Coconara Question...

[4d1ct3d]

So, I just purchased my first 3 boxes of coconaras but I'm having a bit trouble to lit them. So, when do I know that they are fully lit? I don't seem to manage to make them red all around, there are allways two sides (top and bottom) that stay black in the center (a small circle only thoug). Is this allright? Also, I take forever to get to that point! About 15/20 min...

Can someone take a picture of a coco just lit and out of the stove?

Thanks!

[Zinite]

So, I just purchased my first 3 boxes of coconaras but I'm having a bit trouble to lit them. So, when do I know that they are fully lit? I don't seem to manage to make them red all around, there are allways two sides (top and bottom) that stay black in the center (a small circle only thoug). Is this allright? Also, I take forever to get to that point! About 15/20 min...

Can someone take a picture of a coco just lit and out of the stove?

Thanks!

Cocos take 4 or 5 minutes for me. I don't know what kind of stove you're using, but if you go down to Wal Greens in the kitchen appliance section, you can pick up a 9 dollar electric stove coil. It works wonders.

[4d1ct3d]

Cocos take 4 or 5 minutes for me. I don't know what kind of stove you're using, but if you go down to Wal Greens in the kitchen appliance section, you can pick up a 9 dollar electric stove coil. It works wonders.

I'm from Portugal so I can't go to Wal Greens

I'me using one of these:


But it's temperature regulation sucks... it can't get very hot and I'm going to return it. Anyway, I can't get good results with my gas stove either... or mybe I just don't know when a coco is ready and I overcook them... So, is there a picture of a coco fuly lit anywhere?

[gaia.plateau]

Click the "Coalmageddon" review in my signature.

The burners on my main stove, which is like 40 years old, get a coconara fully lit in about 3 minutes, while they take about 5 on my $10 coil burner that I keep between my computer and study desk.

[Hippo_Master]

Click the "Coalmageddon" review in my signature.

The burners on my main stove, which is like 40 years old, get a coconara fully lit in about 3 minutes, while they take about 5 on my $10 coil burner that I keep between my computer and study desk.

Wow, A+ thread Gaia!

[Zinite]

Before I bought the coil burner, I used my gas stove to light them. If you can get the coal in the hot part of the flame, i takes 3 minutes max.

[erufiku]

Yup gas stove should work even better than the coil one... use a metal perforated screen if you don't want to be holding the coal for the whole period and your stove doesn't accomodate the coals well.

[mattathayde]

put them on a coil burner and leave them on until the corners and most of the sides have ashed well, then flip them until they are totally ashed well and then let them sit a min to make sure they are good.

when you blow on the side that was down on the hot coil it should get fully bright red, the other side will have some black in the center from cooling down. when you put them on both sides will end up being black but when you flip and blow on them after about 15 mins you should be able to easily get red glowing on the side that was up

-matt

[Balthazar]

[
Well, I've tried with the one that I posted above but it didn't quite worked. It was constantly turning off to not overheat and explode or something so it could only get really hot for a short time... about 3 min

I've seen that many of you guys in the US have a single coil burner with a spiral in the middle instead of a flat disc. Like this:


I just seem to find the "flat disc" ones like the one I posted above in europe. Does anyone know if this affects something? Are the spiral ones any better?

Welcome to Europe ... I live in Norway, and I have the same problem. The spiral thingy where you put the coals directly onto the heat-element are impossible to get hold of here. The worst part is that I managed to get one of those wal greens stoves through Nazar. I knew they use a different "output" in the US, but I thought it would be as simple as to buy a converter. I was wrong ...

I ended up buying one of those hot-plates that you mentioned. Stupid thing turns itself off as soon as it gets to a certain temperature. Makes it a real hassle to light any coal, with the exeption of japanese ql's and exoticas, if you do it the normal way. Anyways, my advice would be to use the foil trick to get your coals hot faster. Works like a charm. I'm still having some trouble with coconaras and the belgian naturals, but for all other coal I've tried (including cocobrincos, cheaper than 'naras, and in my opinion better) this works (barely).

[mattathayde]

[
Well, I've tried with the one that I posted above but it didn't quite worked. It was constantly turning off to not overheat and explode or something so it could only get really hot for a short time... about 3 min

I've seen that many of you guys in the US have a single coil burner with a spiral in the middle instead of a flat disc. Like this:


I just seem to find the "flat disc" ones like the one I posted above in europe. Does anyone know if this affects something? Are the spiral ones any better?

Welcome to Europe ... I live in Norway, and I have the same problem. The spiral thingy where you put the coals directly onto the heat-element are impossible to get hold of here. The worst part is that I managed to get one of those wal greens stoves through Nazar. I knew they use a different "output" in the US, but I thought it would be as simple as to buy a converter. I was wrong ...

I ended up buying one of those hot-plates that you mentioned. Stupid thing turns itself off as soon as it gets to a certain temperature. Makes it a real hassle to light any coal, with the exeption of japanese ql's and exoticas, if you do it the normal way. Anyways, my advice would be to use the foil trick to get your coals hot faster. Works like a charm. I'm still having some trouble with coconaras and the belgian naturals, but for all other coal I've tried (including cocobrincos, cheaper than 'naras, and in my opinion better) this works (barely).

o i take it its hard to find the transformer part of the converters right? i know when i was in europe i had to use a transformer and converter. if you have a friend that travels they could probably find one in a large airport
-matt

[Balthazar]

From what I was told at an electric shop the coil stove is so "strong" (in terms of how high the voltage is or something, I have no idea how to write the word I'm thinking about in English ) that a transformer strong enough would cost about 200$. But this puzzles me, because I know people use transformers/converters for stuff like hair dryers when they're on vacation, and they're also "strong" (again, sorry ), aren't they?

