Need Hookah Verification And Help Asap<3!

[navy876]

SO I do not know what kind of hookah I own. & Also, I have a
BIG problem when I attempt to smoke my hookah. I currently have a Mystique ice hose and a Vortex bowl. I set up my bowl and coals in this manner. (This is not me, nor do I claim, this individual to be me. I just simply follow these steps so that you kind of have an understanding of how I set up.) [url="http://www.youtube.com/hookahrev#p/search/0/c74LJaz3-hE."]http://www.youtube.c.../0/c74LJaz3-hE[/url]
I even try to poke less holes add double the foil. And lay my Coals on there sides.
With all of my actions being said, My problem is that when I do attempt to smoke my Hookah. It gets REALY nasty & harsh quickly, In other words my shisha gets burned fast. I mean in about 5-10 minutes within smoking. And we constantly have to purge it and sometimes that doesnt even help. I use ALL Starbuzz brands and COCO Nara coals. All of these problems started to occour when I placed my Vortex bowl instead of the current bowl you see of the picture. The bowl in the photo is a bowl I USED to use, so you as the reader does not get confused. All I hear about the Vortex Bowls are that they're great products and magic wonders. I do not have a defected Vortex bowl for I have already done my research on the defected Bowls with the holes misplaceed by the manufactor. I have also tried SPINKILING THE HECK out of my shisha like the guy in the youtube video did and still nothing works. & Yes I even tried adding MORE shisha even though the guy in the YT video said not to worry, that Vortex Bowls are shisha savers. And that its fine to pack them to the point that they look severly underpacked. & I still have this problem with the smoke being gross and harsh. At this point I dont know what else to do. I do clean out my Hookah thorougly and hose with warm water and soap. And I do rinse all of the Soap out. and Im still at lost of words.
Please help? Many thanks, :s
My CURRENT bowl that I use to smoke looks exactly like the blue bowl[attachment=5733:bowls-vortex-blue-450_550.jpg]
P.S Please help my verify what Hookah I have.[attachment=5734:dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.jpg]

[Floataround]

Take pictures of your bowl when you pack it before foil, and after you foil it, with holes packed. Take a picture of where your water level is as well just incase.

On the vortex bowl its self, most will dissagree. Grab a tangiers phunnel when available, a crown phunnel, or a Hookahjohn Flying Saucer bowl. They will suit your needs far far better.

Other than that, make sure your coals are all lit. Where are you placing your coals exactly, on the edge of the bowl, or in the center? Is your foil on too loose? Use one sheet of HD foil, make sure its on tight.

if your doing everything right, 3 coco's should not be too much for a vortex with starbuzz.

[Chreees]

I am pretty much confused by your post, but let's see what we can do... I'll put my points in a numbered list:

1. Youtube video does not work. Just takes us to HookahRev's channel and says something about the parameters. Please check the link and repost if you wish.

2. Not sure about this whole what bowl you used to use and what bowl you use now, as that entire explanation was all pretty confusing to me. Where are you hearing that Vortex bowls are a great product and "magic wonders"? I believe you've confused the Vortex bowl with the Tangiers Phunnel bowl.

3. It's important that you understand some basics about hookah, and better understand your packing and heat management, no matter what stuff you use. I suggest you take a look at this thread: http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40373-beginners-guide-to-hookah/

4. Hookah looks like some sort of Egyptian. Need a better picture to narrow down to exactly what brand (or it may be a generic brand).

[Epoch]

One layer of foil should serve you fine.
[quote name='navy876' timestamp='1328053007' post='537318']
SO I do not know what kind of hookah I own. & Also, I have a
BIG problem when I attempt to smoke my hookah. I currently have a Mystique ice hose and a Vortex bowl. I set up my bowl and coals in this manner. (This is not me, nor do I claim, this individual to be me. I just simply follow these steps so that you kind of have an understanding of how I set up.) [url="http://www.youtube.com/hookahrev#p/search/0/c74LJaz3-hE."]http://www.youtube.c.../0/c74LJaz3-hE.[/url]
[u][b]I even try to poke less holes add double the foil[/b][/u]. And lay my Coals on there sides.
With all of my actions being said, My problem is that when I do attempt to smoke my Hookah. It gets REALY nasty & harsh quickly, In other words my shisha gets burned fast. I mean in about 5-10 minutes within smoking. And we constantly have to purge it and sometimes that doesnt even help. I use ALL Starbuzz brands and COCO Nara coals. All of these problems started to occour when I placed my Vortex bowl instead of the current bowl you see of the picture. The bowl in the photo is a bowl I USED to use, so you as the reader does not get confused. All I hear about the Vortex Bowls are that they're great products and magic wonders. I do not have a defected Vortex bowl for I have already done my research on the defected Bowls with the holes misplaceed by the manufactor. I have also tried SPINKILING THE HECK out of my shisha like the guy in the youtube video did and still nothing works. & Yes I even tried adding MORE shisha even though the guy in the YT video said not to worry, that Vortex Bowls are shisha savers. And that its [u][b]fine to pack them to the point that they look severly underpacked[/b][/u]. & I still have this problem with the smoke being gross and harsh. At this point I dont know what else to do. I do clean out my Hookah thorougly and hose with warm water and soap. And I do rinse all of the Soap out. and Im still at lost of words.
Please help? Many thanks, :s
My CURRENT bowl that I use to smoke looks exactly like the blue bowl[attachment=5733:bowls-vortex-blue-450_550.jpg]
P.S Please help my verify what Hookah I have.[attachment=5734:dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.jpg]
[/quote]

