your hookah smoking bible  TM

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - BOWL FAQs



Questions:

What should I do if the smoke is not getting thick?
Answer:

A badly packed hookah bowl may also be the problem underlying thin smoke. Follow the Bowl Packing Guide so your bowl packs will crate the thick smoke hookah sessions.

Check the number of holes punctured in the alumium foil. Too many holes may produce too much ventilation. If the Bowl Packing Guide has not been followed, take a part your hooka, with extrme caution, remove the charcoal from the hookah bowl by placing the charcoal on the charcoal tray. Follow the Bowl Packing Guide by replacing the aluminum foil cover. If you follow my general rule of 5 to 7 holes, this should not be an issue.

Often, anxious hookah smokers will pack a second bowl right after dumping the coal off the first bowl. This error makes the Hookah Masters Top 10 Hooks session meldowns list. If this is the second hookah session in a row, follow the Bowl Packing Guide to ensure that the smoke of your second hookah session is just as thick as your first.

A second bowl should never be packed unless the bowl was cooled down by running the bowl under cold water. This will prevent the second bowl's tobacco from becoming harsh to early on in the second session, enable the second bowl to be packed as good as the first bowl because the bowl will not be hot, and wrapping the aluminum foil over the bowl and puncturing it will be easier handling a cool bowl. This method will cause the second hookah session's smoke to be equal to, if not superior to, the first hookah session's smoke.

Question:
How should I pack the first hookah bowl of the day?
Answer:
See the Hookah Masters Bowl Packing Guide for instructions on how to pack the tastiest, thickest smoked, longest lasting hookah sessions.
Question:
How should I pack the second hookah bowl of the day right after I finished my first hookah session?
Answer:
See the Hookah Masters Bowl Packing Guide for instructions on how to have the second hookah of the day taste and last just as long as the first hookah.
Question
Should I remove the charcoal, cover, and tobacco from the bowl after every session?

Answer:
Generally, you should remove the charcoal from on top of the bowl,the aluminum foil cover, and the tobacco burned after every session, even if you do not plan to smoke another hookah bowl. Leaving the charcoal on the bowl wil burn the tobacco more, causing the tobacco to stick to the bowl. This makes it more difficult to remove the tobacco the next hookah session.

Hookah Masters "Green" tip: Save the used aluminum cover for the next hookah to help protect the environment. Additionally, used alminum foil can be recycled in most areas.
 
Hose FAQs
What kind of hookah hose should I use?

The best hookah hose is one that produces the best air tight fit once the hose is inserted into hookah pipe, is resistant to tearing, and is flexible. Plastic tube hoses are ideal because the tube is hard and are pretty flexible.

How long should the hookah hose be?
Hookah hoses come in all lengths. Hookah Masters likes four foot hoses because they provide enough distance away from the hookah to smoke from, allows ample inhalations, and is not too long to interfere and cause an accident.
Are Cobra hoses better than the rest?
No. While Cobra hoses have a nice appearance, a hose that passes our airtight hose test is our hose of choice.
How much does a hookah hose cost?
Hookah hoses can be cheap or expensive. An average hookah hose will probably cost under $10, while the more expensive hookah hoses can run you $30 or more. Hookah hoses are not worth the investment because they get dirty quickly, do not clean very well, and are easy to tear and rip. So long as the hookah hose is air tight, buy the less expensive hookah hose.
What if the hookah hose gets cracked or breaks?
First, you can try to repair it using electric tape or medical tape. Second, you can try to use wax if its a small hole. Third, you can buy a new hose.
When is it time to buy a new hookah hose?
It depends on a few things. First, how much hookah do you smoke? Second, are you inhaling pieces from the hose? Third, do you rinse out the hose after hookah sessions? If you smoke your hookah regularly, basically 1-2 bowls per day, your hose will start to get build up and mesh the tastes of the different tobaccos. Once your start to notice you can't taste the difference of tobacco flavors, you should consider purchasing a new hookah hose. If you rinse your hookah hose, the water residue left inside may cause the hose to crumble inside.  Once you start sucking in little pieces of the hookah hose, it definitely time to buy a new hookah hose.
 
Tobacco FAQs
If there is very little tobacco left, how can I pack the bowls efficiently producing the thickest hookah smoke?

If tobacco supplies are running very low, try taking a small amount of nargile (tobacco) and press to bind tobacco together. Place the tobacco in the center of the bowl. Keep in mind, you do not want the tinfoil covering to touch the tobaaco inside the bowl.

Hookah Masters tip: Follow our Bowl Packing Guide to produce the thickest hookah smoke.

Next steps: Covering The Bowl, Lighting Charcoal

How much does tobacco cost?

The cost of tobaaco will depend on how much tobacco you want to purchase, measured by weight. A 50 gram box of tobacco may cost about $5, depending on your location. A 250 gram box of tobacco may cost $7 - $12.

Prices also vary according to the brand of tobacco, whether the tobacco is premium tobacco or not, and according to supple and demand.

Is it cheaper to buy over internet?

If a local hookah supplies store is out of question, many web sites offer great deals on hookah tobacco. Web sites also have a large variety of flavors to choose from. However, buying tobacco over the internet will usually cost the same as if purchased in a store, and you may have to pay a shipping charge.

