First Hookah Set Up

[cross hair05]

Hi all, new member here just wanted to say how helpful the site had been firstly gave me some good tips, today i recieved my first hookah and just wanted to go over a few things, i had a quick attempt earlier and didnt go that brilliant tbh, my set up is [url="http://www.smokeshisha.com/shop/egyptian-shisha-opal-p-143.html?osCsid=568702ba44ce552a3f2fa0b2b8fd77f8"]this[/url], i know its a very begginer set up but all i could afford, the issues i came across today was the smoke wasnt coming through as thick as had dome in my previous hookah sessions at lounges, i am using the quick lights supplied and they didnt seem to get very hot or burn well. Also i noticed that if i covered the end of the second hose with my finger the smoke did come through much better. I could just cover up the second hose from now on but this isnt ideal for with a group. Does anyone have tips on using a double hose hookah? also i was provided with 2 bowl screens is it worth using one of these as when i tried it with foil it worked better. Lastly i noticed that some of the shisha had come through into the water is this normal? I'm sure i'll get the hang of it with time but some pointers would be appreciated, cheers.

[vendetta_revived]

Hmmm....Check both of your hose ports, I am of the understanding that one of those should have a ball bearing in it, if so, you can connect your hose into the OTHER hose port if you want to smoke alone. If not, then one person will have to cover the other hose with his/her thumb while the other person is taking the hit from the other hose.

[method]

use foil , 2 layers shiny side down , unless its some supreme heavy duty foil , in that case use only 1 layer .

rarely the tobacco drops down to the vase , mostly its only the juices , all depends on how fine-cut is your tobacco . either way , not really a problem .

you can do a seal check and see if there any air leaks : set up ur hookah , shut the 2nd hose port , shut with a thumb the bowl port and try to inhale , if u cant inhale at all , congrats - ur hookah is leak free . any other case you'll have to find the leakage and seal it

[Kapten Kanel]

From the looks of it, those hoseports does not have a check valve which means you get ALOT of air (doesnt smoke well at all) if the other hose isnt plugged/blocked. Get rid of the quicklights and get some coconutshell coals. DONT use the bowl screens, they suck, use foil! Shisha juice dropping down is normal on an egyptian style bowl, get a phunnel bowl! Smokes much better.. Which shisha brand are you using?

[cross hair05]

cheers guys helped alot the last two times i've smoked its gone alot better guess its just getting used to setting up yourself, i found less water and better wind protection has helped alot when i get some money i'll invest in better coals/shisha

[antouwan]

[quote name='cross hair05' timestamp='1310736667' post='515995']
1. Hi all, new member here just wanted to say how helpful the site had been firstly gave me some good tips,

2. today i received my first hookah and just wanted to go over a few things, i had a quick attempt earlier and didn't go that brilliant tbh,

3. my set up is [url="http://www.smokeshisha.com/shop/egyptian-shisha-opal-p-143.html?osCsid=568702ba44ce552a3f2fa0b2b8fd77f8"]this[/url], i know its a very beginner set up but all i could afford. the issues i came across today was the smoke wasn't coming through as thick as in my previous hookah sessions at lounges,

4. i am using the quick lights supplied and they didn't seem to get very hot or burn well.

5. Also i noticed that if i covered the end of the second hose with my finger the smoke did come through much better. I could just cover up the second hose from now on but this isnt ideal for with a group. Does anyone have tips on using a double hose hookah?

6. also i was provided with 2 bowl screens is it worth using one of these as when i tried it with foil it worked better.

7. Lastly i noticed that some of the shisha had come through into the water is this normal?

8. I'm sure i'll get the hang of it with time but some pointers would be appreciated, cheers.
[/quote]

ch,

as you can see, i've separated your original post into numbered parts, as to more lucidly answer your questions, and to make a quick point of reference for your (or anyone else's) use in the future. let's begin:

1. welcome! i'm glad we've been of some help (hopefully we can be of some more)

2. congrats on the new hookah, hopefully we'll get you up and running proper in no time.

3. that doesn't seem to be a bad setup at all. it seems to be a generic egyptian, which are usually of pretty decent quality. the smoke thickness will be addressed in later numbers, because it's a consequence of a few things

4. quicklights aren't ideal. you know this. that being said, they are still useable. most people here recommend breaking the 33mm quicklights in half, lighting them (either in the tray or other coal holder – [b]NOT ON THE BOWL[/b] – make sure they are slightly covered in ash before you put them on the shisha). breaking up the coals allows you to disperse the heat more evenly, and heat more efficiently and thoroughly, making for a better session.

5. most two-hosed egyptian hookahs (or all mutli-hose egyptians) do not have auto-sealing ports (like the MYA multi-hose hookahs). that means that you should block (the hookah should have come with rubber stoppers) the hose ports not in use. you can think of a hookah like a system, much of like a vacuum or duct system, so that the air that it should be using should only have one entry (the head) and one exit (the hose or purge valve – only when you want). the more airtight the system, the better results, the more you let in outside air, the less efficient your system will be ( = crap results). in a group setting (when both hoses are plugged in), it is recommended that each person smoke at separate times (do not draw through the hose simultaneously), and that the person who is not smoking should cover their hose while the other person is smoking (to maintain the airtight system). additionally, some multi-hose hookahs have purge valves. you need to unscrew the cap on it and make sure that the ball is in there (so you aren't unintentionally letting in outside air) and that the ball seals properly when not being used, but will release when it is being used (not rusted/stuck shut).

along with this, make sure that you have a good seal in between the hoses and the hookah, and the base and the stem. the best way to check for this is to assemble everything, put your hand over where the air should be coming from (the top of the stem where the bowl sits) and sucking on either the hose or directly on the hose port. there should be no bubbling or air movement. if there is a leak, check the hoses (block one end and either suck or blow, again ideally there should be no air movement) and then the rest of the hookah, section by section.

6. the bowl screens are crap; toss them in the bin and use aluminium foil. if you have the thin stuff, use 2 layers, if you have the thicker stuff, use one layer.

7. this isn't an issue at all. sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. there shouldn't be a whole lot of it going through, though, no matter what.

8. you will! cheers.

[antouwan]

[quote name='cross hair05' timestamp='1311352711' post='516904']
cheers guys helped a lot the last two times i've smoked its gone a lot better guess its just getting used to setting up yourself. i found less water and better wind protection has helped a lot. when i get some money i'll invest in better coals/shisha.
[/quote]

better supplies in time.

remember, the water should be about 1.5cm - 4cm above the bottom of the stem.

you can wrap some foil around the head to protect it from the wind (this will slightly insulate and you'll need less coal).

besides those things, the other thing that i would tell any and everyone to invest in/upgrade is a quality, wide-gauge hose. those can make all of the difference in the world.

i know tobacco is pretty expensive, but i know that a box of tom cococha coals are available in europe for only a few quid for a kilo box.