So, For Some Reason I Can't Get This Quite Right...?

[cab395]

Hey everyone. Im just looking for some quick tips on heat management. I can't seem to get nice, thick, smooth smoke that I'm looking for. Either it's too thin, so I add some more coals, but then it'll get thicker but not how I want it. Plus along with getting thicker it'll taste a lot harsher like the vase isn't cooling it too much. I tried adding less water because the other day I felt like I had too much, but now it's harsh. I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong here..

[joytron]

What coals are you using? Did you try breaking them in half?

[cab395]

Well the coals are QL's that I did break in half. The other night I was using larger coals and the smoke was thicker, but I had to stop smoking and go somewhere so I didn't get to finish the bowl. Today though I was using small Pharaoh QL's which I'm about to throw out because the others are larger and seemed to work better.

Could that be my problem?

[cab395]

Just one more little detail that may help. When I cleaned out the bowl (I was too disgusted to keep smoking.. It started tasting really bad), the top layer of tobacco was black but there was still some under that was not used up yet. Idk if it makes a difference or not. Thanks again.

[S3cretz]

OK some basic tips and a quick Disclaimer
Its going to take a while for you to get heat management down
Some tips(my way)

For quickilites
on a medium to large bowl
Take one and a half coals(or a small coal) put them next to each other and move them the moment you smell the tabacco even slightly burning

small bowl
1 large quicklite in the middle move so it hangs over he sides if you smell burning.

Naturals

For most bowls 2 coals add 1 more if smoke is thin
Rotate around the edge every 5 min's Edited August 20, 2011 by S3cretz

[vendetta_revived]

What's your setup? What coals are you using - quicklites or naturals? How many coals are you using? What shisha tobacco are you using?

See, different tobaccos have different packing techniques and different heat management. Between the bowl, coals and shisha, there are too many variables to answer your questions correctly.

[cab395]

[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1313861340' post='520590']
What's your setup? What coals are you using - quicklites or naturals? How many coals are you using? What shisha tobacco are you using?

See, different tobaccos have different packing techniques and different heat management. Between the bowl, coals and shisha, there are too many variables to answer your questions correctly.
[/quote]

1.) Cheapo Chinese knockoff hookah (Small bowl)

2.) QL's

3.) SB Blue Mist


So, I guess it'd be alright to put one large QL right in the middle of the bowl, even if the tobaccco's touching the foil? I thought this was a no-no? Enlighten me!!

[vendetta_revived]

See, the bowl accounts for a lot of how your session will be, so if you can get an egyptian bowl, then it will be good. They are clay bowls with good heat distribution and retention.

With your bowl, you want to fill the tobacco in it up to the rim and it should be fluffy, not tight, to allow airflow, then pat it down lighly, very very lightly to make it flush with the rim of the bowl.

Then take a foil piece (Reynolds HD is recommended), and cover your bowl and make it tight like a drum. Take a toothpick, or a safety pin and poke holes all over the bowl. When I use a regular bowl, I start with a ring alongside the outer edge of the bowl and then another ring inside it and then another till I come to the very center of the bowl. I personally poke the holes all the way through the tobacco.

Now I have never used starbuzz, so I can't say if it is a bad thing for it to touch the foil or not, but with AF or Tangiers, IMO it smokes better if it's touching the foil.

After you have done this much, turn your bowl upside down, hold the foil tight in it's place and blow through the bottom of the bowl - it will ensure it has good airflow.

Fill water in your base where your downstem is submerged in the water to the extent of a bit over half an inch and don't bother using ice, because when you get it right (it is trial and error), you won't need ice for a smooth smoke.

Break your quicklites into half, and light them till they are glowing red all over! They should really only be used when completely lit, or you will be inhaling the chemicals they use to make it light faster. And when you place them on the bowl, place them on it's edges opposite to each other, heating the bowl rather than directly heating the tobacco. This will ensure an even burn throughout the tobacco and not only the top layer.

Give it 3 minutes to heat up before you take your first pull, and then take a hit. It should get going good within 10 minutes, and if it doesn't then move your halves towards the center slightly, and I mean VERY SLIGHTLY.

For any further information, please refer to this thread.

http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40373-beginners-guide-to-hookah/

[Chreees]

[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1313869252' post='520597']
See, the bowl accounts for a lot of how your session will be, so if you can get an egyptian bowl, then it will be good. They are clay bowls with good heat distribution and retention.

With your bowl, you want to fill the tobacco in it up to the rim and it should be fluffy, not tight, to allow airflow, then pat it down lighly, very very lightly to make it flush with the rim of the bowl.

