bradleyclark86 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 So I finally ordered a phunnel. Not sure if it's a small or medium. Here's a pic with a quarter for comparison.[attachment=2836:phunnel.jpg]Anyways, here's what happened. I loaded it with Al-Waha watermelon (amazing flavor, huge smoke with my vortex bowl). I don't have/use a scalli, but I've read that huge smoke and flavor can still be gotten without one. I packed up the bowl, fairly loose. I pulled the foil as tight as possible but I found that the weight of the coal still pushed it down a bit. I use 3K if that helps. I put one coal on and it did alright. Thin smoke though. I added a second and it did better. Added a third and it was spot on. Amazing smoke and flavor...but not for long. I started getting light headed (more so than a nictine buzz), nauseaus (sp?)...felt like I was gonna chuck. I know it was CO poisoning. I've just never heard of this happening in other posts I've read. Any thoughts? I want to make the most of this bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voski Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 To much coal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremyk Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 have you tried using different coals and seeing if the same thing happens.(ex. like a natural coconut coals such as coconara's) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldier92 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I just got my phunnel a few days ago and I've been using three kings on it too. I finally found today the best way to do it.1.Break the coals in half2.Place one half on each side of the bowl 3.Rotate the coals around the bowl throughout the session. If you are using the smaller coals (33mm?) I use two coals broken in half placed in each quarter of the bowl and then take 2 halves off once the smoke gets thick. If you use the big ones (44mm?) I just use one and get plenty of smoke. Another thing I found was that it really wasn't necessary to fully pack the bowl. When I smoke alone with it I only pack to the rim of the inner hole thing.Don't get discouraged, my last two sessions with this thing have been amazing, best smoke rings I've ever blown. And I'm still a beginner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyclark86 Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 QUOTE (jeremyk @ Jan 10 2009, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>have you tried using different coals and seeing if the same thing happens.(ex. like a natural coconut coals such as coconara's)I know I need to upgrade. But being stuck in a dorm room, I need to rely on quick lights. Heating coils for natural lights are hard to come by.QUOTE (soldier92 @ Jan 10 2009, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I just got my phunnel a few days ago and I've been using three kings on it too. I finally found today the best way to do it.1.Break the coals in half2.Place one half on each side of the bowl 3.Rotate the coals around the bowl throughout the session. If you are using the smaller coals (33mm?) I use two coals broken in half placed in each quarter of the bowl and then take 2 halves off once the smoke gets thick. If you use the big ones (44mm?) I just use one and get plenty of smoke. Another thing I found was that it really wasn't necessary to fully pack the bowl. When I smoke alone with it I only pack to the rim of the inner hole thing.Don't get discouraged, my last two sessions with this thing have been amazing, best smoke rings I've ever blown. And I'm still a beginner.I use the 33mm coals too. I might try that next time. It was just a bad first impression with a bowl I've heard nothing but good reviews on. Also, does foil choice make a difference? I'm using some generic brand foil I got at Wal-Mart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoop Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 i actually used 3 kings for hours on end (literally like 7 hours one day) and didn't get a CO headache. did you wait till the coal was no longer black?personally id pack more and use heavy duty foil (i know it wasn't part of the question but i have to interject anyhow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyclark86 Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 QUOTE (Scoop @ Jan 10 2009, 04:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>i actually used 3 kings for hours on end (literally like 7 hours one day) and didn't get a CO headache. did you wait till the coal was no longer black?personally id pack more and use heavy duty foil (i know it wasn't part of the question but i have to interject anyhow)3K is the only coal I've ever used and this is the second CO problem I've ever had (in roughly one year's time). Once the coal is done sparking, I'll blow on it until it's red all over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb1021 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 make sure the coal is placed on the outer rim of the bowl, do not place near the center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyclark86 Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 QUOTE (cb1021 @ Jan 10 2009, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>make sure the coal is placed on the outer rim of the bowl, do not place near the center.I took care of that. About an 1/8" of the coal was hanging over the edge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplexCoda Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 The best way to manage heat for any bowl is to break up the coal and spread it around the bowl. With a phunnel its not gonna start just as instaly as a normal bowl will be. Also you dont want to put too much heat on a phunnel cause it stores heat like crazy, mush has told me of phunnels that smoked for like 3 or 4 minutes with no coals on them at all. Trust me you can get sick from have too much heat on your bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyclark86 Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 I guess I should just treat it how I treated my vortex bowl. I would put a single 33mm on to start with and move it around the edge as the flavor got thin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentBob Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 make sure you're not just putting the WHOLE coal on, break it in half. i have a small phunnel and use 3 halves of a 40mm 3K throughout a 1.5hr or so session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyclark86 Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 Well, I think I finally the hang of the bowl. I used the tea-light candle scalli idea. Many thanks to whoever first thought of it. I found that breaking 2 33mm coals into halves and then placing them around the edge of the bowl works best. Thick smoke, great flavor, zero harshness. I LOVE THIS BOWL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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