How To Set Up A Hookah?

[billy]

I recieved my hookah today and i dont know how to set it up. How far do i fill the bottom bit up with water? cold / warm? I got some coals with it, they're just plain black, are these good or crap? do they have bad taste?

Do i cover the boal with foil, poke holes and place the coal on top when it's heated?

[samildanach]

hi billy here's a guide i found on hookah kings website for u
http://hookahkings.com/hookah_setup.htm

1. Fill the glass base about half full of water. Submerge the bottom of the stem about 1 ½” into the water.

2. Place the large black rubber base grommet onto the bottom of the metal stem. Insert the metal stem into the glass base by applying pressure downward while rotating the stem so it fits snugly.

3. Place the circular ashtray on top of the metal hookah stem.

4. Place the rubber bowl grommet (the larger rubber grommet) onto the top of the metal hookah stem. Place the ceramic tobacco bowl on top of the grommet to create an airtight seal. Be sure not to push the bowl onto the stem too hard, as this may split the bowl in two pieces.

5. Insert the hose grommet (the smaller grommet) into the hose port on the metal hookah stem. Place the wooden end of the hose into the rubber hose grommet and secure snugly to create an airtight seal. Do this for all hoses if using a multiple hose hookah.

6. Sprinkle some hookah tobacco into the clay bowl. Be sure not to over pack the bowl, as you want good airflow through the tobacco. Also, it is advisable to keep a small amount of airspace between the top of the tobacco and the underside of the foil, not more than ¼”.

7. Cover the tobacco in the bowl with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side down. Punch holes in the foil w/ a large pushpin or any pointed object.

Try to make the hole pattern fit the size of charcoal you’ll be using. Too many holes will result in fresh, unheated air to combine with the hookah smoke resulting in a less thick smoke. A fork can be used to quickly create a 4 x 4 hole pattern.

8. A) Quick-lighting charcoals. Use the charcoal pincers to secure a piece of charcoal while igniting it with a lighter or match. Let the charcoal continue sparking until no chemical igniter is left. Blow on the charcoal until it is red hot and place on top of foil covered bowl.
Natural charcoals. Natural coals are not quick lighting and therefore require more exposure to heat to get them red hot. Set the charcoal on either a gas or an electric stovetop burner for best results. This takes about 8 to 12 minutes. A blowtorch from any hardware store works well too, but requires constant attention.

9. When the coal has a grey coating, place the coal on top of the foil.

10. The metal charcoal windscreen can be used when smoking outdoors to prevent the wind from blowing hot charcoal or ash. The windscreen can also be used indoors to prevent a hot charcoal from burning the floor.

11. The hookah hose should be rinsed out before the initial use and also between uses to prevent molasses build-up inside the hose. Simply put the hose grommet on the hose upside down. Press the hose w/ upside down grommet against a sink faucet to push water through the hose.

12. The air exchange valve, or one-way valve, allows the user to clear stale or overly thick smoke form the glass base. This is done by blowing into the hose and pushing the used smoke out through the air exchange valve. The valve is blocked off by a steel ball bearing, which prohibits fresh air from entering the hookah when sucking on the hose.

[armour]

Edit: samildanach beat me to it

Fill the base with cold water until it is 1inch higher than the stem (put the stem in for reference)

Connect stem to base, hose to stem and make sure there's a tight fit so no air can escape.

Get your bowl, fill it with the tobacco. Don't try to squash too much into the bowl, and don't pack it TOO loosely. I don't have a pic to show you but when I do it I 'crumble' the tobacco (basically try to take it apart because it's usually stuck together) and pack it quite loose, then push down slightly then add more. (I'm sure someone can post a picture)

Cover the bowl with foil, and poke some holes into it. Preference is yours.
You can have several little holes or a few big ones. Experiment with it until you find a setup you like.
I personally poke lots of little holes with a pin, the smoke comes out fine.

As for the coals.......they're meant to be black lol its COAL!!!!

Just light them until they're lit and blow on them if possible to speed up the lighting process. You should be able to see a red colour when you blow on them (basically shows you they're lit). If you have a stove then you can light them on the stove using appropriate tools.

Place one coal on the side of the bowl for starters and let it sit for about 30 seconds-1 minute then proceed to smoke.

Take some deep pulls at first to draw the smoke and then add more coals if needed to increase the smoke.

If it's harsh then take off a coal.

Hope this helps. I would take some photos for you but I don't have a hookah of my own and only smoke one once every 2-3 weeks but I always end up making it

Edit #2: I think this thread should be stickied with different techniques on how to set up a hookah. Everyone has their own ways of doing it, could add some techniques on how to make apple bowls etc. What you guys think? Edited February 22, 2007 by armour

[billy]

Where do i get the tobacco from? :/ i only have coals lol.

[samildanach]

mnhookahs.com
or hookahkings.com
dont forget to use ur hookah forum disount codes

[billy]

I want to get flavoured coals, would I still need tobacco?

