Hookah John Coal Problems

[shisharob777]

Tried the Hookah John Coals outside, for the first 10 minutes they were great but they just went away so fast and all of the sudden i had no smoke and they were gone. I know people are saying that they are great and last up to 1 hour, but i presume that was inside? But anyways i switched to 3Ks outside and they lasted 40 minutes. Anyone else have this problem with them outside?

Might want to add that it was a bit humid outside.

[the_cool]

Try a windcover on top, should help increase the longevity of the coals and also should protect from the humidity if it is actually part of the problem.

[Stuie]

+1 for windcovers

[Capt. Morgan]

From my experiences humidity has been a major issue with how long they last.

[Hojo]

Also, they ash like crazy. Keep the ash knocked off of it so it isn't insulating the coal. This has happened to me before when I got lazy with the ashing but now I just make sure to keep the glowy bits exposed.

[shisharob777]

Been thinking about a wind cover, but still i got 40 minutes out of the 3Ks lol

[ilikemyusername]

i have problems with my coco's going out, the trick i've learned is to let them cook a couple minutes longer after they're ready.

[MechAnt]

I've found that if you smoke CH coals outside when it's somewhat humid, they die a whole lot faster. Here in Santa Barbara, the breezes at night can get moist so the coals last maybe 30 minutes with 3 of us smoking.

[shisharob777]

This was like i lit them, they were glowing, put them on, got some nice clouds, then bam gone. This was with 4 ppl.

[mushrat]

you can make a quick windcover using tinfoil wrapped around the bowl.

[Ougher]

i can usually get 30-45 mins out of 3 of John's coals. Thats outside in arizona, but thats on our enclosed patio with just a couple of the windows on the ends open.

But as a couple others have said also, you have to make sure to ash them somewhat often. If you just let them sit the part of the coal that's still burning wont be in contact with your foil, so it will have heat issues.

[delSol_si]

Are they the QL or natural? I use the QL and they never last long for me, especially outside. But, to justify using them, cost $0.13 per coal last time I bought them I think, and usually 3K's are like $0.25, plus 3K's taste like shit. I would say outside you are lucky to get 30 minutes out of them. I just keep lighting more and keep putting more on when they go out. And, of course, as someone previously mentioned, make sure you keep the ash off of them or else you won't get the full heat they have to offer. I have never tried a windcover myself so I cannot speak upon that.

[Vladimir]

I find CH coals to be inconsistent but the best I have tried. They tend to switch heat quickly and easily (one minute the bottom side will be hot and 5 minutes later that side looks like its out and top burning hot, 10 minutes later it needs to be switched again- not sure how that works) but for the value and whatnot they are excellent. Don't ruin the taste either like the quick lights I used to use, and they aren't a PITA like the lemonwood I used to use.

[fcbayern]

I ususally get about 25-30 minutes on CH Ql's..

[no longer welcome]

i have been using the nats every bight for the last 10 months. there have been a few bad boxes but i have always made them manage. i never thought about the humidity when they would be less than perfect. i don't know how to explain it although humidity is he first thing blamed for any issues, it may be true since the Arizona user above has never had an issue and i am assuming op is from ny, please confirm.
being that it's my product i will not go into much detail for 2 reasons, what i say could be seen as biased, and i haven't had much of an issue, no, seriously, it's true, but i have received complaints so far up to 8 times and this post being one of them. approximately 8000 boxes have been sold. i know not everyone who has had a bad box will complain though. i don't really know where to go with this post but i thought i'd chime in at least.
thanks for discussing them.

[no longer welcome]

there is one thing i am noticing now, its betetr to over cook them so they are red all the way through and not just on the outside, you can tell if you take them off the heat and they start to turn black right away, just keep them on a couple more minutes, i am finding this out now since i rushed my second set of coals and it's happening to me. the first set was great