Hookah Help

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Hello fellow Hookah smokers!

I had a question to ask and I figured this was the best place!

Anyways, I'm having a problem where I'm barely getting any flavor from my hookah, I've visited different cafe's and their hookahs were amazing but mine pretty much sucks.

I have Orange/Watermelon Starbuzz tobacco and I recently purchased a $70 hookah from a local store that supplies them.

I use the starbuzz charcoal and I've set it up correctly, poked the holes, put ice in the water, this is the 3rd hookah I've purchased where I haven't been getting the full flavor experience.

Here's a picture:

[img]http://i47.tinypic.com/2rfcz04.jpg[/img]


I apologize for the ash tray, haven't cleaned it in a day or two

I also have one like this but the bowl is slightly cracked:

[img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b250/whorinitup/Hookah/MyaHookah1.jpg[/img]




THank you for taking the time to read this!

[rahl071]

Put the un-cracked bowl on the petite, as it's probably a better hookah than the other one. Regardless, it looks like you don't have very many holes in the foil. that could be part of it. Are you not getting smoke either or just flavor?

If no smoke or flavor, there could be a leak check your gaskets, make sure you're getting an airtight seal. easy way to check. put your hand over your hookah top, with the bowl on it (empty and cooled, of course. no burns ) try to inhale. if you get any air, you have a leak. It could be more heat management, although a QL on a bowl that size is usually plenty of heat for starbuzz.

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Thanks for the quick reply, unfortunately I'm only getting smoke and no flavor

[mushrat]

You are burning your tobacco. This is producing the smoke but killing the flavour.

Try breaking your coals in half and putting the halves on opposite sides of the bowl.

[Josh Hamilton]

too much heat will give it a bad burned taste as mush said...
what kind of foil are you using? might be a little too thin...use heavy duty foil (reynolds)

[mushrat]

Ive never liked heavy duty foil. I'll us eit if I have to, but to me its a cop out ot learning proper heat control.

this is the problem with asking an opened ended question on a forum.

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I forgot what the name of the foil was that I used, it was made specifically for hookah, round, just placed it on top of the bowl.

[dizzbizz]

Check this thread out, it'll help you pack starbuzz. http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/35607-so-you-want-to-smoke-starbuzz-eh/
But I think you're using too much heat too. just make sure to break the coals up into halves and use two at a time on opposite sides, like Mush said.

[Improve]

Wow I would like to thank you guys so much, ended up checking the SB guide and using my $20 MYA over that $80 pos I bought.

I got huge huge hits and giant flavor blasts. Definitely felt the buzz.

I'm just disappointed, I could've just bought like 4 different SB tobacco flavors instead of purchasing a new shisha.

Thanks again guys, I've fallen in love with Hookah again