Having Trouble Heat Managing Tangiers Og

[JDHarding]

I've been using John's quicklight coals lately on Tang due to their low heat and big size, but I can't seem to use three of these things on a small phunnel without it getting really harsh, and 2 is just too little. Hanging them off the edges didn't help much either. I forgot what Eric uses with his Tang phunnel bowls. Currently attempting some fresh Watermelon here packed tightly like Eric does it (and John showed us how). But heat management is really kickin me in the balls here. I tried 3 Jap canarys and there was too little smoke, plus the Jap canarys tasted bad even after burning all the silver flint off, then I tried coco naras and 3 of those was too much and 2 was too little, and hanging them over the edges was not enough. Am I missing something here?

[Scoop]

does it go harsh instantly?

with 2 coals is it tiny wisps? and with 3 its still thin but harsh?

[clumsygrace]

When I smoke Tangiers, it's always three coco's to get it started. After a little bit, two usually do the trick. If not, throw on a windcover.

[sportsfan6216]

If you take your CH QL's and break them in half..... use the two but space them out using 4 halfs on the bowl..... should fix your problem.

[JDHarding]

If you take your CH QL's and break them in half..... use the two but space them out using 4 halfs on the bowl..... should fix your problem.

I think that might work.. I'll try that next time.

[Sherwood]

I get Tang really cracking on a Med. phunnel with just two naras, but I have to break them in half and space them around the side, AND use a windcover.

Really, the windcover is key. Keep the temperature up in there, and you're golden.

The only downside here is that the coals go twice as fast, so within 40 minutes you're throwing a new set on, and 4 new half coals is dangerous.

[Zyram]

Also give it time to heat up, like clumsygrace said, start with 3, once the clouds start coming take one off. just let the bowl heat up and be patient, that's my strategy. Otherwise I end up burning the top and spoiling some of the flavor.

-Z

[JDHarding]

*nods*

Yeah, I noticed when using coco halves that they do die fast.

[Sonthert]

Try 2 CH H's broke into halves.

[JDHarding]

Okay, I tried the four halves.. and it was goin good, but got harsh, so I took one off.. smoked good for awhile, but I had to put the windcover on. Then I had to add the fourth and then put the windcover on again. As these die down, it's tough to find the right amount of heat. At 35 minutes now and no windcover, and they're barely smoking, but they're harsh. Too little heat now? I dunno. Gonna put another fresh set on soon.

[Bye bye now have fun]

try packing it loose. i put it on a fork then dump it in and then level it with the fork. i put 2 of johns or 2 cocos on and i get pillars of smoke first pull

[JDHarding]

try packing it loose. i put it on a fork then dump it in and then level it with the fork. i put 2 of johns or 2 cocos on and i get pillars of smoke first pull

Eric says to pack Tang tightly, though.. but I could be packing too tightly. I pack it down with my fingers into a shisha-puck. It's in a small Tang phunnel.

Wow.. the second set is smoking beautifully.. all 4 coals and no problems. Edited April 29, 2009 by JDHarding

[JDHarding]

Wow, Eric.. you hit the jackpot with this Tang Sour. It's so weird, and so good. I can't tell what the flavor is, but it's some kind of berry flavor. I guess Cranberry. Not really very "Sour" though. Maybe add lemon to it?

[redjako]

Use less heat, and if its still not smoking, instead of adding another coal 1st:

1) use a windcover

2) edge one or both coals "in" towards the center more.

You should be good.

I hear HJ coals are hotter then coco's, and coco's are pretty "hot" for tangiers anyway.

[Bye bye now have fun]

try packing it loose. i put it on a fork then dump it in and then level it with the fork. i put 2 of johns or 2 cocos on and i get pillars of smoke first pull

Eric says to pack Tang tightly, though.. but I could be packing too tightly. I pack it down with my fingers into a shisha-puck. It's in a small Tang phunnel.

Wow.. the second set is smoking beautifully.. all 4 coals and no problems.

cool story bro, how can you ask for help then i give help then shoot it down and defend how you are currently doing it which doesnt work. my brother is hookah ignorant and figured this out when he came over to "play n64" when he was really smoking

[Sherwood]

Wow.. the second set is smoking beautifully.. all 4 coals and no problems.

how can you ask for help then i give help then shoot it down and defend how you are currently doing it which doesnt work.

Seems like it's working fine now, no?

[Rani]

Use less heat, and if its still not smoking, instead of adding another coal 1st:

1) use a windcover

2) edge one or both coals "in" towards the center more.

You should be good.

I hear HJ coals are hotter then coco's, and coco's are pretty "hot" for tangiers anyway.

I've had good results with two CH quicklights, but...... Today in a test I broke 2 into halves and used 3 halves on a tightly packed phunnel and it was beyond amazing. I used 4 rows of holes along the outer rim and several smaller holes over the center phunnel hole. I packed tight with a fork and left a tiny bit of space at the outer egde with the tobacco being level with the phunnel hole (which is lower than the outer rim). Best bowl of any tobacco I've ever had and that's sayiing something so I'll be using this technique in the future.

'Rani

[Giant Ninja Robot]

how are you guys breaking the coco coals?

[Giant Ninja Robot]

nvmd, just tapped a knife into some AF cocos with a meat tenderizer and it worked out fine.

[redjako]

I always pimp these: beautiful for exotica's (a must I think), and they split coco's very easily.

Garden snips, at any hardware store, between 6-10 bucks.

Good hookah investment.


Otherwise, once lit coals are easier to break with your tong-spike or a heavy knife (they won't splatter around as much as when they aren't lit).
(edit, giant picture)


The curved blades work better. Edited April 30, 2009 by redjako

[JDHarding]

try packing it loose. i put it on a fork then dump it in and then level it with the fork. i put 2 of johns or 2 cocos on and i get pillars of smoke first pull

Eric says to pack Tang tightly, though.. but I could be packing too tightly. I pack it down with my fingers into a shisha-puck. It's in a small Tang phunnel.

Wow.. the second set is smoking beautifully.. all 4 coals and no problems.

cool story bro, how can you ask for help then i give help then shoot it down and defend how you are currently doing it which doesnt work. my brother is hookah ignorant and figured this out when he came over to "play n64" when he was really smoking

Haha.. sorry, dude. I just did your method, packing with a fork. Smoking it right now. Watermelon flavor. Yum.

Also used 3 cocos to start the bowl, then down to 2 with a windcover. I'm only gettin that little tickle in my throat that Tang is known for. But not as much smoke as John's coals. So I guess John's coals do cook hotter.

[JDHarding]

Did the fork packing method with orange soda just now. Scooped it in there, leveled it off, and very lightly packed it down just to level with the rim. Using 2 of John's QLs. This stuff is soooooo good. If you like orange pop, or orange ice cream, or orange candy.. THIS.. is the stuff. I kinda wish it had some lemon in it to make it sour orange. That would be cool.

I gotta get some of John's natural coals, 'cause these quicklights stink when lighting. Even by the exhaust fan they still stink.

[Sherwood]

I think the naturals stink when lighting too, but they're cheap and they smoke great, so hey.

[Sonthert]

Blam! Another convert.

[ColibriDon]

Blam! Another convert.

Hahaha How many does that make now?

On subject, I use the drop in and go method with 2 cocos on a small bowl. I haven't been getting pillars of smoke recently but I just think it's stress with finals and all. That method seems to work best for me...but I will try the drop in with a fork and a light pack to see what happens.