stone
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Post by stone on Feb 23, 2020 8:16:11 GMT -5
As I work my way back into pipe smoking I would like to overcome my biggest obstacle once I've lit up.
I always struggled with constant relights and as I am paying close attention to preserving the flavor and enjoyment, I notice that if I have my tamper in the bowl with little to no pressure, I get a better volume of smoke so I have to wonder if I am packing too lose?
If I apply the logic of a campfire, where a loose pile of tinder burns up in a hurry and goes out, whereas a well "built" series of logs placed just so, will burn slowly and evenly for a long time.
So......will a more firmly packed bowl, once properly lit, help me to avoid relights? |
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Post by fadingdaylight on Feb 23, 2020 8:24:39 GMT -5
As I work my way back into pipe smoking I would like to overcome my biggest obstacle once I've lit up.
I always struggled with constant relights and as I am paying close attention to preserving the flavor and enjoyment, I notice that if I have my tamper in the bowl with little to no pressure, I get a better volume of smoke so I have to wonder if I am packing too lose?
If I apply the logic of a campfire, where a loose pile of tinder burns up in a hurry and goes out, whereas a well "built" series of logs placed just so, will burn slowly and evenly for a long time.
So......will a more firmly packed bowl, once properly lit, help me to avoid relights? I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in here, but from what I have learned, too loose can lead to re-lights, so can too tight. Same with too damp, and going a bit too slow. My packing technique is far from perfected, but what I have found is that when it is just loose enough to burn easily, where all that is really required in terms of tamping is one or two gentle tamps throughout the bowl, I get away without re-lights. I also draw on the pipe when tamping to help spread the cherry out and keep things burning, then slow down for a minute to allow it cool a little. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 8:42:31 GMT -5
Once in a while give a gentle puff the opposite way and it will burn better. I said gentle or you will burn your shirt and your b...s. 95% of the time i do not use a tamper just a gentle tap with index finger after the first light.
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stone
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Post by stone on Feb 23, 2020 8:53:42 GMT -5
I am going to a rare beer tasting today and when I get home, I am going to try two bowls of the same tobacco, one packed tight and one packed loose and see what happens. Should be a good day  |
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Post by Goldbrick on Feb 23, 2020 10:11:18 GMT -5
Once in a while give a gentle puff the opposite way and it will burn better. I said gentle or you will burn your shirt and your b...s. 95% of the time i do not use a tamper just a gentle tap with index finger after the first light. This is what I do ...just a light breath will send air under the fire ,like the bellows in an old blacksmith shop.Very ,very light small breath; I don't even think about it anymore, it's just the way I smoke. your packing can differ from blend to blend; I rub most tobaccos out , then feed it in as I tap the side of the bowl to settle the tobacco then a light tamp and I'm off...may sound strange ,but I smoked a ton of Edgeworth back in the day, and I loaded the little cubes that way... that's how pipesmoking is, if it works , it works. It's a joy to have a bowl with few or no relights, concave smoke chambers seem to give me the best chance for this ,but we all have to find our own "zone" where man,pipe and tobacco come together. enjoy your quest for the perfect smoke, Herb. |
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Feb 23, 2020 10:29:49 GMT -5
Tobacco that's too moist is the number one reason for excess relights. If your tobacco is dry enough, you need no "techniques" for loading the chamber. Exceptions: Plug, cake, rope can take a bit more fiddling, unless fully rubbed out and dried.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 12:03:47 GMT -5
Like what has been said before, wet or damp tobacco, etc.etc.
Don't worry about how many relights as long as your enjoying the smoke, if you bother yourself
with little things you'll stop enjoying. Just relax and enjoy the moment.
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Post by adui on Feb 23, 2020 12:20:10 GMT -5
Like what has been said before, wet or damp tobacco, etc.etc. Don't worry about how many relights as long as your enjoying the smoke, if you bother yourself with little things you'll stop enjoying. Just relax and enjoy the moment "Just relax and enjoy the moment" Yup, that's what I do! I stopped worrying about the semantics because it did interfere with my enjoyment. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 15:27:01 GMT -5
Break out the Hygrometer that should complicate things nicely.
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 23, 2020 17:33:33 GMT -5
All of the above! 🙃🤪🤠
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chasingembers
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Post by chasingembers on Feb 23, 2020 19:47:18 GMT -5
Bone dry tobacco and gravity packing is all I do.
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BrunoT
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Post by BrunoT on Feb 23, 2020 19:58:13 GMT -5
More often than not I get through the entire bowl by using what I've learned as Muttnchop Piper's Breathe Method, but the guys have already mentioned the gist of it (i.e. blowing smoke back, gently).
Leaving my tobacco to dry out for a couple of minutes (and way more than that for flakes) out of the tin was a big one for me too.