Then take a foil piece (Reynolds HD is recommended), and cover your bowl and make it tight like a drum. Take a toothpick, or a safety pin and poke holes all over the bowl. When I use a regular bowl, I start with a ring alongside the outer edge of the bowl and then another ring inside it and then another till I come to the very center of the bowl. I personally poke the holes all the way through the tobacco.

Now I have never used starbuzz, so I can't say if it is a bad thing for it to touch the foil or not, but with AF or Tangiers, IMO it smokes better if it's touching the foil.

After you have done this much, turn your bowl upside down, hold the foil tight in it's place and blow through the bottom of the bowl - it will ensure it has good airflow.

Fill water in your base where your downstem is submerged in the water to the extent of a bit over half an inch and don't bother using ice, because when you get it right (it is trial and error), you won't need ice for a smooth smoke.

Break your quicklites into half, and light them till they are glowing red all over! They should really only be used when completely lit, or you will be inhaling the chemicals they use to make it light faster. And when you place them on the bowl, place them on it's edges opposite to each other, heating the bowl rather than directly heating the tobacco. This will ensure an even burn throughout the tobacco and not only the top layer.

Give it 3 minutes to heat up before you take your first pull, and then take a hit. It should get going good within 10 minutes, and if it doesn't then move your halves towards the center slightly, and I mean VERY SLIGHTLY.

For any further information, please refer to this thread.

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40373-beginners-guide-to-hookah/"]http://www.hookahfor...uide-to-hookah/[/url]
[/quote]

Couldn't have said it better myself, Vendetta. Exactly what I was going to say.

Only thing I wanna add is that when you do it right, it should smoke pretty good even with no water in the vase. Yeah, that's right, I forgot to put water in my vase one time.

[cab395]

Wow ok that sounds perfect. I'll try it tonight and report back how it went. BTW, I think I have an Egyptian bowl, when I say cheap Chinese knockoff I meant that it's not any big brand and you can just tell it's cheap. No offense to anyone lol. Thanks again, I'll try it tonight!

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='Chreees' timestamp='1313873230' post='520598']
[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1313869252' post='520597']
See, the bowl accounts for a lot of how your session will be, so if you can get an egyptian bowl, then it will be good. They are clay bowls with good heat distribution and retention.

With your bowl, you want to fill the tobacco in it up to the rim and it should be fluffy, not tight, to allow airflow, then pat it down lighly, very very lightly to make it flush with the rim of the bowl.

Then take a foil piece (Reynolds HD is recommended), and cover your bowl and make it tight like a drum. Take a toothpick, or a safety pin and poke holes all over the bowl. When I use a regular bowl, I start with a ring alongside the outer edge of the bowl and then another ring inside it and then another till I come to the very center of the bowl. I personally poke the holes all the way through the tobacco.

Now I have never used starbuzz, so I can't say if it is a bad thing for it to touch the foil or not, but with AF or Tangiers, IMO it smokes better if it's touching the foil.

After you have done this much, turn your bowl upside down, hold the foil tight in it's place and blow through the bottom of the bowl - it will ensure it has good airflow.

Fill water in your base where your downstem is submerged in the water to the extent of a bit over half an inch and don't bother using ice, because when you get it right (it is trial and error), you won't need ice for a smooth smoke.

Break your quicklites into half, and light them till they are glowing red all over! They should really only be used when completely lit, or you will be inhaling the chemicals they use to make it light faster. And when you place them on the bowl, place them on it's edges opposite to each other, heating the bowl rather than directly heating the tobacco. This will ensure an even burn throughout the tobacco and not only the top layer.

Give it 3 minutes to heat up before you take your first pull, and then take a hit. It should get going good within 10 minutes, and if it doesn't then move your halves towards the center slightly, and I mean VERY SLIGHTLY.

For any further information, please refer to this thread.

[url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40373-beginners-guide-to-hookah/"]http://www.hookahfor...uide-to-hookah/[/url]
[/quote]

Couldn't have said it better myself, Vendetta. Exactly what I was going to say.

Only thing I wanna add is that when you do it right, it should smoke pretty good even with no water in the vase. Yeah, that's right, I forgot to put water in my vase one time.
[/quote]

hehe. Thanks! Learnt every single thing I said at this very place man. Can't thank the people here enough for helping me out! And LMFAO@No base in the water. I would have said something about it if I wasn't hammered! :-s

[cab395]

Ok so last night, me, my girlfriend, and two of her friends smoked both SB and Nakhla. While smoking the SB with them (Blue Mist), everyone started complaining that it was irritating their throat. Not necessarily burning, but an irritation. After awhile, I felt it too, and it was actually inhibiting me from inhaling as deeply as I'd like. The smoke wasn't thick at all either. I thought this was strange since everyone's always talking about how thick the smoke is from SB usually.

