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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 21, 2019 13:32:06 GMT -5
I've mentioned this within a thread, but I thought I'd share it as a main thread in case it helps anyone. Here's how I understand the process of tamping....
When you fill the bowl with tobacco and light it, there is a glowing ember sitting on top of unburnt tobacco.
As you smoke, friction keeps the ember sitting higher than gravity would like (i.e. it doesn't naturally drop down as you move through the bowl), and so a tiny air-gap starts to form between the ember and the unburnt tobacco underneath. Any heat from the ember heats up the air-gap and not the unburnt tobacco, which will put the pipe out if it isn't tamped.
Therefore, in order to keep the pipe lit, that burning ember needs to be in constant contact with the unburnt tobacco underneath so that the heat from the ember lights the unburnt tobacco below - hence, we gently tamp during our smoke.
Now, the reason why we tamp lightly...
Imagine someone knocks on your door, you open it, and notice a burning brown paper bag on the doorstep. Instinct dictates that you do what? Stamp it out.
sTAMP it out.
So if you tamp too hard, you'll do the same thing - you'll put out the burning ember.
Which means that gentle and often is the name of the game.
Just my thoughts.
Feel free to chip in, disagree, go way off topic and discuss home-pranks.
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Post by Wolfman on Jun 21, 2019 13:40:12 GMT -5
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Post by addamsruspipe on Jun 21, 2019 13:42:04 GMT -5
I've mentioned this within a thread, but I thought I'd share it as a main thread in case it helps anyone. Here's how I understand the process of tamping.... When you fill the bowl with tobacco and light it, there is a glowing ember sitting on top of unburnt tobacco. As you smoke, friction keeps the ember sitting higher than gravity would like (i.e. it doesn't naturally drop down as you move through the bowl), and so a tiny air-gap starts to form between the ember and the unburnt tobacco underneath. Any heat from the ember heats up the air-gap and not the unburnt tobacco, which will put the pipe out if it isn't tamped. Therefore, in order to keep the pipe lit, that burning ember needs to be in constant contact with the unburnt tobacco underneath so that the heat from the ember lights the unburnt tobacco below - hence, we gently tamp during our smoke. Now, the reason why we tamp lightly...
Imagine someone knocks on your door, you open it, and notice a burning brown paper bag on the doorstep. Instinct dictates that you do what? Stamp it out. s TAMP it out. So if you tamp too hard, you'll do the same thing - you'll put out the burning ember. Which means that gentle and often is the name of the game. Just my thoughts. Feel free to chip in, disagree, go way off topic and discuss home-pranks. Nice job. That's one of the best explanations of tamping I have ever seen. 😀 |
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Spartacus
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Post by Spartacus on Jun 21, 2019 13:46:23 GMT -5
I know when I tamp too hard, my draw get restricted.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2019 14:00:23 GMT -5
The old Ben Wade logo was tamp and tamp often. The less a smoke in process is tampered with is my ideal, the undisturbed smoke being the most satisfying (when you can pull it off).
A hint I learnt was to draw in when tamping. This aids the burn and also gives a small nic hit.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2019 14:04:26 GMT -5
Great writing and interesting read Paddy, thanks for sharing 👌👍👍
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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 21, 2019 14:04:44 GMT -5
The old Ben Wade logo was tamp and tamp often. The less a smoke in process is tampered with is my ideal, the undisturbed smoke being the most satisfying (when you can pull it off). A hint I learnt was to draw in when tamping. This aids the burn and also gives a small nic hit. That really does help too. Good point, buddy. |
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joeman
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Post by joeman on Jun 21, 2019 14:04:52 GMT -5
Exactly. Tamping too firmly will begin to restrict the draw...and likely put it out. No tamping (or tamping too seldom), and the hots burn out since they have nothing to light. You explained it simply and well.
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Post by william on Jun 21, 2019 14:19:05 GMT -5
So I will be the first to go off-topic here. I assume, Paddy, you were one of those kids who filled a brown paper bag with dog poo and surprised your neighbors? Shame on you--a man of the cloth, no less....  |
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Post by william on Jun 21, 2019 14:20:32 GMT -5
Oh--and an on-topic response would be: Good explanation. It seems simple, but it actually took me a while to figure that out when I was a new pipe smoker......
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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 21, 2019 14:20:41 GMT -5
So I will be the first to go off-topic here. I assume, Paddy, you were one of those kids who filled a brown paper bag with dog poo and surprised your neighbors? Shame on you--a man of the cloth, no less.... Lol. Actually I never did...brown paper bags were never a thing in Ireland. |
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chasingembers
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Post by chasingembers on Jun 21, 2019 16:42:04 GMT -5
The ember lifts off of the tobacco because the tobacco expands as it is heated. You can actually use a tamper to guide the ember in a downward spiral in the chamber for a longer smoke. A technique called ember chasing.
