kvtaco17 Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Ok guys today was slow at work so I decided to make a quick coal shoot out...All entries start with 10 points, points are deducted by category during the review (max deduction per category is 2pts)In review we have...CH quicklights3 KingsStarlightBlownSoexSwiftLightsGolden CoalsAll reviews were done using a small Tangiers Phunnel, MYA bambino, Al Fakher Vanilla and razan hose... over the last two days...CH QuickLightsLighting - HOLY CRAP! These coals have by far the most dramatic lighting process, they spark, catch fire and smell...they do get going fast though -1Smell - See above... DO NOT LIGHT THESE INDOORS! -1Taste - Non when fully litAsh - Greyish very clumpy probably the best ashing quicklite ever, very durableDuration - 52mins Overall a very good coal 8/103 KingsLighting - Acceptable spark levels and smoke, took around 30 seconds to be properly lit with a lighterSmell - some smell although not terrible, you can light these indoors and get away with itTaste - none when fully litAsh - Whitish gray and clumpy, not as hard as CH so they do sometimes break during ashing, but acceptable. -1Duration - 43minsAgain another good coal and one is use a lot. 9/10StarlightLighting - very little spark takes about a minute to get fully red,not much smoke... acceptableSmell - a little more then 3k but again acceptable -1Taste - none when fully litAsh - very fine clumpy grayish ash... almost as durable as 3k -1Duration - 36minA good coal that performs very well overall and a good substitution for 3k's 8/10BlownLighting - very fast with just a lighter, some smokeSmell - OMG probably the worst smelling quicklight ever (rolland is worse actually) -2Taste - even when fully lit they do impart a very faint taste -1Ash - Clumpy grayish ash, less durable then 3k's - 1Duration - 47minA decent coal in a pinch, although if I had other options I would avoid this one... 6/10SoexLighting - Kind slow actually, takes around 3 min to fully light, very little smokeSmell - very little, suprisingTaste - none when fully litAsh - Clumpy brown, very fine... these coals are pretty soft vs 3k or CH though -1Duration - 33min (these aren't as hot as 3k/CH/Starlights) -1Suprisingly very good, the lower heat output is nice for tangiers or smaller bowls 8/10SwiftlightsLighting - decently quick good amount of smoke however... -1Smell - Gross but not as bad as Blow or CH -1Taste - a slight chemical smell even when lit -1Ash - superfine and brownish gray... these coals get soft when hot though - 1Duration - 38minLike blown they aren't the worst coals in the world, but if I had choices I'd look elsewhere 6/10Golden CoalsLighting - good very much like 3kSmell - not bad, somewhat of a chemical smell, although acceptable -1Taste - none really although they do get very hot and can cause a buring taste if not managed correctlyAsh - Clumpy and fine, seemingly very durable coalDuration - 39min although they might be too hot sometimes -1Very good coal here... although after using all of these different brands these aren't as good as 3k, CHSo there you have it after putting myself through all of this I like 3k, CH and Golden the best. All three are very easily lit, impart no real taste and last an acceptable amount of time.On a budget CH/Soex/Starlights all smoke well and will not ruin a session because they impart tasteBlown and Swiftlights aren't the worst quicklights in the world (that title is reserved for Rolland) BUT I would never go out of my way to try them...Mods if you wanna move this please do... BTW I'm done with AF vanilla for a long time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Mods also can you fix my typo in the title... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giant Ninja Robot Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Taru and 3 Crowns should also be on the list and placed squarely at the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 GNR you are correct... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giant Ninja Robot Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 I used 3K for the first time in about 9 months, they used to be my exclusive coal, and I must say I kinda miss just sitting down with my setup and lighting with a lighter.Lazy? Yuh-huh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coplinb Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Nice work doing all the leg work. I pretty much agree with all the results, but I do have to slightly disagree with the results for the CH coals. I think those are the best instants ive ever used, I dont think they smell or spark too much, but then again Im so lazy I light them on the coil burner anyway! Sorry to be 'that guy' and disagree, but I couldnt contain myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) coplinb its cool to disagree, I loved the CH coals and keep them around for various setups but because they aren't so indoor friendly I use 3k a lot still, strangely the soex coals have been my go to coal for tangiers... Edited June 2, 2009 by kvtaco17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delSol_si Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) QUOTE (giant ninja robot @ Jun 1 2009, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I used 3K for the first time in about 9 months, they used to be my exclusive coal, and I must say I kinda miss just sitting down with my setup and lighting with a lighter.Lazy? Yuh-huh.CH QL man, CH! Easily light in under 2 min with just a lighter...op-I'm sorry but I am going to have to disagree with part your 3K vs CH part. 3K's taste like shit compared to CH. I used 3K exclusively until I found CH. Now I refuse to use them anymore because they taste like such shit.How the hell did you get 3K to last longer than CH??? My roommate from college used 3Ks, I use CH, and I am always using more coals then him because CH just won't last as long.Also, from my experience, CH coals ash like a son of bitch. Don't get me wrong, I love the coals, they just ash like crazy! I do agree with the 3K's breaking when you try to ash. Edited June 2, 2009 by delSol_si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScotsman Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 QUOTE (giant ninja robot @ Jun 1 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Taru and 3 Crowns should also be on the list and placed squarely at the bottom.Or better yet... under the bottomway under the bottom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellaslow Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 also check out AF coals... great coals... