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Post by Dramatwist on Dec 21, 2018 10:11:35 GMT -5
Last night, since I couldn't sleep much, I began to think about the advice I've heard/read over the past 46 years regarding "how to load a pipe properly."
I reviewed the methods I had tried and the results. I considered the elder pipe smokers who had influenced me. I thought about the minutiae that is discussed ad nauseam here, and elsewhere.
Are we overthinking this?
These days, I simply take pinches of tobacco, drop them in the bowl. When it's full, I give it a tamp with my thumb, and light up.
Works for me.
Comments?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2018 10:18:14 GMT -5
Martin ^^^^^^^^ that’s what has worked best for me for many years, unless stuffing my pipe with Strang, which is done in layers. This if the finest tobacco I’ve ever smoked. Always keeping my eyes open for Strang👍👍👍
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Post by Legend Lover on Dec 21, 2018 10:24:51 GMT -5
I think you're on to something, Dramatwist. In search of the best pipe experience I think we've over-thought many things, not least, not to pack a pipe. I think it's good to know how to do it properly, but I think the pendulum has swung way past the midpoint. |
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jitterbugdude
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Post by jitterbugdude on Dec 21, 2018 10:31:04 GMT -5
I do not you are over thinking it. A lot of pipe smokers seem to enjoy a certain ritual that to them makes the experience and tobacco better.
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Post by Dramatwist on Dec 21, 2018 10:33:58 GMT -5
I do not you are over thinking it. A lot of pipe smokers seem to enjoy a certain ritual that to them makes the experience and tobacco better. ...there is that... one of our esteemed moderators has posted (more than once, I believe) something to the effect of: stuff the tobacco in the pipe, light it and smoke it. This topic is certainly a matter of what works best for the individual. |
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Post by Darin on Dec 21, 2018 10:34:44 GMT -5
These days, I simply take pinches of tobacco, drop them in the bowl. When it's full, I give it a tamp with my thumb, and light up. Works for me. Comments? Pretty much what I do ... pinch up a little "torpedo" and drop it in. Unless, of course, the tobacco is a cube cut ... then it's a gravity pack. As humans, we tend to overthink most everything. LOL |
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Post by dervis on Dec 21, 2018 10:39:01 GMT -5
I do not you are over thinking it. A lot of pipe smokers seem to enjoy a certain ritual that to them makes the experience and tobacco better. I think this is exactly what happens. Its fun to some people including me sometimes to make it into something more than it is.
Its basically a hunk of wood (usually) with 2 holes in it. Put tobacco in the bigger hole and set it on fire. That's basically it That is what I do 95% of the time .
But I have special/fancy/rare tobacco and special pipes (usually means more $$) that I might go through a few more steps then think to myself how much better its smoking and what a good job I did.
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cgvt
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Post by cgvt on Dec 21, 2018 10:46:24 GMT -5
I posted in the confessions thread that I don't worry too much about how I pack my pipe. I fill it up and light it. If it's in a big jar or can, pouch or bag, I geezer pack it with my thumb and fire it up. If it's a flake or medallion I usually fold and stuff. What ever it takes to get to smoking it  . I don't worry about it too much and never seem to have a problem. |
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Post by LSUTigersFan on Dec 21, 2018 10:49:29 GMT -5
Since I tend to overthink everything else in my life, I try to resist the urge to overthink loading my pipe. Sometimes I am successful; sometimes I am not.
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Dec 21, 2018 10:58:41 GMT -5
...depends on the type of tobacco...but for the most part, stuff it, light it, and enjoy it...
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Post by Low and Slow on Dec 21, 2018 11:07:41 GMT -5
In my opinion overthinking or thinking over is what should be done after the pipe is loaded and lit. Not a veteran by any means but I'm on the side of get it in there the best way for the cut and burn it slow, that's my 2 cents. I've learned a few methods, and find myself using them all with little noticeable difference. Whatever lets you enjoy your pipe load the most! Keep it happy!
