NewGuy Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Hello all. I'm totally new to the Hookah world. I have smoked briar and meerscheum pipes for many years though. Point of my post is the purchase of a hookah. I have a friend that is traveling in India now and has offered to bring me a hookah. Problem is I need a easy way to tell if its a quality hookah and not some cheap trash. Can you tell me what to have him look for? I need to keep it simple as this is a favor for me and I don't want to abuse his time. He has mentioned 2 to me so far. on is 18" and the other is 28". Made of brass with nice engravings on the side. I don't know if they stems are solid brass or plated. Both have clay tobacco burners and have 2 hoses. That is all I know for now. He is going to take a picture of them to send to me. These are in Chennai for those of you familiar with the geography. Don't know if the region makes a difference in hookah selection. All advice/suggestions are welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicada Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 so long as it seals well, there's really little in the way of equipment. of course, you don't want one thats lopsided and busted, either. It's more in the setup of the hookah than the actualy hookah itself (an analogy would be like almost any sport -- its less about equipment and more about skill). Some people get caught up in the looks -- they all do the same thing -- almost any hookah will be great as a starter, then you can move up when you know what you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicada Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 as far as the size, get whatever you think youll like: the 18 might be a good desktop, while the 28 is one that'll sit on the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewGuy Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Good info so far. I assume you can tell the seal by puting your palm over the bowl and drawing on the tube? Seems logical to me. I'm not really worried about the looks. I was describing what he had so far incase it made a difference in advice given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbomberto Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 ya i have a indian hookah, and its all brass but the stem is wooden, that goes inside the bowl. kinda odd. many people i asked dont know where to get a replacement stem for it, so....ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonthert Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Hi, welcome!A man once walked many miles to a bazaar. He asked a man who sold beans and rice "I have come to find something to make me happy, can you sell me some?"The shop keeper replied "All I can sell you is beans and rice, if they will make you happy, then I can, otherwise you are best to keep looking."The man continued throught dizzying maze of the bazaar and found another shop keeper who was selling wooden utensils and asked him the same question, the shop keeper responded in much the same way as the first one. So the man continued on and on from shop to shop, with all of the owners telling him more or less the same information until he came across a butcher who told him "I should not tell you this, but I can give you directions to a man who has a store in which they sell happiness." The man was eccstatic he took the directions and followed them through the incresing confusion of the market until he reached a small shop with no sign and no windows...he walked carefully inside, and found it was pitch black! He called out "Hello!?!" and an old man's voice returned "Yes, what can I get you?""I've come to buy some happiness.""Why?" Inquired the old manThe man hadn't really thought too much about it, so he said "Well, I guess I just want to buy something here...could you turn on the light so I can see?"A glowing flame bounced through the room and an oil lamp flared up and lit the room well. The man looked around the room and noticed it was empty...there was nothing there! The man said "Can I see some happiness?""Of course not." Snapped the old man"How much is it?""Its free, take as much as you want" sighed the old man."I can't find it here, where would it be?" "What is it you really want?" Asked the old man, "What will make you happy...to buy something? You want to buy something to make you happy?""Well, I guess so" replied the man"The only thing that you can buy that will make you happy is something of quality. You want to be happy when you buy something, make it something of quality." said the old man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpico Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 I think what he's saying...Is don't buy passion fruit if you like kiwi.hahahahahhahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubblyBubbly613 Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Besides China recently, India has been making some terrific hookahs which are sold to retailers all over the world and lots of us probably have one. They have a very big, sophisticated industry with lots to choose from.Look online at www// univac.com , they have about 27 pages of hookahs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeshabum Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 For buying a hookah on location, the best bet, if you are in India, the Middle east, or even at your local hookah lounge is to look over all the hookahs, ask questions, (learn from the answers) and then after you've picked out what you want, say that you'd like to buy this hookah, can I smoke it here to try it out? Almost all market souk merchants and dealers will not let you call their bluff. If that particular hookah hookah is bad, they will say, no try this one, or let you go ahead and smoke. Buy your tobacco by him and say you'd like to sit down and smoke it. The dealer will make sure its 100% airtight and pefect for smoking. If its not, than forget it, you don't have to buy bad merchandise. If he says please smoke, don't take him at his word, sit there, light up and enjoy your smoke. Make some memories, and have your friend take a photo of you smoking there with the merchant (thats for your album, and his ego).You are there in that country for tourism, so enjoy a nice half hour there. Besides, its a good advertisement for other tourists when they see you smoking, they'll stop and think also about buying a hookah. If the guy blows you off at the very beginning, you were better off not to buy from him. sheeshabum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karbon Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 the girl from my local smoke house is going back to Lebanon and offered to sell me one of the hookahs she brings back. She says they're only like 5 bucks canadian there. So that's what she'll charge me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karbon Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 the girl from my local smoke house is going back to Lebanon and offered to sell me one of the hookahs she brings back. She says they're only like 5 bucks canadian there. So that's what she'll charge me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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