How To Setup A Microphunnel

[Woodsytheowl]

Damn scalli, nice work.

add me too! These things look sweet.

[Scalliwag]

I will buy one 

Dang, looks like we have backorders

just curious Scalli, the tea candle 'foil' doesn't look like it has an ability for air flow, so how does the airflow occur? Jw

Oh, I had not poked holes in the bottom of the foil is all

still any of these left? I'd like to buy one off you.

if everybody I PM'ed gets one I think I got one left. Let's give it a bit and see where we're at.

sounds good to me, thanks.

Looks like there is one more but things are still foggy from last night. Hippy got the tall one

well, add me to the list for the next round you make! And not to hijack but how goes the herbal shisha? Any updated news on it? I know you're a busy guy so no worries it's just been a while since I saw an update. Also, if you can put me on the next list just PM me with some info I'm local so I may be able to come get it (I'm in Granbury right now). Keep up the amazing inventions man! Every week it's something new and awesome.

-Z

That would be cool. One of my best buds has a house on the Brazos about 1/4 mile from the lake (Barefoot Central)
I get to go there a lot.... at least when I have time

Damn scalli, nice work.

add me too! These things look sweet.

will do. thanks!

[Scalliwag]

I'm bumping this back up (thanks for finding it Click!) My dumbass left most of my extra hardware at my brother's house this weekend and I forgot about that. So I need to get some more o-rings to setup a phunnel style.
I have a vid processing right now that I'm getting ready to upload.
The beginning of this thread probably tells enough to get you going but the vid will help. Be sure there are enough holes in the candle light foil and/or big enough so there is enough airflow. One way to check it to draw on the hose with the foil off and sit the foil on and see if it loses airflow. If it does then poke more.

Video on it's way

[Scalliwag]

It's taking a while to process on Youtube. So give it a bit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TCnb8vWUdg

[Click]

Awesome. Thanks for the video Scalli.  Gonna try it out in a little bit.

[Scalliwag]

so have you tried again Hip? How about you Click.

[Click]

Yup.  I used the conventional set-up last night.  Packed some AF Esk. Apple and used 1 Golden Canary coal.  Worked excellent!

I was very surprised how well the coal was staying lit on the side in contact with the coal bucket. I smoked it for around an hour and called it quits because I had to go to bed.  I am going to make a coal bucket that is just like the conventional mod with smaller holes.  The tealight mod got stuck in the bowl and when I was pulling it out by the wire/guitar string handle it ripped through.

What do you suggest as a cleaning method?

[Scalliwag]

Yup.  I used the conventional set-up last night.  Packed some AF Esk. Apple and used 1 Golden Canary coal.  Worked excellent!

I was very surprised how well the coal was staying lit on the side in contact with the coal bucket. I smoked it for around an hour and called it quits because I had to go to bed.  I am going to make a coal bucket that is just like the conventional mod with smaller holes.  The tealight mod got stuck in the bowl and when I was pulling it out by the wire/guitar string handle it ripped through.

What do you suggest as a cleaning method?

That's great Click. Well except for your bucket sticking. As far as cleaning wash it with water. I would not use bleach or anything harsh. What I'm experimenting with that seems to work is letting my bowl soak in olive oil. I pull it out just above the cup the oil is in and let it drip the excess off and then wipe it dry with a paper towel.
So far so good with that.
I've had a coal bucket stick and when it did I pulled the bowl off and dumped the coal in the tray and carefully adjusted and pulled until it "uncocked" and came out.

[Scalliwag]

did you break the coal up Click? I have never used canarys so I want to note the ways people are setting up with different kinds of coals and shiishas and if they are doing anything different. About how much shisha did you use?
Did you get as good/better smoke/flavor as with other bowls using much more/less shisha/coals?
Other than the bowl being unique I'd like for others to critique the experiences they are having.

Maybe others can add to the list of questions that seem important to me about it.

1) Overall appearance-
2) Ease of setup
3) Coal per hour
4) amount of shisha
5) type of shisha
6) amount of coal needed to start/keep smoke
7) level of flavor compared to other bowls
8) thickness of smoke compared to other bowls
9) at the rate of coal/shisha per use the bowl would save money/cost more to use

Those seem to be the most important questions I can come up with. I know Stuie will be trying his shortly so I wanted to get some of those questions out there so to get feedback on those points.
Right now I'm saving at least 2/3rd of what I have been using per session with no loss of flavor or smoke volume over the same amount of time as with any of my other bowls.
That's a big claim I know. Let's see what others get.

