Need some tips please!!

[Catalyst Paintball]

Hey guys, I'm reletivily new to Hookah and to tending to my own Hookah. The past few sessions I've had, I want to say that I'm not pulling out the full potential of the shisha. Here is my setup:Social Smoke Gemini II (2 Hosed, plugged up when not in use)3 Kings 33mm CoalsMYA HoseLarge Ceramic Bowl[img]http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3411/bowl5pb.jpg[/img]I pull my Starbuzz apart and pack my bowl fairly light and under the rim of the bowl. Foil is pulled tight and everything, as well holes poked with a toothpick.I've been using 1 3 Kings 33mm to heat my bowl. I do the whole "rotating coal across the bowl thing", but smoke still comes out fairly light, and very low in flavor.What am I doing wrong?One thing that I'm wondering about is the number of coals. My bowl is extremly wide. Should I use 2 coals? I know that would increase smoke density, but how abuot flavor?Thanks guys!

[ahwahoo2006]

I would say you are dead on with the heat observation.  I use
pretty much the exact same bowl, and my setup, which produces wonderful
smoke and flavor, although not with Starbuzz is as follows:

1.5 40mm 3 Kings, in 3 equal pieces, arranged around the outside of the bowl, over ~20 evenly-spaced holes in the foil.

If you a using the 33mm, try using 2 coals, both broken in half.

[Catalyst Paintball]

I punch way more then 20 holes...What are you using to punch your holes/how big are they?Do you have a picture of the pattern you use?Thanks!

[yashman19]

Yup, 20 holes seems like it would give you a tighter draw (i guess depending on what you're poking with). I use a push-pin, and I put anywhere from 60-75 holes, evenly spaced out over the whole bowl.I use nat fingers now, but way back when when I used 3kings, I would just stick two of those babies on the bowl. Making sure though to keep them on the perimeter, never getting them too close to each other in the middle. And just do what you said, making sure when you ash them, you rotate them around the outside of the bowl. If it gets too harsh, have one of the coals hang off the edge partly.

[ahwahoo2006]

The two patterns I have had good luck with are:
I can't say exactly how big the holes are, but they are the size of the rod that is attatched to my tongs.

(sorry for my poor MSPaint skills... I hope that helps some)

[Catalyst Paintball]

ahwahoo, thanks for the diagram!So I packed again, used your circular-ish pattern and (2) 3 Kings 33mmSmoked very well, nice flavorOnly thing was I mixed Havana Mint/Menthol with Starbuzz Strawberry... YUCK!That Mint overpowered everything. Very strong, gave me a light headed feeling a few minutes after the bowl was heated.