Lunatic768 Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Hi all First post I've been looking around for answers to my problems for a long time including searching your forum and i hate to do a repeat thread but i can really get any flavor out of my hookah, which is unbelievably frustrating my setup is Mya Bambino stock small mya bowl Reynolds foil (both HD and regular) stock mya hose cool tap water in the base, and i've tried all different water levels Golden quicklights (all i got) i've smoked AF berry, AF Grape, and Romman Strawberry (and some expired AW After 9) i've not got any flavor out of them and what is worse, when i take my hookah to a friend of mine (who ran a hookah bar) with 3 kings coals and when he packs Al Fakher plum-berry-jasmine-cardomon mix and i get good flavor I pack the bowl by picking the tobacco apart in my hand and dropping into the bowl, till up to the rim, thumb tack holes I was thinking it might be a water level issue, but i have no idea please help me before i sell this thing oh and i wash my hookah out after every use with hot water thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Horn Hookah Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 (edited) Pack the shisha down slightly more then just dropping it in the bowl. Those coals should be good enough to not distort the flavor, but have you tried using 2 at a time? Hope this helps, and don't sell it, thats an amazing hookah. Part of the fun with hookah is experimenting until you find something you like, so dont give up. Edited May 1, 2009 by Long Horn Hookah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylren Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Are you getting big clouds with no flavor? Or are you just not getting much smoke? You probably just need more coals and make sure they are fully lit (all the black is gone, ashing all over) A lack of flavor shouldn't have anything to do with the hookah itself. I have a Bambino and I love it! Keep trying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 I smoke outside, so gauging how my clouds are is kinda tough, since it gets windy around here (no windcover)i use one coal at a time, since its a pretty small bowlalways fully litSo try two coals?and pack a little tighter?also, when i get annoyed and stop my session, theres always some shisha fresh at the bottom, and a lot kind of stuck to the foilnot sure if thats a bad thinghope that helpsi was gonna go try again today, but its REALLY windymust buy windcoverthanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Horn Hookah Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 QUOTE (Lunatic768 @ May 1 2009, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>must buy windcoverWe may have found your problem, Wind-cover's are AMAZINGLY crucial to heat management, especially if your outside in a windy environment. Almost anything works, my first wind cover was made from foil wrapped around a gas-station Styrofoam cup. Give this a shot and I think you'll find that flavor your looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 so should i start with one coal and a tin foil windcover, then move to two coals if i still have issues?i'm about to go try some AF grape again (No Ketchup in this batch) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outbreakpb Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 when i had my standard mya bowl i was burning the shisha with only one chronic hookah coal. so what i have been told is to cut that coal in half and use the 2 halfs. and im having the same problem, im getting good smoke but no flav. i was told to clean the hookah with some lemon juice, i just cleaned it for smoking tomorrow. so i will let you know what happens. and yeah a wind cover helps from what i hear, one will defiantly be in my next order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Also loose the cold water till you get it right. Cold water makes it smoother but can dull the taste a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outbreakpb Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 (edited) i would do one coal but cut in half. try that w/ no wind cover. try and see how much smoke your getting, if it is nice and thick white/gray clouds then leave it as is. and if they are minimal clouds add the cover (which will contain the heat and help keep it hotter)yeah i was also told to do luke warm water till i figured out exactly what i have to do. so like room temp water is best Edited May 1, 2009 by outbreakpb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 I've heard of the clean your hookah good when you have no flavorbut mushrat came back one time with something like "a dirty hookah will have bad old flavors, not no flavor" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outbreakpb Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 QUOTE (Lunatic768 @ May 1 2009, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've heard of the clean your hookah good when you have no flavorbut mushrat came back one time with something like "a dirty hookah will have bad old flavors, not no flavor"ah, hm well that makes sense but i mean if you have the time it will NEVER hurt to have a clean hookah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Horn Hookah Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 QUOTE (Lunatic768 @ May 1 2009, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've heard of the clean your hookah good when you have no flavorbut mushrat came back one time with something like "a dirty hookah will have bad old flavors, not no flavor"Yes, dirty hookahs give too many random flavors, not a complete lack. QUOTE (outbreakpb @ May 1 2009, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>ah, hm well that makes sense but i mean if you have the time it will NEVER hurt to have a clean hookah.Close but not quite, any glass, metal, rubber, or clay piece, clean as much as you possibly have time for. The wood and leather hoses on the other hand, should be cleaned sparingly to avoid quicker than normal deterioration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delSol_si Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 QUOTE (Lunatic768 @ May 1 2009, 10:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>so should i start with one coal and a tin foil windcover, then move to two coals if i still have issues?i'm about to go try some AF grape again (No Ketchup in this batch)Did you seriously put ketchup