[Click]

1) Overall appearance- Best looking bowl. Obviously
2) Ease of setup -  Easy.  It's nice to have the coal bucket and not use foil.
3) Coal per hour - Two Golden Canarys total.  One at a time, not broken up.
4) amount of shisha - 10g
5) type of shisha - AF
6) amount of coal needed to start/keep smoke - One Golden Canary
7) level of flavor compared to other bowls - Same/hard to tell.  I smoked Esk. Apple which is a mellow flavor. I'll try a stronger flavor tomorrow.
8) thickness of smoke compared to other bowls - For the amount of coals used I would say better smoke
9) at the rate of coal/shisha per use the bowl would save money/cost more to use -  Less coal for more smoke.  The air pockets above and below the shisha seem to really help.

[Scalliwag]

1) Overall appearance- Best looking bowl. Obviously
2) Ease of setup -  Easy.  It's nice to have the coal bucket and not use foil.
3) Coal per hour - Two Golden Canarys total.  One at a time, not broken up.
4) amount of shisha - 10g
5) type of shisha - AF
6) amount of coal needed to start/keep smoke - One Golden Canary
7) level of flavor compared to other bowls - Same/hard to tell.  I smoked Esk. Apple which is a mellow flavor. I'll try a stronger flavor tomorrow.
8) thickness of smoke compared to other bowls - For the amount of coals used I would say better smoke
9) at the rate of coal/shisha per use the bowl would save money/cost more to use -  Less coal for more smoke.  The air pockets above and below the shisha seem to really help.

Glad to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to write that up. We've had the same experience it seems except you did not break the coal up. I made a nicer bucket with a small stainless cup.
It's much easier than the tealight foil with no tendency to stick.
I fell asleep and forgot to pull it off the camera first but I'll do that tonite

[Matt-641]

I'll be more than happy to do a review on it once I've got it and had a chance to smoke

[Scalliwag]

you're in luck Matt, yours is on the way and you have something with it that is something no one other than me has seen yet. it is even the prototype.
so you can review that once you figure out wtf it is

actually in the vid I post tonite you will see what it is and how it works as well as the stainless coal bucket.

soaking the bowl in olive oil is something I think is working really well. its not like you need to keep it in there when you aint using it but it wouldn't hurt it I guess. especially while your first using it and breaking it in.
I agree with Rani that as they start ghosting as long as its flavors you like its a good thing.

[Matt-641]

Sweet, a new product!

[Scalliwag]

Sweet, a new product!

I was digging around trying to think of something extra to send you since you overpaid me a bit on the PayPal and I thought you'd probably consider this a decent offset. I posted a new thread but it would be kinda funny if you happened to miss that and everybody knew what you were getting but you. So I'm posting the vid link here as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xkE2ix1mXg

[Click]

 I made a nicer bucket with a small stainless cup.
It's much easier than the tealight foil with no tendency to stick.

What do you use for the conventional mod?  What is it called and what size.  I would want to use one of those for the coal bucket instead of the tealight foil.  

[Scalliwag]

 I made a nicer bucket with a small stainless cup.
It's much easier than the tealight foil with no tendency to stick.

What do you use for the conventional mod?  What is it called and what size.  I would want to use one of those for the coal bucket instead of the tealight foil.  

It's a 1-3/8" sink basin trap. They have them at Ace hardware for $2.50. Home Depot has them for $2 each and they have a little smaller holes but out of three HD's in my area all were out.

[Matt-641]

So mine came in the mail today.

I have not tried it with the mod set up, just the conventional so far. But here is my review:

1) Overall appearance- definately the best looking bowl I've seen so far. It is even better that you don't have to have have foil covering most of the bowl up durring the session, so you can enjoy it more
2) Ease of setup- easier than a regular phunnel b/c you don't have a large hole in the center to work around.
3) Coal per hour- 1 33mm AF QL last me the whole hour.
4) amount of shisha- about 5g (don't have a scale, but it's less than half I use when I pack the small phunnel w/ mod).
5) type of shisha- mix of Nakhla mizo mint and grape.
6) amount of coal needed to start/keep smoke- 1
7) level of flavor compared to other bowls- I'd say just as good as any other phunnel bowl would give you.
8) thickness of smoke compared to other bowls- pretty thick clouds.
9) at the rate of coal/shisha per use the bowl would save money/cost more to use- this will save you twice the amount of shisha and coals you would use with any small phunnel bowl.

