djo
Junior Member
Posts: 239
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Post by djo on Aug 7, 2022 11:20:30 GMT -5
I've been thinking about my various pipe smoking techniques lately, and today I'm considering my pipe filling method. I do it by feel -- when the bowl is full, the tobacco should be springy. If you can compress it easily, add more tobacco. If it's rock hard (which almost never happens) dump it and start over. This works for most tobaccos. The ones it doesn't work for are really wet aromatics. Comments?
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Post by trailboss on Aug 7, 2022 11:34:05 GMT -5
Don’t smoke really wet aromatics?😉
Moisture laden tobacco is going to be pretty springy, and I would imagine that as you smoke down a bowl of overpacked goopy aromatic it could result in a restrictive draw.
I remove moisture from straight tobaccos often microwaving for 15 seconds or so, I reckon that it would take longer for a wet aromatic. Not sure if that would rob some of the flavor though.
When I do smoke aromatics, I do the three fill method and it seems to work fine. Stuff in the league of Molto Dolce, I avoid.
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Post by Plainsman on Aug 7, 2022 11:48:53 GMT -5
I use my homemade cartridge case rammers. Put in a big pinch, tamp it lightly with the 9mm end, turn the rammer and tamp it lightly with the 308 end. Same for the next three or four pinches. (Big pipes like the Peterson House or Pub.) Fill and tamp to near top of bowl, checking for draw as I go. I’m feeling for loose spots and air pockets which lead to a poor draw and an unsatisfying bowl. Very few of those since I started using the double-ended rammer and being careful with tamp pressure. It’s very definitely a low-grade artform.
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Post by cigrmaster on Aug 7, 2022 13:20:51 GMT -5
I smoke flakes almost exclusively and fold and stuff them. One thing I always do before lighting is to check the draw. What I look for is a bit of resistance as if the draw is too loose the pipe smokes hot, goes out too much and looses flavor. If I check the draw and it is too tight, I run a pipe cleaner to the bottom of the bowl and almost always that opens things up so I am ready to smoke.
After the half way point if my pipe goes out, I will gently stir the ash and then slowly dump it. I then scrape the sides of the bowl and tamp down. I then check the draw again to make sure it has the resistance I am looking for and then light it up again.
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Post by Professor S. on Aug 12, 2022 8:54:35 GMT -5
I used to worry about my filling method, and one of the guys here warned me that filling a pipe is kind of Zen. The more you worry about it, the harder it is. I did find this very helpful video from James J Fox of Dublin, and when I'm at my desk this is the method I most often use. If I'm fishing or working outside, I'll generally just stick the bowl in my tobacco pouch and do a couple passes of "scoop and tamp" |
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Post by adui on Aug 12, 2022 10:01:52 GMT -5
I too used to worry a bit, looking for that perfect to me method. After a while I just got to where I know the feels like its good so I just pinch and stuff.
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Post by sperrytops on Aug 12, 2022 10:40:14 GMT -5
I used to worry about my filling method, and one of the guys here warned me that filling a pipe is kind of Zen. The more you worry about it, the harder it is. I did find this very helpful video from James J Fox of Dublin, and when I'm at my desk this is the method I most often use. If I'm fishing or working outside, I'll generally just stick the bowl in my tobacco pouch and do a couple passes of "scoop and tamp" Been smoking long enough that filling is second nature. I don't stop to think about it. Tighter packing of dry tobaccos, looser packing of wet tobaccos. I fill slowly taking my time. If out and about and I happen to want a smoke, as the professor says, scoop and tamp. |
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Post by urbino on Aug 13, 2022 0:03:51 GMT -5
I used to worry about my filling method, and one of the guys here warned me that filling a pipe is kind of Zen. The more you worry about it, the harder it is. I did find this very helpful video from James J Fox of Dublin, and when I'm at my desk this is the method I most often use. If I'm fishing or working outside, I'll generally just stick the bowl in my tobacco pouch and do a couple passes of "scoop and tamp" Agreed. The less you think about it, the better off you are. |
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Post by Professor S. on Aug 13, 2022 17:51:04 GMT -5
I used to worry about my filling method, and one of the guys here warned me that filling a pipe is kind of Zen. The more you worry about it, the harder it is. I did find this very helpful video from James J Fox of Dublin, and when I'm at my desk this is the method I most often use. If I'm fishing or working outside, I'll generally just stick the bowl in my tobacco pouch and do a couple passes of "scoop and tamp" Agreed. The less you think about it, the better off you are. It was either you or Ron. Maybe both. I don't remember |
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Mrs. Zarnicky
Junior Member
Posts: 250
First Name: Anichka
Favorite Tobacco: (Country Squire) Hunting Creek, Black Arrow. (Sutliff) Vanilla Custard
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Post by Mrs. Zarnicky on Aug 13, 2022 20:16:20 GMT -5
See previous Zarnicky post about filling method. Here is link: link
Happy Puffing |
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Post by urbino on Aug 14, 2022 0:01:38 GMT -5
Agreed. The less you think about it, the better off you are. It was either you or Ron. Maybe both. I don't remember Ron, most likely. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,884 
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 14, 2022 14:34:06 GMT -5
I just gravity fill everything.
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Zach
Pro Member
If you can't send money, send tobacco.
Posts: 4,044
First Name: Zach
Favorite Pipe: Too many currently, bound to change
Favorite Tobacco: Haunted Bookshop, Big 'N' Burley, Pegasus, Habana Daydream, OJK, Rum Twist, FVF, Escudo, Orlik Golden Sliced, Kendal Flake, Ennerdale
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Post by Zach on Aug 14, 2022 21:13:16 GMT -5
It is certainly a zen thing to feel and not overly think. Exactly what Perry said.
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cgvt
Full Member
Posts: 906
First Name: Jim
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Post by cgvt on Aug 14, 2022 22:44:37 GMT -5
Geezer Pack.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 15, 2022 5:04:47 GMT -5
I do the three stage method but in about 6 stages. I just drop a little in, give it a very gentle push with the end of a pencil and repeat until the bowl is full. That seems to give enough uniformity of the bowl to allow a decent smoke without too many relights.
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 15, 2022 12:43:30 GMT -5
I honestly don't know how I fill my pipes. It just seems to happen unless I'm smoking a flake or coin or such.
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Post by trailboss on Aug 15, 2022 13:48:26 GMT -5
In the original post:
“ If it's rock hard (which almost never happens) dump it and start over.”
As Cigarmaster said, often a pipe cleaner down the stem often solves this.
A piece of tobacco can block the airway.
I usually load it 3 stage, checking the draw with each load, doing it that way for so long, I don’t put much thought into it.
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