What Exactly Makes A Good Hookah?

[GMofOLC]

What makes a good hookah? Because I see on here people saying one is better than the other, and then I see people making their own. I don't understand how one hookah could be better than another, they all have the same parts. Or is it something like how thick the pipes are that affect it? Somebody help me out here.

[antouwan]

that's pretty much it. i think primarily people will look at gauge (width) of the downtube and hose port. 2. would be the build quality (weight/qualities of materials used, how they are assembled) 3. aesthetics, (completely subjective)

that's pretty much it.

[GMofOLC]

So is thicker gauge always better? Or is there some sort of balance?

[antouwan]

i think anything above .75in would be overkill

[thatonethere]

You also want to make sure the hookah has some weight to it. The last thing you want is for it to tip over.

[Arcane]

actually, if the stem itself is heavy then the hookah will be top heavy, making it more likely to tip over...

1. wide gauge inner tubing
2. clean solid welds (making it airtight and durable)

if tipping is a concern here's what you'll need to look for: heavy glass, wide base, and it'd help if it can hold a lot of water (helps with the weight)

[cotsi95]

The main concerns for me when it comes to a hookah is.

1. The pull (Has to be effortless or i get a headache, like breathing through a straw)
2. Purge (Has to have just the tiniest amount of resistance, thats why i prefer the metal balls over plastic)
3. Aesthetics (I prefer a traditional design with some flair added in.)
4. Vase (A nice looking big vase is what I look for.)

all in all i absolutely LOVE my current go to set up. KM OG tri on a jumbo bohemian vase.

[IMG]http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q268/cotsi95/hookah/jumbo1.jpg[/IMG]

[chozino]

[font="Century Gothic"]The most important thing is the stem. If its not heavy and not made out of brass then it will rust and have built in crap that you dont want to smoke.

Most of the egyptian stuff is not that great of a quality thats why they are cheap.

if i was you i will try a Sahara Smoke Stem, its heavy and made out of brass. Try it you will love it.

Check this out:
[img]http://www.hookahforum.com/uploads/1269488702/med_gallery_22546_2_90951.jpg[/img]
[/font]

[cotsi95]

[quote name='chozino' date='06 April 2010 - 05:48 PM' timestamp='1270597684' post='462278']
[font="Century Gothic"]The most important thing is the stem. If its not heavy and not made out of brass then it will rust and have built in crap that you dont want to smoke.

Most of the egyptian stuff is not that great of a quality thats why they are cheap.

if i was you i will try a Sahara Smoke Stem, its heavy and made out of brass. Try it you will love it.

Check this out:
[img]http://www.hookahforum.com/uploads/1269488702/med_gallery_22546_2_90951.jpg[/img]
[/font]
[/quote]

[center][b][color="#FF0000"][size=6]FALSE[/size][/color][/b][/center][center][color="#FF0000"][size="2"][b]
[/b][/size][/color][/center][left][size="2"]While I agree the stem is the most important part of a hookah, it does not have to be made out of brass to not rust. My og tri along with every other stainless steel km and mya's I have doesn't have a spot of rust on them and I have smoked them everyday for 3+ years (even leaving some with water in the vase for up to 3 months). Also a heavy stem does not mean it wont rust, vice versa a light stem wont always rust.[/size][/left][left] [/left][left][size="2"]I also have a standard Egyptian that is about 4 years old that I gave to IV when he stopped bye last year. He will attest that while it is a no name Egyptian it isn't bad quality (Not saying its up to par with kms, myas, or temsaah).[/size][/left][left] [/left][left][size="2"]Also the SS stems are[/size] [size="6"]HORRIBLE [/size][size="2"][size="6"]HORRIBLE[/size] qu[/size][size="2"]ality stems they are cast and have rough edges inside the them and they have a nasty habit of gunk/rust buildup inside the stem sometimes after EVERY [/size][size="2"]use. [/size][/left][left] [/left][left][size="4"][url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/6376-saharasmoke/page__p__428866__hl__sahara__fromsearch__1&#entry428866"][size="6"]Proof[/size][/url]
[/size][/left][center]
[/center]

[TheyCallMeDave]

HMMMMM.

[ezxen]

[quote name='cotsi95' date='05 April 2010 - 01:18 AM' timestamp='1270455538' post='461945']
The main concerns for me when it comes to a hookah is.

1. The pull (Has to be effortless or i get a headache, like breathing through a straw)
2. Purge (Has to have just the tiniest amount of resistance, thats why i prefer the metal balls over plastic)
3. Aesthetics (I prefer a traditional design with some flair added in.)
4. Vase (A nice looking big vase is what I look for.)

[/quote]
[img]http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1012/0406002242.jpg[/img]
Using a KM ice with a Caravan funnel( I know they are not the best but gotta do with what you got )standard KM stlye vase blue with gold.

[joytron]

[quote name='chozino' date='06 April 2010 - 04:48 PM' timestamp='1270597684' post='462278']
[font="Century Gothic"]The most important thing is the stem. If its not heavy and not made out of brass then it will rust and have built in crap that you dont want to smoke.

