Hookah Love

[Tikke]

Heya, first of all, im new here so try not to be too harsch if this isnt a legit post :>

In January i went to the U.A.E to visit my friend, and while being there, i was introduced to the Hookah. Ever since it's been a part of my weekly doings. ;D
I brought one hookah from there but its broken by now.. (Never wash the bowl while drunk! :C) Anyway, nowadays i got my new King Hookah 3 piped hookah and i'd like to know a trick or two about hookah smoking, especially the amount of moassel and coal. I have smoked several times by now and know something, but sometimes i just don't get proper smoke or heat. (Im using a screen) Im using Swift-lites at the moment and as moassel i have Nakhla from germany, so i had to add glycerin to it as it only has a concetration of 5%, while authentic moassel from Egypt or so has 25-30%.

If you have a similiar pipe, let me know about the coal and moassel, and of course, any advice is good advice!
Edit: Oh yes, i'll upload a pic of my dear at some point.

Tikke Edited September 18, 2008 by Tikke

[Apets22]

I dont have the pipe, or have ever smoked nakhla.

But, from what Ive heard, since nakhlas dry, you generally need less heat.

It would help if you told us more specifically what your problems are, is the shisha burning? are you getting poor flavor? etc.

[Capt. Morgan]

First step I'd suggest to is switch from a screen to aluminum foil.

[Tikke]

I dont have the pipe, or have ever smoked nakhla.

But, from what Ive heard, since nakhlas dry, you generally need less heat.

It would help if you told us more specifically what your problems are, is the shisha burning? are you getting poor flavor? etc.

The only thing is that sometimes i don't really get any smoke, trying with less coal and with more. Usually i have 1 Swift-Lite, but if i place 2, the moassel will burn at the taste is just horrible which makes the moassel more or less unusable.

First step I'd suggest to is switch from a screen to aluminum foil.

Is that so? Might aswell do that. I've been checking around the forums for tricks with the foil, might as well give it a try. Mostly i noticed the moving around the coal, might be it, since usually i just shake of the ash into the tray and put the coal back, nothing else..

Keep them tips coming! Everything respected

Tikke Edited September 18, 2008 by Tikke

[Click]

The Basics:
-Fill up the water in the base until the downstem submerges in the water about and inch or so.
-Use aluminum foil and for Nakhla try toothpick size holes.
-Try different hole patterns in the foil to see what works best with your coals, bowl, etc.
- Rings from the outside inward, # sign pattern, are popular.

-Make sure everything is sealed. To test set up the hookah without putting the bowl on yet. Place your finger over the stem where you put the bowl and try to inhale from the hose. You shouldn't be able to get any air besides what was already inside the hookah.

Eh, now i'm drawing a blank, lol. Edited September 18, 2008 by click

[Capt. Morgan]

If 2 coals are burning the shisha but 1 isn't enough, try breaking your coals into halves. Maybe 3 halves will do the trick, or possibly using 1 coal split in half at opposite ends of the bowl. Edited September 18, 2008 by Capt. Morgan

[Tikke]

My pipe

The Basics:
-Fill up the water in the base until the downstem submerges in the water about and inch or so.
-Use aluminum foil and for Nahkla try toothpick size holes.
-Try different hole patterns in the foil to see what works best with your coals, bowl, etc.
- Rings from the outside inward, # sign pattern, are popular.

-Make sure everything is sealed. To test set up the hookah without putting the bowl on yet. Place your finger over the stem where you put the bowl and try to inhale from the hose. You shouldn't be able to get any air besides what was already inside the hookah.

Eh, now i'm drawing a blank, lol.

Yes thank you. Most of that is old info but i should give the foil a try. Everything is perfectly sealed etc so it shouldn't be causing any problems.
Maybe get an windscreen? Never tried one, it might increase the heat to just optimal if i use one swift-lite 33mm? Maybe?

If 2 coals are burning the shisha but 1 isn't enough, try breaking your coals into halves. Maybe 3 halves will do the trick.

Hmm, i've actually never tried breaking them. That might help! Thank you for this piece of info ;>

Tikke Edited September 18, 2008 by Tikke

[Click]

Yeah windscreens rock. Allows for much better heat management.

How much Glycerin are you mixing in say with a 50g or 250g of the Nakhla?

[Tikke]

Yeah windscreens rock. Allows for much better heat management.

How much Glycerin are you mixing in say with a 50g or 250g of the Nakhla?