I don't know the first thing about electricity, so excuse my lame explanation. But something like that was what I was told.

[4d1ct3d]

Welcome to Europe ... I live in Norway, and I have the same problem. The spiral thingy where you put the coals directly onto the heat-element are impossible to get hold of here. The worst part is that I managed to get one of those wal greens stoves through Nazar. I knew they use a different "output" in the US, but I thought it would be as simple as to buy a converter. I was wrong ...

I ended up buying one of those hot-plates that you mentioned. Stupid thing turns itself off as soon as it gets to a certain temperature. Makes it a real hassle to light any coal, with the exeption of japanese ql's and exoticas, if you do it the normal way. Anyways, my advice would be to use the foil trick to get your coals hot faster. Works like a charm. I'm still having some trouble with coconaras and the belgian naturals, but for all other coal I've tried (including cocobrincos, cheaper than 'naras, and in my opinion better) this works (barely).

Hell yeah! Someone that understands me! An european mate!

So, are cocobrincos good? Ok, I'll try them, as well as exoticas. And how much time does it take to light exotica on your hot plate (is it 1500W)?

Well, I don't know what's that foiling trick can you explain me?

Oh btw, you were refering to exoticas as the originals an not the japanese style ones right?

[mattathayde]

From what I was told at an electric shop the coil stove is so "strong" (in terms of how high the voltage is or something, I have no idea how to write the word I'm thinking about in English ) that a transformer strong enough would cost about 200$. But this puzzles me, because I know people use transformers/converters for stuff like hair dryers when they're on vacation, and they're also "strong" (again, sorry ), aren't they?

I don't know the first thing about electricity, so excuse my lame explanation. But something like that was what I was told.

ya it just pulls too much power.

i think the hair dryers pull a lot less still (since its such a small element that heats up compared to that stove)

one option (over kill to get around but it would work) is get a deep cycle marine battery and an inverter. given thats 150 USD worth probably but hey its an answer
-matt

[Codename067]

I do about 3 minutes/side on my 10 dollar single burner. Keep them towards the center of the burner, where it starts, that part is usually the hottest.

[Balthazar]

So, are cocobrincos good? Ok, I'll try them, as well as exoticas. And how much time does it take to light exotica on your hot plate (is it 1500W)?

Well, I don't know what's that foiling trick can you explain me?

Oh btw, you were refering to exoticas as the originals an not the japanese style ones right?

Yeah, CocoBrincos are my favorite coal for anything but Tangiers. They burn a little to hot for them to work well with tangiers (they'll do the job, but I prefer coals I can chop up and size myself for tangiers, needs so little heat). Exoticas was just another example of a well-known coal that should work if you do the foiling thing. And yes, I'm talking about the regular ones, not the QLs.

Not sure about the "W", but I think it's 1500 (threw away the box it came with). It should do the job if you use foil. I usually let the coals sit a little even after the heater turns itself off. The foil method is easy and works great. You can see how it's done in this video (at 00:38 --> ).

Good luck

mattathayde: That sounds about right. Thanks for the explanation!

[4d1ct3d]

Yeah, CocoBrincos are my favorite coal for anything but Tangiers. They burn a little to hot for them to work well with tangiers (they'll do the job, but I prefer coals I can chop up and size myself for tangiers, needs so little heat). Exoticas was just another example of a well-known coal that should work if you do the foiling thing. And yes, I'm talking about the regular ones, not the QLs.

Not sure about the "W", but I think it's 1500 (threw away the box it came with). It should do the job if you use foil. I usually let the coals sit a little even after the heater turns itself off. The foil method is easy and works great. You can see how it's done in this video (at 00:38 --> ).

Good luck

mattathayde: That sounds about right. Thanks for the explanation!

So, that foil screen would be the same as using a windcover instead of foil right?

[Balthazar]

Yeah, it serves the same purpose, but I wouldn't use a windcover on the hotplate while heating up the coals.

[4d1ct3d]

Why is that?

[modisess]

Why is that?

Good chance you'll cause an aesthetic problem with the windcover or maybe even some functionality damage. Try shaping up some foil. I use that with my stove as well.

[mattathayde]

Why is that?

Good chance you'll cause an aesthetic problem with the windcover or maybe even some functionality damage. Try shaping up some foil. I use that with my stove as well.

ascetic yes, function no. if its a nice wind cover use foil, if its a junky one just use it

-matt

[4d1ct3d]

Why is that?

Good chance you'll cause an aesthetic problem with the windcover or maybe even some functionality damage. Try shaping up some foil. I use that with my stove as well.

ascetic yes, function no. if its a nice wind cover use foil, if its a junky one just use it

-matt

Sweet, I have a realyy crapy one

[mattathayde]

Why is that?

Good chance you'll cause an aesthetic problem with the windcover or maybe even some functionality damage. Try shaping up some foil. I use that with my stove as well.

ascetic yes, function no. if its a nice wind cover use foil, if its a junky one just use it

-matt

Sweet, I have a realyy crapy one

only thing you would need to worry about is if who ever made it was retarded and soldered it with plumbing solder but the junky ones (like the one i have that came for free with my rig) is just crapy spot welds

-matt

[4d1ct3d]

Just wanted to say that I followed the tips that were given to me in this thread and I can now fully light cocos in the time of packing a bowl in my european hot plate

I'm using a windscreen made of foil and it really makes a difference. Also, I've been using an hair dryer to speed the process and it also works pretty well

So, my problem is solved thanks to you guys!

HF rocks