How Do You Heat Up All Of The Shisha In A Bowl?

[Raziel510]

Hey everyone. Ever since I started smoking from my own hookah (been about 8 months now) I've noticed that the top layer of shisha in the bowl is burnt but the bottom two thirds of the bowl is still relatively untouched. How do you guys make it so that the entire bowl of shisha is heating up and not just the layer closest to the coals? Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? I usually poke about three rings of small numerous holes in the foil and I usually start out by putting two Coco Nara's on there and as they die out I put the third one on. I usually use starbuzz or AF tobacco. Any suggestions?

[NickReppinThe909]

move the coals around so the shisha doesnt burn

[cotsi95]

thats normal. You can keep smoking it if you want it will eventually all burn.

[szemek]

I'm not saying that this is what's wrong necessarily, but it might. When I first started I had this problem too: I'd always burn the top layer, and then the bottom would be sticky after a good hour still. I found that I was just trying to fit too much shisha in the bowl. It goes a lot farther than I thought. Try filling the bowl less. Worst thing that'll happen is you get a shorter session.

Simon.

[Raziel510]

move the coals around so the shisha doesnt burn

Well, it's not like I'm actually burning the shisha. When I smoke the smoke is perfectly fine and not harsh. I've just noticed that once I'm done smoking and I pull off the foil, the top layer of shisha is spent but the shisha towards the bottom is practically unused.

[OC4111]

It just means you can add some coals to that bowl and keep going.

[thomas]

Cant help but laugh....


Seriously, its fine. Just keep going with your session, add some more coals. Then after an hr or so look, after you think the shisha is dead, check your shisha. It should turn out to be a dried up shisha donut of blackness.

[Codename067]

Lol...keep moving the coals and add them appropriately.

[BadgerBadger]

I use to have this problem. I would smoke a bowl until all the flavor was gone but I could still get big hits off the bowl. I would stop the session and check and still have sticky shisha on the bottom. Then... I bought a phunnel bowl. Now the shisha has flavor all the way through until every bit of it is burnt up. I'd say get a phunnel bowl if you are not using one.

[liquidglass]

this is actually a pretty normal thing, esp. when you're first starting. The shisha that's "black" has just dried all the way up from the coals and traditionally this was used in the place of foil as a "barrier" between the coals and the good shisha.

Like someone said above, with a normal egyptian bowl, the heat has to go through the shisha no matter how much is packed in. so pack it a few cms below the foil and you're golden. However, even with a layer of burnt shisha the rest will burn, just takes a little more for it to heat up.

[Loggan]

Use double foil.
And make sure it is neither under nor overpacked.


And one coal is perfect for me.

[NickReppinThe909]

move the coals around so the shisha doesnt burn

Well, it's not like I'm actually burning the shisha. When I smoke the smoke is perfectly fine and not harsh. I've just noticed that once I'm done smoking and I pull off the foil, the top layer of shisha is spent but the shisha towards the bottom is practically unused.

its not a problem at all then like scott said just keep smoking and enjoy, dont over think your sessions or you will just mess up future sessions. and DONT USE DOUBLE FOIL just get reynolds heavy duty foil

[hookah hippie]

all you gotta do is keep on smoking to burn up the tobacco on the bottom

[filmigeek]

Does anyone ever stir up the shisha in the bowl partway through the session?

I have done this once or twice - peel off the foil and give the shisha a little stir with my tongs. It's a bit of a pain because the bowl is hot and it's difficult to get the foil back on as tightly. But it seems to work a bit, to refresh a bowl that has lost some flavor, when there is still some wet shisha on the bottom of the bowl.

But, I am a newbie so maybe this is a dumbass thing to do.

And, I am finding that, like others have said, even without stirring the shisha, if I just put on more coal and smoke a little longer I do tend to use it all up, or come close. Edited July 18, 2008 by filmigeek

[SuburbanSmoker]

Never tried that before. Wouldnt it just be easier to put new foil over it?

[filmigeek]

Never tried that before. Wouldnt it just be easier to put new foil over it?

The problem with replacing the foil isn't so much that it's hard to reuse the same foil; it's that the bowl is bloody hot so you can't easily squeeze the foil on as you would with a fresh, cool bowl. You'd still have this problem even if you put a fresh piece of foil on. Edited July 18, 2008 by filmigeek

[SuburbanSmoker]

Try keeping a flat oven mit around. Does the trick just fine and no burning your fingers!

unfortunantly took a few 2nd degree burns to look for a solution lol.

[Majid]

Does anyone ever stir up the shisha in the bowl partway through the session?

I have done this once or twice - peel off the foil and give the shisha a little stir with my tongs. It's a bit of a pain because the bowl is hot and it's difficult to get the foil back on as tightly. But it seems to work a bit, to refresh a bowl that has lost some flavor, when there is still some wet shisha on the bottom of the bowl.

But, I am a newbie so maybe this is a dumbass thing to do.

And, I am finding that, like others have said, even without stirring the shisha, if I just put on more coal and smoke a little longer I do tend to use it all up, or come close.

I've done that once or twice when i had really good sessions and didn't want it to end

Anyway, it's normal to burn/char some of the shisha on top. You still generate smoke by cooking the shisha lower in the bowl, it just doesn't burn up.

[ilikemyusername]

with coals silly!

[Giant Ninja Robot]

thanks for this thread peeps. I was looking for answers to this issue and now... I HAVE THE POWER! GTG back to castle Grayskull now, peace.

[Kusk]

I know a few people who also stir up the bowl after a while.

It's a lot easier with a charcoal grill/screen: just take off the foil, stir, and put on the grill instead of the used foil. Less chance of burning the fingers that way since you don't need to seal it tight

Or you could just use a grill for the entire session....but many of us prefer to use foil when we can help it Edited July 19, 2008 by Kusk