As it said on the website where i bought it, 1-2 teaspoons/50g.
I took the whole pack (200g) and put it in a airtight box and threw in 8 teaspoons, shaked and have left them there since. Just to prevent them to dry out in the plastic bags.
And yes, i always stir the moassel around before i put into the bowl, so you don't need to ask if i do it.
One thing, i think the bowl of my pipe is very small, not even one cm. Should i get a new and bigger one? I don't get really much of moassel into the bowl but as it came with the pipe, i never suspected it might be the reason.

Tikke

[Apets22]

Ok well, like I said never smoked Nakhla, but It sounds like maybe your packing the bowl to tightly, if youre not getting any smoke.

And yes 1/2s work great for heat manegment. Bud damn...cutting quiclights is messy messy work.

[erufiku]

As someone above already pointed out, break the coal in half, then try smoking it with the two halves on the opposite edges of the bowl. If there's not enough heat (wispy smoke), put on a windscreen and see if you can get it going this way. If that doesn't work, add one more half of a coal. If the smoke gets too harsh 1) take the windscreen off, 2) take one piece of coal off.

Good luck, and by the way in my experience Nakhla is not heat shy at all...

Also a lot depends on the bowl you're using. I can't get Nakhla to smoke in the acrylic mod bowls, but my wide, unglazed clay bowl gets me every time.

[Tikke]

Ok well, like I said never smoked Nakhla, but It sounds like maybe your packing the bowl to tightly, if youre not getting any smoke.

And yes 1/2s work great for heat manegment. Bud damn...cutting quiclights is messy messy work.

And that's where the problem steps in, i can barely put any moassel into the bowl without pressing it.. Maybe i should try my mates bowl, its almost twice as deep as mine. Looks like we are approaching somekind of solving ;> Tomorrow im going to invite my mates over for a smoke-evening and hopefully all tricks work.

As someone above already pointed out, break the coal in half, then try smoking it with the two halves on the opposite edges of the bowl. If there's not enough heat (wispy smoke), put on a windscreen and see if you can get it going this way. If that doesn't work, add one more half of a coal. If the smoke gets too harsh 1) take the windscreen off, 2) take one piece of coal off.

Good luck, and by the way in my experience Nakhla is not heat shy at all...

Also a lot depends on the bowl you're using. I can't get Nakhla to smoke in the acrylic mod bowls, but my wide, unglazed clay bowl gets me every time.

This seems more and more like that i need to try a windscreen.. There's just a problem that in Finland where i live are barely any hookah stores. Closest one is in helsinki which is one hour from where i live, so wont get one before tomorrow.
Maybe go macgyver and use a random tin can and poke holes into it? I always get creative ^^

Tikke Edited September 18, 2008 by Tikke

[pullingteeth]

Yeah windscreens rock. Allows for much better heat management.

How much Glycerin are you mixing in say with a 50g or 250g of the Nakhla?

As it said on the website where i bought it, 1-2 teaspoons/50g.
I took the whole pack (200g) and put it in a airtight box and threw in 8 teaspoons, shaked and have left them there since. Just to prevent them to dry out in the plastic bags.
And yes, i always stir the moassel around before i put into the bowl, so you don't need to ask if i do it.
One thing, i think the bowl of my pipe is very small, not even one cm. Should i get a new and bigger one? I don't get really much of moassel into the bowl but as it came with the pipe, i never suspected it might be the reason.

Tikke

your bowl is not even one cm? if so that is ridiculously small... and if that truly is the case i'd recommend a larger bowl

[Apets22]

Well Ive heard some people do these to help air flow
Press the Shisha in to the bowl, foil it, then take your tooth pick or whatever your using to make the hole in the foil and press all the way down till you hit the bottom of the bowl.
Put the shisha into the bowl, foli it, poke oyur holes and blow into the bottom of the bowl.

But my personal favorite idea is...
Buy a phunnel bowl

[Tikke]

Well Ive heard some people do these to help air flow
Press the Shisha in to the bowl, foil it, then take your tooth pick or whatever your using to make the hole in the foil and press all the way down till you hit the bottom of the bowl.
Put the shisha into the bowl, foli it, poke oyur holes and blow into the bottom of the bowl.

But my personal favorite idea is...
Buy a phunnel bowl

I always pick the holes heh. If i wouldn't do that, it'd take some insane amount of force to suck the air and that really doesnt do the job. Hmh, maybe i should give the phunnel bowl a try, but then i need to order it from abroad and that takes ages, maybe next time when i fill up my moassel storages..

