Af Question.

[alliestar90]

Hey so I just started using Al Fakher shisha and I can't seem to get it to smoke well. I'm using an Egyptian bowl. I've tried packing it fluffy and I've tried packing it tight. Either way I keep getting very thin, harsh smoke. I'm using one layer of Reynolds HD and two coconaras. What am i doing wrong?

[joelhookah]

The Egyptian bowl is what you are doing wrong.

[alliestar90]

I bought a tangiers phunnel but I'm waiting on it to get here so the Egyptian bowl is all I got right now.

[joelhookah]

I understand. I haven't had much experience with a true egyptian, but I could get AF to smoke fine out of a Mya bowl. Try starting with just one coconara or split one coco in half and use 2 halves. Report back to me. Also don't pack it too tight.

[vendetta_revived]

How are you placing your coals? Is it a large egyptian or a small one? 2 on an egyptian shouldn't burn it unless you are placing them in the centre. Place them on the edge, opposite to each other.

Pics of your packed bowl without foil would help as well.

[magick777]

IMHO the problem is your choice of shisha; I've never got AF to smoke [b]well enough to enjoy[/b] out of any bowl (and neither has anyone else who's ever served it to me). Clouds, sure, flavour, sure, but the smoke always lacks body as compared with other brands.

As others have hinted, the problem is likely to be too much heat and/or too much hurry. Two coconut coals shouldn't be too much, but try giving them 5-10 minutes to warm the bowl through before you start to draw on it, then move them every few pulls. Patience may well be the answer. If this still doesn't do it for you, you could also try using a ton of heat (3 coals) to light your bowl. The moment you get clouds, pull all the heat off (you're seconds away from scorching), leave one coal in the tray and replace two. After 15-20 minutes, as the coals die down, you can re-add the third one. This [b]will[/b] scorch your bowl if you don't pay enough attention, but it's how I normally approach new shisha when I don't know how much heat it wants.

[S3cretz]

YOur a beginner under pack the tobacco 2 layers of foil or 1 if using reynolds1 ql. Edited November 1, 2011 by S3cretz

[Zildjian]

A few things:

1) The current line of al fahker is whispy and harsh. so change your tobacco.
2) I disagree with secrets, OVERPACK the egyptian bowl, 2 layers of foil, and then the coal.
3) on that note, what kind of coals are you using? If quick like 1 coal, if natural 2 depending on the size of the bowl maybe 3

[kajon]

Check out this video. This is how I always pack AF in an Egyptian and it's always a good smoke.
http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/41285-how-to-pack-a-standard-egyptian-bowl/

[joelhookah]

I have never had a problem getting AF to smoke well. That being said it's been almost a year and a half since I have smoked AF, so if Zildjian is correct, that may be the issue.

[ammoura1]

Before packing, make sure that :
The hookah is clean
You added new water is the vase.
The hose is clean

Now for Al Fakher is an egyptian head:
1) Al fakher is very wet. Make sure that the aluminum does not touch the tobacco (leave it to the rim). After making holes, I would recommend not having juices on the foil. Those juices are full of sugar. And burned sugar will kill the taste and make the smoke harsh. I often make the holes before putting the tobacco in the head (Put the aluminum, make holes, remove aluminum, fluff shisha, put pierced aluminum)

2) Use a multitude of small holes (pin instead of toothpick). Again, the tobacco is wet. Big holes will have bigger charcoal particules falling on the tobacco.

3) Since the tobacco is wet, it might extinguish the charcoal so flip it after the first few minutes. Also, use the stone hedge technique. 2 Flat CCN on a egyptian is a lot of heat. Try your luck with 1 CCN and a windcover.

[Arcane]

[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320121704' post='529685']
The Egyptian bowl is what you are doing wrong.
[/quote]
[quote name='S3cretz' timestamp='1320154665' post='529719']
YOur a beginner under pack the tobacco 2 layers of foil or 1 if using reynolds1 ql.
[/quote]
don't listen to these guys.



[quote name='Zildjian' timestamp='1320154812' post='529720']
A few things:

1) The current line of al fahker is whispy and harsh. so change your tobacco.
2) I disagree with secrets, OVERPACK the egyptian bowl, 2 layers of foil, and then the coal.
3) on that note, what kind of coals are you using? If quick like 1 coal, if natural 2 depending on the size of the bowl maybe 3
[/quote]listen to this guy...except #1. You can make AF work, although I've noticed it's not as good as it used to be.

[joelhookah]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1320171727' post='529752']
[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320121704' post='529685']
The Egyptian bowl is what you are doing wrong.
[/quote]
[quote name='S3cretz' timestamp='1320154665' post='529719']
YOur a beginner under pack the tobacco 2 layers of foil or 1 if using reynolds1 ql.
[/quote]
don't listen to these guys.



[quote name='Zildjian' timestamp='1320154812' post='529720']
A few things:

1) The current line of al fahker is whispy and harsh. so change your tobacco.
2) I disagree with secrets, OVERPACK the egyptian bowl, 2 layers of foil, and then the coal.
3) on that note, what kind of coals are you using? If quick like 1 coal, if natural 2 depending on the size of the bowl maybe 3
[/quote]listen to this guy...except #1. You can make AF work, although I've noticed it's not as good as it used to be.
[/quote]Don't listen to anything this guy says.

