Hookah Tips After Over One Year Of Experimentation

[acolorado]

I thought I would post some tips that I've discovered after a over a year of smoking. Please feel free to continue the thread with more info and opinion.

Pipes:
After smoking from the following pipes - generic egyptians, several Khalil Mamoons (Hafa, Pharonie, and a tri-metal), one Mya, a pumpkin, and one old nondescript Syrian, I find that overall the Khalil Mamoon are my preferred pipes. The wide stems provide for a better draw than the others I've tried. The ones I've used are all of solid construction. The bases are all solid and had a very wide mouth. The Mya seemed like it was very well made, but I didn't get the same draw off it. The generic egyptians had a much worse draw and many had bases with a small mouth, making it difficult to add ice to the base unless it was crushed. I think the Syrian was an antique so I can't really do a good comparison with it.

In general if you're planning to invest in a pipe I would hands down recommend getting a KM.

All the pipes I smoked from I believe were over 30" except for the pumpkin. The smoke from the pumpkin was "off" from my usual experience. I've read others who have recommended always going with a pipe over 30" and this experience seems to back that up.

Always make sure to clean your pipes when you first get them - lots gunk can be left over inside from manufacturing. Also make sure to clean them inside and out after every use. I find that using a gun cleaning rod to push wadded up paper towel through the stem helps alot.

Coals: I tried natural coals and found that they were way too much work for me - hard to keep lit and hard to get the right size chunks, so I have used quick lites. Personally I don't find the quick lites affect the taste, but some people report getting headaches from them - so I would say try both out.

The big tip for using quick lites is make sure to get 40mm and cut them in half. Just score the top with a serrated knife and bend them toward you - they should break cleanly in half. Position each half opposite each other on your bowl, and after they ash up knock the ash off and go a bit more. When those are done place two more halves on the two sides of the bowl not covered the first time around. This seems to work the best for heat management regardless of the brand of tobacco used. One thing to keep in mind using this method is if you smoke unwashed tobacco mix it with some washed to cut out the "roughness". For example if using Tangiers mix it with a washed brand like Romman.

Foil: Make sure to use heavy duty foil. It holds it's shape better than the thin stuff and won't droop into the bowl.

Base: Never ever ever put anything but water into your base. I've tried orange juice and lemon juice and even with extensive washing and scrubbing both times I got mold inside. Just not worth the hassle.

Hoses: I've tried several of the hoses that came with the hookahs and also Namoor hoses. The only way to go I think is with the Namoor. It is washable so you don't get that build up of taste that happens with leather hoses. They are also very wide so it doesn't affect the pull, which many narrow hoses do. They are sturdy, and the only problems I've had is with the wrap coming loose from the handles, which is an aesthetic problem but hasn't affected how they function.

Diffusers: The Heba diffuser is a must have. This cuts down the vibration from smoking on several of my pipes in a big way - and personally I think it really affects the smoothness of the smoke although this might be subjective. The mere fact that it stops the pipe from rattling around when it's smoked is reason enough to get one in my book.

Bowls: I've used both the standard bowls with several holes in the bottom and also several phunnels. I prefer the phunnel bowls. These prevent the shisha from dripping down the stem, which is a pain to clean, and also they seem to make it easier to manage the heat. I also tried the Scali mod but found it to be unnecessary as long as I use heavy duty foil.

Tobacco: I've tried quite a few brands - Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, Layalina, Tangiers, Nahkla, and Al Amir. For overall quality I usually go with Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, and Layalina. Tangiers is great for unwashed but pretty harsh if not mixed with washed. Certain brands have certain flavors I like more than others, for example I prefer Layalina rose to Starbuzz, and Starbuzz guava to Layalina. This might be a matter of taste and all I can recommend is to try different brands out.

One huge thing I've found is that no matter what type of container the shisha comes in, reseal it in tupperware. Several use containers which look like they should be airtight but over time the tobacco mix seperates if not resealed in tupperware and this can affect the flavor even when it's remixed.

Make sure to store your hookah someplace away from dust. It's a huge pain to clean that ick off if you haven't used a certain pipe for awhile.

And last but not least, if you spend an entire vacation week smoking all day every day - you WILL suffer greatly, so try to smoke in moderation.

I know alot of this is common knowledge, but hopefully some of it can help a newcomer.

[Not Another Tool]

^ very good advice for anyone new or looking into getting a hookah

This forum should make a list like this for the basics, advance stuff although that would be hard since everyone has their own preferences. Or do we already have something like this?

[Stuie]

Romman isn't washed.

[mattarios2]

[quote name='acolorado' date='20 January 2010 - 05:01 AM' timestamp='1263978106' post='446552']
Tobacco: I've tried quite a few brands - Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, Layalina, Tangiers, Nahkla, and Al Amir. For overall quality I usually go with Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, and Layalina. [b]Tangiers is great for unwashed but pretty harsh if not mixed with washed.[/b] Certain brands have certain flavors I like more than others, for example I prefer Layalina rose to Starbuzz, and Starbuzz guava to Layalina. This might be a matter of taste and all I can recommend is to try different brands out.

