elsemyano Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Hi all, I've been having a little trouble getting good sessions lately, and hopefully you all can help me out. My setup is a 35" KM pear, either room-temp and ice water in the base, razan hose, egyptian or socialsmoke bowl (been getting same, crappy results), one swift-lite coal, and I've tried nakhla strawberry, grape, da, and just tried mizo watermelon today. The sessions generally start out pretty well, but after maybe 10 minutes, the shisha starts burning, and I feel like the clouds and taste never reach the potential that nakhla has. When I move the coal, the smoke thins out a lot, but then the tobacco starts burning again pretty quickly. I use the overpack method, piling it in about 1 cm over the top, then packing it in and poking about 3 rings of holes all the way through.I've tried adjusting just about everything... and I realize that quick-lites and non-phunnel bowl aren't exactly the best choice, but they're all I have, and I'll try to upgrade asap. But for now, what would you guys recommend? Should I cut the coals in half? or pack even more tobacco in? Got a slightly better sesh out of the watermelon today, but it didn't taste much like watermelon. Just tasted a bit sour... I'm acclimating it though to see if I can get a better smoke later.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsemyano Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 Would double-/triple-layering the foil help at all?Also, I'm thinking maybe I put too much water in the base. I don't see how a higher water level would be responsible for harsh smoke though.A couple more things:My KM stem and razan hose are ghosting like some shit. I've scrubbed the stem with the long, thin brush, and I've rinsed the razan with water many times, but I'm scared it'll start falling apart. Neither method seems to work. Don't have any baking soda or lemon juice (or vinegar) on hand (poor college student ), but I could get some if it'll do the trick.... Bulldog's/delSol's homemade hose is definitely on my to-do list as soon as I can get the materials though.Any tips at all would be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetNut Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Usually I use a lemon juice - dish soap hot water mix with all the washable parts of my KM Double Pear and it works great.As for smoking, in a non-phunnel bowl i usually take the shisha out of the container its in and kind of break it up between thumb and pointer finger, letting it fall onto the counter. When its kind of fluffed on the counter, just take it in pinches and sprinkle it in the bowl. Make sure it reaches the edges but dont press it down too hard.Foil, coal, and smoke how you have been and re-post and let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsemyano Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 Thanks! Will try this and reply, although might not get a chance to smoke 'til monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetNut Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 .. also what shisha are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsemyano Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 Nakhla. OG and mizo, with mizo producing a slightly better smoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattarios2 Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 look at my sig and check out the mizo and og tutorials, even though it is with a phunnel, you can generally do the same with an egyptian bowl, just don't pack it down too tight so the bowl can still breath, try that out and get back to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsemyano Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 QUOTE (mattarios2 @ Oct 31 2009, 09:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>look at my sig and check out the mizo and og tutorials, even though it is with a phunnel, you can generally do the same with an egyptian bowl, just don't pack it down too tight so the bowl can still breath, try that out and get back to us.I was actually trying to pack exactly like your tutorials, hah. Every now and then when I pack it lightly, I get a good smoke, but it's still pretty inconsistent. I've only tried your method a few times, though, so maybe I just need to experiment with the amount of shisha a little more. Also, it might just be that these coals suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattarios2 Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 well the coals will def be a contribution to why your sessions suck, but you should still be able to get a pretty good session. Those coals may hurt the flavor a bit, but smoke density should be good still.For both mizo and og, try breaking all of the tobacco up really well, and sprinkle it in the bowl, then take a small fork and lightly press down just so the tobacco touches each other, then sprinkle more, lightly pres it down. Do this over and over until it is like 1/4 - 1/8 of an inch over the bowl, then drop your foil on, press the foil with your palm, so the foil touches the tobacco, then pull the foil tight. Holes in circle form all the way to the bottom of the bowl.For coal, start somewhat small, and then add a little, give it 5 min, if no good smoke, add a little more. Make sure to break up the coals into smaller pieces as well. GO GO GO !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsemyano Posted October 31, 2009 Author Share Posted October 31, 2009 haha, thanks. will definitely try this as soon as i get the chance. looks like i'm gonna have to pull the fork out after all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetNut Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 You gotten around to trying these yet bro? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcane Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 if the session is good for the first 10-15 minutes, then gets harsh...its most likely too much heat.remember, it's nakhla (same thing applies to most other tobaccos though)...nakhla takes a longer while to start than nearly every other tobacco out there.what's happening is that the top layer tobacco in the bowl heats up and produces decent smoke....however, after 10-15 minutes...the coals continue to heat up the bowl and the tobacco begins to transfer the heat through itself and into the bowl as well. the heat gradually builds until the tobacco gets too hot and burns.i'd suggest backing off the heat a bit...you may start out a little slow, but 10-15 minutes in should be smooth sailing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsemyano Posted November 4, 2009 Author Share Posted November 4, 2009 thanks guys, i had 3 or 4 successful bowls (out of maybe 5 tries) this weekend with the watermelon! i ran out of the swift-lite coals i had been using previously (thankfully), and found a local vendor that sold 3kings, so i got that to last me until i got some naturals. like arcane said, i took it easy on the heat, placed the coals more toward the outside to start, with a foil 'windcover' and got excellent smoke and flavor for extended periods of time (40-50 minutes) with both mattarios' and sweetnut's method! splitting the coal apparently wasn't enough heat, though, 'cause the smoke wouldn't start at all. smoked most of these bowls at a party we were throwing, and everyone enjoyed the smoke&flavor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineout Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 depending on the size of the bowl break the 3k in half and put each side on the edge, also make sure to rotate them about 45* around the bowl every once in a while Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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