About Not Poking A Hole In The Middle Of The Phunnel

[mattarios2]

Okay so it has been a while since Ii've tried not poking a hole in the middle of a phunnel. Prob a couple years? So tonight i said heck, why not try it.

So i didn't poke a hole, I had nak sweet melon mixed with zaghloul and a little mizo mint, and daaaaamn, the buzz was awesome.

I believe it is because less air is being mixed with the smoke so you get more smoke rather than air and smoke. Clouds were the same size, flavor seemed the same, but the buzz was bigger for sure.

Anyone notice this? Or just me?

[Zinite]

Definitely. No hole in the middle means more smoke from the shisha.

[mattarios2]

Weeeerrrd

[joytron]

weeeeerd i may have to start poking holes in the middle to reduce buzz

[Doubon]

Wow, really? I've never really paid attention to that. Usually attribute my lightheadedness
being dehydrated. Gonna have to make note of that next time.

[NIGHTS OF BAGHDAD]

but with no holes doesnt it make the pull very restricted?

[Chaz1337]

With some tobaccos yes but if you pack your phunnel nice and tight the foil is pressed up high enough off the bowl not to be sucked down when you pull so it makes for some nice doomsday clouds!!

[dizzbizz]

but with no holes doesnt it make the pull very restricted?

Personally, I have never had a problem with that. I have not poked holes in the center, nor will I.

[Hunkies!]

never really thaught about it but it kinda makes sense. ill have to try that out sometime

[Arcane]

the only thing i really notice is the density of the smoke....no holes produces less thick clouds, but spreads out more...

[Rayneuki]

I always thought poking holes in the middle was like a cardinal sin. Last time I did it the smoke sucked...

[Bulldog_916]

I poke a single hole in the middle and I've never had a problem with smoke, flavor, or buzz. I think all that is a bunch of hooey. I found out for sure when I was at Tangiers in San Diego and Matt packed me a bowl and there were holes all over the place, including over the hole. No problems with buzz or smoke. So I pretty much know it's BS.

[antouwan]

i always poke a single hole in the middle. smoke is always great. i'll keep doing it.

[Jondd88]

When I first got my phunnel I did not poke holes in the center.
I was getting harsh sessions so I tried poking the holes in the center and it helped significantly.
I was, and pretty much still am, new at this, so maybe someday I will try to see if I can do it without the holes.
Until then, my current method is to use a toothpick and poke big holes all the way through the baccy on the outside and then a bunch of little tiny holes over the center.

[mattarios2]

but with no holes doesnt it make the pull very restricted?

I poke a single hole in the middle and I've never had a problem with smoke, flavor, or buzz. I think all that is a bunch of hooey. I found out for sure when I was at Tangiers in San Diego and Matt packed me a bowl and there were holes all over the place, including over the hole. No problems with buzz or smoke. So I pretty much know it's BS.

ever thought that possibly eric does that because it reduces the buzz for tangiers?

Just b/c they do it at differently at the lounge doesn't mean its hooey.

I smoke nak every single day, one bowl a day, and then i try it without a hole and i get a massive buzz.
I find it hard to believe a buzz fairy came along and gave me a massive buzz one day. Without a hole in the middle it def decreases the amount of air flowing into the hookah giving you more smoke and a bigger buzz.

And yes as long as you pack a lot and tight, the pull is the exact same as with a hole in the middle of the phunnel.

[LIQUIDGSR]

So do the larger holes straight through give a bigger buzz also? I haven't been able to get a buzz of OG yet...probably not smoking it right.

[inino]

I poke one in the middle but its really tiny, just for good measure.

[Hippo_Master]

Yep.

never poked a hole, never will, especially with my Crown Jewel.

[Bulldog_916]

but with no holes doesnt it make the pull very restricted?

I poke a single hole in the middle and I've never had a problem with smoke, flavor, or buzz. I think all that is a bunch of hooey. I found out for sure when I was at Tangiers in San Diego and Matt packed me a bowl and there were holes all over the place, including over the hole. No problems with buzz or smoke. So I pretty much know it's BS.

ever thought that possibly eric does that because it reduces the buzz for tangiers?

Just b/c they do it at differently at the lounge doesn't mean its hooey.

I smoke nak every single day, one bowl a day, and then i try it without a hole and i get a massive buzz.
I find it hard to believe a buzz fairy came along and gave me a massive buzz one day. Without a hole in the middle it def decreases the amount of air flowing into the hookah giving you more smoke and a bigger buzz.

