My First Hookah And Other Questions.

[bellydancerakn]

Hello! So I'm pretty new and just bought my first hookah a few weeks ago. It was totally an impulse buy. I had never even smoked a hookah before, but my paycheck was 100 more than I though it would be so I went for it. So my hookah was/is a Mya QT. I had no idea what that was except it caught my eye and I just had to have it. Also, my friend Mackenzie (who does have a hookah) said that it looked like good quality and 60 wasn't too bad for a hookah. Now after I bought the thing I researched the heck out of hookahs and found this forum. THANK YOU!!!! God this forum has saved my life for the most part, telling me what shisha is good and if I should get certain accesories or if they are a waste of money. Luckily, pretty much everyone has said that the QT is a good quality hookah for beginers who are broke.

The thing is, the fourth time I used my hookah it broke. I guess there was a miniscule flaw in the threading on the base and it went kaput. Luckily, the place I bought it from ordered me the same thing at no extra cost. It's just taking a while to get up here, but you can't beat free. This isn't the norm right? As far as QTs go.

Now, after reading all the shisha reviews I've decided to buy AF shisha. I do live here in the USA so I don't really have to deal with customs, but is it generally a good idea to buy shisha online or should I really try to find a head shop somewhere close to where I live? Is the quality effected either way? And how about the price? I just bought 15 50gram boxes at 2.80 each with the buy 10 get 5 free deal they have going on at SS. From all my research that sounds pretty chill. The only bummer is shipping. I do live in a fairly isolated small town (our pop JUST reach 5000 a year or so ago). I don't even think we HAVE a head shop, I had to drive 45 minutes to the next town to even find hookahs. The place I bought it from is more of an expanded and locally owned Hot Topic, only it's actually cool and not poser lol.

Also, what kind of quicklight coals are the best? Which last longest and don't ash up too much? I know most people prefer the all natural coals that take a long time to heat up but the place(s) I generally smoke doesn't have a stove (old cabin up in the woods) so quicklight it is.

And will a phunnel bowl even fit my QT when it gets here? I'm thinking of buying one they sound cool, but they are near constantly sold out online, expecially the small ones. And how many grams does a small one hold; I can never seem to find that info? I know they sell phunnels at my place once in a blue moon but from what I hear they are 20 or more. Is that a good price?

Once again, thanks for all your help it is much appreciated.

[joytron]

1. The deal they have going on at SS is a great way to try out a bunch of shisha and if you use a discount code from the forum it usually at least gets rid of shipping prices.
2. As far as coals you could get a coil burner at walgreens for ten bucks and get coconaras or if you really want insta lights get some of hookah johns quick lights, most places sell them, they last for a long time and dont impart much of a taste at all.
3. As far is phunnels go there is a little bit of a shortage but I know HC has some. They will fit on your QT fine and I tihnk small is the way to go. I have had 3 smalls and they are all a little different but as far as sizing in relation to af packed the way I do you would be looking at between 30 and 35 grams. They are usually priced around 15 dollars.
4. As far as ordering on line versus a head shop, in small towns especially when lacking in a middle eastern population prices tend to be overinflated and variety is lacking. The amount you would spend on shipping far outweighs gas and the increase in prices.

enjoy your stay and hope to see you around

[agunn1231]

I haven't ever gotten shisha online, but here(in denver) so many places carry it. AF is a good shisha. and as far as the hookah breaking...probably just a fluke. I haven't had a Mya hookah. but my first one was $20 and fell apart after a year.....much luck with your new investment...may your shisha be flavorful and your smoke be thick.

[SuburbanSmoker]

myas are extremely durable, im surprised yours broke on you.

besides that joytron pretty much hit the nail on the head

[Chreees]

Sounds like ordering online is your best bet supplies-wise. Some of us are lucky and have local shops to go to that sell some good stuff, some of us have shops that only carry crap, and some of us don't have anything within driving range. Some good brands of shisha to try out are Nakhla and Tangiers. My two favorite brands, actually. I started off with AF like you but once I tried Nak I never went back. As for coals, the best quicklights most people will tell you on here are HookahJohn's CH (don't spell it out, goes against the rules) quicklight coals. I don't like them, but then again, I don't like ANY quicklights. They all give me a terrible headache. If you can, do as Joytron said and get the single-coil electric burner and some Coconaras and you'll be set to go. Coconaras are my favorite coals, followed by AF cocos.

Here locally I can get Nakhla for $5, AF for $9, Mya Mozzas for $45, Mya QTs and Bambinos for $30, and the Mya Petites are $20. They have some other random stuff as well. Tip: look on google for Middle Eastern bakeries or grocery stores in your area within driving range. If you find any, call them up and ask if they carry any hookah stuff. If they don't understand you, say nargile or shisha. A lot of shops won't know about the different brands like if you try asking them what all they have. So your best bet is just find out if they have hookah stuff period then go check it out and see what they have. With your knowledge from here you'll be able to pick out the good stuff amongst all the crap you'll find.

I'd like to see a picture of your QT if you don't mind. There's a lot of fake QTs out there... That may have been the reason yours broke, but not sure 'til you post up some pics.

But yeah, try out a bunch of different stuff and just find what you like.

