Could Use Some Advice On Diamante Coals

[Genie]

Just bought a bunch of Diamante logs because of the relatively good reviews, the great prices, and because I was tired of running out of coals. I prefer Shishaco's (kind of pricey) or Stargates (which are fairly inexpensive but sold by few vendors).

The issue: I HATE the way they ash. They ash over until it's like a thick fur coat on them which keeps them nice and hot on the inside but prevents them from keeping my shisha hot. And I don't find them easy to ash. I find the ash on Diamante's really wants to stick to the coals. I have to really scrape 'em which can get dangerous, causes bits to break off, and even with the scraping the ash doesn't WANT to come off. I find them to be very high maintenance coals, I'm constantly having to fuss with them. I'd really like them otherwise. They're long lasting, natural, don't stink or taste bad, and don't roll as easily as other finger coals.

Sometimes I get lucky and one will split longways (post lit) which is perfect and makes them easier to use, but trying to split them purposefully this way is rarely successful.

Any great tips on how to ash these suckers?

[white_rabbit]

I have used those coals before... honestly they suck imo... they ash gets everywhere and all that shit... exoticas lol

[mushrat]

Just bought a bunch of Diamante logs because of the relatively good reviews, the great prices, and because I was tired of running out of coals. I prefer Shishaco's (kind of pricey) or Stargates (which are fairly inexpensive but sold by few vendors).

The issue: I HATE the way they ash. They ash over until it's like a thick fur coat on them which keeps them nice and hot on the inside but prevents them from keeping my shisha hot. And I don't find them easy to ash. I find the ash on Diamante's really wants to stick to the coals. I have to really scrape 'em which can get dangerous, causes bits to break off, and even with the scraping the ash doesn't WANT to come off. I find them to be very high maintenance coals, I'm constantly having to fuss with them. I'd really like them otherwise. They're long lasting, natural, don't stink or taste bad, and don't roll as easily as other finger coals.

Sometimes I get lucky and one will split longways (post lit) which is perfect and makes them easier to use, but trying to split them purposefully this way is rarely successful.

Any great tips on how to ash these suckers?

yup, thats why I dont like em eiother. Same for Nours. Too much ash.

Not much you can do about it, it's how the coals burn I'm afraid.

[Genie]

yup, thats why I dont like em eiother. Same for Nours. Too much ash.

Not much you can do about it, it's how the coals burn I'm afraid.

If they just weren't so darn "fuzzy." May have to make a coal scraper just for them or find a rough little rock to keep in the ash tray to ash them on. I don't mind all the ash, I can blow that off, but not being able to knock it off the coal is annoying.

[mushrat]

using your tongs to drop them on your ash catcher doesn't knocks it off.

[twoapplesplease]

I have same problem with nours,Sure the smoke good and nice heat,last long,but all that ash its just stupid..What works for me with this kinda coal is to hold it firmly with the tongs and scrape them aginst the raised lettiring on the ash catcher coal try.

[Genie]

Tried something new tonight that is working really well. Heated a 3/4's of a log of the Diamante, let it get really hot, a stress fracture (no better way to explain it) appeared along it's length and it was really easy to split it with a poker. Laid each side of the split log (flat side down) on the edges of the bowl and it's been giving off great heat, moving them has been enough, occasionally blowing off the ash. Haven't needed to scrape them on the bottom (flat side, where it split). Don't know if this will be as successful each time I try it, but it worked great tonight.

[Toxik916]

I prefer these over exoticas since they dont give off a weird taste and dont burn as hot. What I do is cut them into small disks and I lay them down on the side that is cut so they dont roll off the bowl. It spreads heat around the bowl well and ashing them isn't a problem.

[hookah hippie]

honestly my friend I would use what you have and never buy them again sorry friend

[Genie]

I prefer these over exoticas since they dont give off a weird taste and dont burn as hot. What I do is cut them into small disks and I lay them down on the side that is cut so they dont roll off the bowl. It spreads heat around the bowl well and ashing them isn't a problem.

