N00b In Desperate Need Of Hookah Help

[drerodz]

I've recently purchased a new small premium hookah, one of the small 17" ones you can find on hookahcompany's site, not that I bought it from there. A buddy of mine has gave me some fresh Al-Fakher to use with it. He has a 24" egyptian hookah that smokes great. Great taste in the smoke, the bowl lasts long, huge thick smoke, just a great smoking experience.

My experience with mine on the other hand is just a headache. The smoke isnt thick at all, I barley notice the flavor in the smoke, and the bowls last 5 maybe 10 minutes before the taste gets disgusting and harsh.

I've tried a everything, from lots of holes in on the foil, to holes only around the edge and around the center. Lemon juice in the water, or ice and lemon juice. 1 coal, to 3 coals. Full bowls, half bowls. I'm even thinking about saying screw it and buying a new hookah.

Does ANYONE know what I can do to have a better experience with my hookah? I'm at my wits end with this thing. Edited March 18, 2007 by drerodz

[maxy3546]

if youre getting a headache it sounds like you may just be using low quality coals. what type of coals are you using? quicklights tend to cause headaches, ESPECIALLY low quality ones

[jordanneff]

if youre getting a headache it sounds like you may just be using low quality coals. what type of coals are you using? quicklights tend to cause headaches, ESPECIALLY low quality ones

I don't think he means the smoke is giving him a headache, I think he meant that not being able to get it smoking right is pissing him off


Anyway, as for your problem, and thanks to all the members of the forum, I think the first thing you should try is to make sure your hookah is airtight. You can do this by simply setting it up as usual and putting you hand over the bowl at the top and then inhaling through the hose (while your hand is still on the bowl). You should feel some suction on your hand, it doesnt have to be like a vaccum cleaner suction, but you should be able to feel it nonethless. If you dont feel it at all or it is extremely weak check all your connections, make sure your rubber grommets are in place and tight and that your hose doesn't have any holes in it.

Now, if you feel the suction and are still having these problems I suggest to do the following:

Make sure you have the right amount of water in your base (1 and 1/2 inches from the tip, give or take 1/2 inch)
Light your coals and let them heat up before you place them on the foil
Don't overpack your shisha, make sure you have a little bit of room between the top of the shisha and the lip of your bowl (so you dont burn it)
And work on heat management - ie: break your coals in half, and move them around the outer edge of the bowl every so often and don't put too many on

If none of that works then the last thing to do before buying a new hookah is to buy new coals and different shisha, because there's always the rare chance that the shisha is real old or got bad, and the not-so-rare chance that your coals aren't very good. Try buying some 3 Kings if you're not using that, or you could always go with naturals.

Hope that helps

[drerodz]

if youre getting a headache it sounds like you may just be using low quality coals. what type of coals are you using? quicklights tend to cause headaches, ESPECIALLY low quality ones

I don't think he means the smoke is giving him a headache, I think he meant that not being able to get it smoking right is pissing him off


Anyway, as for your problem, and thanks to all the members of the forum, I think the first thing you should try is to make sure your hookah is airtight. You can do this by simply setting it up as usual and putting you hand over the bowl at the top and then inhaling through the hose (while your hand is still on the bowl). You should feel some suction on your hand, it doesnt have to be like a vaccum cleaner suction, but you should be able to feel it nonethless. If you dont feel it at all or it is extremely weak check all your connections, make sure your rubber grommets are in place and tight and that your hose doesn't have any holes in it.

Now, if you feel the suction and are still having these problems I suggest to do the following:

Make sure you have the right amount of water in your base (1 and 1/2 inches from the tip, give or take 1/2 inch)
Light your coals and let them heat up before you place them on the foil
Don't overpack your shisha, make sure you have a little bit of room between the top of the shisha and the lip of your bowl (so you dont burn it)
And work on heat management - ie: break your coals in half, and move them around the outer edge of the bowl every so often and don't put too many on

If none of that works then the last thing to do before buying a new hookah is to buy new coals and different shisha, because there's always the rare chance that the shisha is real old or got bad, and the not-so-rare chance that your coals aren't very good. Try buying some 3 Kings if you're not using that, or you could always go with naturals.

Hope that helps

I've used 3 Kings and i've used the Easy Lights (japanese coals). How should I be poking holes in the foil? Any pattern? Any where I shouldnt be poking holes? I'll try not packing so much shisha as well.

[jordanneff]

I've used 3 Kings and i've used the Easy Lights (japanese coals). How should I be poking holes in the foil? Any pattern? Any where I shouldnt be poking holes? I'll try not packing so much shisha as well.

Well everyone has their own methods but what I've found to work best is not to put too big holes into it, as sometimes if you have really ashy coals it gets in the shisha easier, I poke about 5 in the center, and then maybe 8-11 around those 5 and just any spot that looks like it could use a hole I just add one. I always use a toothpick as the little jabber thing on my tongs is too thick and usually tears the foil considerably.

But most likely I think your problem is heat management more than anything. There are also various methods to that but like I said, try breaking a coal in half, wait until it gets a slight ashy coating, then put the pieces on the edges of the bowl and move them around gradually every 10 mins or so and eventually into the center. That's what works for me.