in your shisha?? If so, that is part of your problem. I would never want to smoke ketchup personally, I like it on my chicken and fries, not in my shisha.I would try using hot water in your vase. The reason I say hot and not warm is because eventually hot will turn to warm and warm will turn to not warm. Someone awhile back posted an entire thread on water temp. They noted that the higher the temp of the water, the more flavor they got, but the colder, the smoother the smoke. I can't remember their statement on the density and fullness of the clouds though. I have tried it myself and have found more flavors in the hot water. I would also suggest getting natural coals. John sells instant light CH natural coals that work pretty well. Light fairly quickly and give off decent heat. They ash like crazy and don't last long though. I actually started with 3K coals and then switched to CH. Then had to switch back to 3K because I ran out of CH. Let me tell you, that was not fun! I couldn't stand the taste the 3K coals put off so I said fuck it and decided to wait until my CH came in the mail.If I use a standard bowl, I usually use about 2 coals, if I am using my phunnel, I use 3-4. I don't usually break them up either because their life span is cut drastically when you do so. Plus I feel the whole coal gives off better heat than the broken up pieces do. I was having a hard time getting good flavor lately, but I finally got my order in the mail and loaded up some AF berry, then some Nahkla Mizo grape in my small tangiers phunnel with tea light mod, put it on my CLEANED 32" KM and it smoked like a dream. FULL THICK flavorful clouds. I live on campus and it was wet outside so I went to the smoking lounge to smoke. There were some people smoking ciggs and I HATE ciggs and the smell they put off. Within about 15 min of smoking, my hookah/shisha overpowered their stink!If you are using a phunnel, definitely try using the tea light mod, works wonders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voski Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Use toothpick size holes instead of thumbtack ones.Try to do 3 sets of circle rings and a hole in the middle. After you poke the holes flip the bowl over and blow from the bottom to make sure the holes are clear. Try hitting the hookah without the hose and see if it has flavor. But I think it is your holes or the coals aren't completely lit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 2, 2009 Author Share Posted May 2, 2009 Update*So i went out today and smoked a bowl of AF berryoutside, minimal windwarm watertin foil windcoverreynolds regular (ran out of HD)packed the bowl a little bit tightergolden coali got some sweetness, and a slight berry-esque taste, and fine clouds (for outside)but mostly this nasty smell/aftertaste that is becoming a staple of my sessionsthis did not happen when i let my friend pack the bowl and he used 3 kings coalsi'm thinking it's got to be the coalthey are always done sparking before i drawthe shisha was black by the time i stopped, but i still had some fresh at the very bottomgrumble grumblethank you all for all your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremyk Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 try getting some natural coconut coals and pook your hose with something bigger than a tac like a tooth pick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HsK BATES Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 make shure your coals are done sparking and are Grey and ashy before putting them on your bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joytron Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 yeah need a new bowl, jsut pick up a $3 egyptian at a smoke shop near you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voski Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Did you use toothpick sized holes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikemyusername Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 ditch the coals, i used to use golden ql's, and i thought i was getting good flavor, until i switched to exoticas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delSol_si Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 (edited) Phunnel bowl will make a world of difference. Definitely worth the extra money.Edit: Natural coals will also make the world of difference. Edited May 4, 2009 by delSol_si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 4, 2009 Author Share Posted May 4, 2009 Update number twopacked a bowl of AF graperegular reynoldsholes with my spike on my tongsi tried playing with the water leveli tried one coali tried two coalsi tried tin foil windcoveri tried without iti got a little flavorbut mostly a bad taste and a worse aftertastei stopped after a bit, removed foil, removed black shisha, stirred it upnew foil, LOTS of holes with thumbtack (i dont have a toothpick)repeat processsame resultsin response to others posts...i will invest in a phunnel, but i feel like i need to master a regular mya bowl before i move to a phunnelas for a regular egyptian bowl,.i'd like to stick with the mya bowls (mostly for aesthetics)and on my next order i will by some CH insta lites (no stove for cocos) and a real windcoverbut until then, i need to make do with what i havei can get 3 kings locally, so thats what i will try nextagain thank you guys for your helpalso this sessions clouds werent very think. not sure if that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 One more updatei smoked a bowl of romman mint and AF berrydouble reynolds regularlots of tong spike holestin foil windcover2 golden coalsi got plenty of mint coolnessnot much mint tasteand a little sweetness/berry tastegot good cloudsstill got that slight taste/aftertaste on both bowlssigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookworm Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I see improvement! have you played with how densely you pack the shisha? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatic768 Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 yeah i have been playing with packing techniqueneed more practiceFinally got some 3kingsand the bad aftertaste is GoneNakhla DAbut i still wasnt getting the flavor i wantmaybe my taste buds are bador i was not aware of how much flavor you actually get from hookah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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