Km Help!

[rhineholt]

Wow, never thought I would post another topic about having trouble getting smoke but here I am.

My friend bought KM. A reallllly nice double heart trimetal. Anyway, everytime we've smoked (nakhla), I can't seem to get good clouds out of it. The flavor is spot on, but the clouds could need a little help. I've tried with a medium phunnel bowl, an egyptian, and a mod bowl. I pack them the same exact way as I would in my mya qt which yields me great results, but for the KM, i can't seem to get any good smoke.

Some factors I think might cause the difference.

-I'm still trying to find the sweet spot for the water.
-That's actually the only thing I can think of
-I guess I'll stop the list

Has anybody else noticed a big difference in smoke density between a smaller hookah and a KM?

ALSO, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[MichaelLCP]

Maybe more heat? I have always had trouble pulling clouds off of nakhla.

[rhineholt]

[quote name='MichaelLCP' timestamp='1325532666' post='534382']
Maybe more heat? I have always had trouble pulling clouds off of nakhla.
[/quote]
I would normally have no problem if it were on my mya qt, but it seems like things are different with the KM.
I'll try more heat.

I just realized there might be another factor. The natural coals that I've been using must have changed the manufacturing process because there seems to be a lot more filler. I'll try and add maybe another half a coal and see if it makes it better!

[littlec]

[quote name='rhineholt' timestamp='1325531963' post='534381']
Wow, never thought I would post another topic about having trouble getting smoke but here I am.

My friend bought KM. A reallllly nice double heart trimetal. Anyway, everytime we've smoked (nakhla), I can't seem to get good clouds out of it. The flavor is spot on, but the clouds could need a little help. I've tried with a medium phunnel bowl, an egyptian, and a mod bowl. I pack them the same exact way as I would in my mya qt which yields me great results, but for the KM, i can't seem to get any good smoke.

Some factors I think might cause the difference.

[b]-I'm still trying to find the sweet spot for the water.[/b]
-That's actually the only thing I can think of
-I guess I'll stop the list

Has anybody else noticed a big difference in smoke density between a smaller hookah and a KM?

ALSO, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]

exactly one inch above the bottom of the downstem, no more no less. Check your hose and seals for leaks as well.

[joytron]

[quote name='littlec' timestamp='1325533724' post='534384']
[quote name='rhineholt' timestamp='1325531963' post='534381']
Wow, never thought I would post another topic about having trouble getting smoke but here I am.

My friend bought KM. A reallllly nice double heart trimetal. Anyway, everytime we've smoked (nakhla), I can't seem to get good clouds out of it. The flavor is spot on, but the clouds could need a little help. I've tried with a medium phunnel bowl, an egyptian, and a mod bowl. I pack them the same exact way as I would in my mya qt which yields me great results, but for the KM, i can't seem to get any good smoke.

Some factors I think might cause the difference.

[b]-I'm still trying to find the sweet spot for the water.[/b]
-That's actually the only thing I can think of
-I guess I'll stop the list

Has anybody else noticed a big difference in smoke density between a smaller hookah and a KM?

ALSO, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]

exactly one inch above the bottom of the downstem, no more no less. Check your hose and seals for leaks as well.
[/quote]

Totally disagree, I think water level is one of the most overrated issues.\

Are you sure everything about the pipe is totally airtight?

[littlec]

[quote name='joytron' timestamp='1325534772' post='534386']
[quote name='littlec' timestamp='1325533724' post='534384']
[quote name='rhineholt' timestamp='1325531963' post='534381']
Wow, never thought I would post another topic about having trouble getting smoke but here I am.

My friend bought KM. A reallllly nice double heart trimetal. Anyway, everytime we've smoked (nakhla), I can't seem to get good clouds out of it. The flavor is spot on, but the clouds could need a little help. I've tried with a medium phunnel bowl, an egyptian, and a mod bowl. I pack them the same exact way as I would in my mya qt which yields me great results, but for the KM, i can't seem to get any good smoke.

Some factors I think might cause the difference.

[b]-I'm still trying to find the sweet spot for the water.[/b]
-That's actually the only thing I can think of
-I guess I'll stop the list

Has anybody else noticed a big difference in smoke density between a smaller hookah and a KM?

