Learning Curve

[Trini]

so here is the story i just got in to the whole hookah scene and i have fallen head first,but i am still learning by trial and error (there are not any lounges in my country so its just me youtube and alot of burnt shisha)

anyway when i made my first order i bought an alien phunnel bowl for the simple fact of it being a shisha saver because shisha is hella expensive for me to order (exchange rates freight duties).

no i have been very hit and miss with packing this bowl more miss than hit especially with tangiers (nak i am ok with ).
i guess the question i am asking is will getting a small tangiers phunnel bowl have a easier learning curve than the alien ?
btw i dont think its a coal issue i use between 1.5 -2 cocos rotated and a ghetto wind-cover when i need to

and by extension save me from burnt shisha and send me on my way of the elusive quest of finding the perfect session.

thanks
Brad (trini)

[Allstar]

Ok, in an alien you are going to burn, it is shallow. Unless you leave some space between the foil and the tobacco. I like to use two or three coals sitting on the very edge of the bowl. You are going to be using a lot more tobacco in the small. You will have a bigger learning curve because you need more coals on this one. Make sure when you pack it, it is nice and tight until it comes up to the top of the spiral.

[Trini]

ok ill try that, i just had a session with juice flowing everywhere ,down the spire outside the bowl everywhere is that to much sisha or not tight enough

[Allstar]

Yes that means you were over the spiral. When you pack it, you want to push it flat as possible up to the top of that spiral and not over it.

[dragonflymike]

I have horrible luck with the alien is so damn shallow its hard for me to get a good pack on it with tangiers. with nakhla its much easier for the simple fact that nakhla is rather stupid proof ( as in u can pack it just about anyway and mest up on heat and still be able to save the bowl with little to no "negative" outcome.) The small phunnel takes a bit getting used to but seems like it has a little more room for error then the alien. so my vote is to get a small tangiers phunnel and watch some videos on it. You will get it down don't worry. Honestly the best way to learn is trying out as many different ways as possible and figuring out whats best for you!

[Trini]

thanks alot guys will try tomorrow

[littlec]

eh you can pack up to the foil with tangiers and an alien, tangiers can take the heat you just need to put a ton of holes in the foil and maintain the heat. I always pack right up to the foil and it smokes fine. also are you smoking lucid or noir and how hard are you packing it down? you're supposed to pack it as tight as it is in the package and acclimation could also be another issue depending on your area and what tangiers you have.

[ilikemyusername]

With my alien I usually just fork the tobacco in there, nothing fancy, I clear the center hole and probably over pack it by 5 grams or so then foil it and poke the crap out of the foil. 2 cococoals and a windcover and I'm all set.
It does get burney so when it starts I take off the windcover for a few minutes, then when the coals start to die down I put the WC back on it and leave it.