First Timer Here Asking For Some Help

[Uker]

Hi everyone, first post here and I've tried reading a bunch of older threads relating to my kind of topic, but didn't come up with anything.


So, heres my situation: I am close to purchasing a custom hookah off of Sahara Smoke. Now before the hate brigade comes I would like to say that I really like the look of their bowls / vases and they also have cobra hoses which is what I am aiming for. I figured it would be cheapest to just buy a custom hookah there then get a hookah of another brand that you guys seem to enjoy so much.

I have tried looking at the brands I've seen in other threads but honestly nothing really caught my eye as far as looks go, or as my wants / needs. I want a 3 hose hookah that is some what tall (My custom one will be 34 inches if I get it). Now here comes my predicament.....is it possible to buy another brands stem and place it in a vase from Sahara? The only I want is http://saharasmoke.com/store/product.php?p...=261&page=1

Would it be possible to buy another stem and use a grommet to make it airtight? From what I have read here and based on your guys' experience the stem is what causes the most problems from Sahara.

Thank you so much, and please take it easy if its extremely noobish

[inino]

most stems will fit in that vase yes. you may need a smaller grommet though is the only thing. I suggest this one http://hookahcompany.com/mya_expandable_va...t_2375_prd1.htm you can adjust it for any stem you want. Since you are very stoked on the base and pipe I wont try and convert you into a KM/Mya robot. Best of luck though, and if you need more advice feel free to ask.

[Sapphire]

Actually, i LOVE My sahara! I got the 3 hose Candy Stripe one and its just wonderfull. ( see my gallery pics )

Not sure about all that other stuff.


Sapph *

[Thermo]

I do like my Sahara. But I do also have a handy roll of teflon sealing tape. I have this one, in 'single hose' form:

[Uker]

Well, the bowl I'm getting is a vortex which I have smoked before and is very very good in my opinion.

Where does the stem leak Thermo? Does it just need more gaskets or am I missing something entirely about the Sahara quality ? I am just a little scared because its almost $130 and if it leaks and doesn't pull well I will be very disappointed. I'm trying to do some damage control about the stems. If the stem is the problem I will just get a cheap one in the Sahara customized and go out and buy a higher quality stem somewhere and some grommets to fit.

lol'd @ inino robot comment . I kind of noticed those are the go-to brands around here ...for a good reason I am sure, but to each his own right !

[Thermo]

Where does the stem leak Thermo? Does it just need more gaskets or am I missing something entirely about the Sahara quality ?

On mine, particularly, there are leaks at the joint there the icky-threaded downstem mates with the rest of the stem - this one is hard to stop, even with teflon tape - but it's minimal. The other problem area is at the very top, where a bowl-fitting screws onto the main stem. I had to tape that one up good, and tighten it very tight. The tray mates in there somewhere as well, and it can be wobbly. And the bowl-adapter fitting itself is too small for the bowl I have and the thin grommet it came with, so I wrapped a bunch of tape under there to beef it out. It took a little setup and tuning, but now it works great, (and looks great!)

The threaded tiers in the stem proper didn't give me any problems for leakage, but there were some sharp threads in there and loose pieces left over from tapping them that can cut your fingers.

I had no leaks whatsoever with the stem/base junction. It came with a nice three-ringed white silicone gasket that seals very well.

[Uker]

Looking around I found this stem : http://www.hookahcompany.com/mya_hookah_stem_2244_prd1.htm

Good brand, looks sweet, and is 3 hose 'capable'

Thoughts?

and thanks again I appreciate your help so much guys....especially for a new member such as me

[JByer323]

I promise not to hate too much on you, but I'd like to point something out here.

$130 for the hookah, and then $50 for that Mya stem you like, if you're willing to drop those kind of monies, I would be looking at a more superior brand...

I get the fact that you dig their vases, and hey, if that's what makes you happy, go for it. I'm just saying in terms of a long term, quality investment, there are probably some better solutions out there...

[Sapphire]

Hey!! my sister has the vortex and she loves it. We have never had a problem with it thus far.

[Uker]

I promise not to hate too much on you, but I'd like to point something out here.

$130 for the hookah, and then $50 for that Mya stem you like, if you're willing to drop those kind of monies, I would be looking at a more superior brand...

I get the fact that you dig their vases, and hey, if that's what makes you happy, go for it. I'm just saying in terms of a long term, quality investment, there are probably some better solutions out there...

Well if I did buy a mya stem I would drop the 23 inch stem at ssc and get a cheaper one. Or maybe just order parts individually from the different sites.

[xipander]

I have the Sahara infinity, it was the first hookah I got, and it worked great for about 3 months, then the it's almost impossible to clean the stem with the shape it's in and it get's gunked up _easy_ with really juicy tobacco and mine's even starting to rust/corrode some. But the main thing is the base looks awesome, but the Sahara down stem is soo short you have to fill it up to where it starts coming up the main pipe, if you get what I'm saying, even with such a big vase, there's not much room for smoke. But more importantly then that since the stems are cheap and easy to replace, the vase since it pancakes out at the bottom, if there's gunk in the water and you go to pour it out and it sticks to the top side of the pancake part and you don't see it and wash it out right then, then it's not coming out, it flattens out to steep to get a brush on the top part and the far sides of it.