Lakemonster Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 OK... I was reading the thread "pics of new hookah from Social", and I noticed that the author had a hard time with his provided bowl (chinese) fitting up on his Hookah (egyptian). He is not alone. I too suffer the same problem. I have been goofing around trying to layer grommets... and such..... but I havent had any consistant success. The reason I have been fighting so hard to make it work is because mine is the bowl with the snap on lid...... I like that bowl..... I wanna use that. What needs to happen is a grommet to be produced that converts the steep shoulder of the hookah to match the slighter shoulder of the chinese bowl. Who else has experienced this problem........... get partway thru your smoke and the damn chinese bowl starts slouching over on the stem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nakedandangry Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 would just tinfoil work..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 This was an early problem in the manufacturing of Tangiers Bowls, as well. The problem is one of design, if I understand your post, not of how many gaskets. If the bowl has a small "face" on the taper, it has little contact, if the slopes are different, very little surface area is available to stabilize the bowl. When we first started, my bowls had faces of 3-5mm. We got a machine tool with the identical (yet standard!) taper of Egyptian bowl tapers and now our faces are 25-32mm! (1-1.5"). So, that bowl will find a comfortable stopping place somewhere and grip on like there's no tomorrow. I did this experiment where I would take a fully loaded hookah, put one of my heads with a gasket on it and lift the entire hookah by the bowl, without it falling, to demonstrate the design benefits. Aluminum foil can help to change the pitch of the bowl taper, it may leak, but it is probably the one to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmexx Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Yeah, the grommet that came with my chinese bowl isn't even that good. Because it's so thick, with all the heat the bowl takes and the ma'assel dripping to the grommet, after the first or second coal, it gets loose and wobbles. We ended up using masking tape and aluminum foil instead of the grommet, see what works for you!Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[LB] Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 take the grommet and jam it as far as you can into the bowl, as far up as you can, until its tight, then you just put it on the hookah. I dunno what to say otherwise, the grommet that came with my mya is really nice, i havent ever seen one like it, maybe the mya site has them. cant you take that snap on lid off the bowl and put it on another? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmexx Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 If it's the same chinese bowl that I'm thinking of, you can't. That bowl is SO wide it makes it impossible. It's great because of its width, better heat management, but still, that grommet problem URGH.Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsraelEnigma Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 hmm i replaced the base in mine for a real Egyptian base, i was discouraged because it didnt fit(too big) i bought 1 dollar electrical tape wrapped around the grommet, fits nice and tight! and waterproof too! havent had to change the tape yet(its been months) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR Bubble Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Here's what I did to help mine out: I Tooksome real heavy-duty sand paper, stick it up inside of the bowl and started twisting and turning like mad. This scored up the inside of the bowl (where the shaft fits up into) allowing the grommet to get a better "bite" on the ceramic material. I made sure my grommet was clean and dry also. This really helped stabilize the bowl by using friction. I have the same bowl (has the screen and lid with it). Pitty I don't like the bowl too much. I have not yet been able to regulate the heat good enough for my pleasure, but it's a cool item! MR Bubble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzzzzT Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 I had to sand the inside of my bowl to make it fit better. I use this really thick clay bowl that was handmade in Syria. It looks really rough and is unglazed, but the thick clay really helps it retain heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[LB] Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 [quote name='MR Bubble']Here's what I did to help mine out: I Tooksome real heavy-duty sand paper, stick it up inside of the bowl and started twisting and turning like mad. This scored up the inside of the bowl (where the shaft fits up into) allowing the grommet to get a better "bite" on the ceramic material. I made sure my grommet was clean and dry also. This really helped stabilize the bowl by using friction. I have the same bowl (has the screen and lid with it). Pitty I don't like the bowl too much. I have not yet been able to regulate the heat good enough for my pleasure, but it's a cool item! MR Bubble[/quote] ill trade you something for the bowl- some AF maybe? a box of havana? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NERV Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 two words: STICKY TACK that stuff can seal anything, my hookah use to be held together almost exclusively with it cause i always found the grommets to suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzing Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 hm, just wondering if you had tried using a paper towel?fold it over lengthwise until it's about 1-1.5in thick, tear it in half to make the piece shorter, get it wet and wring it out, then wrap the neck of your hookah prior to putting the bowl on. that's what i always do and it never seems to come loose until the paper towel dries out (4+ hours later)[although i don't know if this will work with your oddly shaped bowl] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[LB] Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 [quote name='NERV']two words: STICKY TACK that stuff can seal anything, my hookah use to be held together almost exclusively with it cause i always found the grommets to suck[/quote] but doesent it melt in the heat? this is always a dilemna with sticky materials and adhesives that melt when the bowl heats up. I use duct tape once to save a session at a friends house and it was almost fused to the pipe when i took it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NERV Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 i dunno bout duct tape but ive had electrical tape almost fuse together, but i know i've neverhada problem with sticky tack, the only tihng is when the syrup starts leaking down it can get get between the stem and the tack and seal could loosen but they justmeans u gotta clean it a bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 Ewww! Just invest in more gaskets, jeez! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogrt48 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Actually I talked to Ali at social smoke about the bowl being loose. He sent me a few grommets for free to try out. They have this white grommet which is thicker than the clear ones and works great. My bowl is nice and snug now, seems like it also gets more smoke.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Yah, the fat white ones kick butt...turn it inside out so that the ribbed side is sticking out rather than in...its alittle tough, but it can be done. If you use a cuople of old gaskets stacked, it should work OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now