Anyway, that's when I broke out the Nakhla. We enjoyed it so much more that we wound up smoking two bowls of it, and the clouds were much thicker. Not the thickness I want, unfortunately, but I guess it's a step in the right direction. Anyone have any idea why I couldn't get the SB to smoke thick, and why it irritated all of our throats? Everyone talks about Blue Mist like it's amazing, so I'm assuming this doesn't happen to them. What's goin on here, lol??

Finally, the smoke still wasn't as thick as I want. Does adding more heat make the smoke thicker? And does thickness always bring about a stronger smoke? I just want the huge clouds you see in hookah bars. It's like my dream hahah

Thanks so much for any help....

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='cab395' timestamp='1313943690' post='520705']Ok so last night, me, my girlfriend, and two of her friends smoked both SB and Nakhla. While smoking the SB with them (Blue Mist), everyone started complaining that it was irritating their throat. Not necessarily burning, but an irritation. After awhile, I felt it too, and it was actually inhibiting me from inhaling as deeply as I'd like. The smoke wasn't thick at all either. I thought this was strange since everyone's always talking about how thick the smoke is from SB usually. Anyway, that's when I broke out the Nakhla. We enjoyed it so much more that we wound up smoking two bowls of it, and the clouds were much thicker. Not the thickness I want, unfortunately, but I guess it's a step in the right direction. Anyone have any idea why I couldn't get the SB to smoke thick, and why it irritated all of our throats? Everyone talks about Blue Mist like it's amazing, so I'm assuming this doesn't happen to them. What's goin on here, lol?? Finally, the smoke still wasn't as thick as I want. Does adding more heat make the smoke thicker? And does thickness always bring about a stronger smoke? I just want the huge clouds you see in hookah bars. It's like my dream hahah Thanks so much for any help....[/quote]

Nakhla and SB are two completely different animals. With nakhla, you don't pack it fluffy but tighter. How tight? I can't tell you, but it should not be fluffy. Just replace the fluffy with tight and do everything as mentioned before, and you should be good.

Also, Nakhla can take quite a bit of heat and not burn, it actually needs more heat than other tobaccos (talking of the OG Nakhla, not mizo), so you can try more heat with it, and lastly, get a windcover! It can do wonder for your clouds without increasing the heat in the bowl too much.

[Chreees]

Where's Tyler when you need him... He'll be able to help you on the Starbuzz part.

Congrats on the success with Nakhla, however! It's my second favorite brand. Really hard to mess up, and can take a lot of heat and not get harsh.

[Coyote]

I have noticed that if I am smoking with people who don't smoke often they usually take very small pulls. This may cause the smoke inside the base to get stale... which would cause some irritation. Does your rig have a purge valve?

[spoolinspoon]

heat on little tobacco will cause throat irritation. Take the blue mist and break up the chunks, sprinkle to rim, pat down with the weight of your finger. Now take foil and make sure its tight, poke holes, check flow from bowl, coal toward edge and your set.

Check your water level by taking your hookah without the bowl, and take a hit from the port where the hose goes into. Keep putting in some water until you get any water in your mouth. That is your overfilled water line. Now take a splash of water out. Take a hit, if no water then your good. If your still getting water, continue to take small amount of water and checking.

[cab395]

So are you saying I'm not using enough tobacco in the bowl? This could be true... Also, how hard do you guys pull usually? Vids I see online of people with nice thick smoke they usually pull hard enough that their cheeks go in and you can see dimples. Is this right?

[Bawhee]

if their cheeks go in they must have a very hard time smoking it = not good airflow = bad. good looking smoke may not be a good smoking experience, you should have a smooth smoke with good clouds and taste if you pack the bowl right (wonderful tips above) and learn to manage the heat, but that all takes practice! I have been smoking for over 3 years now (I know its not much compared to most members lol) and I learn new things all the time. Its all in good tips and trial and error my friend, take your time and dont get too frustrated with a few bad bowls

[Epoch]

[quote name='cab395' timestamp='1314143371' post='521077']
So [b]are you saying I'm not using enough tobacco in the bowl?[/b] This could be true... Also, how hard do you guys pull usually? Vids I see online of people with nice thick smoke they usually pull hard enough that their cheeks go in and you can see dimples. Is this right?
[/quote]

I find that overpacking is better than underpacking.

As for how hard to take a pull, I just puff long and slow until my lungs are full. Not too worried about how hard or lightly to puff.