Jap coals question

[Alex]

I'm living in the dorms at college so I use three kings coals and they are really easy for me. I just put on the fan and light them next to the window and then give them a little while to get going. It seems like a lot of people on the forum use Jap coals though so heres my question.

Would it be possible for me to use Jap coals in my dorm room and just light them with a lighter?



Also if anyone can give me a link to the thread about smoking in college dorms that would be great, I can't seem to find it.

[DizzyGuy]

No, you can't light jap coals with a lighter... or atleast quick enough to be pratical. What about an electric range thing? It works pretty good and if you smoke in your room, you shouldn't have a problem with one of these.

[Alex]

Thanks, but I don't think I'll put a hotplate type thing in my room. We don't have enough power outlets in here as it is, and that would just be one more thing we shouldn't be doing in here

[Alex]

Actually this is probably the first thing I should have asked.....

What benefits (or downfalls for that matter) would the Jap coals provide me over 3K or other insta-lights?

Thanks

[kram]

sorry to hijack ur page. someone told me to scrap the silver coating off before lighting the jap coals, if i just burn them off will there be a shit aftertaste?

[Joseph]

Scraping off the silver layer would completely defeat the purpose of using japanese coals. The silver stuff is what makes them start faster. If you don't want the quicklighting silver stuff save your money and just buy some nour natural coals. Once the coal is going there will be no taste from the silver stuff.

[Calcartman]

You can light japs with a butane lighter (the torch kind), but it takes a while. I actually bought a torch lighter with 3 jets, and it did a pretty good job, but you need new tongs (rubber coated handles) because the tongs will get hot enough to burn your hand.

Oh, and as for benefits:
No coal taste left on the bowl
Easier heat management (well, for me anyways)
No smell while lighting/no fumes (but dont put it on the bowl till its ready either!

[dirtysamurai]

i've lit almost half my box of japanese canary coals with a bic lighter. it can be done, but it takes about 1 minute to get the coals going. after you get the edges red hot, just leave them sitting for about 2-3 minutes and you will have a nice, hot, japanese coal.

[DizzyGuy]

Never used canary coals... so they may actually light quicker... but for my "easy light" brand, I use a hot plate and let them sit a few minutes on each side to get it red hot and then I blow the silver coating off... Jap coals burn with out that coal taste, but if you hvae some of that silver stuff, it can slightly alter the taste for a few minutes

[Hookah_Bob3]

You can light japanese coals with a lighter..Just hold the flame on there for about 30 seconds and then place it next to your window so a breeze can blow across them. Takes longer than a QL, but that's obvious

I occasionally use them instead of my 3K and I'm in a dorm room as well..No big deal lighting em

[MrMoodz]

You really should consider buying a portable heating element/stove. Plug it in in your kitchen area or bathroom and light the coals that way. It's quick, it's easy, and those heating elements should run you between $7 - $12. The Japanese coals light very quickly with those.

[King Mo]

I have an electric coil that does the japanese coals.

If you do want to use a lighter ,and it is perfectly possible, you can do this (and it works fine)

hold the lighter on one of the narrow ends of the rectangle.

when the edge is orange



this edge orange
---------
---------
---------
---------
---------
---------

then just put it on your tray standing on the opposite edge, and within a few mins, the heat will spread throughout the coal making it all orange.


so, a few seconds lighting, then stand it up (you can put it down) and the whole thing will light itself.

[jtemes]

i light my japanese golden canarys with a zippo and it takes less than a minute.

[Sonthert]

Yeah, me too. When pressed, I light Japanese coals with a Zippo. You just need to get an edge lit and the whole thing will take. Chinese coals don't work the same way.

[YuoGotOwn3d]

ya ive lit mine with a Bic. Took a while but it worked.

[DizzyGuy]

[quote name='Sonthert']Yeah, me too. When pressed, I light Japanese coals with a Zippo. You just need to  get an edge lit and the whole thing will take. Chinese coals don't work the same way.[/quote]

Ahhh... I was curious about this. From the little use of the chinese jap style coals I didn't think that just lighting an edge would work. Hmmm, I def need to try some real japanese coals soon.

[djbomberto]

what i do is put it on the stove and wait till that side glows, then flip and when i put them on my little pan, i usually use my tongs to scrap the top layer off top and bottom.

[KiKaL]

Are the golden Canary Coals a lot better then the "quick light" japanese coals? There is a $10 price differnce at Hookah Company and im wondering if its really worth it.

[rxsleven]

i normally use an actual propane torch.....shit lights them in a second flat.....definately worth getting a torch....and it burns so hot that it basically becomes a firewework and start shooting little balls of light like a sparkler

[Sonthert]

[quote name='KiKaL']Are the golden Canary Coals a lot better then the "quick light" japanese coals?  There is a $10 price differnce at Hookah Company and im wondering if its really worth it.[/quote]

I have alot of customers that don't feel Japanese coals make that much of a difference, they would rather pay $4 for a box of Diamante or Easy Lites than $13 for a box of Japanese coals. Actually, I guess they just don't care that much....try both and decide for yourself...or just stick with the cheaper ones and then you'll never know what you're missing.