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryno Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 QUOTE (TheScotsman @ Jun 1 2009, 11:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (giant ninja robot @ Jun 1 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Taru and 3 Crowns should also be on the list and placed squarely at the bottom.Or better yet... under the bottomway under the bottom+1 those may be the worst coals ever. I'd rather not smoke than use those...To the OP, loved it, but how easily can you ash the CH coals? The naturals I dont have a problem with, but the QLs like to hang on to there ash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1 Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 QUOTE (giant ninja robot @ Jun 1 2009, 06:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I used 3K for the first time in about 9 months, they used to be my exclusive coal, and I must say I kinda miss just sitting down with my setup and lighting with a lighter.Lazy? Yuh-huh.Whats stopping you? I do every once in awhile just for the nostalgia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 Ryno just drop them hard lol... they will ash and they won't break... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 Del Sol your post was kinda confusing lol but yeah I nursed all of the coals with a wind cover and kept smoking as long as there was acceptable levels of smoke... the 3k vs ch debate is actually kinda funny. Both coals are very different but are intended to compete with each other. Notice I didn't knock CH for taste or usability, just dinged them for not being indoor friendly, which was part of the criteria in judging all of these coals. CH's lighting process is very dramatic and smelly, making them more suited to outdoor use. I do love CH coals and I do use them all the time, BUT if I'm stuck inside 3k's are less smelly, don't catch fire and smoke well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scratchy Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Golden river ql's belong in the bottom spot. Ages to light, taste and smell like a dog drank amonia and crapped it out, lasts 30 min max and give you huge head aches. Horrible stuff. Best ql I've ever used are Al ajav 40mm ql's. Light near instantly, last ages and 2 halfs work perfectly on my home made medium clay phunnel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shisha fan Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 i agree kvtaco, 3 kings are the best quicklights. rolland are some of the worst, used them once and never again (gave me terrible headache). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinamon Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 CH > 3K > * Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coplinb Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I find the best way to ash the CH QL, for me anyway, I put the coals in my coal holder and just shake the shit out of em and they ash pretty good, but yeah they do like to hang on to the ash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvtaco17 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 QUOTE (coplinb @ Jun 2 2009, 05:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I find the best way to ash the CH QL, for me anyway, I put the coals in my coal holder and just shake the shit out of em and they ash pretty good, but yeah they do like to hang on to the ash.I kinda just drop them in a tray... hard and they ash... and don't breakRollands I've had before and I didn't wanna trip through hell... AF coals were not available locally to try... I'll get some in my next big order and add it to the thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaz1337 Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 I was just about to make a thread concerning this very matter... Just ran out of my last pack of Golden Coals and have a box of coco's but I want to stock up on some QL's for ease of use and was wondering which QL's everyone the one forums preffered but it looks like I will be purchasing either 3K or CH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delSol_si Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 QUOTE (kvtaco17 @ Jun 2 2009, 07:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Del Sol your post was kinda confusing lol but yeah I nursed all of the coals with a wind cover and kept smoking as long as there was acceptable levels of smoke... the 3k vs ch debate is actually kinda funny. Both coals are very different but are intended to compete with each other. Notice I didn't knock CH for taste or usability, just dinged them for not being indoor friendly, which was part of the criteria in judging all of these coals. CH's lighting process is very dramatic and smelly, making them more suited to outdoor use. I do love CH coals and I do use them all the time, BUT if I'm stuck inside 3k's are less smelly, don't catch fire and smoke well...Sorry about that, it was confusing. I was just noting some of the differences in my experience with the two coals. I was surprised you didn't knock the 3K for the shit taste. I lit CH QLs in the indoor smoking lounge at school all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delSol_si Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 QUOTE (ryno @ Jun 2 2009, 12:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>To the OP, loved it, but how easily can you ash the CH coals? The naturals I dont have a problem with, but the QLs like to hang on to there ashI have found the easiest way to ash a CH QL is to set the coal directly from the bowl to the tray (without flipping it) and scrape off the ash with your tongs, blow the ash off the bowl, flip the coal in the tray, then pick up the coal and place the side you just scraped face down on the bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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