Most of the egyptian stuff is not that great of a quality thats why they are cheap.

if i was you i will try a Sahara Smoke Stem, its heavy and made out of brass. Try it you will love it.

Check this out:
[/font]
[/quote]


Sahara says their stems are made out of stainless steel, also the hose port is not a single tube on most of their pipes. I am pretty sure this is their only brass piece in their collection:[url="http://saharasmoke.com/store/product.php?productid=17526&cat=0&page=1"]http://saharasmoke.com/store/product.php?productid=17526&cat=0&page=1[/url]

[Rocketman]

I have a Medium Sahara. As best I can tell the materials are stamped & spun metal, I'm not sure if its stainless or not. My buddy has one as well, I've had mine for over a year. Mine has some minor corrosion issues...seems like its cheap metal thats been chrome plated, not stainless.

DEFINATELY not brass. I have a mini mya, that's cast brass.

What cotsi said up there is totally false. Sahara might make a decent beginner hookah but they're not built to last.

lol where do people get this shit from

[bellydancerakn]

Dude I think, just THINK, chozino might be a rep masquerading as a customer. However, I have no proof of this. Which is why I'm not reporting him. Edited April 7, 2010 by bellydancerakn

[Arcane]

[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='06 April 2010 - 08:17 PM' timestamp='1270621030' post='462336']
Dude I think, just THINK, chozino might be a rep masquerading as a customer. However, I have no proof of this. Which is why I'm not reporting him.
[/quote]
we all need to just shill...i mean chill. chozino seems pretty shill....uhhhh, chill.

shill.

wait....wut?

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='Arcane' date='06 April 2010 - 11:32 PM' timestamp='1270621975' post='462341']
[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='06 April 2010 - 08:17 PM' timestamp='1270621030' post='462336']
Dude I think, just THINK, chozino might be a rep masquerading as a customer. However, I have no proof of this. Which is why I'm not reporting him.
[/quote]
we all need to just shill...i mean chill. chozino seems pretty shill....uhhhh, chill.

shill.

wait....wut?
[/quote]



Dude huge differance between shill and chill. Or do I need to remind yet another person of how sarcasm does not translate over the internet? lol Edited April 7, 2010 by bellydancerakn

[cotsi95]

[quote name='Rocketman' date='07 April 2010 - 12:05 AM' timestamp='1270620358' post='462334']


What cotsi said up there is totally false. Sahara might make a decent beginner hookah but they're not built to last.

lol where do people get this shit from
[/quote]

Umm excuse me i was the one saying they were shit....[img]http://www.hookahforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/774_smiley_getting_kicked_in_the_balls.gif[/img]

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='cotsi95' date='07 April 2010 - 12:38 AM' timestamp='1270625904' post='462352']
[quote name='Rocketman' date='07 April 2010 - 12:05 AM' timestamp='1270620358' post='462334']
What cotsi said up there is totally false. Sahara might make a decent beginner hookah but they're not built to last.

lol where do people get this shit from
[/quote]

Umm excuse me i was the one saying they were shit....[img]http://www.hookahforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/774_smiley_getting_kicked_in_the_balls.gif[/img]
[/quote]



I think rocket got confuzzled

[Rocketman]

i did yeah, grabbed the wrong name. My apologies.

[TheyCallMeDave]

Again... HMMMMMMM.

Dave senses a disturbance in the force...

[Venger]

Any hookah I am smoking makes it a good Hookah.<wink>
Ray

[Woodsytheowl]

Wide tubing loses restriction on the pull. A solid heart and narrow tubing is probably the most important. Oh, and bohemian vases, of course Edited April 7, 2010 by jon bon

[Chreees]

SAHARA SMOKE HOOKAH HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED?! The hookah gods are not pleased...

They have actually contacted the charcoal gnomes who are their enemies and persuaded them to come to your house and mess with your shit. Of course the gnomes had no problem doing this, considering it's what they love anyway. Bet you won't recommend Sahara Smoke hookahs again!

[TheyCallMeDave]

[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='07 April 2010 - 02:36 AM' timestamp='1270622199' post='462344']
[quote name='Arcane' date='06 April 2010 - 11:32 PM' timestamp='1270621975' post='462341']
[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='06 April 2010 - 08:17 PM' timestamp='1270621030' post='462336']
Dude I think, just THINK, chozino might be a rep masquerading as a customer. However, I have no proof of this. Which is why I'm not reporting him.
[/quote]
we all need to just shill...i mean chill. chozino seems pretty shill....uhhhh, chill.

shill.

wait....wut?
[/quote]



Dude huge differance between shill and chill. Or do I need to remind yet another person of how sarcasm does not translate over the internet? lol
[/quote]


Hmmm. Well, I grasped the sarcastic manner pretty quickly. Maybe there's a few descrepencies between how sacasm is viewed online by you, in contrast to others. Hahaha. However, I guess it's good you hold people accountable for their words, in their literal sense... No sarcasm. So In conclusion, I'd have to agree.. Let's just shill out. I mean chill. Wait... Damnit jay...