Chaz1337 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I'm sure you natural coals users can relate to this. After having been smoking for 6 months in my new apartment the stove top electric coil I use to light 4-6 CCN's a day has been progressively looking worse and worse... The coil seems to have "Burn marks". Thats the best way to describe it. It seems to be degradation due to the extreme amount it has to undergo on a daily basis. I do have the cheap Walgreen's burner that I used to light my coals on, however the stove top coils light my coals MUCH faster. Sould I revert back to using my portable burner? The coils are fully functional I'm just afraid they are undergoing to much wear and tear. I was wondering if anyone else has had a problem like this and if so how they fixed it or what they did? I was contemplating taking steel wool to it for some of the residual carbon buildup but I'm just not sure if anything else can be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 I replace the one I use about once in the past 3 years. The replacement coils are $15-25 bucks at Home Depot or Lowes. I am with you. I have a portable burner... only use it when I am in the garage, or have one of my wifes friends crashing for the night and I lock my self in my office. Otherwise. I use the stove and just replace the coil. When it finally breaks... Like those flash fireworks... Magnesium going off or something. After I am done lighting for the night I wipe the coil off with a wet paper towel. Keeps things in a little better shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yasseah Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Maybe see how clean you can get it with steel wool? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1 Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 [quote name='Yasseah' timestamp='1288888260' post='487265'] Maybe see how clean you can get it with steel wool? [/quote] It's not just grime on the coils, it actually decays them. It's not fun when ( I don't know why) the burned will start to give you an electrical shock from the corrosion when you flip the coals. The last two burners I've had did this, but the first time was because it was left out in the rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gruver Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 As Tom said, it's not just buildup. The coils actually decay and eventually fail. I have been getting a year and a half out of a portable burner before it will fail. Stove burners typically are a bit bigger, so probably more surface area to degrade, hence the longer life (and probably a better quality burner to start with). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzbizz Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 This is interesting. My $10 burner finally went out on me a couple days ago after consistent 2 years of use. I've never really thought about cleaning it, I'm fine with spending $10 every two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king_lunchb0x Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 i wouldnt bother cleaning there is not way to make them last longer....when my large coil burner finally went out...it went out in a blaze of glory. The coil split about 1/2inch long and when i tried to heat the coals it was wicked crispy scary awesome.... bright blue/white light sparks going crazy popping noises....so i would recommend don't "milk " the old one or else u might not have a kitchen left. o p.s. my apartment replaced my coil burner for free...it was considered an normal wear and tear repair...call ur apt main office when ever ur coil is done and tell them that u need a new one.. i dont think they should charge but doesn't hurt to ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sapphire Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Wow... this is good info. I had no idea that could happen! I will have to check my burners when I get home. I have never noticed any wear but I was not really looking for it either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonix Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 [quote name='Tom16689' timestamp='1288888453' post='487268'] [quote name='Yasseah' timestamp='1288888260' post='487265'] Maybe see how clean you can get it with steel wool? [/quote] It's not just grime on the coils, it actually decays them. It's not fun when ( I don't know why) the burned will start to give you an electrical shock from the corrosion when you flip the coals. The last two burners I've had did this, but the first time was because it was left out in the rain. [/quote] Well damn, I've had the exact thing happen to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Mine's got a spot on it where I always set the coals, but that's about it so far... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Has anyone here tried lighting coals with a blowtorch? Good idea or bad idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1 Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 [quote name='noodle' timestamp='1289006373' post='487372'] Has anyone here tried lighting coals with a blowtorch? Good idea or bad idea? [/quote] Takes longer, and you have to sit there with the torch on it for like 20 minutes. Only a good idea if you don't have access to an outlet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 [quote name='Tom16689' timestamp='1289006687' post='487375'] [quote name='noodle' timestamp='1289006373' post='487372'] Has anyone here tried lighting coals with a blowtorch? Good idea or bad idea? [/quote] Takes longer, and you have to sit there with the torch on it for like 20 minutes. Only a good idea if you don't have access to an outlet. [/quote] I'm thinking of a gizmo that screws onto a propane bottle that is essentially a tiny stove specifically for starting hookah coals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzbizz Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 [quote name='noodle' timestamp='1289017573' post='487383'] [quote name='Tom16689' timestamp='1289006687' post='487375'] [quote name='noodle' timestamp='1289006373' post='487372'] Has anyone here tried lighting coals with a blowtorch? Good idea or bad idea? [/quote] Takes longer, and you have to sit there with the torch on it for like 20 minutes. Only a good idea if you don't have access to an outlet. [/quote] I'm thinking of a gizmo that screws onto a propane bottle that is essentially a tiny stove specifically for starting hookah coals. [/quote] If you go to an REI or Summit Hut, they sell things like that for camping. Its just a small stove top that screws on to a small propane tank. They're a little pricey though, I think they go for $30 or $40 for a basic one. EDIT: Found one for $40 [url="http://www.rei.com/product/660163"]http://www.rei.com/product/660163[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 I guess that would work if you fold up the pot supports. Putting the coals directly on the burner grid wouldn' t be a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agunn1231 Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 I switch the back and front burners every few months cause they are the same size. but they are starting to look bad. Live here almost a year and been using natural coals that whole time....I think i'm gonna have to get the maintainence folks up here for new ones soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzbizz Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 [quote name='noodle' timestamp='1289021971' post='487387'] I guess that would work if you fold up the pot supports. Putting the coals directly on the burner grid wouldn' t be a good idea. [/quote] Yeah, and if you do that it looks like it'll be one coal at a time, unless you make a grill looking thing to lay flat on top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1v3th3ad Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 am I not getting it? I am really really baffled on cleaning the coils why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremyk Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 i just wipe them off after i use the coil been doing that for about a yr now on the same front coil at my new house and it seems to keep it burning like normal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushrat Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Ok, I believ the ash may be a corrosive Base, so leaving it on the coil speeds up the corrosion of the thin layer of metal covering the ceramic core or the burner. Inside the ceramic core is the actual live wire. Using steel wool to gently get the crusted ash off a burner before using it actually will extend the life of the burner. This has been my experience at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaz1337 Posted November 6, 2010 Author Share Posted November 6, 2010 Great info guys! I appreciate the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king_lunchb0x Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 [quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1289059295' post='487432'] Ok, I believ the ash may be a corrosive Base, so leaving it on the coil speeds up the corrosion of the thin layer of metal covering the ceramic core or the burner. Inside the ceramic core is the actual live wire. Using steel wool to gently get the crusted ash off a burner before using it actually will extend the life of the burner. This has been my experience at least. [/quote] at the lounge how did u use to light your coals.and did you always have coals going..or only when people asked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted November 9, 2010 Share Posted November 9, 2010 I got tired of the mess the little electric coil I was using was making--plus my brother needed a coil and I ended up giving it to him. I had an old propane grill in the back yard that I wore out a couple of years ago, I took out the small rack in it--never used it anyway, it's about two feet long and five or six inches deep. I think it's for keeping stuff warm. Anyway, I just take the grates off my gas stove and lay the rack on the stove to heat up the coals. Works great, once it cools off I set it between the washer and the wall where it's out of the way. So far, it doesn't seem to mind the direct heat, the metal gets red hot but hasn't gotten misshapen. And my coals heat up nice and fast. I won't go back to a coil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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