Bowl Shape

[ih303]

Hey, gang. Just a simple question for ya. If hookah bowls were cylindrical, the foil wouldn't have anything to grip on to. But other than that, does the shape of a bowl (outside, not inside) serve any purpose?

[TexasHookah]

The round shape just seems more logical if you have to cover it. Truthfully don't really know....

[PSU Smoker]

I think the bowl shapes are how they are for a few reasons


1) logically you want something circular that is going to easily fit on to your hookah and with circular grommets circular (well cylindrical) bowls make sense
2) aesthetically pleasing. Since the entire hookah is of a cylindrical shape it looks best with bowls as they are: a bowl that was a prism would look really weird
3) I also think that the shape gives way to better and more even heating of the tobacco once the bowl has reached its temperature. If you had a bowl that didnt have rotational symmetry some parts of the bowl would have a greater heat capacity and lend the tobacco in that area to burn more often and more quickly

thats just my 2 cents...not a bowl designer just user =P

[ih303]

I haven't seen one in a while, but weren't Scalliwag's bowls just straight cylinders on the outside? Did anyone try one? I wonder if the distribution of heat was any different.

[PSU Smoker]

hmm id say a straight cylinder would have equal heat distribution...the problem would possibly en lie in the heat capacity if too much material was surrounding bowl. The higher the heat capicity the more heat is transfered to the tobacco and the quicker it burns. But i dunno...a straight cylinder seems like a pretty modern look tho so maybe it will make a comeback with modern hookahs?

[Stuie]

[quote name='ih303' date='24 February 2010 - 10:22 AM' timestamp='1267028538' post='453408']
I haven't seen one in a while, but weren't Scalliwag's bowls just straight cylinders on the outside? Did anyone try one? I wonder if the distribution of heat was any different.
[/quote]

They have a drop in mod. like a thick metal perferated tealight mod. Foil works fine also. I can cache a bowl with out too much problem. but if i do pack it enough to use foil, the bowl does start to lose flavor smoking through all that cached shisha on top.

[ih303]

So, Scalli's bowls were cylinders? Did you notice any difference between those and other, more traditionally shaped bowls?

[Stuie]

Smoke just as good to me, but honestly i haven't smoked it in a while. I will try to put it through the ringer and get a good pros and cons up for ya this week hopefully.

[ih303]

Is Scalli still selling hoses and bowls? Whatever happened to him anyway? If anyone else has had any experience with his bowls, I'd like to hear about it.

[Venger]

I am thinking from a potters stand point a bowl is easier to turn on a wheel. more consistent product.
Ray