Lastly, I agree with Ron: I don't worry about the relights. My zippo always has enough fuel in it to light a candlelight vigil if needed, and I will use the moment to have a drink and let the pipe cool off.
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chasingembers
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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 Feb 23, 2020 20:01:35 GMT -5
More often than not I get through the entire bowl by using what I've learned as Muttnchop Piper's Breathe Method, but the guys have already mentioned the gist of it (i.e. blowing smoke back, gently). The way he does it, I'm surprised he hasn't got a bunch of pipes with burnouts. Look up Alan Kerslake's breath smoking video. I had one posted but have since deleted it. |
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BrunoT
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Looking forward to the next bowl
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Post by BrunoT on Feb 23, 2020 20:29:23 GMT -5
More often than not I get through the entire bowl by using what I've learned as Muttnchop Piper's Breathe Method, but the guys have already mentioned the gist of it (i.e. blowing smoke back, gently). The way he does it, I'm surprised he hasn't got a bunch of pipes with burnouts. Look up Alan Kerslake's breath smoking video. I had one posted but have since deleted it. Never had any problems personally, but then again, I don't smoke all that much and rarely clench for long. Thanks for the tip though, I do like Kerslake's approach/explanation better. |
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Post by qmechanics on Feb 23, 2020 21:06:57 GMT -5
The advice above is fairly solid. It starts with preparing the tobacco, packing the pipe properly and a good smoking cadence. One thought I might add is what I call a prelight, meaning I light the tobacco and then smoke for a short period where a nice top ash develops.Then I lightly tamp the tobacco, level and smooth , and relight and go from there.
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Post by hvacpipeguy on Feb 23, 2020 21:33:00 GMT -5
Moisture is the greatest variable. While how the tobacco is packed will play into it, a wet tobacco will just have a harder time burning. Another major factor that many fail to notice is humidity. Water is a byproduct of combustion. If the air is already full of water, then the moisture from the burning of the tobacco has nowhere to go but back into the tobacco. Try it sometime next time it is really humid out. Smoke a goopy aromatic and a bone dry Burley and you will see what I mean. Your packing consistency will vary with pipe and tobacco, but on more humid days, make sure you are drying your baccy out more.
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stone
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Post by stone on Feb 24, 2020 8:07:34 GMT -5
I am bound and determined to improve
I love the flavor and the therapy of pipe smoking and if I can do anything to minimize the involved minutia it will be even better.
Being a lazy smoker who learned that aged cigars burn forever I became accustomed to cut it, light it, smoke it, empty the ash tray.
With the pipe it's so much more involved.........choose your tobacco, dry it for 30 minutes, pack it, put the excess back in the jar, light it, tamp it, light it again, tamp it some more, relight it, tamp it, relight it, empty the bowl, empty the ash tray, clean the bowl, clean the stem, place the pipe back on the rack, put the jar back, clean up the mess, decide if I want to do it again
If I can eliminate the tamping and re-lighting it will help me to enjoy it more.
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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 Feb 24, 2020 9:19:22 GMT -5
I am bound and determined to improve
I love the flavor and the therapy of pipe smoking and if I can do anything to minimize the involved minutia it will be even better.
Being a lazy smoker who learned that aged cigars burn forever I became accustomed to cut it, light it, smoke it, empty the ash tray.
With the pipe it's so much more involved.........choose your tobacco, dry it for 30 minutes, pack it, put the excess back in the jar, light it, tamp it, light it again, tamp it some more, relight it, tamp it, relight it, empty the bowl, empty the ash tray, clean the bowl, clean the stem, place the pipe back on the rack, put the jar back, clean up the mess, decide if I want to do it again
If I can eliminate the tamping and re-lighting it will help me to enjoy it more.
Start with a very loose pack and adjust with a tamper when lighting. I can set a pipe down and make coffee then resume smoking without need of relighting. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 24, 2020 10:01:32 GMT -5
Lots of good advice here...but I'll add that I have found that getting the charing light right is key (for me, anyway)...well, actually it's the true light that makes the difference.
I used to put flame to the tobacco and smoke would rise and I would think that the pipe is lit, but when I took the flame away I had to puff like a train to keep the thing smoking.
Then I realised that I had to transfer the energy of the flame to the tobacco in such a way that the tobacco had the same energy of the flame in order to keep the pipe lit.
In other words, I had to get that ember going properly with the charring light (or possibly lights)...get a good layer of ash on top, tamp it down, smooth it over, and then fire it up again to make the ember good and hot...
That ember then helps burn the tobacco underneath and keeps the pipe lit for me.
But the only way to get that ember is to get a good char across the tobacco (over a few lights if necessary) and then to get a really good and strong true light going that will fire up that ember and give it the energy needed to keep the tobacco burning underneath the ember.
