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Preference Or..?


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I know the benefits of using glass and things of that nature.. And I can understand that a Phunnel also keeps shisha juices from running down the stem... But... With both the Crown Glass Bowl and their Phunnel.. This isn't an issue... So... After turning to the review section I can't find a definitive answer. I could just buy both and see which I like, but ,I think I'd just as well prefer to get an answer (lol, argument time) and other peoples opinions. I'm probably leaning towards the micro bowl. Thanks!
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Why is that? Does Tangiers require the Phunnel design? I know this gets off topic, but since I plan to smoke Tangiers at some point in the future, then it kinda is on the topic of what I would need. If Tangs requires the Phunnel design, is it the only type of shisha that requires it, and why if you would please.
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Tang in no way REQUIRES the phunnel design. It just seems to work best with it. Remember, the shisha came before the phunnel, so it definitely doesn't require it.

As for the Crown Micro Phunnel versus the Micro Classic (One-Coal Bowl), Tangiers works awesome in both of them. I've been using my Micro Classic most here lately.
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So... Would you say traditionally regular bowls vs phunnels... phinnels win... But in regards to the Crown Glass ones... They both perform above par?
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Ok I cant remember where i read it but i read up on both bowls. I read that the Crown classic bowl which is glass like the micro is better for stuff like al fakher and tobaccos similar to it. While the crown micro phunnel is much better for more wet tobaccos such as tangiers. Then you also have the choice of many other plain bowls. honestly if you want a good cheap bowl the egyptian works fine.many people smoke tangiers out of egyptian bowls. you can choose between small and large. but hopefully that helps.
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[quote name='kcK' timestamp='1297465862' post='497629']
So... Would you say traditionally regular bowls vs phunnels... phinnels win... But in regards to the Crown Glass ones... They both perform above par?
[/quote]

Well, you must look at the design of the Classic and understand it's like a phunnel in the way that the holes on the sides are up high, not allowing the juice to go down (even though it does on both the classic and micro phunnel when the shisha boils- this is regarding Tangiers, other brands that are drier probably won't). So... Big hole in the middle, or five smaller holes up high on the sides. Different, but the same. I prefer the Classic mainly because instead of splitting a coal like you have to for the micro phunnel, you can just place one whole coal in the middle of the bowl on the classic. For me, whole coals last longer than split ones. Plus I find it easier to pack. But in terms of performance, I find them to be about the same.
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Well, I think I'm leaning towards the One Coal bowl. I did from the gate, but even more-so now. I just think the ease of the whole thing makes it nicer for me. Sure, it's really easy to clean a Ceramic if you do after every use, and Glass is supposed to be harder.. But.. Coming from someone who would constantly clean his glass NHs back when I used NHT.... Won't be an issue. ;-)

To Coleman: Come on now man! You've known I wanted glass since I got here. Why suggest ceramic when the thread is about Glass specifically? :-P I thought I taught you better than that. Now, respond on TC. Slacker.
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[quote name='kcK' timestamp='1297463095' post='497617']
I know the benefits of using glass and things of that nature.. And I can understand that a Phunnel also keeps shisha juices from running down the stem... But... With both the Crown Glass Bowl and their Phunnel.. This isn't an issue... So... After turning to the review section I can't find a definitive answer. I could just buy both and see which I like, but ,I think I'd just as well prefer to get an answer (lol, argument time) and other peoples opinions. I'm probably leaning towards the micro bowl. Thanks!
[/quote]

No comment on the Crown bowls per se (not used 'em) - but, I am far more impressed with the combination of a Saphire Phunnel and Tang than I thought I would be, and, by extension, with the funnel design. I didn't expect it to work any better than my other flavour retaining bowls and feared that hot air would pass over the tobacco without consuming it well.

However, "keeps shisha juices from running down the stem" is relative, not absolute, and this is where I'm impressed with the funnel design; one can pack an amount and density of tobacco that simply won't fit in a comparable bowl where one has to make efforts to avoid blocking the holes, whether they be underneath the shisha or around the outside of it. This is a double-edged sword; for Tangiers this works spectacularly well; it doesn't seem to scorch easily and seems to like tight packing and conducted heat (through bowl and tobacco). Al Fakher, for instance, doesn't like being treated like that and you'll scorch the top and waste the rest unless you sprinkle fairly loosely.

Therefore, my subjective verdict on the designs (not having tried the Crown bowls but having tried comparable bowl designs from European manufacturers) is that your Classic will likely be easier for AF or Nak, and will smoke Tang fine, but you may get better bowl life, heat distribution and airflow from a Phunnel, certainly where long lasting tobaccos like Tang are concerned. Personally I'd buy both, you can always trade or sell it later if there's one you clearly don't want.

In summary, my own scepticism about funnels was unfounded; my first load of a Saphire funnel smoked for 3 hours and was only 50% consumed after that, so today I've been smoking a repack of the unburnt parts with a couple forkfuls of fresh shisha on top. So far it's smoked flawlessly through 3 generous sets of natural lump coals (3 hours plus, didn't time it) and I haven't killed the bowl yet. So the other bowl will smoke anything, but, I am surprised to find myself agreeing that funnels seem to work spectacularly well for Tang.











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Save a few bucks, but the arsenal. I own all three, and the bowl you use comes down to the shisha you use. Tangiers? Wetter tobaccos? Go with the phunnel. Nak, SB, Romman, and DM all like the classic. Tang smokes well from the one coal though. Haven't tried it in the big one because it seems stupid, if it's not gonna get any better than the phunnel, to put it in the full-size classic. Evaluate your stash, buy one. Regardless, I can almost guarantee you're going to come back for more.

