Competive Coal Review Up

[Zinite]

Just posted a competitive coal review. Pitted John's Chron. Hookah Natural Coals against Starlight Natural Cocos. Let me know if you have any questions.

[Bye bye now have fun]

what about vs coconaras?

[Zinite]

what about vs coconaras?

Ran out of cocos 2 days ago or I would've included them too. I'd say Starlights are just as good as Cocos... but Cocos last about 20 minutes longer than both Chron. Hookah and Starlights.

[GreatPigHookah]

what about vs coconaras?

Ran out of cocos 2 days ago or I would've included them too. I'd say Starlights are just as good as Cocos... but Cocos last about 20 minutes longer than both Chron. Hookah and Starlights.

Thanks for posting that review. In fairness, you should have put the CH coal on the inner two coils of the burner just like you did the starlight. That might make a bit of difference.

[Zinite]

what about vs coconaras?

Ran out of cocos 2 days ago or I would've included them too. I'd say Starlights are just as good as Cocos... but Cocos last about 20 minutes longer than both Chron. Hookah and Starlights.

Thanks for posting that review. In fairness, you should have put the CH coal on the inner two coils of the burner just like you did the starlight. That might make a bit of difference.

Awhile ago I tested if that makes a difference, and found that it really didn't. I used Cocos and put them all at different spots on the burner, and they all finished lighting at the same time.

[GreatPigHookah]

Awhile ago I tested if that makes a difference, and found that it really didn't. I used Cocos and put them all at different spots on the burner, and they all finished lighting at the same time.

Hmmm. The reason I mentioned it was because if you look at your photos the edge of the CH coal on the outside isn't lit nearly as well as the inside edge...there IS a lot of heat loss on the outside edge.

[Zinite]

Awhile ago I tested if that makes a difference, and found that it really didn't. I used Cocos and put them all at different spots on the burner, and they all finished lighting at the same time.

Hmmm. The reason I mentioned it was because if you look at your photos the edge of the CH coal on the outside isn't lit nearly as well as the inside edge...there IS a lot of heat loss on the outside edge.

I'd have to disagree with you there. On these coils, it's a big loop. The outer ring where it goes back in to the housing is going to be just as hot as the inner ring coming from the housing. Pretty sure at least...

[blastoffbrett]

Thanks for this review. I'd been hesitant to try another coal after I found cocos. I think I'll put in an order for some starlights right now.

[erufiku]

Thanks, nice review! I'll be sticking to Coconaras... only because they're available locally.

mods: I know we're not uptight about spelling. But could someone correct the topic to "comparative"? First time I read it, I wasn't sure if it was a comparison or competition

[Zinite]

Thanks, nice review! I'll be sticking to Coconaras... only because they're available locally.

mods: I know we're not uptight about spelling. But could someone correct the topic to "comparative"? First time I read it, I wasn't sure if it was a comparison or competition

Woops... hah...

At least the topic has it spelled correctly. Edited December 11, 2008 by Zinite

[joytron]

hey thanks for the review, I am really interested in trying the chron coals.

[Tom1]

Nicely done review. Why do the coals look so unlit? When I light starlights they are glowing when I take them off the burner.

[Zinite]

Nicely done review. Why do the coals look so unlit? When I light starlights they are glowing when I take them off the burner.

My best guess is the camera flash. They were glowing orange when I took those pictures (except towards they end they were getting ashy-gray.

[Click]

Great review.

Just to let people know if you buy 3 boxes of the natural hookahjohn coals for $36.99 it turns out to be $.093 per coal.

[Zinite]

Great review.

Just to let people know if you buy 3 boxes of the natural hookahjohn coals for $36.99 it turns out to be $.093 per coal.

After I finish the 3 boxes of Starlights I have, I'm probably going to stick with John's coals. The coals perform pretty much the same... I just like supporting someone who frequents the forum. John is a pretty cool guy too.

[Click]

Plus I can't find Starlights on anywhere other than hookah-life and Mnhookah.  Haven't seen a package deal on starlights on their sites.

[Zinite]

Plus I can't find Starlights on anywhere other than hookah-life and Mnhookah. Haven't seen a package deal on starlights on their sites.

I got mine from hookah-life on Black Friday.

[joytron]

hopefully a competitive Chron Nats vs. Ql is in the works?

[Zinite]

hopefully a competitive Chron Nats vs. Ql is in the works?

