noodle Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I don't smoke my hookah very much -- probably because I can't seem to get any pleasure out of it. My latest attempt was over the past hour. I got myself a Pico Phunnel and an HJ Alien Phunnel and decided to start with the Alien thinking that the shallower bowl would make it easier for the flavors to vaporise. All this time I've been using some Al Fakher peach. It smells decent enough, but it tastes like dust. This time I packed the bowl tightly. The taste was a little bit there, but nowhere near the blast of cool fruit that I get at a hookah lounge. Should I just toss out the 150 or so grams left of this and try something else? I tried Tangiers Horchata, but that one tasted like a bad campfire and I traded it for some of the stuff listed below. Other stuff I have:[list] [*]Golden Layalina (Paradise Island) (about 25g) [*]Al Fakher Peach (50g) [*]Romman Vanilla (50g) [*]Hookah-Hookah Orange (one shot tub thingy) [*]Al Amir Cherry (50g) [*]Al Fakher Grape with Mint (250g) [*]Al Fakher Berry (250g) [/list] All of these are at least two or three years old. I think I'll reach for my trusty Stanwell and some well-aged Penzance now. Please advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang67n Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I know you've been around here a while, so please don't think i'm thinking you're a noob or anything, but what kind of coals are you using, and how are you using them? is the pipe and hose clean? This sounds like either the bowl is being burned, or you're just pulling in gnarly flavors from a gnarly hose/pipe. OR.. you may have an air leak.. just thought of that, check to be sure there are no leaks, in the hose, stem, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted June 22, 2012 Author Share Posted June 22, 2012 This latest time round I used Chronic Hookah instant light coals. The pipe is a Mya QT and the hose is a standard Mya. It's all clean and airtight. There aren't any funky smells. About burning, how can I tell if that's happening? When I peeled the foil off the bowl, a layer of shisha stuck to the underside and I got a smell of burnt food. If I did burn the shisha, how do I avoid doing so later? About these CH coals, they don't instant-light very easily. I held one over my pipe lighter until the latter got too hot to handle. Then I went to the stove and they very quickly started sizzling like I expected. I suppose a torch lighter would make things easier, but I don't have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavo21 Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 yeah the CH colas are fast lighting compared to say coconara, but for the no flavor/taste situation. i've beenthere before, personally for me what i had to do to get it back was stop smoking for a couple days. also try to seal the tobacco as well as possible. and for the burning part now you said you have a pico thats perfect if its burning super fast maybe its to much heat also maybe your packing the tobacco to high and its burning, i know people like nate actully let the tobacco touch the foil sometimes i do also but depends on the bowl and the tobacco. so maybe pack it just under the rim say to the height of the spire or a little under, why dont u make a little video of you packing it i know you wanted to get on TC but no one was on sorry post a time you can get on and i'll do my best to be on. good luck, keep trying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang67n Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I agree with Pavo, definitely if you can make a video of how you pack the bowl, that would be pretty helpful. All of the brands you listed can be packed 'fluffy' just by sprinkling it in the bowl and not really touching it after that. Make sure those coals are lit all the way. IDK what John uses to ignite them, but i'm sure it's not good to inhale. I would suggest letting them "torch up" and then letting them sit for a few minutes afterwards in a well ventilated area, just to be sure the chemicals have dissapated. This is another possible culprit to your terrible taste. How many coals are you using? On both the Pico and the Alien phunnel, 2 coals should be plenty to smoke Al Fakher. Maybe 3 to start, but if you're having trouble, I'd stick with two and give the bowl time to heat up rather than jumping the gun with extra coal. And the coal placement is pretty crucial on any phunnel type bowl. Make sure the coals are on the outside edge of the bowl, hanging off a little is perfect. I stat with my coals about 1/2 on and 1/2 off the bowl, then slowly inch them towards the center (talking millimeters every few minutes here) if the smoke thickness isn't quite up to par. Try for TC again tomorrow though (probably today by the time your read this lol) I'll try to pay attention during the day before work to see if I can help you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vendetta_revived Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 a picture of your packed bowl, hole pattern (doesn't matter much...3 rings of small holes should be enough on a pico), how many coals you're using and how are you placing em on the bowl would help us to help you out better. AF is all I smoke erryday (due to it being the only thing available ). Since pico is so small, I'd reckon that even 2 instalights would be too much. Try cutting one instalight and putting the pieces on opposite sides, hanging off the edge a bit, and then put your wind cover on and let the bowl warm up for 3 mins before you take a pull....and take it from there. It may take about 5 more minutes till you find the smoke to be satisfactory. But pictures would still help, and definitely try and catch one of these guys in TC. They will set you right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brookesaywhatx Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 I kinda had the same problem, with everything tasting burnt. People told me it didn't matter if the foil touched the tobacco but I found for me it does.. if the coal is sitting on top of it, it tends to burn it imo. Like others have said, try 2 halves or even one and work the heat from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 I tried again three times tonight with the pico phunnel, flying saucer, and the regular Egyptian bowl. Nothing works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang67n Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 it would be easier for us to help if you'd provide us with more information on what you're actually doing. how you're packing, how many coals, hole pattern, even water level and coal placement. without some idea of what you are doing, we have no idea of where to start to try to help you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 I'll try it again tomorrow with the pico phunnel. I have a webcam, so I'll try taking a video of the whole process. In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions for repairing the hole I melted into a club chair? I sat down on the hose, which caused the hookah to tip and dump the coal in between the seat cushion and the chair side. The hole isn't visible until you sit down, and then not until you feel around your left hip. I still feel bad about it because the chair's not mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang67n Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Not really much you can do as far as repairs go.. what kind of material is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noodle Posted June 26, 2012 Author Share Posted June 26, 2012 It's sort of a course weave burgundy fabric. If I can find similar fabric, a patch might not be too noticable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavo21 Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Yeah that kind of stuff I'm not to experienced in I would just flip the cushion over lol --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?apv12f 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang67n Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 I'm sure you can get it reupholstered, but doing it cheap will probably not be feasible :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pavo21 Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 yeah for some reason couch repair isn't cheap, but its so simple for the people to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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