DYI Hookah Hose

This is a super easy mod for a Hookah Hose. If your not new to Hookah, you know your hoses will give out, rust, and need replacing. You can pop another $10-$24 for a hose, or you can salvage part from your hose to make a new one. Your new hosed will be 100% washable, plus you’ll have the ability to watch the smoke get drawn thru the hose (kool side effect).

Items Needed:

• Length of tubing
• Razor blade
• Microwave safe glass
• Water
• End tips from old Hookah hose

First things first – dismantle your existing hose. If your lucky, you’ll be able to simply pull off the end tips, but you make need some tools (like scissors, pliers, razor blade) to cut away the hose and detach it from the tips. If your tips have metal or plastic rings, you may need them to attach the new hose (or they may be decorative).

Now that you have your end tips, take them with you  and go to the hardware store (or plumbing supply store) – you are looking for clear (may be other colors) tubing.  There are many different types, you can choose what ever strikes your fancy, but keep in mind a few things.

• You need it to be semi-flexible. If it isn’t, your hookah may come tumbling down when you use the hose.
• You might want to make sure the hose is “non-toxic”, food safe or water safe. I’ve seen some kool hoses in the store that after checking I wouldn’t want to heat up and drawn smoke thru.
• Buy more than you think you’ll need: at least 36” up to 72”, but the choice of length is up to you. You may need to alter the size to get better draw or trim the ends flush.

Make sure to test the end tips you have INSIDE the tubing you want. I most often find 1/2" OD (outside diameter) x 3/8” ID (inside diameter) tend to fit most, but check before cutting and buying.

Now at home, I tend to run hot tap water thru the hosing first – this cleans the inside and softens them up. If they came on a reel at the store, they are probably still be curved. The hot water softens them up so you can stretch the tubing straight. Either pull it between your hands, step on one end whiling pulling the other end upright, or get a second person to hold one end and stretch. Give it a minute or two, then let go. It should be somewhat straighter now.

Now check the end, are they flat? If not, use a razor blade to cut off some making a flat end. This way the tubing can fit flush against/into the end tips.

Now come the fun part. Go nuke some water for about 2-3 minutes. Careful, it’s REALLY gonna be hot! Take your hose and dip one end into the water for 15-30 seconds. The hose should quickly become very soft.

Now, take an end tip and remove the hose from the water. Quickly jam the end tip into the tubing, slowly working the tube up the end until it sits flush against the end. Careful now, the tube is gonna be hot, but you have to work fast, if it cools too much, you’ll not be able to get the tip seated right.

Repeat the process with other end.

Ta da! Your finished! You now have a custom modified hose, completely washable and ultra cool looking. Try drawing thru the ends and make sure the length you choice works – if the draw it too hard, use the razor to cut off one end and shorten the length of the tubing. Then repeat the process to put the end tip back on and try again.