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Post by blackmouth210 on Dec 21, 2018 11:13:43 GMT -5
Are we over thinking this?
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: Absolutely we are! The tried-n-true codger scoop works just fine for many blends and that requires almost no thinking at all once you get the hang of it.
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Post by McWiggins on Dec 21, 2018 12:00:59 GMT -5
For some I see the hobby side of pipe smoking and that a thought out packing and/or ritual is part of the hobby and lifestyle they enjoy. Like how one model builder thinks more about one area while another might focus on another area. For me, my focus is on the tobacco smoking and what I do while smoking. From reading, watching a movie, listening to music or my favorite, chatting with Cramptholomew and another friend of ours. The most I think of my packing is that I like a more loose pack and depending on how wet or dry the tobacco is, depends on how loose I pack it. I have tried some of the complicated packing styles and I just have no talent, so I just pinch, fill and press. |
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Post by kbareit on Dec 21, 2018 12:30:22 GMT -5
When I tried smoking a pipe 23 years ago i did the scoop and pack which is what I watched my grandfather do my entire life. Needless to say I couldn't get it right and gave up. This time around I found information on how to pack a pipe by filling to the top and packing halfway down and repeating until full then do a char light and repack then light and enjoy. So far this has worked for me but have figured out it doesn't work for all pipes and tobacco's and have learned through trial and error what works for each circumstance. Since I found the Patch I learned what the draw should be and have packed the pipe according to what the draw is like. I really enjoy smoking a pipe now and hope to continue for a long time.
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Post by monbla256 on Dec 21, 2018 12:41:15 GMT -5
When I first started smoking 50 years ago, I tried all the various methods purported to be "the way" to load and out of all of them I've been just loading my pipe in two pinches, tamp with my thumb and put a match to it and away we go ! I think it's normal for "newbies" (under 2 years smoking) to overthink all the things about smoking a pipe when it's simply burning a plant product (tobacco) in another plant product (briar wood) and ingesting the smoke into your body ( mouth and nostrils) plain and simple. But plain and simple is not "neat" so we make up arcane rituals to go with it all and that's "pipe smoking" ! 
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Post by puffy on Dec 21, 2018 12:46:34 GMT -5
Grandpa just put his pipe in a pouch of Prince Albert and fill it with his thumb.Then light it and smoke away,
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Post by pepesdad1 on Dec 21, 2018 13:00:20 GMT -5
I enjoy over thinking it...gives me something to think about since I am retired and don't have much to do except to enjoy each day and its' rituals. That is my song and I'm stickin' with it.
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Post by slowroll on Dec 21, 2018 13:33:37 GMT -5
I'm with Martin. After a number of years playing with packing, I finally determined that if the tobacco is pretty dry, all I need to do I mash it into the bowl with however many pinches it takes and light it.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Dec 21, 2018 19:44:04 GMT -5
I pinch mine in and pack it a bit with a tamper. How much pressure? I really dont know, I've just developed a feel for how I like it. Refill, tamp down again. Then light and tamp. If it stays lit, I smoke it. If not, I relight.
Overthinking is human nature. It separates us from most of the animal kingdom.
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Post by Dramatwist on Dec 21, 2018 20:12:54 GMT -5
In the 1960s, a bunch of $$ were spent coming up with the "Fisher Space Pen" so astronauts could write in space. The USSR just used pencils.
Now, USA astronauts routinely travel to the International Space Station on Russian spacecraft essentially from the same era. Go figure.
Overthinking?