The only thing that concerns me is the fact that the tea light tends to get stuck in the bowl. Other than that, this is one of the best bowls (if not the best) that I have used.

I will do a review for the Hose Dongle within the next few days (Since the tip of my Mya hose is a little wider than a regular metal tip, I'll have to wait until I smoke at a friend's or a lounge to do a good review).

[Scalliwag]

So mine came in the mail today.

I have not tried it with the mod set up, just the conventional so far. But here is my review:

1) Overall appearance- definately the best looking bowl I've seen so far. It is even better that you don't have to have have foil covering most of the bowl up durring the session, so you can enjoy it more
2) Ease of setup- easier than a regular phunnel b/c you don't have a large hole in the center to work around.
3) Coal per hour- 1 33mm AF QL last me the whole hour.
4) amount of shisha- about 5g (don't have a scale, but it's less than half I use when I pack the small phunnel w/ mod).
5) type of shisha- mix of Nakhla mizo mint and grape.
6) amount of coal needed to start/keep smoke- 1
7) level of flavor compared to other bowls- I'd say just as good as any other phunnel bowl would give you.
8) thickness of smoke compared to other bowls- pretty thick clouds.
9) at the rate of coal/shisha per use the bowl would save money/cost more to use- this will save you twice the amount of shisha and coals you would use with any small phunnel bowl.

The only thing that concerns me is the fact that the tea light tends to get stuck in the bowl. Other than that, this is one of the best bowls (if not the best) that I have used.

I will do a review for the Hose Dongle within the next few days (Since the tip of my Mya hose is a little wider than a regular metal tip, I'll have to wait until I smoke at a friend's or a lounge to do a good review).

Thanks for the review Matt. Did you break up the coal? Also I don't think you need to take the bucket off and on during a session.
Just put it on the first time and leave it until finished. Even if you need to dump some ashes it's easier just to pull the whole bowl off.
Not having to worry about coals sliding off is pretty neat too. I'm still learning these myself. So I'm quite sure that some of you will figure out better ways than I've found.
Could you taste the olivewood flavor when you first started smoking it? I actually enjoyed the hell out of that. When I soak the bowl in olive oil it sort of refreshes that flavor a bit.

I'm glad you like it and that it's saving your shisha. I've not determined if this theory is really correct but I'm wondering since we're using less coals to get the smoke going if that actually translates to inhaling less coal fumes/particles? It's probably not quite that simple but it seems at least on paper that would seem to be the case.
That's something to ponder

[Click]

I tasted the olivewood slighty.  Pretty cool imo.

The only thing I can think of that needs improvement is the tealight foil/coal bucket.  It gets stuck and warps which is expected because it is so thin.  So I think making the coal bucket out of the  1-3/8" sink basin trap you use for the conventional mod will be much better.

[Scalliwag]

I tasted the olivewood slighty.  Pretty cool imo.

The only thing I can think of that needs improvement is the tealight foil/coal bucket.  It gets stuck and warps which is expected because it is so thin.  So I think making the coal bucket out of the  1-3/8" sink basin trap you use for the conventional mod will be much better.

Yep, imo was the same on that. When it comes to me I do something that works and just throw it out there. There probably is flaws but in my simle way of thinking I just kinda figure the overall concept may offset any really bad stuff.
It's definenatley looking like the candlelight foil is not optimum. I hope you forgive me for that. I think you guys know me well enough to know that no malice was intended.It just happened to b what got the proof of concept off and running.
That said it's still important to me that you feel you got a good deal and if you don't you can let me know. I depend on feedback just to keep me in check.
The very best thing for me to hear are even the most subtle thoughts on how something I graded one way is not felt by others. As much as I like to think I am being subjective I know the reality may not be on that wavelength.
I had a very good friend ask me tonight how I come up with such of the wall shit and I told him I think that since I think so far in the abstract and beyond any sense of normalcy that the ideas are there.

I hope that makes sense? I'm still reeling from the whole herbal failures so I take everything to heart. That's still a project I have not given up on but my initial efforts did not indicate the problems I was yet to experience there. Failures keep me humble. But they motivate me to try hard to work past them.
Building a label and then hiding in the shadows and not facing criticism would not sit well with me.

