Hookah Misconceptions

[The Dude Abides]

What is that, a Tool chorus or something?
 
Diffuser = TRUF

[Sonthert]

[quote name='The Dude Abides']The diffuser is proven at least in my eyes.  I placed one on both of my hookahs and far prefer it to just an open stem.  In my opinion and due to my own experiences it does indeed make the smoke less harsh and provide better filtration.[/quote]You know, I have wondered if it works or not. On paper, I can;t think of a theoretical reason it shouldn't...maximizing surface area to volume ratio...increasing diffusion rates...can't say. Every theory needs an experiment! There was a theory that the Earth was flat...they found out otherwise.HD, I reiterrate...a GOD!

[HookahDuck]

I cant provide direct scientific data on the subject. However, I have compared the two directly using the same hookah, same coals, same tobacco, ect ect. I found that while using my diffuser(magic marker cap with holes drilled in it works very well with a stargate), my buzz was quite noticably less than when I had an open downpipe. The smoke characteristics were more or less unchanged, but the buzz was definatly less strong (Nakhla orange, which usually puts me on my ass). This would imply that the greater surface area of the smoke does infact provide better filtration. I wish I had a way to check the ammount of nicotine in the base water after each session to really have proof.

[DyingAthiest]

[quote name='HookahDuck']Hahaha, I've been thinking about posting this for a while. 4. The whole headache thing confused the hell out of me.14. I would ONLY smoke a hookah which had ice in the base.[/quote]
Whats the whole headache thing?
And i was wondering what your misconception on the ice thing was, does it really not make a difference or what?

[EsOva]

i think the ice thing is just preferance..my hookah hits well either way !

[Cornellius]

Using ice is good, makes smoke thicker, I prefer to put my bottle in  freezer and wait till ice crystalls are visible then smoke it but what I found out is, keeping body cold helps better but keeping it ice cold for 2 hours would be a problem.

[HookahDuck]

the "headache thing" is the very unpleasent experience one has after smoking too much (or too strong) tobacco. The Co2 you are inhaling from the coal only worrsens the situation... but on the board, we have pretty much determined that a higher nicotine contect ma'assel(that is unwashed) will make people naucious more quickly than one with a lower nicotine content. I used to not understand why I would sometimes feel sick after smoking for an extending period of time.You all can say what you want about the ice- but both common sense and experimentation will prove you wrong. Even if a diffuser is used, very little surface area of the smoke recieves any contact with the water(and only for an EXTREMELY short period of time). I have smoked 2 identical (seperate) hookahs, same coals, same tobacco, ect, right next to eachother. One was full of ice water, the other room temperature. I had two of my friends close their eyes and take a draw from each. Neither could tell a difference. Nor could I. Try smoking your hookah with no water in the base at all one time. Its quite strange... there is very little difference in the actuall smoke itself. Just goes to show you how little the water actually does, regardless of temperature.

[HookahDuck]

By the way, Cornellius: I forgot to mention. A few board member have cracked their glass bases by putting them in the freezer. I would not recommend it, unless you have an acryllic base (which would not retain temperature for more than a minute or two at most). Even still.. see above post =P.If anyone has ever smoked with a "chiller" hookah(which would have more effect on smoke temperature than water in the base), you will see my point. Almost no difference what-so-ever. I would like to do a blind experiment using two identical chiller's one day...

[The Dude Abides]

I always use ice because I notice a huge difference between that and just using plain water.  I doubt that having ice in the vase actually cools the smoke as it passes through the water, but it does lower the tempurature of air/smoke above the water.  Indeed, it cools the entire vase environment.  Basically, it cools all of the smoke that remains in the vase for a few moments after you take a draw, so that by the time you take your next draw you will be inhaling vastly colder smoke.  I don't just believe this, I can truly feel it.  This does not occur when I don't put ice in my vase.  I prefer it cool.

[ravencadwell]

I tend to like putting ice in my hookah. I can tell a difference when I smoke, but that's just me.

[Cornellius]

[quote name='HookahDuck']By the way, Cornellius: I forgot to mention. A few board member have cracked their glass bases by putting them in the freezer.[/quote]Damn! Thanks for warning dude, I will keep my base away from freezer!