vendetta_revived Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Hello people. Sorry to bother you with another one of my problems, I tried finding a thread that already discusses this but in vain. Okay, so I've had a hookah for about a month and I've recently upgraded to a Mya QT from a pumpkin one. I've been using QLs for all this while and lately, I've just got sick of em and been looking for some nats. I finally got some AF coconut coals and been trying to work them out but no matter what I do, they just don't work!!! Here's the problem, I first tried them lighting on a direct flame but to no avail, left them for about 20 minutes but they didn't light properly, looked around on the internet and found 2 possible solutions :- 1.) Electric Coil burner/Electric Hot plate 2.) This grill thing - Cake rack The latter one is the inexpensive one so I decided to try that first, and got me a cake rack....Here's how it looks. [img]http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/6610/photo0191v.jpg[/img] Ermm...I don't know if someone here has used one of these, but what you're supposed to do is to put this on the stove and put the coal on top of it and the hot metal is supposed to burn the coal clean and quick. I did that and really, [u][b]it worked because the bottom part of the coal was flaming read in about 4 minutes, then I turned the coal to light the other side, but what I noticed in the next 4 minutes was that the upper side had gone out by the time the bottom bit got lit, and I turned it again and the same thing happened[/b][/u]. So what I'm wondering is, are the coals worth it ? Or did I get a bad batch ? I'm now reluctant to buy that coil burner (Which I'm supposed to do in the evening), because it costs about $20 here, which converts into 1000 bucks in my currency so it's not exactly cheap, especially when my QT had cost me about $25. Please help! I don't want to use QLs anymore and these are the only coconut coals available locally. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Why can't I edit the post ? I forgot to mention that I had my setup ready when I was doing this and even though the coals didn't seem to light properly, I decided to give them a shot and put them on, and then the unthinkable happened. [u][b]They went out completely in the next 10 minutes even though I was chaining my AF mint![/b][/u] :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 another guy I know from NZ says he has to use the coil burner to light his naturals.. get a cheap coil burner. I even use mine to heat the QL's I use because I can't get naturals here in South Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I'm going to say the method you're using just isn't working to properly light your coals. Try the coil burner if you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king_lunchb0x Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 have you tried splitting the coals in half...hrmm looks like they will fall through that wire pretty easily. Have you tried fanning the coals while they light? And keep longer on the first side 8 minutes before flipping. But sounds like ur just going to have to get a hot plate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Well I can get a coil burner or a hot plate tomorrow, my only concern is to spend my money for something that won't help me light the nats anyway. And while we are on this, Which should I get ? A hotplate or a Coil burner ? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoozle Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 (edited) If you left your coals in an open flame for 20 min and they weren't lit, I think you may have a problem with your coals. What type of stove are you using with your cake rack? Gas or electric? get a coil burner, not a hotplate. The coil burner will get red hot, I don't think a hot plate will. Edited March 4, 2011 by Skoozle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyCallMeDave Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I had the same problem. I found out why. If you are cooking those coals (which is a good start) on an open flame, that's good. It works fine. HOWEVER, if the flame or middle of flame is licking the coal, that isn't going to get it done. Just get them really hot. For me, when I go camping, I must have my nat coals completely submerged in flame, like sitting on a fully lit log, or stuck in a spot deep in the fire. That'll getem going. My guess is, just because this sounds like my exact predicament a few years back, is the flame isn't taking in all of the coal. next time you try, make the flame bigger, and fuller into the actual fire. Ntural coals need a LOT of heat to get glowing, so don't be modest. ALSO... If I just misread, and this is how you have beeen doing it, I would suggest a couple options. - Buy an electric coil burner. It's a little pricey to start, but worth it. - Invest in CH (abbreviated) QUICKLIGHT coconut coals. They are a little pricier than naturals, but work wonders for someone like you (and me, for that matter) Here is a link tot he website that sells these quicklight coconut coals. They burn really well, and nearly have no taste. Good QL alternative. [url="http://hookahjohn.com/CH-HOOKAH-INSTANT-Lite-COAL-48pc-00015.htm"]http://hookahjohn.com/CH-HOOKAH-INSTANT-Lite-COAL-48pc-00015.htm[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzbizz Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Get a coil burner and try to light them again. Coil burner is the best way to light ANY coal. It'll save you a lot of hassel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 [quote name='Skoozle' timestamp='1299271098' post='500282'] If