And yes as long as you pack a lot and tight, the pull is the exact same as with a hole in the middle of the phunnel.

I've done it both ways. It doesnt increase or decrease the buzz/flavor/smoke level at all. I think it's worth remembering that not all shisha is consistent all the way through. You'll get areas with more stems, thicker or thinner leaves, less or more juices, higher or lower humidity level. Granted, it's not a craps shoot there is SOME consistency in it. But I get buzzed off Tangiers every once in a while. I think it's more related to humidity and acclimation than lack of or presence of a hole in the middle of the phunnel. Under that logic you would never get a buzz packing a standard bowl of any shisha because there are holes all over the bowl, not just one that you have to cover up.

[mattarios2]

but with no holes doesnt it make the pull very restricted?

I poke a single hole in the middle and I've never had a problem with smoke, flavor, or buzz. I think all that is a bunch of hooey. I found out for sure when I was at Tangiers in San Diego and Matt packed me a bowl and there were holes all over the place, including over the hole. No problems with buzz or smoke. So I pretty much know it's BS.

ever thought that possibly eric does that because it reduces the buzz for tangiers?

Just b/c they do it at differently at the lounge doesn't mean its hooey.

I smoke nak every single day, one bowl a day, and then i try it without a hole and i get a massive buzz.
I find it hard to believe a buzz fairy came along and gave me a massive buzz one day. Without a hole in the middle it def decreases the amount of air flowing into the hookah giving you more smoke and a bigger buzz.

And yes as long as you pack a lot and tight, the pull is the exact same as with a hole in the middle of the phunnel.

I've done it both ways. It doesnt increase or decrease the buzz/flavor/smoke level at all. I think it's worth remembering that not all shisha is consistent all the way through. You'll get areas with more stems, thicker or thinner leaves, less or more juices, higher or lower humidity level. Granted, it's not a craps shoot there is SOME consistency in it. But I get buzzed off Tangiers every once in a while. I think it's more related to humidity and acclimation than lack of or presence of a hole in the middle of the phunnel. Under that logic you would never get a buzz packing a standard bowl of any shisha because there are holes all over the bowl, not just one that you have to cover up.

But the tub of sweet melon i have, i have smoked 5-6 bowls out of it ... no buzz just the relaxed feeling i always get from nak. This bowl i had was from the same tub and i got a killer buzz. bigger than i ever got from nakhla. (keeping in mind i mix zag in all of my nakhla) And i haven't changed anything other than the hole. I mean why wouldn't it make sense? You get less air mixing with the smoke without the hole in the middle. And maybe you don't get a buzz between both setups b/c you are used to the nicotine, maybe you aren't a good subject to test it on .... how often do you smoke?

I understand what you are saying with consistency but two different setups with the same tub of shisha more or less over rides that point other than humidity etc. which i fund useless when talking about nakhla. And your argument with the egyptian bowl is lacking, because with an egyptian bowl there is no section of the bowl that has an open spot where no tobacco sits. The point is a phunnel has no shisha in the middle, putting a hole there causes dead air to be sucked in with the smoke causing the smoke to be less dense. An egyptian bowl, the more holes all over doesn't matter b/c there is tobacco under the foil no matter where the holes are.

[nars2k]

The hole in the middle definitely affects the pull. This is trick that I usually do with a Egyptian Clay head. Make the holes and one hole in the middle and I make sure the toothpick goes down into the hole. Not only does this make the tobacco last longer but the pull gets a lot lighter. As for the thickness of the smoke I don't think there any difference.

[mattarios2]

if you pack the phunnel really full so the foil is pushed up when you put the foil on the bowl ... there will be no difference in pull.

so obviously many brands you will need to poke a hole if you want a really easy pull, b/c many tobaccos can't be packed the way nak, romman and tang are packed.

[vballpro]

I use a phunnel when I smoke nak and I don't poke a hole in it. I roll up foil bend it like a w. Turn it upside down and stick it in the hole. No restriction great smoke.

[Twisted]

I'm gonna have to try not poking a hole in the middle the next time I smoke.

[Chreees]

Sometimes I poke a few small holes in the middle, sometimes not. What I noticed when I don't poke any holes in the middle is I get bigger, more dense smoke with more intense flavor with more of a buzz as well. Really I poke holes in the middle when I want less of a buzz and don't care about getting as big of clouds.