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Budget Hookah


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So before this semester started, some friends and I got us a cheap ole 4 pipe, just a starter hookah. We did the whole newb thing, crappy quick-lights, stock hoses and bowl. Everything was going great for a while until the stem starts rusting, the hose adapter screws start stripping, just a mess all around. Ended up shattering our ugly stock vase :( and we got a new super pretty one, but it was a size larger than the stem we were using. So hours of research later, I find that you can replace grommets, downstem and totally gut your hookah.

What I need to know now is if anyone's had any experience putting together stems, tier by tier, do you have any suggestions? I found a website called hookah hub that sells them separately and I sort of wanted to put together my own stem. Since I'm not an engineer or any kind of machine expert, I don't really have any experience or know-how to make my own parts. Also, if you know any other websites as alternative to the one I just mentioned, let me know. I'm on a tight budget and can't exactly afford KM or anything like that, but if you have any advice, I'd be very happy to take it! :ireful:
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Unless it's a Mya Saray pipe, I wouldn't trust a pipe you put together.

If you want a cheap 4 hose look at the new Mya Saray Vento or Mono. Small little powerhouses that can 1 hose or up to 4.
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-16-small-mya-hookahs-mini-hookahs.html
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[quote name='Stuie' timestamp='1294990261' post='494311']
Unless it's a Mya Saray pipe, I wouldn't trust a pipe you put together.

If you want a cheap 4 hose look at the new Mya Saray Vento or Mono. Small little powerhouses that can 1 hose or up to 4.
[url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-16-small-mya-hookahs-mini-hookahs.html"]http://www.hookah-sh...ni-hookahs.html[/url]
[/quote]

Great suggestion. The Vento's base is sooooooooo sexy
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So is that the general consensus around here? Avoid no name parts? I tried searching the forum for anything about putting together hookah stems, but couldn't find anything.
Secondly, does anyone know anything about the Mya Econo collection?
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[quote name='EasyHookah' timestamp='1295043376' post='494383']
So is that the general consensus around here? Avoid no name parts? I tried searching the forum for anything about putting together hookah stems, but couldn't find anything.
Secondly, does anyone know anything about the Mya Econo collection?
[/quote]
The econo is cheaper because its made out of aluminum instead of the brass or whatever they make the regular mya's out of. They're lighter but when I had the chance to look at one hand-on it seemed to have good quality. I'd rather stick with the regulars though, but thats just me.
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There are some good no-name hookahs out there. But it's hard to know when you get one if it's going to be good or not. That's why we just suggest sticking with the top name brand ones. Sounds like Mya is best for you. I second Stuie's suggestion.

The Econo line is made with cheaper parts. Will smoke just like the regular Myas, but they're not going to be as high of quality and not be as durable.
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Since you're looking to save money and already have a vase you could look into getting just a stem.. Just have to make sure you'll base is going to work with the new stem size. Chances are you could use your old tray and everything to save even more, might not look the best, but hey, it'll smoke.
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I appreciate the help guys. I had a last question. I have noticed that stems come in sizes of small, medium, large and I found extra large. But then, other websites have there's by the inch. I've seen anywhere from 12" stems to 28" with no defined sizing there. I found a few good Mya stems but some of the sizes I've seen are in inches, do you know which size would fit a large vase?
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[quote name='EasyHookah' timestamp='1295074535' post='494444']
I appreciate the help guys. I had a last question. I have noticed that stems come in sizes of small, medium, large and I found extra large. But then, other websites have there's by the inch. I've seen anywhere from 12" stems to 28" with no defined sizing there. I found a few good Mya stems but some of the sizes I've seen are in inches, do you know which size would fit a large vase?
[/quote]

Take some measurements of your vase you're wanting to use with the new stem. Measure the opening and how tall it is. The guys here then should be able to steer you in the right direction as to which Mya stems will fit.
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Can I add something? Almost everyone on here at one time or another has complete units of quality to sell or trade. It happens I do right now in the trade section. But I tell you that not to hawk my own sales, but because rather than putting something together, for less money you can get something from any respected member that you know in advance is going to be good and you won't have to monkey around with it. I'd suggest you look in the trades section before you start ordering parts left and right. I'm far from the only one with good stuff in there. If you still decide to go ahead with putting together a set-up yourself just because you want to, then of course, good luck. Sometimes you just want to do it yourself.

'Rani
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[quote name='EasyHookah' timestamp='1295074535' post='494444']
I appreciate the help guys. I had a last question. I have noticed that stems come in sizes of small, medium, large and I found extra large. But then, other websites have there's by the inch. [b]I've seen anywhere from 12" stems to 28" with no defined sizing there[/b]. I found a few good Mya stems but some of the sizes I've seen are in inches, do you know which size would fit a large vase?
[/quote]


That parts always gunna be how tall it is which is essentially useless at the moment because the height doesn't necesarrily mean it's going to have a certain width. And when it comes to sizing H-S has a pretty good layout in the base sections. I think they at least tell you which bases fit which models that they sell, that might help a bit. With Km stems its kind of easy because they really only produce 2(?) sizes of bases, but for your random stem it's going to be harder. I suggest that you check out local shops if theres any and try to find a base that fits, then measure it. Grommets help a lot anyway so it never has to be exact. At the same time, like Rani said, you can find some pretty good deals in the trades section too, so if you havent already, take a look in there as well.
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  • 2 weeks later...
Okay, sorry to resurrect, but I took some vague measurements of my hookah vase, and for those who dont care to reread the entirety of this post again, I just wanted to know a large hookah stem that might fit my vase.

The height is around 10.5 to 11" bottom to top.
Vase hole for the grommet is about 1.8-2" wide.

Current downstem reaches MAYBE 3/5 of the way down the vase. The smoke chamber between the stem and water is pretty small for two pipes...

Anyone know of a good stem height for the base size I have. OR do you know a way to extend the downstem a bit in order to increase the size of the smoke chamber?
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[quote name='EasyHookah' timestamp='1296181976' post='495940']
Okay, sorry to resurrect, but I took some vague measurements of my hookah vase, and for those who dont care to reread the entirety of this post again, I just wanted to know a large hookah stem that might fit my vase.

The height is around 10.5 to 11" bottom to top.
Vase hole for the grommet is about 1.8-2" wide.

Current downstem reaches MAYBE 3/5 of the way down the vase. The smoke chamber between the stem and water is pretty small for two pipes...

Anyone know of a good stem height for the base size I have. OR do you know a way to extend the downstem a bit in order to increase the size of the smoke chamber?
[/quote]

If it sits 3/5 down the vase there is no need to increase the down stem length.
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Whoops, sorry about that, I meant to say about 2/5.

To be precise as possible, I have about 4 to 4.5 inches of room for the smoke to fill.
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