Not Quite What I Expected

[fezmeister]

i bought a phunnel bowl yesterday as well as my favorite shisha (al waha til the day i die.) and my first box of naturals (exotica fingers) and im just not getting the smoke i expected from the phunnel bowl.

i tossed it up on my mya econo fit right after a slight adjustment to the grommet. i toasted my coals til they were grey on at least two sides and put it on the bowl using a hole pattern i saw on the forums from someone who claims to have gotten insane smoke.
got it started and the smoke was wispy at best.


is there any insight to the phunnel bowl and exotica coals i could get from a veteran?
im not new to standard smoking but smoking with specialty items is blowing my mind

[Vampy6997]

i bought a phunnel bowl yesterday as well as my favorite shisha (al waha til the day i die.) and my first box of naturals (exotica fingers) and im just not getting the smoke i expected from the phunnel bowl.

i tossed it up on my mya econo fit right after a slight adjustment to the grommet. i toasted my coals til they were grey on at least two sides and put it on the bowl using a hole pattern i saw on the forums from someone who claims to have gotten insane smoke.
got it started and the smoke was wispy at best.


is there any insight to the phunnel bowl and exotica coals i could get from a veteran?
im not new to standard smoking but smoking with specialty items is blowing my mind

Take off the bowl, and cover the hole the bowl goes on and try to see if there's a leak first via trying to take a breath through the hose...? not pleasant, but should only take a second or two to figure out if there's a leak Also, try with the bowl on--without much pressure (after it's cooled, and empty and clean) to see if there might be a small leak there...That'd affect the smoke for any hookah/bowl/layout, etc....

While it may not be a leak, it is a good place to start.

[fezmeister]

ill definitely try that soon as i get the chance thank!

[Giant Ninja Robot]

coals homie, you cant halfass natural coals. Exoticas need to be in flames and red all the way through on all sides before you use them, how are you lighting them?

[Kapten Kanel]

"i toasted my coals til they were grey on at least two sides"

"im not new to standard smoking"

Does...not...compute always heat the coals until they are glowing red all over. *Bah, ninja, you´re too fast*

Not sure about the shisha, as ive understood it al waha has a pretty bad reputation and im not sure if its an optimal tobacco to smoke in a phunnel.

How many/much coals did you use?

[ryno]

Sounds like your coals need top be going all the way. Like others said make sure they are fully lit all the way around. Also, make sure the foil isn't getting sucked down in the middle of the phunnel

[RingsMaster]

"i toasted my coals til they were grey on at least two sides"

"im not new to standard smoking"

Does...not...compute always heat the coals until they are glowing red all over. *Bah, ninja, you´re too fast*

Not sure about the shisha, as ive understood it al waha has a pretty bad reputation and im not sure if its an optimal tobacco to smoke in a phunnel.

How many/much coals did you use?

nah dude i smoke waha out of my funnel all the time and i get nice thick clouds i think his problem is coals.

[Vampy6997]

And...just was mentioning the leak issue, as it's entirely possible that's what's going on. I had a bit of a leak in my bambino, and that was the first symptom

**editting to add: It's entirely possible it's something else though too. Has to be packed right, and has to have the coals lit 100%, not looking for gray, you want bright orange. throughout. No "dark" appearance...if that's all going on, and you hear a wispy sound, could be a leak.

I haven't worked with phunnels before, but in all respected glory, a leak is a leak is a leak. Isn't always going to be the phunnel/bowl/shisha/coal or those being improperly setup...I've rarely had thin smoke due to a shisha/coal malfunction. Almost always, can be nailed right down to a leak. Edited May 24, 2009 by Vampy6997

[fezmeister]

"i toasted my coals til they were grey on at least two sides"

"im not new to standard smoking"

Does...not...compute always heat the coals until they are glowing red all over. *Bah, ninja, you´re too fast*

Not sure about the shisha, as ive understood it al waha has a pretty bad reputation and im not sure if its an optimal tobacco to smoke in a phunnel.

How many/much coals did you use?

i should be more specific, im used to standard smoking using golden and various other instant lights.

i was always told to have the coals cooked on two sides and toss it up but if thats part of the issue then ill fix that.
ive been using 3 1/4th chunks of a finger per bowl and im lighting them by way of fire just placing them inside the flame til two sides are grey/red

[Giant Ninja Robot]

Yeah give it a try lighting longer, I use my stove I haven't tried in fire but I doubt that's an issue That ammount of coal should be good for a small or medium phunnel. I primarily use exoticas and if you don't light em all the way they really don't put out enough heat.