EDIT: Oh, and here are some good vendors to buy from:

www.thehookahcentral.com
www.hookahcompany.com
www.hookahjohn.com

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='21 March 2010 - 01:31 AM' timestamp='1269160298' post='458538']
Sounds like ordering online is your best bet supplies-wise. Some of us are lucky and have local shops to go to that sell some good stuff, some of us have shops that only carry crap, and some of us don't have anything within driving range. Some good brands of shisha to try out are Nakhla and Tangiers. My two favorite brands, actually. I started off with AF like you but once I tried Nak I never went back. As for coals, the best quicklights most people will tell you on here are HookahJohn's CH (don't spell it out, goes against the rules) quicklight coals. I don't like them, but then again, I don't like ANY quicklights. They all give me a terrible headache. If you can, do as Joytron said and get the single-coil electric burner and some Coconaras and you'll be set to go. Coconaras are my favorite coals, followed by AF cocos.

Here locally I can get Nakhla for $5, AF for $9, Mya Mozzas for $45, Mya QTs and Bambinos for $30, and the Mya Petites are $20. They have some other random stuff as well. Tip: look on google for Middle Eastern bakeries or grocery stores in your area within driving range. If you find any, call them up and ask if they carry any hookah stuff. If they don't understand you, say nargile or shisha. A lot of shops won't know about the different brands like if you try asking them what all they have. So your best bet is just find out if they have hookah stuff period then go check it out and see what they have. With your knowledge from here you'll be able to pick out the good stuff amongst all the crap you'll find.

I'd like to see a picture of your QT if you don't mind. There's a lot of fake QTs out there... That may have been the reason yours broke, but not sure 'til you post up some pics.

But yeah, try out a bunch of different stuff and just find what you like.

EDIT: Oh, and here are some good vendors to buy from:

www.thehookahcentral.com
www.hookahcompany.com
www.hookahjohn.com
[/quote]


Yeah we have NO middle eastern prescence hear unfortuantly. That would be so awesome if we did. Let's just say that Sequim is known as the lavander capital of North America, therefore we are about as white as possible. We have a larger asian presence since the next town over is a port town and we are in washington state. Also, a huge hippie population but what they smoke doesn't require a lot of stuff if you get my drift.

My question about the single coil electric burner is that since it's electric that means it has to plug in right? Are there possibly any single coil burners for like camping? Like ones that run on those mini-tanks of propane? Still seems like a lot of gear to lug around for a hookah session but if I'm hauling the hookah and and wine coolers and water (for the base) whats one more thing right?

Unfortuantly, I don't own a digital camera and I gave the broken hookah back to store (What would I do with a broken hookah?). But when I get my new one, which SHOULD be Monday I'll try to post pictures some way.

[mitchard]

The only cool thing about Sequim is the game farm. The waving bear rules.

Anyways, welcome! Always good to see other Washingtonians around here.

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='mitchard' date='21 March 2010 - 08:01 AM' timestamp='1269183660' post='458577']
The only cool thing about Sequim is the game farm. The waving bear rules. [img]http://www.hookahforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif[/img]

Anyways, welcome! Always good to see other Washingtonians around here.
[/quote]


Thank you for not saying the lavander festival.

[karlin]

Well, this is my first post and first day here.

I am using quick-start charcoal, and the stuff makes a lot of smoke on ignition, though it calms down after a minute or so. Is there any quick-lighht charcoal out theer that doesn't smoke much when you first light it?

Thanks

[404notfound]

[quote name='karlin' date='23 March 2010 - 10:37 AM' timestamp='1269355049' post='459033']
Well, this is my first post and first day here.

I am using quick-start charcoal, and the stuff makes a lot of smoke on ignition, though it calms down after a minute or so. Is there any quick-lighht charcoal out theer that doesn't smoke much when you first light it?

Thanks
[/quote]

The only QL's I like to use are Starlights. They light quickly and burn for 1.75-2hours (40mm) without needing to be touched or ashed. They don't spark everywhere or ash nasty black gunk like 3Kings and you can actually light them indoors since they don't let out much smoke when lighting or set off fire/CO alarms. Also they don't add anything to the taste from what I've seen (vs. japanese coals), which is more than I can say about Al Fahker quicklights as they taste really nasty.



The two major pitfalls with Starlight are that they're hard to find (not available online from what I've seen) and there are actually two lines of QL with them. The ones in the green wrappers are great, but the ones in the gold wrappers take alot more work to get lit and burn for around half the time as the green-label ones..



I've also tried CH quicklights but haven't really figured out how to ash them properly for longer sessions. They're good coals if you don't mind going outdoors to light them though.

[SweetNut]

[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='21 March 2010 - 02:35 AM' timestamp='1269153330' post='458516']

The thing is, the fourth time I used my hookah it broke. I guess there was a miniscule flaw in the [b]threading[/b] on the base and it went kaput. Luckily, the place I bought it from ordered me the same thing at no extra cost. It's just taking a while to get up here, but you can't beat free. This isn't the norm right? As far as QTs go.


[/quote]


You mean your stem threads into the base??... I have a QT and there are no threads on the base... you may have started off with a knockoff

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='SweetNut' date='23 March 2010 - 05:39 PM' timestamp='1269391154' post='459132']
[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='21 March 2010 - 02:35 AM' timestamp='1269153330' post='458516']
The thing is, the fourth time I used my hookah it broke. I guess there was a miniscule flaw in the [b]threading[/b] on the base and it went kaput. Luckily, the place I bought it from ordered me the same thing at no extra cost. It's just taking a while to get up here, but you can't beat free. This isn't the norm right? As far as QTs go.


[/quote]


You mean your stem threads into the base??... I have a QT and there are no threads on the base... you may have started off with a knockoff
[/quote]



There is a little part on top of the base that sticks up about an inch or so and you twist the stem onto it.

[SweetNut]

I guess a pic would help me understand better... I have no threading on my base at all