you left your coals in an open flame for 20 min and they weren't lit, I think you may have a problem with your coals. What type of stove are you using with your cake rack? Gas or electric? get a coil burner, not a hotplate. The coil burner will get red hot, I don't think a hot plate will. [/quote] That's what I'm worried about too, may be some (or all) of the coals have been damaged by moisture or something ? so I'm gonna try again with the cake rack and some coals from the bottom of the pack. I don't have a problem with buying the coil burner as I'm sure I will love to not have to go to the kitchen to light my coals, but I just want to make sure that the coals I have are worth it. By the way I was using a gas stove for it. [quote name='TheyCallMeDave' timestamp='1299274017' post='500291'] I had the same problem. I found out why. If you are cooking those coals (which is a good start) on an open flame, that's good. It works fine. HOWEVER, if the flame or middle of flame is licking the coal, that isn't going to get it done. Just get them really hot. For me, when I go camping, I must have my nat coals completely submerged in flame, like sitting on a fully lit log, or stuck in a spot deep in the fire. That'll getem going. My guess is, just because this sounds like my exact predicament a few years back, is the flame isn't taking in all of the coal. next time you try, make the flame bigger, and fuller into the actual fire. Ntural coals need a LOT of heat to get glowing, so don't be modest. ALSO... If I just misread, and this is how you have beeen doing it, I would suggest a couple options. - Buy an electric coil burner. It's a little pricey to start, but worth it. - Invest in CH (abbreviated) QUICKLIGHT coconut coals. They are a little pricier than naturals, but work wonders for someone like you (and me, for that matter) Here is a link tot he website that sells these quicklight coconut coals. They burn really well, and nearly have no taste. Good QL alternative. [url="http://hookahjohn.com/CH-HOOKAH-INSTANT-Lite-COAL-48pc-00015.htm"]http://hookahjohn.co...-48pc-00015.htm[/url] [/quote] I think the flame is good enough, I could be wrong but all I have is a gas stove...and I don't think it's safe to start a camp fire at home. I think what I'm gonna do is get a can and try and make a charcoal chimney! I'm broke so I have to try the cheapest methods first. Today being saturday, I can't buy the coil burner today anyway (I come from a traditional hindu family and MAN we have some of the silliest rules), so I can make the chimney today and see how it goes with that! And hey! Thanks for the website, I don't like the idea of quicklights, but I will definitely order some coconaras as the shipping they charge won't kill me! [quote name='dizzbizz' timestamp='1299282765' post='500308'] Get a coil burner and try to light them again. Coil burner is the best way to light ANY coal. It'll save you a lot of hassel. [/quote] I surely will get one tomorrow, as I don't like moving around too much between my session(s) and that will definitely help me! Thanks everyone, your help is much appreciated! So what I'm gonna do is try to make a charcoal chimney today, but I'm more than inclined to get the coil burner so I will get one tomorrow probably! Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 Update : As suggested by [b]King_Lunchbox [/b]above, I let the coal on the cake rack for 10 minutes before flipping them, let em there for 3 minutes after flipping. And as I was only testing the coals and not getting ready to smoke, I left them on it and turned the stove off. Went back to the kitchen just now and found that the coals had burnt enough to be as small to fall through the grill and then fall through the stove onto the granite slab the stove was on, so the coals are good and I'm getting a coil burner tomorrow! Thanks mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glider Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 something i didnt see is you all mention it being the coal its self. AF nats are the only natural coal i can get around here. so i do use them frequently. AF nats have a serious problem with staying lit.... but its not every coal that does it. some work fine other may have a corner go out but ive never actually had a whole coal just go completely kaput. get a coil burner and if you insist on using AF nats then keep the burner on through the session. it takes just a minute for one to get back to 100%. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 @Alex : So AF coals aren't that much of a hit eh ? Actually I figured that may be the coals are not that problematic (at least when it comes to staying lit), because I checked out its reviews in the review section and no one had mentioned it. So in your opinion, is it worth spending a thousand bucks (in my currency) for the coil burner when the coals have a problem staying lit ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 [size="6"][u][b]Update[/b][/u][/size] Bought the coil burner and just had my bestest hookah session ever!! with roasted poppadom lol!! : Thanks guys!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 Sorry for double posting, but AF coals still seem to go out after being completely lit on the coil burner thing, I had bought another brand of natural coals ages ago that were silver coated but never used them because they too didn't use to light up properly on the gas stove, but on this they take only 2-3 minutes to light up and stay light, provide perfect heat and last waaayy longer than QLs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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