HellCat Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Hey everyone, I was looking through the forum and saw a few topics about using regular bbq charcoal instead of normal hookah charcoal. Someone mentioned using Best Of The West 100% natural mesquite coals, and avoiding briquettes I have never used bbq charcoal on hookah before. What is using natural lump coal like? Is it similar to hookah charcoal? What are its drawbacks?Any ideas on modifying it to smoke better if there is a drawback? Like baking, drying, adding additives to it in a certain way? Lets find a way to make life cheaper! Well for however long the damn economy stays this way, and as long as there are poor college students Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modisess Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 QUOTE (HellCat @ Mar 15 2009, 09:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hey everyone, I was looking through the forum and saw a few topics about using regular bbq charcoal instead of normal hookah charcoal. Someone mentioned using Best Of The West 100% natural mesquite coals, and avoiding briquettes I have never used bbq charcoal on hookah before. What is using natural lump coal like? Is it similar to hookah charcoal? What are its drawbacks?Any ideas on modifying it to smoke better if there is a drawback? Like baking, drying, adding additives to it in a certain way? Lets find a way to make life cheaper! Well for however long the damn economy stays this way, and as long as there are poor college students natural lump charcoal, if you know how to use them properly is probably one of the cheapest and best coals you can use for hookah. there is no need to modify it, the only modification that is needed on the coals is that you should break em into smaller pieces, since the coals come in huge tree trunk like chunks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 QUOTE (modisess @ Mar 16 2009, 03:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>natural lump charcoal, if you know how to use them properly is probably one of the cheapest and best coals you can use for hookah.Sooo.... how do I use them properly... lol What is the proper technique? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikemyusername Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 i got a big bag of coal from publix for like 5 dollars.just wish i could get them to light...even carb spray and a chimeney wouldnt do it.on the burner they wouldnt even light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TiLLooR Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Just set them up like your going to have a barbecue. Put them in what ever container your going to use and try to pile them in a pyramid with bits of newspaper amongst them. Light the paper and keep them sheltered while the paper burns and heats the coals and add more paper if you need it. It can take a while to get them going like 20-30 mins but when you get a batch done your set for the night. Thats how I get mine going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modisess Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 QUOTE (HellCat @ Mar 16 2009, 02:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (modisess @ Mar 16 2009, 03:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>natural lump charcoal, if you know how to use them properly is probably one of the cheapest and best coals you can use for hookah.Sooo.... how do I use them properly... lol What is the proper technique?well for me i usually break them into smaller pieces first. then use a gas stove to burn them, but you have to make sure that there is proper air circulation around the coal when you burn them (let the coals "float" above the flame) and this will help the coal to burn through. im not sure about using coil burners though, never tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 So I cant just simply light them with a lighter? Ah ok. So will I have to use something similar to Scalli's coal burner?Will adding fuel to them and then lighting them work? Or is that going to be toxic when used on a hookah?Lets say adding fuel to them and then lighting them works, but its toxic. So why not just put the toxic coals in a tiny, tiny hand-folded foil "pan" over the holes in a regular hookah bowl cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TiLLooR Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 QUOTE (HellCat @ Mar 16 2009, 03:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So I cant just simply light them with a lighter? Ah ok. So will I have to use something similar to Scalli's coal burner?Will adding fuel to them and then lighting them work? Or is that going to be toxic when used on a hookah?Lets say adding fuel to them and then lighting them works, but its toxic. So why not just put the toxic coals in a tiny, tiny hand-folded foil "pan" over the holes in a regular hookah bowl cover?Adding lighting fluid makes them taste shitty. You will not be able to light them with a lighter it takes too long. I kind of get what you mean in the last paragraph but you would have to try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Guys, someone PM'd me about using an electric coil burner to light the natural coals a lot faster. I might start a whole new thread so that evryone knows about this. He says you can get one from your nearest walgreens for like $9. He said the time it takes to light natural coals is so short that when you put the coals on the burner, prep the hookah, its ready by the time your finished preparing the hookah (i.e. putting tobacco, water, foil, holes). Heres a link to the burner. He said it has to be a coil not a flat top burner for some reason.Walgreens $9 Electric Burner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushrat Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 That burner will work. the coil burners allow air to bass under and around the coal. The flat top burners will work, but not as well. Natural caols takle a long time to get started all the way. They have to be flipped regualarly bevause they go out on the down side touching the foil, and if you flip them and the side has gone out the taste is nasty as they relight.Also you have to keep puffing. I have found they tend to go out if not constantly puffed on. Traditional: yes. Easy: no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srawas89 Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 When I use natural lump charcoal I put the charcoal in a coffee can with the bigger pieces on the bottom and pour some lighter fluid on them and light em up. Fan them for a bit and in ab 10min they are ready and should last u the night. I personally dont detect a change in flavor when I smoke with natural lump and use lighter fluid to light them. O and just make sure you have the coffee can and charcoal on a surface that you dont really care about and that will handle the heat ( A metal tray should work) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inino Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (mushrat @ Mar 16 2009, 08:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That burner will work. the coil burners allow air to bass under and around the coal. The flat top burners will work, but not as well. Natural caols takle a long time to get started all the way. They have to be flipped regualarly bevause they go out on the down side touching the foil, and if you flip them and the side has gone out the taste is nasty as they relight.Also you have to keep puffing. I have found they tend to go out if not constantly puffed on. Traditional: yes. Easy: no.there is a much easier way. get one of the coal holders with holes on the bottom. break up the coals and put them in it. place it on a small outdoor camping style stovetop. the coal burner will take forever to get a coal lit all the way through. when you get the first batch going turn off the burner and then you can just add more as you go. for 12 bucks for a 40 pound bag its ok to waste a little. and if you have alot of coals going you can just throw them back in the coal holder if they go out and put fresh ones on top. If you have a smart and final near you go there or probably any warehouse store, best of the west kinda suck and go out. there are much better. or hit up your local hookah bar for a bag. alot hookah bars use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Is there any way to make a coal into a quick-light one? Like an additive or mod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinite Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (HellCat @ Mar 16 2009, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Is there any way to make a coal into a quick-light one? Like an additive or mod?I wouldn't mess with it. Any chemical that you would add to the coal has the chance of being harmful to you (especially since you're tinkering with it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (inino @ Mar 16 2009, 06:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>there is a much easier way. get one of the coal holders with holes on the bottom. break up the coals and put them in it. place it on a small outdoor camping style stovetop. the coal burner will take forever to get a coal lit all the way through. when you get the first batch going turn off the burner and then you can just add more as you go. for 12 bucks for a 40 pound bag its ok to waste a little. and if you have alot of coals going you can just throw them back in the coal holder if they go out and put fresh ones on top. If you have a smart and final near you go there or probably any warehouse store, best of the west kinda suck and go out. there are much better. or hit up your local hookah bar for a bag. alot hookah bars use them.Can you or someone please re-write this? I cannot decipher what you are talking about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjako Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ucownikpQThis forum poster always talks about using natural bulk...he heats them up in his vid above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil's butt boy. Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (redjako @ Mar 17 2009, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ucownikpQThis forum poster always talks about using natural bulk...he heats them up in his vid above.We're sorry, this video is no longer available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjako Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (Dreamer_1969 @ Mar 17 2009, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (redjako @ Mar 17 2009, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ucownikpQThis forum poster always talks about using natural bulk...he heats them up in his vid above.We're sorry, this video is no longer available. LIES! I just clicked it...Or, just youtube searchBest khalil mamoonIts the first hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil's butt boy. Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (redjako @ Mar 17 2009, 03:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (Dreamer_1969 @ Mar 17 2009, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (redjako @ Mar 17 2009, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ucownikpQThis forum poster always talks about using natural bulk...he heats them up in his vid above.We're sorry, this video is no longer available. LIES! I just clicked it...Or, just youtube searchBest khalil mamoonIts the first hit.sorry I think it was a youtube messup I had to click play in HD for it to work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 (edited) Guys, I still can't figure out why some say naturals will last a short while, while others say it'll last a whole session?So, do I put them on an open flame, or on electric coils? I don't care which is faster to light, I just want the one that makes the best smoke or longest lasting coal. Edited March 17, 2009 by HellCat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Either, but electric coils will get fucked up quick heating natural coals on them. Holding a cigarette lighter up to them to light them sounds like an exercise in futility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjako Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 QUOTE (HellCat @ Mar 17 2009, 12:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Guys, I still can't figure out why some say naturals will last a short while, while others say it'll last a whole session?So, do I put them on an open flame, or on electric coils? I don't care which is faster to light, I just want the one that makes the best smoke or longest lasting coal.These coals typically come in irregular shapes and sizes, its like having a bunch of different sized coals..thats going to be a big factor in the duration of your session.The way the coals are made (wood type etc) could have an effect.Its pretty simple, just make sure they are Cherry red throughout, and a lil flame on top, your good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookah hippie Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 How long they last depends on size but they natural bulk coals are extremeley useful when on a budget I light mine on a single coil burner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookworm Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 could natural coals be lit using self-lighting coals? I currently use a self-light to light my EZ-lights which I use to smoke with. Would this method work for natural coals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellCat Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 QUOTE (hookah hippie @ Mar 17 2009, 07:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>How long they last depends on size but they natural bulk coals are extremeley useful when on a budget I light mine on a single coil burnerHow long do you keep it on the coil burner? Do you flip it at all while its heating up on the coil?Does the lit coal last long enough on a hookah? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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