Coal Debate.

[fifthmanstanding]

I ran out of coals the other night and a sculpture major friend of mine suggested using coke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel) for reference). I immediately objected as my general understanding is that one danger of using coke forges (we dabble in blacksmithing) is the amount of carbon monoxide and sulfur that it puts off and how toxic that is if not properly ventilated. The idea of directly inhaling that is ridiculous. This started a debate and we both shrugged it off. Point being, does anyone know where I can obtain an analysis of some sort of the percentages of carbon monoxide and/or sulfur released by natural hookah coals like Nara's so that I can contrast it to forge coke. I'd appreciate any other percentages and numbers you guys could throw in for the related arguement as the only thing my friend listens to is the quoting of numbers.

[indian_villager]

I ran out of coals the other night and a sculpture major friend of mine suggested using coke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_(fuel) for reference). I immediately objected as my general understanding is that one danger of using coke forges (we dabble in blacksmithing) is the amount of carbon monoxide and sulfur that it puts off and how toxic that is if not properly ventilated. The idea of directly inhaling that is ridiculous. This started a debate and we both shrugged it off. Point being, does anyone know where I can obtain an analysis of some sort of the percentages of carbon monoxide and/or sulfur released by natural hookah coals like Nara's so that I can contrast it to forge coke. I'd appreciate any other percentages and numbers you guys could throw in for the related arguement as the only thing my friend listens to is the quoting of numbers.

There shouldn't be any Sulfur in charcoal. All it is, is anaerobically burnt wood. Coke is a byproduct of the petroleum industry.....Don't smoke with the coke.

[AKammenzind]

Geeze, tell your friend to try it and win the darwin award. In my experience, charcoal just burns a lot cleaner than coke. Really though the main problem with using coke instead of charcoal for hookah I'd think would be that it just doesn't like to stay lit as well. You'd really need to keep the air coming through or else it'd go out pretty fast, and if you did that you'd burn the tobacco up.

[Bye bye now have fun]

also coke burns alot hotter than charcoal.

[SimplexCoda]

i would say if your buddy thinks its safe then try it out.

[Bye bye now have fun]

i would say if your buddy thinks its safe then try it out.

im sure thats a civil suit waiting to happen once they die/totally destroy their lungs

[fifthmanstanding]

I don't disagree with any of you but what I'm looking for is an analytical document showing the percentage releases of gases from hookah coal. I saw a few floating around here a good year ago but I can't for the life of me find them online. The numbers I'm looking for are usually in documents of studies conducted by medical organizations.

[AKammenzind]

IMO your best bet might actually be to check Anvilfire... they could probably get you some good documents about what exactly different fuels put off as they burn, but at least you could probably get better direction than from here.

[TizaNabi]

Charcoal is the missing ingredient to shisha smokers which anti-smokers don't talk about!I've smoked 8 years and to me the most dangerous must be the charcoal, why use something even dirtier than waiting a day and buy at a store?