A Few Simple Questions For Starting Out

[james4]

hey guys, I guess you can probably tell I'm new here and also new to hookahs

my brother and I picked a cheap little hookah up a couple of nights ago, and I could definitely see myself getting into it
I mostly just have a couple questions, because I'm not really sure what's what yet

right now we're just using whatever bowl came with the hookah, but I've also seen phunnels and a couple other style bowls. Is there much of a benefit of using something like a phunnel?
From what I've read it seems to be good for really wet shisha, but being new to this whole thing I'm not even sure what counts as wet
I think we'll stick with what we've go for now, but I'm just asking out of curiosity, incase there's some magical difference that we're missing out on


next, this might be pretty trivial, but when I'm poking holes in the tin foil am I doing anything specific? Am I poking through the tobacco as well, or just through the foil? And I couldn't imagine the pattern makes a huge difference, but do more holes do something better or worse than less holes? more holes towards the middle or more towards the outside?
Like I said, that could be totally trivial, but if it is go easy on me =p

another most likely simple question I have is about the valve (I think?)
I'm talking about the thing with the ball bearing in it on the vase (I'm using the right terms, right?). I assumed it was to let air in while I'm pulling, but when I tried tightening and loosening it I didn't notice a very big difference. Is that just because I'm not used to it so I don't know what to expect?
and along the same line as that question, what exactly makes a higher quality hookah higher quality?
is it just the construction quality and how cool things look, or would you actually notice a difference in the smoke?
I mean, we paid about $25 (canadian) for our little one, but would putting up a couple hundred actually make a big difference?



Anyway, thanks for helping a new guy out. I'm at my parents house until monday so i don't have my camera, but if you guys love pictures as much as the other forums I'm on I'll be sure to get some when I head home

[CarePolice]

Welcome to the forum and to the hookah world.

Short answer: There's no real magical combo as far as bowls go with one major exception. The Tangiers brand shisha is really much better through a funnel. Otherwise a standard egyptian bowl is more than adequate and preferred in most cases.

There's no real significance to the pattern of holes, but keep two things in mind: there has to be enough airflow so that it heats evenly and pulls well, but also not such large holes that the coals are directly touching the shisha. Chris (INCUBUSRATM) posted a video recently showing a good pattern, you can adapt it to every shisha I can think of and get good results.

The purge valve is actually located in what we call the stem or shank. It's not for letting air in while you smoke; quite the contrary. It's for keeping air out, but also allowing you to purge harsh or stale smoke by blowing (lightly) into the hose. Keeps the session fresh.

Finally, higher quality hookahs generally are just more well built. They may have more open stem and ports, better welds, higher quality metal. Higher quality hookahs tend to have some effect on smoking quality, but some people can get huge tasteful clouds with cheap chinese hookahs. I'm sure your hookah is more than enough to get good smoke. Just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't rust, some cheaper hookahs tend to do so. Otherwise, smoke on. Once you're ready to move up, you could look into something like a Khalil Mamoon, Mya or Nammor hookah, to name a few.

Happy smoking

[Chreees]

Welcome to HF! I believe all of your questions can be answered here: http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40373-beginners-guide-to-hookah/

[CarePolice]

Oh right, forgot about that thread. Haha.

[james4]

I did take a look at that thread, I was just looking for a bit more info (especially about the purge valve, since I didn't see anything in there)
I definitely would have just kept opening and closing it while pulling, trying to feel a difference


but thanks for the replies guys!

[Jesse]

i[quote name='james4' timestamp='1299206085' post='500220']
I did take a look at that thread, I was just looking for a bit more info (especially about the purge valve, since I didn't see anything in there)
I definitely would have just kept opening and closing it while pulling, trying to feel a difference..


but thanks for the replies guys!
[/quote]


If you are using one of the mini hookahs, note that many are not self-purging. I'm also a newcomer and have a mini Salaam hookah. I need to blow through the hose to purge the base of smoke. Your hookah should have one.. just make sure you blow through the hose once or twice an hour when it starts to get cloudy.