Coals

[Lucky_Strike]

people tell me not to use quick light coals, but that seems to be the only coals i can find, what is the difference between using the quick light and not using them?

[antouwan]

people tell me not to use quick light coals, but that seems to be the only coals i can find, what is the difference between using the quick light and not using them?

some say quick lights are more 'convenient'. i don't understand what's so hard about putting coals on a burner and waiting 5 minutes?
anyway, natural coals do not affect the taste of the tobacco (usually, good coals, at least). that's really their biggest advantage, that and duration. go to the grocery store and buy some natural lump wood coal, maybe mesquite or something else. put those on a gas burner or electric coil and try it out. you'll taste the difference.

[RogueSmoker]

people tell me not to use quick light coals, but that seems to be the only coals i can find, what is the difference between using the quick light and not using them?

Well first off do a search cause there is many topics about this. I use golden coals which are QL's and they work great for me. Edited July 8, 2009 by RogueSmoker

[dakur001]

As the name suggests, quicklites are easier to light- they can be ignited with a Bic lighter, but tend to have chemical expedients in order to make them light so easily, and this can add undesirable flavor to the shisha. Natural coals require a steady source of heat, like a stove top, and are more clean burning.

I still use quicklites for two reasons- 1. Ease of use. 2. I know that as soon as I try natural coals, the undesirable taste that quicklites add to shisha will probably become much more apparent to me, and I'll never be able to go back to quicklites. Seeing as how I currently don't have access to a stove top and hot plates are not permitted in the dorm I live in, I'm sticking with quicklites for now (granted, smoking isn't permitted either, but I'm trying to minimize my prohibited activities as much as possible).

Hope this helps.

***Sorry to overpost, looks like everyone else got to this first Edited July 8, 2009 by dakur001

[jaytoo3]

Most people on this forum are using one of the following:

Coconaras
Exoticas
Chronic Hookah coals

Those that are quicklights are:

Canarys
3 Kings

I'm using Exoticas. They are cheap and you get at ton for the price. I started with 3 kings and moved to Coconaras. For the consistancy of the product, they can't be beat.

When my exoticas run out, i'll probrably go back to cocos.

[Genie]

Non quick-lite coals take longer to light and contain no "quick start" chemicals to get them lit.

I have never used wood coals so I can't comment on those. I buy Shishaco or Coco Nara coals which are made from compressed coconut shells. I set them on a screen on my gas stove or set them on my little electric coil to heat up while I organize my hookah and prepare my bowl. I turn my coals over when they've ashed all the way up the sides. They are ready to use shortly after this. I know they're ready when they're covered with ash, red all over if I blow on them, and no big spots of black remain on them. My coals are usually ready about the time my hookah is, it generally works out perfectly. Of course, I've learned not to rush preparing my hookah!

It doesn't take forever, well under ten minutes. With naturals I have the peace of mind of knowing that I'm not inhaling whatever chemicals the quick lites are imbued with, and I know that no trees were needed to produce my coals. As far as I can tell, the naturals add no unpleasant taste to my sessions.

I've heard naturals last longer than quick lites but I don't know this for a fact. Adverts for naturals say they produce less ash but they seem to produce plenty of ash to me so I don't know that that's true.

In summary: I prefer natural coals because they contain no chemicals, are made from coconut hulls and not trees, and have no unpleasant taste or odor.

[combs08]

Naturals all the way. Sure they take a few minutes to light up, but you're not inhaling all the chemicals in QL's and they last longer. So really, some poeple who claim 'cost' is the only reason that they don't use Naturals but really, it's probably about even because it seems as if I have to use more QL's compared to naturals

[antouwan]

how are ql'a cheaper than naturals? i mean obviously you can save fist-fulls of cash using bulk coals. but i would say that coconaras break even because of the duration of the burn. i've never timed it, but i think you'd use a lot more than 6 ql's per small phunnel full of nak...even if the nats are more, i'll pay it - THE QL'S MAKE ME GAG

[Bulldog_916]

Most people on this forum are using one of the following:

Coconaras
Exoticas
Chronic Hookah coals

Those that are quicklights are:

Canarys
3 Kings

I'm using Exoticas. They are cheap and you get at ton for the price. I started with 3 kings and moved to Coconaras. For the consistancy of the product, they can't be beat.

When my exoticas run out, i'll probrably go back to cocos.

Canarys are not quicklighting, not by definition anyway. I like Exoticas but I cant find them locally anymore.

Right now, as I said in a previous thread, I'm using bamboo stick coals and they are absolutely fantastic. I really dont care that they are round and can roll a bit on the bowl, they burn just right for all the tobaccos I smoke. They dont break apart at all and leave no taste. So, at less than 7 bucks a box, I'm sold on these.

[ilikemyusername]

I use exotica, exotica easy lite, coconara, 3 kings and goldens.

I'll tell you this much, quick lights taste nasty, but I like to smoke at parks, coffee shops, bookstores, wherever. its kinda hard to light natural at barnes and noble.
regular exoticas are great, but they make a mess and some people say they explode.
coconaras seem to go out on me pretty often when I use a windcover. my favorite coals are the exotica easy lights, they last a while, put off good heat and light fairly quickly.

[Bulldog_916]

http://www.hookahforum.com/?showtopic=31162

Here's a thread on the coals I used. I like them a lot despite the ashing. I look at it this way, it's charcoal, it's gonna make ash, no 2 ways about it. Really not that big of a deal. On the vast list of things that can be wrong with a charcoal, heavy ash doesnt even count as a problem because you have to clean out the tray anyway. Unless you found a coal that doesnt ash, which, you should tell the rest of us about.

[antouwan]

http://www.hookahforum.com/?showtopic=31162

Here's a thread on the coals I used. I like them a lot despite the ashing. I look at it this way, it's charcoal, it's gonna make ash, no 2 ways about it. Really not that big of a deal. On the vast list of things that can be wrong with a charcoal, heavy ash doesnt even count as a problem because you have to clean out the tray anyway. Unless you found a coal that doesnt ash, which, you should tell the rest of us about.

next time i go to my local place i'll pick up a box of those and see how it goes. right now i'm using cocos for indoors and lump citruswood charcoal for outdoors (it's much cheaper but ashes much lighter and in much greater quantity making it VERY messy). imo natural lump coal and cocos are just as good, cocos are just far less messy.

[Genie]

Right now, as I said in a previous thread, I'm using bamboo stick coals and they are absolutely fantastic. I really dont care that they are round and can roll a bit on the bowl, they burn just right for all the tobaccos I smoke. They dont break apart at all and leave no taste. So, at less than 7 bucks a box, I'm sold on these.

I grow bamboo. Dang, you got me thinking I could make my own bamboo coals. Googled it a bit and I'm not finding practical directions on making it... but still. I'm going to keep looking into this!