[/quote]

All good advice for the newcomer.

But if you know what you are doing with Tangiers it shouldn't be "harsh" at all.

[PoloJCP]

Great info I am new to hookah, so I find this post to be great source. Couple question about the mold in the base. If the bowl is washed everytime, you will still get mold?

[The Caterpillar]

[quote name='PoloJCP' date='20 January 2010 - 11:25 PM' timestamp='1264055129' post='446759']
Great info I am new to hookah, so I find this post to be great source. Couple question about the mold in the base. If the bowl is washed everytime, you will still get mold?
[/quote]

Mold grows in humid warm places... so the humidity trapped in the base is a dream for fungus/mold. If you leave your hookah sitting after a smoke for a few days, it's certainly possible to have something growing.

To answer your question, you will not still get mold if you take the right precautions against it.

[Sumoka]

wow hella good. I'm pretty new too this is super helpful.

Thanks acolorado. yeah and if you guys have any more advanced tips and ish freakin tell me ahah.. i love this stuff

[SultanofSmoke]

A tip I can offer for the rookie smoker is to go to a hardware store/department store and purchase a door mat for really cheap that you rest your hookah on if your in a an area with some movement/with lots of people. After buring holes in a few carpets/rugs I did this and now if the caols slip they hit the carpet I dont care about....not the one from the middle east.

Just something I think is important.

[Arcane]

[quote name='mattarios2' date='20 January 2010 - 06:08 AM' timestamp='1264003697' post='446575']
[quote name='acolorado' date='20 January 2010 - 05:01 AM' timestamp='1263978106' post='446552']
Tobacco: I've tried quite a few brands - Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, Layalina, Tangiers, Nahkla, and Al Amir. For overall quality I usually go with Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, and Layalina. [b]Tangiers is great for unwashed but pretty harsh if not mixed with washed.[/b] Certain brands have certain flavors I like more than others, for example I prefer Layalina rose to Starbuzz, and Starbuzz guava to Layalina. This might be a matter of taste and all I can recommend is to try different brands out.

[/quote]

All good advice for the newcomer.

But if you know what you are doing with Tangiers it shouldn't be "harsh" at all.
[/quote]

agreed. good advice for the newcomer.

although i don't think a diffuser is needed at all, tangiers is not harsh, nats shouldn't go out if lit thoroughly, and hookah height doesn't matter much...

[seefoodlover]

Tangiers recquires special smoking instructions. And, CocoNaras are well worth the money over quick lites, as long as you have a way to light them. Otherwise good stuff

[delSol_si]

I don't think the KMs were solid, at least my KM ice is not, I would assume those 3 listed are probably in similar construction to mine. I could be wrong though, dunno. Though I do agree that the KM is the best our of those listed.


I talked to walt about coals before, there is actually 3 different types, QL, naturals, and bulk, the ones you describe sound like bulk. I have never used naturals or bulk, so I can't comment on their effectiveness, but i can say that the round disk QL taste like shit to me. CH QL is the only coal I use for now(I do get headaches) until i can afford some naturals or bulk. Also, cutting the coal in half is a good idea, but keep in mind this drastically cuts its burn life.


I like putting wine in my base, but ya, i agree, putting anything except water can get to be a hassle trying to get the sticky out. But, on special occasions, i still like putting Arbor Mist in mine.

I have never used a diffuser yet, but after hearing stories, the furthest i will go is a homemade diffuser, the ones that are sold just look like too much money.


From my experience, as long as you do the scalli mod properly (this takes practice) you can get the bowl to smoke just about the same, the draw will probably be a little easier without the mod though, so ya, i agree with you there, mod is not the best choice unless you are looking for a short session or are low on shisha.


[quote]And last but not least, if you spend an entire vacation week smoking all day every day - you WILL suffer greatly, so try to smoke in moderation.[/quote]
+1 on that one, VERY good advice.

[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"][size="3"][color="#1C2837"][size=2]
[/size][/color][/size][/font]
[color=#1C2837][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][size=2]there used to be a hookahforum wiki, but ever since the switch, it has disappeared and i get a IPS driver error every time i try to access it, unfortunately.

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page"]http://www.hookahfor...x.php/Main_Page[/url] [/size][/font][/color]

[rahl071]

Target sells short fat canning jars, which is what I store my shisha in. Tupperware is all well and good, but unless it's the good stuff it's still not necessarily airtight.

[EireBrode]

[quote name='acolorado' date='20 January 2010 - 01:01 AM' timestamp='1263978106' post='446552']
I thought I would post some tips that I've discovered after a over a year of smoking. Please feel free to continue the thread with more info and opinion.