[delSol_si]

Use a tea light mod, it works wonders I wasn't getting good smoke until I started using it.

[fezmeister]

Yeah give it a try lighting longer, I use my stove I haven't tried in fire but I doubt that's an issue That ammount of coal should be good for a small or medium phunnel. I primarily use exoticas and if you don't light em all the way they really don't put out enough heat.

yeah, thats what im using too is exotica fingers.
and i lit them fully last night on my mya mod bowl and i was getting billowing smoke every pull. it was wonderful ive never gotten that kind of smoke without burning the tobacco from golden instant lights.
now i just want to figure out this phunnel hah.

[AKammenzind]

now i just want to figure out this phunnel hah.

Really it sounds like you just need more heat. Add 50% more coal on than you'd use on a mya bowl, possibly more. And fancy hole patterns are a load of shite, about as effective as doing a ceremonial jig while filling the base with water.

[Kapten Kanel]

And fancy hole patterns are a load of shite, about as effective as doing a ceremonial jig while filling the base with water.

Seriously, i see the most hilarious images before me

[delSol_si]

And fancy hole patterns are a load of shite, about as effective as doing a ceremonial jig while filling the base with water.

Seriously, i see the most hilarious images before me

+1 lol, I vote someone do this and make a vid of it!

[Kapten Kanel]

[Giant Ninja Robot]

she has bigger calves than I do! meeeow.....

[fezmeister]

she has bigger calves than I do! meeeow.....

hah yeah those are pretty large calves



but on a good note
i may have just converted two hookah lovers to the ways of the natural coal
they came over and i set up a bowl of al waha california dream (my absolute favorite at the moment) with 3 chunks of exotica sitting pretty on top and we were getting billowing smooth clouds that i, and the guests, have never had with golden or other various instants. the most delicious natural flavors with billowing clouds and only once did it get harsh due to poor heat management
you guys have been a tons of help with the transition from quick light to naturals
but yeah i sent them home with 3 chunks of exotica to toss on their hookah to let them enjoy the experience with their own shisha and hookah.

[Sonthert]

If you aren;t packing your bowl full, if you're packing it light or halfway up, I'll echo what Del_Sol said, you need a modification of the bowl, commonly called a mod. The foil is getting sucked over the phunnel and sealing the phunnels sides from the smoke...so you are getting thin smoke. A mod basically holds the foil up so when you take a rip, the foil doesn't get sucked over the phunnel. A good test to see if thats the problem, if you suspect this to be the case, Pack your phunnel bowl the way you normally do, but don't poke holes over or next to the phunnel. Then take a rip. If it seals up, seemingly clogged, its now the foil over the phunnel, without holes is completely sealing it up. If you place holes over the phunnel, you will draw air from above, but little smoke.

[lowspeedchase]

If you aren;t packing your bowl full, if you're packing it light or halfway up, I'll echo what Del_Sol said, you need a modification of the bowl, commonly called a mod. The foil is getting sucked over the phunnel and sealing the phunnels sides from the smoke...so you are getting thin smoke. A mod basically holds the foil up so when you take a rip, the foil doesn't get sucked over the phunnel. A good test to see if thats the problem, if you suspect this to be the case, Pack your phunnel bowl the way you normally do, but don't poke holes over or next to the phunnel. Then take a rip. If it seals up, seemingly clogged, its now the foil over the phunnel, without holes is completely sealing it up. If you place holes over the phunnel, you will draw air from above, but little smoke.

What he said.

[fezmeister]

If you aren;t packing your bowl full, if you're packing it light or halfway up, I'll echo what Del_Sol said, you need a modification of the bowl, commonly called a mod. The foil is getting sucked over the phunnel and sealing the phunnels sides from the smoke...so you are getting thin smoke. A mod basically holds the foil up so when you take a rip, the foil doesn't get sucked over the phunnel. A good test to see if thats the problem, if you suspect this to be the case, Pack your phunnel bowl the way you normally do, but don't poke holes over or next to the phunnel. Then take a rip. If it seals up, seemingly clogged, its now the foil over the phunnel, without holes is completely sealing it up. If you place holes over the phunnel, you will draw air from above, but little smoke.

What he said.

yeah that is probably my problem, the shisha isnt touching the foil, helping keep it up above the top of the funnel. i think ill reserve the phunnel for the days when i have lots of shisha and LOTS of time. my mya mod is great for a 1-4 hour session.

[Sonthert]

Try a mod, there's lots of good ones out there.