Tikke

[erufiku]

If you can't buy a windscreen, just make one from aluminium foil... works like a charm, esp. for that damned tall KM + phunnel combo. It has an advantage too, you can mush the top part so that the opening is small, and the temperature inside is higher.

BTW are you serious about the 1cm bowl? 1 inch maybe??

[Tikke]

If you can't buy a windscreen, just make one from aluminium foil... works like a charm, esp. for that damned tall KM + phunnel combo. It has an advantage too, you can mush the top part so that the opening is small, and the temperature inside is higher.

BTW are you serious about the 1cm bowl? 1 inch maybe??

How do i make a windscreen out of foil? Some quick advice would be appreciated.
Yes yes, no joking, it is really small. I mightaswell take a pic of it and post it here as an bad example of a bowl xd

Tikke

[Click]

Just take a sheet of foil and wrap it down around your fist. Poke some holes in the top and place it over the bowl.

[Tikke]

Just take a sheet of foil and wrap it down around your fist. Poke some holes in the top and place it over the bowl.

Oh. That is something i will surely try tomorrow.. Somehow i got a feeling that it'll work.

Tikke

[erufiku]

If you can't buy a windscreen, just make one from aluminium foil... works like a charm, esp. for that damned tall KM + phunnel combo. It has an advantage too, you can mush the top part so that the opening is small, and the temperature inside is higher.

BTW are you serious about the 1cm bowl? 1 inch maybe??

How do i make a windscreen out of foil? Some quick advice would be appreciated.
Yes yes, no joking, it is really small. I mightaswell take a pic of it and post it here as an bad example of a bowl xd

Tikke

Yeah post a pic.... I've seen some really small bowls at a local store, but I don't think they were meant for smoking tobacco if you mark my meaning.

[Tikke]

If you can't buy a windscreen, just make one from aluminium foil... works like a charm, esp. for that damned tall KM + phunnel combo. It has an advantage too, you can mush the top part so that the opening is small, and the temperature inside is higher.

BTW are you serious about the 1cm bowl? 1 inch maybe??

How do i make a windscreen out of foil? Some quick advice would be appreciated.
Yes yes, no joking, it is really small. I mightaswell take a pic of it and post it here as an bad example of a bowl xd

Tikke

Yeah post a pic.... I've seen some really small bowls at a local store, but I don't think they were meant for smoking tobacco if you mark my meaning.

This joke-of-a-bowle came with the pipe so no secondhand stuff ;D
I'll take my webcam and hit up a picture, just a min!

I put my finger as an object to compare the depth of my bowl. That paperpiece helps to show where the bottom is.. Sorry for fast taken pic.

Tikke Edited September 18, 2008 by Tikke

[Click]

Looks like a shallow bowl, but wider that I thought. Honestly, I would just use foil and then mess around with different hole styles. For stronger heat try poking holes only where you are going to put the coals. And then rotate the foil itself around the bowl for management.

[Tikke]

Looks like a shallow bowl, but wider that I thought. Honestly, I would just use foil and then mess around with different hole styles. For stronger heat try poking holes only where you are going to put the coals. And then rotate the foil itself around the bowl for management.

Okays For now i've got quite some advice so thank you all for this warm welcome to the boards! I will surely return after the session tomorrow ;D
Now im off to bed, wakeup in 6 hours to the gym, goodnight lads!

Tikke

[jezter6]

First of all - you probably drown the darn Nakhla with ungodly amounts of glycerin.

Try just smoking Nakhla out of the box. I have been through enough Nakhla and have at least 6 flavors on hand at all times, and you don't need to do that. I can get good smoke and powerful flavor right out of the box, nothing added.

What I'm saying is - start from scratch. Use normal nakhla and foil and see if you can't get it smoking at least somewhat good. Once you get standard heat management, bowl packing, and foiling down - then consider changing it up and playing with glycerin.

Until you know what you're doing - stop soaking the tobaccy.

[Tikke]

First of all - you probably drown the darn Nakhla with ungodly amounts of glycerin.

Try just smoking Nakhla out of the box. I have been through enough Nakhla and have at least 6 flavors on hand at all times, and you don't need to do that. I can get good smoke and powerful flavor right out of the box, nothing added.

What I'm saying is - start from scratch. Use normal nakhla and foil and see if you can't get it smoking at least somewhat good. Once you get standard heat management, bowl packing, and foiling down - then consider changing it up and playing with glycerin.

Until you know what you're doing - stop soaking the tobaccy.

Allright. Will try..
Nevertheless, all my Nakhlas atm are treated with glycerin so have to wait for next time i buy a larger amount..

Tikke