Is it cheaper over internet?
Question:
Which tobacco brand should I use?
Answer:
Nakhala has been around for a while. Up and coming Al-Fakher. Nakhala substitute - Al Waha. Hookah Masters just tested Jewels and is happy to add this tobacco to the list.
 
 
Charcoal FAQS

Why such thin hookah smoke?

If the coal is upside down or has crackes in it, the heat from the charcoal may not burn the tobacco efficiently or effectively. If the coal is upside down, follow the Hookah Setup Guide to fix this problem. If the charcoal is cracked, do not use it, place it on the charcoal tray, and follow the Hookah Setup Guide to flight a new coal.
Why is the hookah bowl not getting hot?

Did you light the charcoal? If not, see our Lighting Charcoal section in our Hookah Set-up Guide.

If yes, is your Charcoal still all black? If yes, relight your charcoal. Follow our Lighting Charcoal section in the Hookah Set-up Guide.

Alterntively, check to make sure that the hollowed out part of the coal is facing down. If this is the case, you are good to go. Move the charcoal into the middle of the bowl so almost all of the holes are covered. Smoke should form after a couple of inhalations. After inhalations and hookah starts smoking, move the coal over to the side so that the hookah does not get harsh. See our Hookah Masters Smoking Guide for tips and tricks.

If the hollow part is faceup, you will have to flip the charcoal over so the hollow part is face down. Take your tongs carefully, grab hold of the coal, and slowly rotate the coal, place hollow side face down.
Question:
Which coals should I use?

Answer:
Hookah Masters recommends Three King Coals.
Other brans: Coco Naro, Easy Lite
Question:
How much does a roll of coals cost?

Answer:
A roll of coals may run between $2 - $5. If you buy a box of coals, consisting of 10 rolls in a Three Kings box, you may be able to get a discount, $17 - $20 per box.
 
Smoking FAQs

Question:
How do I smoke hookah (shisha)?

Answer:
See our Hookah Masters Smoking Guide. Disclaimer.
 
 
General FAQs
I am looking for a hookah to buy. Which hookah should I buy?
Criteria: pipe is heavy and solid, not light and weak. Smaller hookahs will last longer, require less tobacco. Larger hookahs last shorter, require more tobacco. One hose hookahs are ideal, but multi-hose hookahs are also quite fun.
How many people should be smoking out of a hookah?
That depends on the hookah session, and your surroundings. Ideally, three people should be smoking one hookah.
Does a smaller or bigger hookah result in a longer lasting smoking session?
In an experiment conducted by Hookah Masters, size does not matter. If the Setup Guide and Bowl Packing Guide are followed, a big hookah should last as long as a small hookah.
Question:
Does using alcohol make the smoke any thicker?

Answer:
Filling the hookah base up with alcohol does not make the smoke any thicker. In an experiment conducted by Hookah Masters, using alochol in the base produced a really harsh effect on smoking. It made it so difficult to smoke, the smoke stayed thin and the session was terminated early.
Question:
Is collecting hookah funds acceptable?
Answer:
It depends. If the hookah smoker is a regular, yes. If the hookah smoker is involved in the sessions occasionally, no.
Hookah Masters tip: Solve this problem by placing a hookah "tip" jar close by the hookah, so people are encouraged to deposit loose change. Write on the "tip" jar that all proceeds will be used to purchase hookah supplies, and will not be pocketed by the house.
Question:
When is it permissible to "tax" a hookah smoker in the session? When can a hookah smoker be skipped in the rotation?

Answer:
When they leave the hookah session to do someting else, tax the hookah smokere by skipping over their next turn. Everyone else had to wait, so leaving the session and getting taxed is only fair treatment.
A hookah smoker may also be taxed if they passed the hose in the opposite rotation direction. Take 3 extra puffs.
If someone constantly does not help prepare the bowls, light the coals, cut the aluminum foil, or clean the hookah, tax them if you're doing all the work.
If someone is being a hookah hog, you do not have the right to tax them.
Which way should the hookah rotation go in?
The hookah hose should be passed to the left, or other established rotation.
 
Travel FAQs
Can I travel with a hookah? Yes
See our Hookah Masters Travel Guide for the rules on traveling with your hookah.
 
Outdoor Session FAQs
Can I smoke hookah outdoors?
Yes.
 
Car Session FAQs
Can I smoke hookah in a car?
Hookah Masters have had many car sessions. A car session is when you smoke hookah in a car. Smoking hookah in the car means that the car is fully parked and the whole session will take place inside the car. Do not attempt to drive and smoke hookah.
Can I have a hookah session in a car while driving?

Hookah Masters has smoked hookah in van only while driving. The driver should never smoke will the car is moving. The passengers were the only ones to enjoy this hookah session. Extra precautions: after charcoal is lit, surround the bowl with a peive of aluminum foil so the coal cannot fall off the bowl onto the seats or floor of the car. Never throw out of the car a lit charcoal. Only dispose of charcoal when the car is fully stopped, dump the charcoal on concrete, and be ready to exinguish the coal with water.