As far as cleaning goes, Jorly, me, and Incu all have one-you can clean them with warm water and a sponge. The classics are a little trickier, because the holes around the rim pull ash and dust, and essentially spray it between the glass layers. Had to use rubbing alcohol in that case.
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I'm pretty familiar with proper cleaning techniques of glass. I'd just put a glass bowl in ziplock baggy, add some rubbing alcohol and some kosher sea salt, and then mix until it's broken free, then run it through with hot water until the smell of alcohol has vanished. Then, if there are any spots left, a good old q-tip does the trick. Even better to use the q-tip while the glass bowl is still inside of the ziplock filled with alcohol. Just my experience with glass. I imagine it'll carry over just well. And no, just for clarifications, I've never been a NHT-head or anything like that [And besides, I'm done with my NHT phase]. I'm a pure hookah junkie :-p Edited by INCUBUSRATM
NHT reference, asked me to edit, no ban.
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Oh dear! I posted that from my phone, and at times the bloody thing auto corrects my messages, and I don't even notice it... If a mod could, please edit the above message to state the following:

I'm pretty familiar with proper cleaning techniques of glass. I'd just put a glass bowl in ziplock baggy, add some rubbing alcohol and some kosher sea salt, and then mix until it's broken free, then run it through with hot water until the smell of alcohol has vanished. Then, if there are any spots left, a good old q-tip does the trick. Even better to use the q-tip while the glass bowl is still inside of the ziplock filled with alcohol. Just my experience with glass.

We can just totally drop that last statement. And if possible, once doctoring that above message, just deleting this message as well. I truly apologize for that... How bloody odd... Nevertheless.. Thanks for pointing that out Epoch and Rani :-)
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You should get both because the weekly special is 1 of each for $46.50... :P

Anyway, I haven't tried the crown classic but the micro phunnel is GODLY. The Classic probably is too.

Though, I kind of want to suggest the phunnel just because having owned 4 different types of phunnels, and several classic bowls, I find the phunnel design to be superior(YMMV). And honestly, not having juice run down the stem is pretty cool... Edited by Yasseah
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Looks like you already ordered both, so you'll figure it out either way. But i actually asked Santino this same question, and he said that the wetter premium shishas like SB or SS (or tang of course) are better in the funnel, while oldschool dryer shisha like Nakhla is better in the crown classic. I have both, and Ive found most shisha works great in both bowls. in fact im tempted to try some tang in the crown classic now.
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ill add my few cents to here as well. i have neither of the above bowls... but. i do have the crown classic 2.0. its approaching the point of being my favorite bowl. i have smoked Nakhla(regular, and sherezade), AF, Tangiers(Noir and Lucid), Ar Rass(a very traditional moassel. similar to a blend of DM in cut and tangiers in wettness. very odd but godly tasting) and DM out of the crown bowl. to me, every one of them smokes just beautifully. i unfortunately dont know in what ways DM and Nak are better in the bowl as its not crazy different from what im used to. the grown classic has INSANE airflow. which is why i love it for tangiers. the regular sized crown classic holds just under 22g of tangiers(measured it out) so it holds even less than advertised.

now... from what ive heard and read the micro phunnel is another amazing bowl. perfect for tangiers. but there isnt as much airflow to it. until i use it for myself, i would say that the crown classic would be the better overall bowl. but both are great.

Alex
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  • 4 months later...
[quote name='kcK' timestamp='1297483874' post='497662']
I'm pretty familiar with proper cleaning techniques of glass. I'd just put a glass bowl in ziplock baggy, add some rubbing alcohol and some kosher sea salt, and then mix until it's broken free, then run it through with hot water until the smell of alcohol has vanished. Then, if there are any spots left, a good old q-tip does the trick. Even better to use the q-tip while the glass bowl is still inside of the ziplock filled with alcohol. Just my experience with glass. I imagine it'll carry over just well. And no, just for clarifications, I've never been a NHT-head or anything like that [And besides, I'm done with my NHT phase]. I'm a pure hookah junkie :-p
[/quote]

Okay, sort of a necro thread.

So I've been smoking exclusively out of my crown micro phunnel, and been cleaning it immediately after I am done smoking, all the sticky stuff gets out easy and sometimes I have to use a scotch brite pad on the rim of the bowl to get some spots out, all is well.

There is no gunk on it, but it doesn't look like new (how it looked when I bought it from Chris, who did use it for a while but kept it looking shiny somehow :-s), there is actually a translucent film of juices on the rim of the bowl, and I've done possibly everything I found on the forum.

I tried:-

[list=1][*]Soaking it in hot/cold water for a full day.[*]Cleaning it with lemon juice/baking soda/distilled vinegar.[*]Boiling it for 5 minutes and then cleaning it with soap.[*]Putting it in a ziplock bag with some rubbing alcohol (it was dettol alcohol hand sanitizer) with some rocksalt (couldn't find any sea salt).[/list]But the film refuses to wash away! I am really out of ideas here.....anyone has anymore that I may have missed out on?
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The man himself!

Thanks a lot. I tried looking on the net though and can't find any coffee cleaners here in India, may be because we have more of an instant coffee culture here...meh...people just don't appreciate real coffee sadly.

The ingredients on the website says "Contains sodium carbonate", so if I buy some from a pharmacy, then it should do the trick right?
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