I guess I just don't have the muscles to cut them into disks. I have thought about it, but I have a hard time just cutting them into quarters. They like to crumble if I try cutting them smaller than that. They're certainly fat enough to make great disks if I could figure out how to cut them that way.

The new method I'm using with them has been working out really well though and I'm starting to get along much better with them. Wrap my bowl a little differently with them and that's helped too.

[Toxik916]

I just use a sharp serrated knife and it cuts them easily. Try not to put to much pressure on the coal and let the knife do most of the work and crumbling shouldn't be a problem.

[Genie]

I just use a sharp serrated knife and it cuts them easily. Try not to put to much pressure on the coal and let the knife do most of the work and crumbling shouldn't be a problem.

The serrated knife I've been using might be the problem, now you mention it. I'll try a different one. Maybe it would do a better job.

Honestly impressed with how easily even quartered chunks will split right in half if I let them get hot enough. Just had a great session with the Diamantes. Even split, the halves hold their heat for a very long time, they outlasted my Nakhla tonight.

[Genie]

Really starting to get along with Diamantes now. Not splitting them anymore. Found an easier way. I break one log in half, heat both pieces up until they are flaming a bit, then use a serrated knife to scrape each half somewhat flat on two sides so rolling isn't an issue, really easy to do this when they are hot and exposes the heat really well. Lay each half on opposite sides of my phunnel and keep the serrated knife handy. When it's time to ash them, I take them off the bowl, use the knife to scrape off one side, then put them back on the bowl, leaving as much ash as possible on the rest of the coal. They last forever this way. That THICK coating of ash serves to keep the coal hotter longer. And Diamantes are so thick, they burn a lot longer than other natural coals I've used

They don't have to be moved much, fortunately. I've never had burned shisha with these. If I notice I'm not getting as much smoke then I know it's time to ash them. With a windcover, I get about an hour to an hour and a half of great heat this way. Longest sessions I've had with any coals. Loving it!

[Toxik916]

Nice!!! I really do think that these are better than exoticas.

[Genie]

Nice!!! I really do think that these are better than exoticas.

I wasn't too sure about them in the beginning but now I'm having one great session after another with them. I'm pretty happy.

[antouwan]

why use the knife? i used these (nours actually, but for all practical purposes they're the same) a LONG time ago. i would just pick them up with the tongs and scrape them against the crumpled foil on the side of the bowl. that might be less labor intensive.

[Genie]

why use the knife? i used these (nours actually, but for all practical purposes they're the same) a LONG time ago. i would just pick them up with the tongs and scrape them against the crumpled foil on the side of the bowl. that might be less labor intensive.

Diamantes don't ash easily. You can't just plunk 'em down and have the ash fall off. The ash sticks to them like fur or something. I tried using the tongs to expose the heat, but it just wasn't doing the job effectively. A little serrated knife works perfectly for me though. As to rubbing them along the foil, that can work, sometimes (not well with these coals) but frequently results in chunks of the coal falling off. By being able to lay it in the ash tray and gently scrape it then place it back on the bowl, the coal stays intact much longer and I get better heat.

[RingsMaster]

why use the knife? i used these (nours actually, but for all practical purposes they're the same) a LONG time ago. i would just pick them up with the tongs and scrape them against the crumpled foil on the side of the bowl. that might be less labor intensive.

Diamantes don't ash easily. You can't just plunk 'em down and have the ash fall off. The ash sticks to them like fur or something. I tried using the tongs to expose the heat, but it just wasn't doing the job effectively. A little serrated knife works perfectly for me though. As to rubbing them along the foil, that can work, sometimes (not well with these coals) but frequently results in chunks of the coal falling off. By being able to lay it in the ash tray and gently scrape it then place it back on the bowl, the coal stays intact much longer and I get better heat.

my lemonwoods do that too, what i do is use a little more coal than usual so that by the time they ash its still relatively hot