Using Water While Packing A Bowl

[JDHarding]

For a while I was using water while packing a bowl. I'd clean my stirring fork, then stir the shisha, then clean the fork.. then I'd wet my fingers, pick up the shisha and put it in the bowl and pack if, then clean my fingers off. Is this little bit of water getting into the shisha and bowl a bad thing? I never really thought about it till just now.

[Canon]

are your bowls bad? personally i start the coal, pack the bowl then wash my fingers. i shake my tupperware to mix the shisha instead of stirring it.

[JDHarding]

are your bowls bad? personally i start the coal, pack the bowl then wash my fingers. i shake my tupperware to mix the shisha instead of stirring it.

Not really. They seem okay like always. I don't notice any difference between using and not using water, but I was just curious 'cause of how finicky Tangiers can be.

[tlmasonaea]

are your bowls bad? personally i start the coal, pack the bowl then wash my fingers. i shake my tupperware to mix the shisha instead of stirring it.

That's how I roll too... No need to touch unless you're packing.

[AKammenzind]

I do the same thing, especially when I'm smoking something I wanna pack tight, like tangiers. Much easier to get a good, even pack if you wet your fingers, then shake most of the water off and go at it... I do it all the time and my bowls always go well.

[mattarios2]

hmm, i'll have to try this out.

[Voski]

I just use a fork.

[*HOT&SMOKING*]

Interesting, I have never thought of using water whilst packing the bowl...

-H&S

[liquidglass]

I could see it messing up flavors a bit depending on the amount of water.


I personally have a towel or paper towels close by when I'm preparing a bowl.

No water ever touches my shisha, ever. Had a little get into a small bowl when I first started, it washed the molasses off and killed the bowl. Ever since then I've kept it dry.

[JDHarding]

This is mostly a technique for phunnel bowls. I wouldn't recommend anyone do it with a regular bowl. It'll wash the flavor right out.

I also use some water on my fingers to wash around the rim of the bowl too. I hate putting foil on a messy bowl 'cause it doesn't come back off easily.

I used to rub water all along the inside of the phunnel bowl where the shisha sits before packing it, but I've stopped doing that. I don't know why I ever started doing that, really.

[MechAnt]

My order:

Start lighting coals
Wash off coal residue but don't dry fingers yet
Pack with wet/moist hands
Wash off fingers
Dry hands
Foil
Smoke

The reason I keep my fingers wet is that it doesn't stain your fingers. I smoke AF A LOT so I know it can stain fingers and leave some sticky residue. By prewetting them, it comes right off. However, make sure your bowl is dry prior to packing.

[AKammenzind]

My order:

Start lighting coals
Wash off coal residue but don't dry fingers yet
Pack with wet/moist hands
Wash off fingers
Dry hands
Foil
Smoke

The reason I keep my fingers wet is that it doesn't stain your fingers. I smoke AF A LOT so I know it can stain fingers and leave some sticky residue. By prewetting them, it comes right off. However, make sure your bowl is dry prior to packing.

+1... exactly what I do, works every time. I use wetted hands over a fork because for me at least it's faster, and I can feel the pack to know if it's just right.

[EternalSoil]

1. unpack bowl, wash bowl, set aside.

2. open tub mix shisha around with my fingers, pack into bowl.

3. pack into bowl (yes twice, Tangiers )

4. rinse hands, dry, apply foil & all that.

5. smoke.

[hookah hippie]

I don't use water when packing I don't see the advantage given

[Sonthert]

Actually, yes it does make a difference. Make sure everything is dry first. The extra water will make the tobacco go into dry humidity shock. We make it so that it has no extra moisture, so its moisture content is dependent on the air's moisture content. So, adding extra water will artificially add moisture to the tobacco that it can't use. If you get lucky and the tobacco was too dry, it might acclimate it, but the majority of the time, I would surmise, it will hamper how the tobacco smokes. Dry humidity shock is almost always worse than damp humidity shock. A couple of drops will make the difference since the amount of water from the air is so small.

If you are smoking a washed or high-water content tobacco, it might help.

I'd never thought of this as a potential problem...well done, sir.

I just use a fork and never touch the tobacco, unless its to remove a stem or strangely shaped piece of tobacco.

[shaffaaf27]

any preference on a fork type?

[Sonthert]

Seafood fork.

[shaffaaf27]

and best containers to store in?

[Sonthert]

Polypropylene, shallow and wide for Tangiers, tall and narrow for high water content brands.

[shaffaaf27]

wonderful, shall have a shop around for them

would this for suffice?



sorry for all the questions, but i want to get tangiers right when i buy some

[Sonthert]

the outer tines are too wide. They need to be narrower.

[JDHarding]

Polypropylene, shallow and wide for Tangiers, tall and narrow for high water content brands.

Those little ziplock sandwich boxes are perfect sized for 250g of Tangiers. Shallow, wide, perfect size, sealable, cheap.

As for stirring, you could use a toothpick or needle. Takes a while to stir with them, though. Edited April 29, 2009 by JDHarding

[Sonthert]

I use the same, dry fork.