ALSO, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]

exactly one inch above the bottom of the downstem, no more no less. Check your hose and seals for leaks as well.
[/quote]

Totally disagree, I think water level is one of the most overrated issues.\

Are you sure everything about the pipe is totally airtight?
[/quote]

Seriously? I've had it make or break a session for me. IF he's not sure who knows what he could be filling it at, that is why it was the first thing I addressed. it doesn't have to be PERFECT but significantly under or over one inch of water above the downstem has given me serious woes the few times I had made that mistake when I started smoking from KMs.

[joytron]

As long as the water isn't coming into your hose, I think its safe to say its not going to cause problems.

[rhineholt]

I knew that it was around an inch, but i've also noticed that if you put more water in, i get more smoke... so it seems.

I'll have to check if its completely airtight. I know my hose is but I actually haven't checked the pipe. I'll have to do that.

I should be smoking soon so I'll let you know.

[vendetta_revived]

leaks?

[Arcane]

I believe the water level has a slight effect on the resistance to the draw. More water, more resistance. Less water, less resistance. That's really all it impacts.

as vendetta said, I'd check your seals and for leaks. Also, check to see if anything is blocking flow.

[Mahir]

All good points.

How many coals are you using? I feel like with Nakhla this may be your main issue at hand.

Of course, like everyone else said, check your seals -- Additionally, make sure there's a purge ball.

For me, water level has never been a real huge life changing problem. I stick to the 1-inch rule of thumb for the most part. Depends on the vase really.

[Rani]

Having never smoked out of a QT, I will say this...... It's logical that the longer the stem, the harder it's going to be to pull air/smoke down into the base, and back out the hose. It takes me longer to prime my taller pipes, so that may be adding to the problem. If the pipe isn't leaking (and I've always been able to hear a leak from the first draw), I'd start with the heat issue. The longer the draw through the pipe, the more heat you're likely to need to get it there. Sometimes I'll lower my tobacco level a bit so I won't burn it when adding extra heat. Coconut coals seem to work especially well on my longer pipes and we know those burn hotter than say Golden Canarys.

'Rani

[Bawhee]

im positive that stem length shouldnt affect smoke thickness... makes it a bit loner to pump enough smoke into the base but not so long that it would impact the session... Id say add heat and really do look carefully for leaks, try a different hose and make sure you seal the foil onto the bowl well every time!

[Chreees]

[quote name='Arcane' timestamp='1325540191' post='534393']
I believe the water level has a slight effect on the resistance to the draw. More water, more resistance. Less water, less resistance. That's really all it impacts.

as vendetta said, I'd check your seals and for leaks. Also, check to see if anything is blocking flow.
[/quote]

Jay hit the nail on the head concerning the water issue. For my KM, I sometimes put a bit more extra water in if I want more restriction, especially when I'm using my KM Beast hose (has a hella wide gauge). Since I've gotten my Al Nawras, I've been more of a fan of tighter restriction. Overall, though, an inch submerged is rule of thumb of where you'll want to have your water level. That's about where I like it on my Nawras. About an inch and heif on my KM.

I'd see about your packing and heat. Have you seen Mattarios' tutorial for packing Nakhla? Should help you. It's how I pack it and works great every time.

OG Nak: [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/33144-nakhla-og-tutorial/page__p__406093__fromsearch__1&#entry406093"]http://www.hookahfor..._1[/url]

Mizo Nak: [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/31762-nakhla-tutorial/"]http://www.hookahfor...akhla-tutorial/[/url]

And yeah, as Vimal suggested, do the leak test. Put water in the vase, put the shank on, and put your hand over where the bowl goes. Pull from the hose port, whether by hose or directly port-to-mouth. You'll hear if there's a leak. Try both ways, actually- try to rule out if it's just your hose even. After smoking for a while, when there's some smoke built up in the vase, you should be able to take a pull, then purge and you'll see smoke coming out from any leaks. This is how I found some of my past hoses to be defective right after purchase. Replaced the hose and was good to go. One time I had a leak in my KM and didn't even know it until I saw smoke shoot out from it when I just so happened to look when I purged. Little bit of JB Weld and I was good to go.

Hope this and everybody else's advice helps man.