(BTW, I am NOT a Russian spy!)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2018 20:27:14 GMT -5
Works for me. My biggest trouble was loading flakes until I figured it out with fold and stuff
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Post by roadsdiverged on Dec 21, 2018 20:32:46 GMT -5
I wonder how much money the US spent on R&D for those pens? And what was the cost of a pencil in the 60s?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2018 21:17:54 GMT -5
I wonder how much money the US spent on R&D for those pens? And what was the cost of a pencil in the 60s? Plus the $1,000 hammers and toilet seats purchased by our government.....lmao!!! |
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gav
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Post by gav on Dec 21, 2018 23:08:46 GMT -5
I smoke too quickly so I find flakes work best for me just folded. ribbons I always smoke too fast and harsh
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Post by Legend Lover on Dec 22, 2018 8:07:53 GMT -5
The coffee grinder make things much easier for me. Much less to think about.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Dec 22, 2018 10:57:55 GMT -5
I'm with Martin. After a number of years playing with packing, I finally determined that if the tobacco is pretty dry, all I need to do I mash it into the bowl with however many pinches it takes and light it. Yup. I don't think any technique at all is required for ribbon, shag or ready rubbed- dry, stuff and light. Tamp to adjust draw if necessary. (no charring light for me-unless I "need" to!) Plugs, ropes, flakes may require some extra steps and "technique" |
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Post by Scott W on Dec 22, 2018 12:49:28 GMT -5
Last night, since I couldn't sleep much, I began to think about the advice I've heard/read over the past 46 years regarding "how to load a pipe properly." I reviewed the methods I had tried and the results. I considered the elder pipe smokers who had influenced me. I thought about the minutiae that is discussed ad nauseam here, and elsewhere. Are we overthinking this? These days, I simply take pinches of tobacco, drop them in the bowl. When it's full, I give it a tamp with my thumb, and light up. Works for me. Comments? Martin, it’s funny that you mention this. I was just talking to my buddy and he was smoking a cigar. I mentioned that smoking a cigar was simple but pipe smoking was an art. Packing properly, lighting, tamping, etc. He said “you’re over complicating it, just put the tobacco in there and light it up. I think most (including me sometimes) overthink it. My dad and uncle smoked pipes. They didn’t dedicate pipes, they didn’t have various pipe packing methods, etc. the stuffed the baccy in, lit it and smoked it. Maybe they cleaned the pipe after, maybe they didn’t but it was some and the enjoyed it. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Dec 22, 2018 12:52:20 GMT -5
Last night, since I couldn't sleep much, I began to think about the advice I've heard/read over the past 46 years regarding "how to load a pipe properly." I reviewed the methods I had tried and the results. I considered the elder pipe smokers who had influenced me. I thought about the minutiae that is discussed ad nauseam here, and elsewhere. Are we overthinking this? These days, I simply take pinches of tobacco, drop them in the bowl. When it's full, I give it a tamp with my thumb, and light up. Works for me. Comments? Martin, it’s funny that you mention this. I was just talking to my buddy and he was smoking a cigar. I mentioned that smoking a cigar was simple but pipe smoking was an art. Packing properly, lighting, tamping, etc. He said “you’re over complicating it, just put the tobacco in there and light it up. I think most (including me sometimes) overthink it. My dad and uncle smoked pipes. They didn’t dedicate pipes, they didn’t have various pipe packing methods, etc. the stuffed the baccy in, lit it and smoked it. Maybe they cleaned the pipe after, maybe they didn’t but it was some and the enjoyed it. Yeah, Scott... I can't even remember how many years I "fretted" over packing a pipeful... I'm too old to give a rat's a** now, and it works just fine... cube cuts and everything else... |
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Post by Pistol Pete 1911 on Jan 6, 2019 1:15:37 GMT -5
I pinch mine in and pack it a bit with a tamper. How much pressure? I really dont know, I've just developed a feel for how I like it. Refill, tamp down again. Then light and tamp. If it stays lit, I smoke it. If not, I relight. Overthinking is human nature. It separates us from most of the animal kingdom. This^^^^^^ I keep a fast enough cadence to keep it lit but not so fast that I burn the crap out of it |
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Post by qmechanics on Jan 13, 2019 5:20:06 GMT -5
Perhaps we are overthinking our overthinking?😁
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. I don't worry about it too much and never seem to have a problem.