[S3cretz]

[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320172043' post='529757']
[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1320171727' post='529752']
[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320121704' post='529685']
The Egyptian bowl is what you are doing wrong.
[/quote]
[quote name='S3cretz' timestamp='1320154665' post='529719']
YOur a beginner under pack the tobacco 2 layers of foil or 1 if using reynolds1 ql.
[/quote]
don't listen to these guys.



[quote name='Zildjian' timestamp='1320154812' post='529720']
A few things:

1) The current line of al fahker is whispy and harsh. so change your tobacco.
2) I disagree with secrets, OVERPACK the egyptian bowl, 2 layers of foil, and then the coal.
3) on that note, what kind of coals are you using? If quick like 1 coal, if natural 2 depending on the size of the bowl maybe 3
[/quote]listen to this guy...except #1. You can make AF work, although I've noticed it's not as good as it used to be.
[/quote]Don't listen to anything this guy says.
[/quote]
Arcane is Right.
Underpacking correctly is just alot easyer than overpacking correctly IMHO Edited November 1, 2011 by S3cretz

[joytron]

Dont overpack or underpack the shisha, pack it just right.

[S3cretz]

[quote name='joytron' timestamp='1320174203' post='529773']
Dont overpack or underpack the shisha, pack it just right.
[/quote]
+12

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320172043' post='529757']
[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1320171727' post='529752']
[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320121704' post='529685']
The Egyptian bowl is what you are doing wrong.
[/quote]
[quote name='S3cretz' timestamp='1320154665' post='529719']
YOur a beginner under pack the tobacco 2 layers of foil or 1 if using reynolds1 ql.
[/quote]
don't listen to these guys.



[quote name='Zildjian' timestamp='1320154812' post='529720']
A few things:

1) The current line of al fahker is whispy and harsh. so change your tobacco.
2) I disagree with secrets, OVERPACK the egyptian bowl, 2 layers of foil, and then the coal.
3) on that note, what kind of coals are you using? If quick like 1 coal, if natural 2 depending on the size of the bowl maybe 3
[/quote]listen to this guy...except #1. You can make AF work, although I've noticed it's not as good as it used to be.
[/quote]Don't listen to anything this guy says.
[/quote]

In my limited time on the forums, I've seen enough to safely say - Always listen to Jay (Arcane). Always. Edited November 2, 2011 by vendetta_revived

[A13lackFish]

I've personally smoked AF in my egyptian many a time. Theres nothing wrong with how your doing it but rather how your cooking it id imagine. Pack the bowl "fluffy", and light 3 coals. Once the bowl begins producing smoke you should remove one coal and keep it going with 2 as to not burn it.

Make sure that with the Reynolds HD you are poking small holes with a tac if you plan to have the shisha touching the foil. Last thing you need to do when you first begin the session is to burn shisha onto the holes and prevent steady airflow.

[claytronmeans]

[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1320222717' post='529899']
[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320172043' post='529757']
[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1320171727' post='529752']
[quote name='joelhookah' timestamp='1320121704' post='529685']
The Egyptian bowl is what you are doing wrong.
[/quote]
[quote name='S3cretz' timestamp='1320154665' post='529719']
YOur a beginner under pack the tobacco 2 layers of foil or 1 if using reynolds1 ql.
[/quote]
don't listen to these guys.



[quote name='Zildjian' timestamp='1320154812' post='529720']
A few things:

1) The current line of al fahker is whispy and harsh. so change your tobacco.
2) I disagree with secrets, OVERPACK the egyptian bowl, 2 layers of foil, and then the coal.
3) on that note, what kind of coals are you using? If quick like 1 coal, if natural 2 depending on the size of the bowl maybe 3
[/quote]listen to this guy...except #1. You can make AF work, although I've noticed it's not as good as it used to be.
[/quote]Don't listen to anything this guy says.
[/quote]

In my limited time on the forums, I've seen enough to safely say - Always listen to Jay (Arcane). Always.
[/quote]
.


Al Fakher has never been a problem for me, even when I first started years ago. I usually get a good smoke whether packing tight, packing loose, packing low, or packing high. Granted, I've almost always used a Tangiers funnel bowl, or a crown hookahs micro.

Why don't you wait a little while until your Tangiers shows up, and give it another go?

[Bawhee]

I only smoke AF and Nakhla and im sure its not the tobacco thats at fault here, sometimes you just have to try out some things and see how things work for you, I do a semi fluffy pack and a gazillion small holes with on ql or 2 small qls opposite eachother, dont know how it works with nats tho, also, when packing, not too little, not too much, around rim height, I like a bit over the rim myself

[Arcane]

[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1320222717' post='529899']
In my limited time on the forums, I've seen enough to safely say - Always listen to Jay (Arcane). Always.
[/quote]Send me a million dollars.




No?

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1320267742' post='530014']
[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1320222717' post='529899']
In my limited time on the forums, I've seen enough to safely say - Always listen to Jay (Arcane). Always.
[/quote]Send me a million dollars.




No?
[/quote]

I listened. ...er...read I mean.

[IainUM]

i've been having trouble with AF in the last few months, too. can't get it to smoke to well, so i just kinda gave up on buying it and stuck to nak and tang

[Floataround]

I have only smoked two AF flavors, that they are cola and energy drink. From cola I got big clouds and big flavor, energy drink were just big clouds though. Only a slight hint for flavor. Probably staying away unless I find a flavor only they make and really want to try.

[vendetta_revived]

Well I haven't been smoking for too long (a year may be), so I don't know how good it was before, but I've smoked it since I started and it has always fared me well. Edited November 3, 2011 by vendetta_revived