[samildanach]

hell yh.. shisha smokin is all about the tobacco..

[billy]

give me a link to some tobacco.

[samildanach]

already have.. try the 2 websites i told u about..
and your welcome.....

[billy]

Right....So i only need some tobacco (which is flavoures, right?) and I can use the coals i have with me at the moment to smoke it?

[billy]

Buy something from these?


http://hookahkings.com/Al-Waha-c-260.html


Im from the UK...so its cheaper for me if i order from them two sites

[samildanach]

billy if ur in uk try hookahshop.co.uk..tell them yusuf from batley recommended you and he usually throws in a few freebies..

[sambookamax]

Dude, I am worried about you, don't burn your house down ok!?? Maybe you should start out smoking outside!?

[zachslusser]

Dude, I am worried about you, don't burn your house down ok!?? Maybe you should start out smoking outside!?

HaHa I laughed hard when i read this post sorry billy if you have a lounge near you if you take your hookah in they will more than likely be willing to help you

[Allia22]

*chuckles politely* I'm curious as to what got you into it in the first place. Did you see people smoking and think it was completely awesome, or did you just see one in a head shop and think it was awesome?

[JamminJonah]

hi billy here's a guide i found on hookah kings website for u
http://hookahkings.com/hookah_setup.htm

1. Fill the glass base about half full of water. Submerge the bottom of the stem about 1 ½" into the water.

2. Place the large black rubber base grommet onto the bottom of the metal stem. Insert the metal stem into the glass base by applying pressure downward while rotating the stem so it fits snugly.

3. Place the circular ashtray on top of the metal hookah stem.

4. Place the rubber bowl grommet (the larger rubber grommet) onto the top of the metal hookah stem. Place the ceramic tobacco bowl on top of the grommet to create an airtight seal. Be sure not to push the bowl onto the stem too hard, as this may split the bowl in two pieces.

5. Insert the hose grommet (the smaller grommet) into the hose port on the metal hookah stem. Place the wooden end of the hose into the rubber hose grommet and secure snugly to create an airtight seal. Do this for all hoses if using a multiple hose hookah.

6. Sprinkle some hookah tobacco into the clay bowl. Be sure not to over pack the bowl, as you want good airflow through the tobacco. Also, it is advisable to keep a small amount of airspace between the top of the tobacco and the underside of the foil, not more than ¼".

7. Cover the tobacco in the bowl with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side down. Punch holes in the foil w/ a large pushpin or any pointed object.

Try to make the hole pattern fit the size of charcoal you'll be using. Too many holes will result in fresh, unheated air to combine with the hookah smoke resulting in a less thick smoke. A fork can be used to quickly create a 4 x 4 hole pattern.

8. A) Quick-lighting charcoals. Use the charcoal pincers to secure a piece of charcoal while igniting it with a lighter or match. Let the charcoal continue sparking until no chemical igniter is left. Blow on the charcoal until it is red hot and place on top of foil covered bowl.
Natural charcoals. Natural coals are not quick lighting and therefore require more exposure to heat to get them red hot. Set the charcoal on either a gas or an electric stovetop burner for best results. This takes about 8 to 12 minutes. A blowtorch from any hardware store works well too, but requires constant attention.

9. When the coal has a grey coating, place the coal on top of the foil.

10. The metal charcoal windscreen can be used when smoking outdoors to prevent the wind from blowing hot charcoal or ash. The windscreen can also be used indoors to prevent a hot charcoal from burning the floor.

11. The hookah hose should be rinsed out before the initial use and also between uses to prevent molasses build-up inside the hose. Simply put the hose grommet on the hose upside down. Press the hose w/ upside down grommet against a sink faucet to push water through the hose.

12. The air exchange valve, or one-way valve, allows the user to clear stale or overly thick smoke form the glass base. This is done by blowing into the hose and pushing the used smoke out through the air exchange valve. The valve is blocked off by a steel ball bearing, which prohibits fresh air from entering the hookah when sucking on the hose.

Nice post! Is there anything like this stickied? I'm guessing these questions come up a lot around here... Just curious...

- Jonah

[billy]

billy if ur in uk try hookahshop.co.uk..tell them yusuf from batley recommended you and he usually throws in a few freebies..

Im from batley aswel!!


so is This all I need?

I put that stuff in the bowl, then the foil and then burn the coal i got place it ontop of the foil? Edited February 22, 2007 by billy

[billy]

*chuckles politely* I'm curious as to what got you into it in the first place. Did you see people smoking and think it was completely awesome, or did you just see one in a head shop and think it was awesome?

I heard about it the you smoke flavored...smoke so i thought i'd try it out lol.

[billy]

bump...

[samildanach]

hey billy yeah thats all you need..but for a newbie, id suggest al fakher shisha.. its much lighter than nakhla.. nakhla will give u a huge buzz..
al fakher is a nice introduction.
i take it you have teh charcoal already?
if not try the swift light charcoal
also..there is a cafe in batley , maybe might be wise poppin in there and asking them if they can set u up