These two lines strike me as problems.

1 - Fill the bowl ALL the way up. Don't be afraid of tobacco touching the foil, it's fine.
2 - Poke lots of holes, I never have problems with more holes.
3 - Heavy duty foil, single layer. No need for extra.
4 - Coco Flats: use two coals / Coco cubes: use three coals
5 - Coals on the edges.

This is how I smoke Starbuzz from a Vortex

[navy876]

The youtube link is to HookahRev. It leads you to the video of him packing the vortex bowl. Which is the way I pack it, Also I get my foil from the dollar tree. Is there a certain foil I should be using?

[Chreees]

[quote name='navy876' timestamp='1328058023' post='537327']
The youtube link is to HookahRev. It leads you to the video of him packing the vortex bowl. Which is the way I pack it, Also I get my foil from the dollar tree. Is there a certain foil I should be using?
[/quote]

Ahh. Upon closer inspection, I found that the period at the end was throwing the link off when you click it. I fixed that for you.

Reynolds HD (Heavy-Duty) foil is the best to use. One layer is all you need. If you're using cheap foil that is really thin, use two layers.

[weslypipes]

I'm always smoking with random foil from friends house and it's never made a difference for me, but I heard the Reynolds Heavy Duty foil is the best. I smoke starbuzz most of the time. When I poke the holes in the foil, I go all the way down till I'm touching the bottom of the bowl. I've never used a vortex bowl though so I can't help much.

[navy876]

Can you then help me solve my problem? I used a dollar tree aluminum. I bought a aluminum that says "Estra strong" Im hoping that will solve my problem. as for my Hookah I would very much still like verification heres how she looks.[attachment=5737:2012-01-31 19.18.04.jpg]

[Floataround]

Looks like a generic egyptian to me. Take a picture of the tray rest and we can help you further.

[littlec]

Ok im going to one shot call this, feeling pretty sure. Egyptian on a AF hookah base. BANG Edited February 1, 2012 by littlec

[navy876]

What do you mean by AF Hookah base? & the tray rest meaning were I put the coals that are near burnt?

[Floataround]

The tray rest is where your ash tray rests.

[Chreees]

Depends on if the "Extra Strong" foil is actually extra strong or just crap. If you got it from Dollar Tree, I'm betting it's still not so great. I'm gonna create a rule of thumb- All foil from Dollar Tree, use two layers. Reynolds Heavy-Duty, use one.

Umm, generic Egyptian shank on a... first-generation Al Fakher base?!?! Gotta say, I'm impressed. Those are hard to come by these days. When I first saw it, I was like, no way... Then to confirm, I checked the review section: [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/11438-26-al-fakher-hookah/"]http://www.hookahfor...-fakher-hookah/[/url] , more specifically this picture: [url="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/Walouf/DSC00621.jpg"]http://i50.photobuck...uf/DSC00621.jpg[/url] . Congrats! If you ever decide to sell it, hit me up!

EDIT: Damn, a guest walked in when I started typing... I had a feeling someone else had said AF base when I saw "3 New Replies." Good eye as well, C. Those were when Al Fakher bases were nice.

When we say AF base, it means the base, just the glass, is made by the Al Fakher company.

[Epoch]

[quote name='navy876' timestamp='1328070731' post='537361']
What do you mean by AF Hookah base? & the tray rest meaning were I put the coals that are near burnt?
[/quote]

The vase looks like it's Al Fakher (AF). And the tray rest is the part that holds the tray where the coals go, sometimes they have a logo on them.

EDIT: Ah, you guys all beat me. Edited February 1, 2012 by Epoch

[navy876]

Chreees your so freakin awesome man... I'd love to smoke with you lol. So is my Hookah a good or bad one?? And Im thinking if its Gyneric it cant be good. would you like me to post a picture of the ash tray?