Pipes:
After smoking from the following pipes - generic egyptians, several Khalil Mamoons (Hafa, Pharonie, and a tri-metal), one Mya, a pumpkin, and one old nondescript Syrian, I find that overall the Khalil Mamoon are my preferred pipes. The wide stems provide for a better draw than the others I've tried. The ones I've used are all of solid construction. The bases are all solid and had a very wide mouth. The Mya seemed like it was very well made, but I didn't get the same draw off it. The generic egyptians had a much worse draw and many had bases with a small mouth, making it difficult to add ice to the base unless it was crushed. I think the Syrian was an antique so I can't really do a good comparison with it.

In general if you're planning to invest in a pipe I would hands down recommend getting a KM.

All the pipes I smoked from I believe were over 30" except for the pumpkin. The smoke from the pumpkin was "off" from my usual experience. I've read others who have recommended always going with a pipe over 30" and this experience seems to back that up.

Always make sure to clean your pipes when you first get them - lots gunk can be left over inside from manufacturing. Also make sure to clean them inside and out after every use. I find that using a gun cleaning rod to push wadded up paper towel through the stem helps alot.

Coals: I tried natural coals and found that they were way too much work for me - hard to keep lit and hard to get the right size chunks, so I have used quick lites. Personally I don't find the quick lites affect the taste, but some people report getting headaches from them - so I would say try both out.

The big tip for using quick lites is make sure to get 40mm and cut them in half. Just score the top with a serrated knife and bend them toward you - they should break cleanly in half. Position each half opposite each other on your bowl, and after they ash up knock the ash off and go a bit more. When those are done place two more halves on the two sides of the bowl not covered the first time around. This seems to work the best for heat management regardless of the brand of tobacco used. One thing to keep in mind using this method is if you smoke unwashed tobacco mix it with some washed to cut out the "roughness". For example if using Tangiers mix it with a washed brand like Romman.

Foil: Make sure to use heavy duty foil. It holds it's shape better than the thin stuff and won't droop into the bowl.

Base: Never ever ever put anything but water into your base. I've tried orange juice and lemon juice and even with extensive washing and scrubbing both times I got mold inside. Just not worth the hassle.

Hoses: I've tried several of the hoses that came with the hookahs and also Namoor hoses. The only way to go I think is with the Namoor. It is washable so you don't get that build up of taste that happens with leather hoses. They are also very wide so it doesn't affect the pull, which many narrow hoses do. They are sturdy, and the only problems I've had is with the wrap coming loose from the handles, which is an aesthetic problem but hasn't affected how they function.

Diffusers: The Heba diffuser is a must have. This cuts down the vibration from smoking on several of my pipes in a big way - and personally I think it really affects the smoothness of the smoke although this might be subjective. The mere fact that it stops the pipe from rattling around when it's smoked is reason enough to get one in my book.

Bowls: I've used both the standard bowls with several holes in the bottom and also several phunnels. I prefer the phunnel bowls. These prevent the shisha from dripping down the stem, which is a pain to clean, and also they seem to make it easier to manage the heat. I also tried the Scali mod but found it to be unnecessary as long as I use heavy duty foil.

Tobacco: I've tried quite a few brands - Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, Layalina, Tangiers, Nahkla, and Al Amir. For overall quality I usually go with Starbuzz, Romman, Al Fahker, and Layalina. Tangiers is great for unwashed but pretty harsh if not mixed with washed. Certain brands have certain flavors I like more than others, for example I prefer Layalina rose to Starbuzz, and Starbuzz guava to Layalina. This might be a matter of taste and all I can recommend is to try different brands out.

One huge thing I've found is that no matter what type of container the shisha comes in, reseal it in tupperware. Several use containers which look like they should be airtight but over time the tobacco mix seperates if not resealed in tupperware and this can affect the flavor even when it's remixed.

Make sure to store your hookah someplace away from dust. It's a huge pain to clean that ick off if you haven't used a certain pipe for awhile.

And last but not least, if you spend an entire vacation week smoking all day every day - you WILL suffer greatly, so try to smoke in moderation.

I know alot of this is common knowledge, but hopefully some of it can help a newcomer.
[/quote]

Doesn't a diffuser remove any nicotine buzz you might get though? Yeah, I know, that's not what hookah's for, but it's still always a plus

And what's the story with this Starbuzz shisha? I've been seeing stuff about it EVERYWHERE.

[Arcane]

[quote name='EireBrode' date='21 January 2010 - 06:52 PM' timestamp='1264135925' post='447029']
Doesn't a diffuser remove any nicotine buzz you might get though? Yeah, I know, that's not what hookah's for, but it's still always a plus
[/quote]
nope.

[quote]
And what's the story with this Starbuzz shisha? I've been seeing stuff about it EVERYWHERE.
[/quote]
its the most advertised and widely distributed "modern" shisha....i think it also has the most extensive flavor list as well...not to mention, its a very forgiving tobacco. so, hookah lounges that don't really know what they're doing can get away with their lack of bowl packing know-how..

[Jeff_T]

Good entry post acolorado, thanks for the information. As others above stated some discrepancies will arise with some of this info, but overall a good read for anyone new(er) to the hookah scene.

[Jacob Shock]

Alot of information that i dissagre with, but over all a great post. it would deffinitly give a new comer a good deal of information.