Hookah Noob Here W/ Questions

[Litters]

So I just ordered my first hookah from hookah-shisha.com and i have a few questions that I would LOVE the answers to, any help would be appreciated.

1. How many coals should I use for each smoke, I saw 3 in a video and then 2 on this sites beginner forum. Also, how should i light them, i have a gas burner stove if that would work, im not sure.

2. How much Shisha should I use per smoke.

3. If I smoke indoors, will the smell linger and will it set off my smoke alarm, where I would smoke its literally DIRECTLY above me.

4. What side of the foil goes up, shiney side or brushed side.

and finally

5. Should I clean it after every use.

If you have any other tips for a first timer please feel free to leave them

[joytron]

1 and 2 depend on bowl and shisha, please list them for better help
3. Not sure but I have never had an issue with that happening, yes the smell lingers.
4. Does not matter
5. yes

[mustang67n]

[quote name='Litters' timestamp='1331188098' post='541750']
So I just ordered my first hookah from hookah-shisha.com and i have a few questions that I would LOVE the answers to, any help would be appreciated.

1. How many coals should I use for each smoke, I saw 3 in a video and then 2 on this sites beginner forum. Also, how should i light them, i have a gas burner stove if that would work, im not sure.

It depends on the type of coals, type of tobacco, and type of bowl. Please specify

2. How much Shisha should I use per smoke.

Again, depends on the type of tobacco and bowl. But for most cases, sprinkle in the tobacco until it reaches the rim, or just passes the rim of the bowl.

3. If I smoke indoors, will the smell linger and will it set off my smoke alarm, where I would smoke its literally DIRECTLY above me.

The smell only lingers for a couple of hours, then will subside. There should be no problem with your smoke alarm, unless you're lighting quicklite coals underneath it.

4. What side of the foil goes up, shiney side or brushed side.

This does not matter. The difference between each side are minimal and unnoticable when smoking. Some say shiny side down, though.

and finally

5. Should I clean it after every use.

Yes, If not, you run the risks of mold, rust, and deterioration of the pipe.

If you have any other tips for a first timer please feel free to leave them
[/quote]

[Litters]

Here is my hookah [url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-3515-econo-mya-gelato-1-hose-hookah.html"]http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-3515-econo-mya-gelato-1-hose-hookah.html[/url]

Im using coco nara coals

and this is the bowl im using [url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-2299-phunnel-hookah-bowls.html"]http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-2299-phunnel-hookah-bowls.html[/url]

[joytron]

What tobacco do you generally use?

I have not used a chinese phunnel so I am not sure about heat management, but for a small phunnel and say Al fakher, I would use four flat halves or three cube coals.

[Litters]

[quote name='joytron' timestamp='1331236474' post='541826']
What tobacco do you generally use?

I have not used a chinese phunnel so I am not sure about heat management, but for a small phunnel and say Al fakher, I would use four flat halves or three cube coals.
[/quote]

I actually ordered 150g of al fakher (3 flavors).

When you refer to four flat halves and 3 cube coals what do you mean?

[joytron]

[quote name='Litters' timestamp='1331242395' post='541837']
[quote name='joytron' timestamp='1331236474' post='541826']
What tobacco do you generally use?

I have not used a chinese phunnel so I am not sure about heat management, but for a small phunnel and say Al fakher, I would use four flat halves or three cube coals.
[/quote]

I actually ordered 150g of al fakher (3 flavors).

When you refer to four flat halves and 3 cube coals what do you mean?
[/quote]

Depends on the type of coconara, are they cube shaped or are they more rectangular prisms (x/y axis is the same z axis is about half the size). Generally they are the latter and I feel they work better cut in half as two coals is not enough and three is too much.

I pack al fakher by filling it so its dense enough that there are no gaps, a bit over the rim (maybe an 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch).

[Litters]

[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]Coco Nara Natural Hook[/color][color=#000000]ah Coals, is what my order says, and from what you said im getting that i take one coal and cut it in half? so 2 coals cut in half (4 pieces) and make a square on top... or one coal cut in half (2 pieces) across from one another...[/color][/font][/size]

[joytron]

Two coals, four pieces.

[Litters]

Awesome, thank you for your help

[navy876]

Litters do you have a window near you?

[Litters]

[quote name='navy876' timestamp='1331261459' post='541870']
Litters do you have a window near you?
[/quote]

Yeah, why what are you thinking?