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exchef
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Post by exchef on Jun 22, 2019 17:05:56 GMT -5
I've mentioned this within a thread, but I thought I'd share it as a main thread in case it helps anyone. Here's how I understand the process of tamping.... When you fill the bowl with tobacco and light it, there is a glowing ember sitting on top of unburnt tobacco. As you smoke, friction keeps the ember sitting higher than gravity would like (i.e. it doesn't naturally drop down as you move through the bowl), and so a tiny air-gap starts to form between the ember and the unburnt tobacco underneath. Any heat from the ember heats up the air-gap and not the unburnt tobacco, which will put the pipe out if it isn't tamped. Therefore, in order to keep the pipe lit, that burning ember needs to be in constant contact with the unburnt tobacco underneath so that the heat from the ember lights the unburnt tobacco below - hence, we gently tamp during our smoke. Now, the reason why we tamp lightly...
Imagine someone knocks on your door, you open it, and notice a burning brown paper bag on the doorstep. Instinct dictates that you do what? Stamp it out. s TAMP it out. So if you tamp too hard, you'll do the same thing - you'll put out the burning ember. Which means that gentle and often is the name of the game. Just my thoughts. Feel free to chip in, disagree, go way off topic and discuss home-pranks. Paddy, That is a great explanation and my experience with tamping and pipe smoking. As another said, tamp, tamp often. Or my version “tamp light, tamp frequently, but tamp” ExChef
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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 23, 2019 3:11:49 GMT -5
Thank you, and others, for the kind words, and to those who added the extra nuggets of information to help.
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Post by kbareit on Jun 23, 2019 4:27:47 GMT -5
Great explanation of tamping. I learned about tamping when I went to my first pipe club meeting. They noticed I was constantly relighting and explained tamping to me. Made a huge difference in my pipe smoking enjoyment.
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Post by bigwoolie on Jun 23, 2019 8:13:41 GMT -5
A good explanation. I described the concept to my boys as like a campfire or a fireplace/woodstove. You have to "stir the fire" occasionally in order to keep filling the burned out hollows below with unburned fuel that are all stuck and self-supported above.
Your description is much more accurate and correct that mine.
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stone
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Post by stone on Jun 23, 2019 8:37:05 GMT -5
Thanks Paddy! Every little bit of knowledge is helping to make this habit more and more enjoyable LOL
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elric
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Post by elric on Jun 23, 2019 9:12:55 GMT -5
Anyone else have an asbestos poker finger?
Despite owning over a dozen pipe tools, I find myself using my finger to tamp more often than not.
I learnt the hard way not to use my pinky finger to tamp narrower bowls though. Ouch. It took me years to toughen the poker finger, lol.
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Post by Legend Lover on Jun 23, 2019 9:25:15 GMT -5
Anyone else have an asbestos poker finger? Despite owning over a dozen pipe tools, I find myself using my finger to tamp more often than not. I learnt the hard way not to use my pinky finger to tamp narrower bowls though. Ouch. It took me years to toughen the poker finger, lol. I think they are a few who do that. I'm not brave enough yet. I prefer a pain-free life. |
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Post by Darin on Jun 23, 2019 11:07:54 GMT -5
Anyone else have an asbestos poker finger? Despite owning over a dozen pipe tools, I find myself using my finger to tamp more often than not. I learnt the hard way not to use my pinky finger to tamp narrower bowls though. Ouch. It took me years to toughen the poker finger, lol. I use my finger all the time ... the key is to wait until it's just ash that you're pushing down and not the ember itself. If I'm out in the yard, I'll just grab a small twig or whatever is handy for the actual "stirring" part. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2019 15:26:45 GMT -5
Kevin from Pipes Magazine said that was one of his primary things he always tells people
Tamp very, very, lightly.
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BrunoT
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Post by BrunoT on Jun 25, 2019 5:33:35 GMT -5
Well written and a great reminder. I find myself drifting off very often while smoking and forget to tamp... brings some unnecessary relights with it. Sometimes you need to relight and it's no biggie, but other times the blend calls for that nice, slow burn.
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Post by jeffd on Jun 25, 2019 23:36:32 GMT -5
My kind of rule is to not tamp with any strength. I just use the weight of the tamper dropping on the ash. No pushing. I dunno, works for me.
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Post by trailboss on Jun 25, 2019 23:52:32 GMT -5
Kevin from Pipes Magazine said that was one of his primary things he always tells people Tamp very, very, lightly. I guess a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then... speaking of Kevin. |
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