Notch the side of the brick depending on the size of bowl you've got, usually thirds is the best I find. A lot of people will just snap it in half and use both halves. The equivilent to your setup would probably be 2/3. Cook it for about 5 minutes, flip it, cook it for a few more until its bright red and glowing. Make sure you FULLY cook it. You'll be golden after that.

[OC4111]

Simplex pretty much explained all there is to it. Just an fyi, it would be best to use a serrated knife. Score each stick into 4 pieces by scorint it on 2 opposite sides and then it should break pretty easily. you'll have 1/4 pieces and you can add as needed. when you finish those you might want to try some coco-nara. I just tried them for the 1st time yesterday and i only needed to use 2 on a medium phunnell bowl with a wind cover. the 1st set lasted a little over an hour. I didn't even finish the second set.

[vaypourus]

I bought one of the $9.99 Walgreens electric burners. Its portable and it keep my stove from getting covered in ash. Gets the coals going in about 5 minutes.

[Jeff_T]

I score the stick into 4ths and the break with the hands. I place 2 pieces on my electric coil burner, leave on one side for like 5 min and flip over for about another 3. Once nice and red, turn off coil and place coals on bowl. Repeat about an hour later. Edited June 9, 2008 by Jeff_T

[Voski]

send them back and get some coco naras or silver japs

QFT

[Travis Moore]

I score the stick into 4ths and the break with the hands. I place 2 pieces on my electric coil burner, leave on one side for like 5 min and flip over for about another 3. Once nice and red, turn off coil and place coals on bowl. Repeat about an hour later.

Stupid newbie question, but how long should a standard egyptian bowl last?

[vaypourus]

Depends on what you are packing it with and how you pack it. I personally get 1-2 hours from a bowl of washed shisha.

[EternalSoil]

lots of factors in how long the bowl will smoke..

i would say 3 hours max?

depends on the tobacco, the coals, the way you pack it, the humidity, the number of coals, and other things like that

[liquidglass]

I bought one of the $9.99 Walgreens electric burners. Its portable and it keep my stove from getting covered in ash. Gets the coals going in about 5 minutes.

+5,000 one of the best 'investments' i made for my hookah time. I smoke outside my apartment so keeping a coil stove right next to me is a BIG help. The cord is short, but that's why God created extension cords.

That way I can sit there, saw up all my exoticas and just throw them right on without having to get out of my comfortable chair, go all the way inside and turn on a fan so I don't get a 'campfire' smell inside my place.



Personally I use a cheap serrated knife ($2) at walmart saw all four sides at every place (I make it into 4ths) then because I like clean breaks I take a tack hammer and tap where the cuts are, one or two firm taps breaks it perfectly.

If you want to do 3rds instead just put one edge of the coal on a table and hold the other end then tap it and you can break it into nearly perfect 3rds.

Stupid newbie question, but how long should a standard egyptian bowl last?

The longest my standard egyptian bowl has ever lasted is like 4-4 1/2 hours. But that's a "LONG" time for an egyptian.

If you over pack it, it'll last forever, BUT there's no flavor and weak smoke.

If you under pack it, it won't last long and it'll get harsh quickly.

So just break the shisha into bits instead of big clumps. Then just drop it in aka sprinkle a few pinches at a time.