[Judy Oma]

One thing specifically with the cleaning aspect --- the Mya econo line, I believe this includes the gelato as well, has a rough, unfinished interior that tends to be somewhat porous. Careful cleaning is essential, use a brush and scrub it out. Don't leave it and wait to clean it out the next time you use it - my son wrecked an econo QT in no time doing this

Always make sure that it is COMPLETELY dry before reassembling your stem and base - this is true for any hookah, but you'll do some major damage. You'll never get rid of any lingering mildew smell/taste

[Chreees]

[quote name='Litters' timestamp='1331275404' post='541890']
[quote name='navy876' timestamp='1331261459' post='541870']
Litters do you have a window near you?
[/quote]

Yeah, why what are you thinking?
[/quote]

He wants to come in your window at night and steal your hookah goods. He's no better than dem damn coal gnomes, I tell ya!



[quote name='Litters' timestamp='1331188098' post='541750']
So I just ordered my first hookah from hookah-shisha.com and i have a few questions that I would LOVE the answers to, any help would be appreciated.

1. How many coals should I use for each smoke, I saw 3 in a video and then 2 on this sites beginner forum. Also, how should i light them, i have a gas burner stove if that would work, im not sure.

2. How much Shisha should I use per smoke.

3. If I smoke indoors, will the smell linger and will it set off my smoke alarm, where I would smoke its literally DIRECTLY above me.

4. What side of the foil goes up, shiney side or brushed side.

and finally

5. Should I clean it after every use.

If you have any other tips for a first timer please feel free to leave them
[/quote]

1. Depends on the bowl you are using. I use two Coconaras (or similar coconut coal) on my clay Egyptian bowl, my clay Elmas bowl, my Tangiers Mini Phunnel, and my Tangiers Small Phunnel. You will often see people using three, yes. However, I prefer to instead use two coals and then use a windcover as a tool to help me in heat management by enabling me to add a bit of extra heat instead of using a third coal. I never smoke outside and use the windcover to actually block the wind.

2. You should use as much as it takes to properly fill the bowl. Various packing vids can be found on here. Feel free to check out my YouTube channel (in my signature below), but don't forget to watch others as well on here (might want to check out the videos section) because there are a lot of good ones and everyone does it a bit differently, but it's all the same more or less.

3. I have smoked with my smoke alarm very close by, and haven't had any issues. I think most issues come from lighting coals near smoke alarms, so you might want to be wary of that. But I light my cocos on the coil-burner stovetop and don't have a problem. Quicklights you will always want to light outside, no matter what. But yeah, if you are worried about it, just take a shower cap (free at hotels, I can even send you one if you like as I work at one, lol), or a plastic bag and rubberband, and cap off the smoke alarm. Problem solved for good.

4. It don't matta! Haha. It really doesn't. But I always do shiny side down to trap in all the juices, which are scared of the shiny-ness of that side of the foil, and they won't cause me to have streamers (lines of juice that run down the outside of the bowl), or burn the bottom of the coals. Lulz.

5. YES, please do clean all of your hookah equipment properly after use. I wash out the bowl, shank, and vase with water after each session and sit out to dry. Hoses I blow out and hang for a while (I don't even wash my washables, as I see no need, but you can wash your washables if you like).

My only other tip is check out this thread: http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/40373-beginners-guide-to-hookah/ , as it covers most of the basic hookah knowledge you should need. Also make sure to check out videos to see how others do things, and most importantly, ASK QUESTIONS! That way we can help you.

I would say welcome sir noob, but in reality we all have a little noob in us, even those of us who have been at the hookah game for years. I learn something new everyday, and I'm sure you will too. Welcome to Hookah Forum; hope you enjoy your stay here.

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='Judy Oma' timestamp='1331581487' post='542286']
One thing specifically with the cleaning aspect --- the Mya econo line, I believe this includes the gelato as well, has a rough, unfinished interior that tends to be somewhat porous. Careful cleaning is essential, use a brush and scrub it out. Don't leave it and wait to clean it out the next time you use it - my son wrecked an econo QT in no time doing this

Always make sure that it is COMPLETELY dry before reassembling your stem and base - this is true for any hookah, but you'll do some major damage. You'll never get rid of any lingering mildew smell/taste
[/quote]

The ONLY way to not wreck a mya econo hookah, is to not buy one.