How many Coals

[Kofod]

Well there's no "allround" answers when it comes to coal handling - its an art depending on your own preferences and know how and not least which hardware setup You are having (different cups screen/foil etc) so the last tough is always something you have find yourself - a little test and trial and you will get the hang of it.
Well for the things that can be "passed" on.
Airtight - suction on Your hand will do fine - it might not be all perfect but nothing to worry about. This is not scubadiving
Holes - having holes not covered is no problem. With the rest of the "hole business" I guess you're fine - some can discus this in details to perfections - so theres always room for improvement - but theres nothing in Your hole setup that should stand in the way of a decent and pleasant smoke.
Coals - what You've already done (3 halfs) is what I would advise or do myself if the smoke seemed tame. But as said there's no one answer - though if You have to put two coals or 4 halfes on You would be a little in the high end compared to normal.
So where the 3 halfes fine or just an improvement but not quite good enough?

[Kofod]

About the bowl.
I guess the thehookah bowl is fine - not to deep; which is very good. And glazing will give more heat than unglazed (which seems to be a good thing on your setup).
Your present clay bowl - is it glazed?

[NERV]

are you using with a sleeve or windcover? both of those help insulate
heat and get better smoke, in fact if i sue my windcover with the
golden coal its sometimes gets hot enough to burn, so i sually just use
the sleeve

[NERV]

o and if the cost of coal concerns you then i would reccomend finding a
way to use 1 coal, im rather cheap and i try to make every coal count
so i found a way to use 1 gold coal, it lasts a little under 2 hours,
gets thick flavorful smoke the whole time, and cooks all the tobacco

[Gamaliel]

I've been using a wind cover,I usually use 1 golden.Remember that some massel is going to smoke lighter than others.First I put my coal near the edge of the bowl,once I get a nice thick smoke I move it around the edges.You want to move the coal every few minutes.Then move the coal to the center.By this time you should be ready for another coal,at this point everything should be cooking evenly.Keep moving yer coals,and try to scrape off any ash thats on top of the bowl.This method keeps me smoking for almost 2 hours,if you find that the smoke is getting harsh,move the coals.

[entrailsgalore]

Well its a prefference thing.  When i use golden coals I cut them
into halves. ANd I use 3 halves for a bowl and I like them in a
triangle on my bowl, this get sthe most even smoke, I think. But
normally Ill use natural wood coals and Ill use two pieces  to
cove rthe bowl.

[Gamaliel]

Aye ent,I'm going to try some naturals and maybe some japanese coals once my golden supply gets down some.I've had naturals in hookah resturants,but havent tried them on my own.

[entrailsgalore]

Ok cool. Gamaliel, They are a little different than quick lites becaus
ethey stay hot untill they burn out. So even if you leav the coal for
20 minutes, it will still be hot , though a little smaller. With
natural woods, you dont need big pieces, two pieces each the size of
half a finegr will do fine. Light both, and each piece covers a
different side of the bowl. This will ensure both sides are heated
evenly.

Also a little trick for some of you....well not really a trick but
soemthing I find works. When  Your coal is dying, instead of
lighting anotehr one save it and just use a windgaurd. Windgaurds not
only keep wind from blowing yoru coal to death, they insulate heat
created by the coals, so they actually make your bowl hotter and help
light the massall better.  So when your coal is dying or you
notice your bowl is starting to hit weak. Ash your coal, then move to a
new spot on the bowl. Then put the windgaur don the bowl. If you dont
have a windgaurd, you can use standard  foil.  The kind you
would use for your bowl, get a sheet about the size of  two soda
cans. Wrap it around a soda can or anything round so it take steh shape
of a wind gaurd. Then squeeze the top together so it looks lieka foil
hat. Now place on top of your bowl and take some puffs. Youll notice
more smoke and it might burn  alitte, which is why you only need
to do this when your coal is dying. This will ensure you use the coal
up to the fullest and save on coals.  If you want , you can warp
anotehr  sheet of foil around the bowl, then when the coal is
placed on the bowl wrap teh second sheet of foil around the coal. This
will heat your bowl up very well. Be carefull and monitor the bowl.
This MAY burn the bowl, so you have to be cautious when doing this. But
trust me, this works well. Ive been doing this for awhiel since I neve
rhad a wind gaurd. And even thoguh i now have a windgaur, foil works
just as well fi not better.

[entrailsgalore]

BTW, Im just telling peopel whatw orks for me and giving suggestion for
otehr peopel to try. My way isnt THE way, but feel free to try. Just
making sure thats on teh record lol.

[Gamaliel]

Aye,same goes for me,there really is no perfect method,it's really more of a preference :)Many thanks ent for the tip on naturals.I always use a windcover,I live in a apartment so it's more of a safety thing for me,but I do find that the windcover keeps the bowl nice and toasty

[NERV]

most ppl dont seem to have a sleeve, its a steel piece similar to a
tube, its fits perfectly over my bowl and i keept the walls about about
a centimeter about the edge of the bowl to insulate it for more heat,
as for my experimentation, i have found that more more holes isnt
necesarily better, my pattern consists of only 13 holes thuswise:
.
.  .   .  .
 .   .   .
.  .   .  .
.

i use a sharpened coat hanger, significantly thicker than a toothpick,
and altho i havent experimented to see if it makes a difference, i try
to keep all my holes under the coal, with my setup a single coal is
plenty for thick smoke and breaking it into halves actually gets it too
hot and it can burn so keep it 1 solid piece if u do wut i do, unless
you dont have a sleeve, then halves might be better

[HAKOOH]

The NERV pattern is what i use everyday. Its an awesome proven pattern. I also always use 1 golden coal at a time, 2 per bowl or session, and also the wind cover. This is a nice think smoke. I only use 2 golden coals on the bowl when i am outside and its really cold. If indoor, i only use 1 at a time. Each coal lasts about 45 minutes.

[King Mo]

if I use magic coal (instant), i use 2 to start it up, then continue with one, shifting it gradually in a circular motion around the edge.
in cafes, where they make a huge lump of coal and break off little pieces, where u get the best smoke too.
I use three medium pieces equally spread around the edge of the bowl. or 4 small pieces. Works beautifully
with jap coal, i use 2 pieces, but I don't like jap coal anymore, i find it affects the taste. prefer the instant discs.
 
one very important tip, never light coal on the foil. absolutely amateur mistake and messes things up. Always put the coal on the shisha when it is fully lit.
 
 
 

[King Mo]

holes not covered is not an issue, just helps air flow when u smoke. not too many or you'll get too much air and not enough smoke. little air escaping when u do the suction test is absolutely fine.
 
 

[staygone]

Glad they could help.

-QM

[Stuie]

*Stuie Smacks QM*

Reviving a 3 year old resolved topic....crazy!