AntiGravity Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Hey everybody!So next Friday, about 14 of us guys are going camping on my friend's farm land by the lake. It's really nice out there Anyway, there are going to be quite a few hookahs there and so I had some questions for you guys.For one, is it possible to use embers from the campfire as coals for the hookah? And how well does it work for those of you who have tried it?I'm also thinking about picking up some natural coals. However I only have access to what I can find locally. So I found that both Ingles and Kroger here carry bulk bags of charcoal. I haven't checked them out completely yet, but I'm wondering how well just some generic bulk charcoal works for hookah. Granted if it is possible to use embers from the campfire, I don't think I'll be buying the bulk charcoal. But just in case I do, I'd like to know about how well it works and all that.And for some unrelated but exciting news (for me anyway):I found out from my friend that my local supplier has some brand new boxes of Al Fakher! So far he knows they have Watermelon and Grape. So I'm pretty much in heaven in the shisha department now. All they've had before is Nakhla, which is great, but I've been wanting to try some AF for so long.And lastly, I'm selling my little Chinese 10" generic hookah (modded with a plastic hose, thanks to the how-to section for some instruction on that) and upgrading to a Mya QT that my supplier also carries So I'm pretty excited, next weekend is going to be amazing Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cybersist Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 The coals from the fire work pretty well but keep in mind 1) they are not as hot as say cocos and 2) they tend to go out if not tended too. These are my experiences... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntiGravity Posted November 18, 2008 Author Share Posted November 18, 2008 QUOTE (Cybersist @ Nov 18 2008, 05:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The coals from the fire work pretty well but keep in mind 1) they are not as hot as say cocos and 2) they tend to go out if not tended too. These are my experiences...Ah, alrighty then. I also plan to make some windcovers from tin cans or something, will that help keep them going? Especially since it's going to be COLD out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1 Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 A windcover would probably make them go out faster, the reason being they are getting even less oxygen. I would suggest getting ANY type of hookah coal QL/nat otherwise its going to be a huge hassle.Good choice on the QT, just make sure its real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntiGravity Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 (edited) QUOTE (Tom16689 @ Nov 18 2008, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>A windcover would probably make them go out faster, the reason being they are getting even less oxygen. I would suggest getting ANY type of hookah coal QL/nat otherwise its going to be a huge hassle.Good choice on the QT, just make sure its real.Oh wow, didn't know that. I figure it would keep heat in and make them last longer, but that does certainly make sense. No oxygen = no fire Alright, well I'll bring with me whatever 3K QLs I have left, and I'll pick up a bag of some bulk charcoal before I leave. I'll give the campfire embers a go though at least once before trying the other two.A friend of mine bought one of the QTs from the place before. Definitely a QT so far as I can tell. So I'm pretty sure I'm getting the real deal. It is a little more expensive than some of the ones I've seen online though. Something like $50 for one. But my friend got ripped off and didn't get one of those carrying cages with it, so I'm gonna get him to toss one of those in for me as well. Then get some more Nakhla Grape perhaps, and my friend picked up the AF Watermelon for me tonight Can't wait! Edited November 19, 2008 by AntiGravity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaia.plateau Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Do you have one of those screen thingies for cooking toast etc. over a campfire? When I go camping I bring Coco Naras and light them on one of those, takes about 6 or 7 minutes tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntiGravity Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 QUOTE (gaia.plateau @ Nov 18 2008, 07:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Do you have one of those screen thingies for cooking toast etc. over a campfire? When I go camping I bring Coco Naras and light them on one of those, takes about 6 or 7 minutes tops.I'm sure someone does, and they will probably bring it. I don't have access to any cocos though (sadly). But so long as I can find a 100% natural bulk charcoal at the store, I'll go with that.And if all else fails, I've got some 3K QLs left, and I could probably pick up more when I get my QT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryno Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I've used the embers before and while it smokes fines, it can be hard finding pieces the right size and keeping them lit. On a side not, try not to have the hookah right by the fire.. Smoke from the fire can blow over your hookah, and trust me, that smoke is not good to take into the hookah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntiGravity Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 QUOTE (ryno @ Nov 19 2008, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've used the embers before and while it smokes fines, it can be hard finding pieces the right size and keeping them lit. On a side not, try not to have the hookah right by the fire.. Smoke from the fire can blow over your hookah, and trust me, that smoke is not good to take into the hookah Yea I imagine it being kinda difficult. But anything is worth a shot at least once.And noted. I hadn't thought about that happening actually. Thanks for tip!On another little side note, my same friend who went out and got me some AF Watermelon last night stopped by the cigar store in the mall here, and found that they also carry hookahs and Fantasia shisha. We're going to stop by that place this Saturday to check it out and to get some things for camping. He said the Fantasia was about $5, but I imagine that is only for a 50g box. But what are some good flavors to try out if we got any? I remember him saying they had Pink Lemonade, which I think would be pretty tasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezter6 Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 When I went camping - coals taken from the fire 1) tasted like wood and smoke, not shisha smoke. 2) lasted about 5 minues because they quickly burn out.Just take your QL or get some naturals. When we used the naturals we just tossed em deep into the orange embers for a few minutes and picked them out with some long bbq tongs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no longer welcome Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I've tried that too at the campfire, the wood chunks look so attractive to use like cola, however once place on your bowl they go out quickly. It may easy to get bulk naturals going since you have a hot fire though and separate them for use. If not, fin a good long lasting convenient QL.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inino Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 in my own experiences, the fire embers do not work good. they go out fast and give the shisha a bad taste. however the bulk coal you can get at your grocery store works amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntiGravity Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 Well the general consensus appears to be that it's not worth the trouble to use fire embers Bulk charcoal it is then!Anyone have an particular brand of bulk charcoal that works well...and is available at most convenience stores? I've heard mention of romman lemonwood coals and some olivewood coals, but I don't really think I'm gonna be able to find those nearby.Does it really matter what kind, so long as I make sure they are 100% natural? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inino Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 if you have a smart and final near you, they carry a 40 pound bag of bulk coal that is like 12 bucks. works amazing. i use this stuff every day. if you dont have a smart and final, any grocery store should carry some sort of bulk coal. probably near all the bbq stuff. might not be a 40 pound bag, it will all work the same pretty much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruver Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 inino, how do you get the bulk charcoal like that lit? Gas stove?I've got a coil burner, but I have trouble getting the bulk natural hardwood charcoals completely lit, so they sometimes go out quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inino Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 (edited) http://www.walmart.com/browse/Camping-Cook...f=125872.415779third item from the bottom, coleman 1 burner propane stove. best 20 bucks i ever spent. tank lasts about 2 months+ and costs about 2 bucks for a replacement tank. i have a small coal holder i bought from a smoke shop or i would link it to show it. maybe ill take a picture of it over the stove and post it if i can ever figure out how. if you have the coal holder and dont want to buy a propane stove pour some bbq lighter fluid on the coals and ignite it. wait til all the coals are fully red before using. ya i dont think an electric stove top will work good. Edited November 20, 2008 by inino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASUSEAN1 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 i could just imagine coals from a fire making the hookah taste more like a bonfire then a delicious kashmir peach/ nectarine combo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srawas89 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 since you are going camping and there will be a fire bulk charcoal is def. your way to go. They light the best in an open fire, just make sure you have a coal holder that you can use to place the coals over the fire this way you dont mix them up with the embers of the fire and you wont need insanely long bbq tongs to get them out. Either that or pour some lighter fluid on those coals in a fire bit and light em up that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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