[Epoch]

[quote name='navy876' timestamp='1328071149' post='537365']
Chreees your so freakin awesome man... I'd love to smoke with you lol. So is my Hookah a good or bad one?? [u][b] And Im thinking if its Gyneric it cant be good.[/b][/u] would you like me to post a picture of the ash tray?
[/quote]

Nah, not at all. Some of the most bad ass Egyptian pipes come from no-name makers.

[Chreees]

Generic Egyptian just means it isn't made by a known brand (Khalil Mamoon, Farida, Temsah, etc.). It could be the best hookah in the world or not so great. All that matters is that YOU like it.

[navy876]

Epoch you too are very informative, lol. TBH im the "new guy on the block" with the Hookah stuff. But when I first tried it , I fell in love with it and I went all out. I got lots of things for it. Including m own hookah room. Anyways, I want a Hookah that blows like Huuuuuge clouds. This one produces pretty good clouds. But I still want bigger. And as for my nasty tasting problem, Just to tell you guys. That the Dollar tree foil, I'd put two peices of foil on and I'd still be having issues. Soo do you guys have any idea on what it could be? Or you yall believe that with my "Super Strength" aluminum i should be set.

[Pavo21]

make sure your foil is shinny side down if u smoke with shinny side up it will give it a nasty taste big problem people that are new do wrong

[navy876]

Why does that matter? And I think I also made sure of that once or twice. But not always

[Chreees]

I don't think it's the hookah or the foil but more so your packing and heat management techniques. Hop on TC sometime (honestly just the easiest way to do it, Tinychat tab up top) and let us watch you pack a bowl (if you have a cam). We'll guide you through it and teach you right.

EDIT: Or watch the plethora of how-to vids on here. Many of us have made vids on how to pack a standard bowl.

[navy876]

I didnt think that heat management was important in all honesty. & I'd very much apperciaite it my man. I think it be easier to use skype or oovoo? If its fine with you. & BTW I saw that poll you did, I reallly like your stems, how much did you pay for them??

[Floataround]

The stem you use does matter on how easy the draw is, but things like flavor and clouds really come down to a mix of everything, but most importantly heat management.

Each tobacco brand has its own heat limitations. You want to be able to hit the limit before it starts to get rough which will lead to charing or burning the tobacco. When you are at that limit you will get maxium flavor and clouds.

Other facotors include the tobacco (some will produce larger and thicker clouds and flavor than others), the bowl and packing method, the hookah because of the type of draw you get, and the hose you are using due to the draw.

Any type of tobacco can be smoked in any kind of bowl as long as it is packed correctly to fit that bowl, but there are certain bowls that work much better than others with specific kinds of tobacco, such as Tangiers. Tangiers tobacco will smoke its best in a Tangiers phunnel. It can be smoked in an egyptian bowl, but the results will not be as good (that does not mean bad however). There are a lot of little factors that you will pick up as you learn more through a mix of the things you watch and read, as well as through your own trial and error runs. Dont get discourgaed, and done be afraid to mess up, try again, and ask questions.

[navy876]

I use a aharasmoke Vortex bowl and All I buy is Starbuzz. If that does say anything?

[Epoch]

[quote name='Floataround' timestamp='1328073794' post='537374']
The stem you use does matter on how easy the draw is, but things like flavor and clouds really come down to a mix of everything, but [u][b]most importantly heat management[/b][/u].

Each tobacco brand has its own heat limitations. You want to be able to hit the limit before it starts to get rough which will lead to charing or burning the tobacco. [u][b]When you are at that limit you will get maxium flavor and clouds[/b][/u].

Other facotors include the tobacco (some will produce larger and thicker clouds and flavor than others), the bowl and packing method, the hookah because of the type of draw you get, and the hose you are using due to the draw.

Any type of tobacco can be smoked in any kind of bowl as long as it is packed correctly to fit that bowl, but there are certain bowls that work much better than others with specific kinds of tobacco, such as Tangiers. Tangiers tobacco will smoke its best in a Tangiers phunnel. It can be smoked in an egyptian bowl, but the results will not be as good (that does not mean bad however). There are a lot of little factors that you will pick up as you learn more through a mix of the things you watch and read, as well as through your own trial and error runs.[u][b] Dont get discourgaed, and done be afraid to mess up, try again, and ask questions[/b][/u].
[/quote]

Float, you are the man as always. I second this post.

So, Navy! About your heat management with SB in a Vortex -

1 - The bowl should be packed nice and full, and loose! Don't mash the tobacco in there.
2 - Get some nice, heavy duty foil (Reynold's Wrap HD is my personal fave) and poke a ton of little holes all over the whole thing.
3 - Add your coals (outer edge of the bowl), and puff for a few minutes.
4 - If it's still too thin and dull after a while, add more coals. If it's too harsh and hot, take some off, blow out the smoke in the base, wait a bit and puff again.

Starbuzz can handle a pretty generous level of heat, so you'll get it. It'll become routine soon enough.