If you want one, I can do it. I'll tell you right now though, Chron. QL are larger, burn hotter, last longer, ash clings better than the Nats. But, because it burns hotter, the bowls don't last as long.

[GreatPigHookah]

Awhile ago I tested if that makes a difference, and found that it really didn't. I used Cocos and put them all at different spots on the burner, and they all finished lighting at the same time.

Hmmm. The reason I mentioned it was because if you look at your photos the edge of the CH coal on the outside isn't lit nearly as well as the inside edge...there IS a lot of heat loss on the outside edge.

I'd have to disagree with you there. On these coils, it's a big loop. The outer ring where it goes back in to the housing is going to be just as hot as the inner ring coming from the housing. Pretty sure at least...

The coil itself is putting out the same amount of heat, true, but the coals on the inside are completely surrounded by radiant heat versus the one on the outside which obviously is not, and it shows in how it is lighting more quickly on the inside versus the outside edge of that coal. There is a lot of heat loss on that outside edge to the environment. Practically, it may not make enough difference to matter, but it is enough difference to show on the coals in how they are lighting, because you can see the evidence in your photos. You can make them light even faster without having to flip them if you make a tin-foil tipi and place over them - it will trap all that radiant heat and light them completely pretty much all over the coal. I usually only turn the burner up half way and use a tinfoil tipi. I haven't timed it, but I bet it would cut out a minute or so of lighting time, not that it matters that much anyway, I do it just so I don't have to flip them.

[Zinite]

Awhile ago I tested if that makes a difference, and found that it really didn't. I used Cocos and put them all at different spots on the burner, and they all finished lighting at the same time.

Hmmm. The reason I mentioned it was because if you look at your photos the edge of the CH coal on the outside isn't lit nearly as well as the inside edge...there IS a lot of heat loss on the outside edge.

I'd have to disagree with you there. On these coils, it's a big loop. The outer ring where it goes back in to the housing is going to be just as hot as the inner ring coming from the housing. Pretty sure at least...

The coil itself is putting out the same amount of heat, true, but the coals on the inside are completely surrounded by radiant heat versus the one on the outside which obviously is not, and it shows in how it is lighting more quickly on the inside versus the outside edge of that coal. There is a lot of heat loss on that outside edge to the environment. Practically, it may not make enough difference to matter, but it is enough difference to show on the coals in how they are lighting, because you can see the evidence in your photos. You can make them light even faster without having to flip them if you make a tin-foil tipi and place over them - it will trap all that radiant heat and light them completely pretty much all over the coal. I usually only turn the burner up half way and use a tinfoil tipi. I haven't timed it, but I bet it would cut out a minute or so of lighting time, not that it matters that much anyway, I do it just so I don't have to flip them.

Thanks for the more detailed explanation. I'll try and time it again tonight, with both coals in the center. I only kept them apart for the review so you guys could easily distinguish which coals were which. From experience though, using two whole boxes of Chron. Hookah Naturals, I can tell you that they usually take 6 minutes (+/- 1 minute) to light. The Starlights do light noticeably faster.

[ambuletzd2h]

i just got some of the starlights and im pretty pleased with them. they light on the coil in about 3-4 minutes and last a good amount of time.

[GreatPigHookah]

Thanks for the more detailed explanation. I'll try and time it again tonight, with both coals in the center. I only kept them apart for the review so you guys could easily distinguish which coals were which. From experience though, using two whole boxes of Chron. Hookah Naturals, I can tell you that they usually take 6 minutes (+/- 1 minute) to light. The Starlights do light noticeably faster.

Yeah, from your experience with them, it sounds like it won't make any practical difference where they are. You really should try the foil tipi thing, if you haven't. It's handy to have around if, for no other reason, in case you forget to start some coals or a second round of coals and need to get them going in a hurry. BTW, Who sells the Starlight coals?

[Zinite]

Thanks for the more detailed explanation. I'll try and time it again tonight, with both coals in the center. I only kept them apart for the review so you guys could easily distinguish which coals were which. From experience though, using two whole boxes of Chron. Hookah Naturals, I can tell you that they usually take 6 minutes (+/- 1 minute) to light. The Starlights do light noticeably faster.

Yeah, from your experience with them, it sounds like it won't make any practical difference where they are. You really should try the foil tipi thing, if you haven't. It's handy to have around if, for no other reason, in case you forget to start some coals or a second round of coals and need to get them going in a hurry. BTW, Who sells the Starlight coals?

I got mine from hookah-life.com, mnhookahs.com also sells them.