You never said if you broke up your coal? Right no I'm thinking in this bowl that the mod is useless unless you want to smoke hours on end with friends. It's a great option to have with one bowl but right now it's not much use to me as far as being practical. If I can get a great smoke going on 5 grams of shisha and one coal I'm just beside myself. That is far from saying that is optimum for everybody and feedback is the only way have to look at this in a different light.
So come on Stuie!!! I really NEED your feedback on the bowl and hose to get this moving.

[Matt-641]

Got a chance to try out the hose dongle last night. I don't know what all to grade it on, so here's what I can come up with.

appearance- the olivewood is pretty nice looking, it matches the microphunnel quite well.
smoke- same amount of smoke you would get just using the hose.
functionality- most regular hoses have the small metal tip, so it fits really well since there is a plastic cover inside. Note: Mya and Nammor hoses (probably Grand and Razzan as well) have too large of a tip on them to use this.
overall- 9/10. Only took off a point b/c it does not fit over certain hoses. However, most hookah lounges have the regular type hoses and this would be a good little conversation piece.

[Scalliwag]

Got a chance to try out the hose dongle last night. I don't know what all to grade it on, so here's what I can come up with.

appearance- the olivewood is pretty nice looking, it matches the microphunnel quite well.
smoke- same amount of smoke you would get just using the hose.
functionality- most regular hoses have the small metal tip, so it fits really well since there is a plastic cover inside. Note: Mya and Nammor hoses (probably Grand and Razzan as well) have too large of a tip on them to use this.
overall- 9/10. Only took off a point b/c it does not fit over certain hoses. However, most hookah lounges have the regular type hoses and this would be a good little conversation piece.

I figure there is too wide a range to try to cover so I went with what I've seen most of when I've gone to lounges. They usually give out the same sized plastic pieces that I made that one around. BTW the wood is teak. It does match well with the olivewood though.
Have you been smoking any more with the micro? Oh, and you never said if you broke the coal up?

[Matt-641]

Got a chance to try out the hose dongle last night. I don't know what all to grade it on, so here's what I can come up with.

appearance- the olivewood is pretty nice looking, it matches the microphunnel quite well.
smoke- same amount of smoke you would get just using the hose.
functionality- most regular hoses have the small metal tip, so it fits really well since there is a plastic cover inside. Note: Mya and Nammor hoses (probably Grand and Razzan as well) have too large of a tip on them to use this.
overall- 9/10. Only took off a point b/c it does not fit over certain hoses. However, most hookah lounges have the regular type hoses and this would be a good little conversation piece.

I figure there is too wide a range to try to cover so I went with what I've seen most of when I've gone to lounges. They usually give out the same sized plastic pieces that I made that one around. BTW the wood is teak. It does match well with the olivewood though.
Have you been smoking any more with the micro? Oh, and you never said if you broke the coal up?

I actually smoked out of it at my friend's house too b/c they wanted to see it and see how it smoked. I used the mod set up for that smoke, didn't seem to really make a whole lot of a difference, but it's nice to have none the less, especially since I know exactly where to pack it to with that set up (tray sits nicely right on top of the mod (bell)). I didn't break up the QL the first time, but once I had been smoking for a little and it was time to ash, the coal broke apart on it's own. Next time I'll try and break it up before the session and see if that does anything different.

I'm not too worried about the hose dongle not fitting on one of my own hoses, but I will bring it with me whenever I'm going to smoke somewhere else just in case. Edited May 3, 2009 by Matt-641

[Scalliwag]

I actually smoked out of it at my friend's house too b/c they wanted to see it and see how it smoked. I used the mod set up for that smoke, didn't seem to really make a whole lot of a difference, but it's nice to have none the less, especially since I know exactly where to pack it to with that set up (tray sits nicely right on top of the mod (bell)). I didn't break up the QL the first time, but once I had been smoking for a little and it was time to ash, the coal broke apart on it's own. Next time I'll try and break it up before the session and see if that does anything different.

I'm not too worried about the hose dongle not fitting on one of my own hoses, but I will bring it with me whenever I'm going to smoke somewhere else just in case.

About the only advantage I see with the phunnel mod opposed to the conventional setup is getting more shisha in. I'm still have not had enough sessions that I smoked long enough to toast a bowl down with the conv setup.
How long was the smoke session? So far so good it sounds like?

It will be interesting the first time you take that to a lounge and use it in that environment. My guess it that it will get a few looks.