Just my thoughts.
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stone
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Post by stone on Feb 24, 2020 12:14:45 GMT -5
Lots of good advice here...but I'll add that I have found that getting the charing light right is key (for me, anyway)...well, actually it's the true light that makes the difference. I used to put flame to the tobacco and smoke would rise and I would think that the pipe is lit, but when I took the flame away I had to puff like a train to keep the thing smoking. Then I realised that I had to transfer the energy of the flame to the tobacco in such a way that the tobacco had the same energy of the flame in order to keep the pipe lit. In other words, I had to get that ember going properly with the charring light (or possibly lights)...get a good layer of ash on top, tamp it down, smooth it over, and then fire it up again to make the ember good and hot... That ember then helps burn the tobacco underneath and keeps the pipe lit for me. But the only way to get that ember is to get a good char across the tobacco (over a few lights if necessary) and then to get a really good and strong true light going that will fire up that ember and give it the energy needed to keep the tobacco burning underneath the ember. Just my thoughts. I think this could be a culprit as well. I always debate between getting it going nice and hot....and overheating the pipe right out of the gate. Plus that powerful beginning can be a bit harsh? |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 24, 2020 13:19:53 GMT -5
Lots of good advice here...but I'll add that I have found that getting the charing light right is key (for me, anyway)...well, actually it's the true light that makes the difference. I used to put flame to the tobacco and smoke would rise and I would think that the pipe is lit, but when I took the flame away I had to puff like a train to keep the thing smoking. Then I realised that I had to transfer the energy of the flame to the tobacco in such a way that the tobacco had the same energy of the flame in order to keep the pipe lit. In other words, I had to get that ember going properly with the charring light (or possibly lights)...get a good layer of ash on top, tamp it down, smooth it over, and then fire it up again to make the ember good and hot... That ember then helps burn the tobacco underneath and keeps the pipe lit for me. But the only way to get that ember is to get a good char across the tobacco (over a few lights if necessary) and then to get a really good and strong true light going that will fire up that ember and give it the energy needed to keep the tobacco burning underneath the ember. Just my thoughts. I think this could be a culprit as well. I always debate between getting it going nice and hot....and overheating the pipe right out of the gate. Plus that powerful beginning can be a bit harsh? yea, perhaps a little harsh, but only for a few draws. After that we're sweet. |
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Post by jeffd on Feb 24, 2020 16:57:45 GMT -5
I don't tamp much harder than just dropping the tamper. Just enough to get the cherry in touch with the fuel below. And I pull a puff while tamping, so to keep air flow.
Just the stuff I do. I have relights but I don't know whether they are excessive in number. And I usually tamp before a relight.
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stone
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Post by stone on Feb 26, 2020 12:48:36 GMT -5
The breathe method is working.
Another thing I have noticed in my quest for a more enjoyable smoke is that if I cover my pipe rim, nearly closing it off, when I draw, I get better volume of smoke and fuller flavor.
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 27, 2020 4:36:36 GMT -5
The breathe method is working. Another thing I have noticed in my quest for a more enjoyable smoke is that if I cover my pipe rim, nearly closing it off, when I draw, I get better volume of smoke and fuller flavor. Apparently it's called the venturi effect... |
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stone
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Post by stone on Feb 27, 2020 11:42:59 GMT -5
The breathe method is working. Another thing I have noticed in my quest for a more enjoyable smoke is that if I cover my pipe rim, nearly closing it off, when I draw, I get better volume of smoke and fuller flavor. Apparently it's called the venturi effect... Sometimes it feels like there is just too much stuff to know! And other times it's awesome to simply try to learn it all
Thankfully, there isn't a lot to know about drinking beer; maintenance beer tastes better really cold, good beer tastes better a little warmer..........done!  |
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Post by Legend Lover on Feb 27, 2020 13:56:31 GMT -5
Apparently it's called the venturi effect... Sometimes it feels like there is just too much stuff to know! And other times it's awesome to simply try to learn it all
Thankfully, there isn't a lot to know about drinking beer; maintenance beer tastes better really cold, good beer tastes better a little warmer..........done! What's maintenance beer? |
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stone
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Post by stone on Feb 27, 2020 14:05:14 GMT -5
Sometimes it feels like there is just too much stuff to know! And other times it's awesome to simply try to learn it all
Thankfully, there isn't a lot to know about drinking beer; maintenance beer tastes better really cold, good beer tastes better a little warmer..........done! What's maintenance beer? Bud Light, Miller Lite, any beer you drink when you're going to drink a million of them. |
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jay
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Post by jay on May 31, 2020 0:26:38 GMT -5
You might try loading the bowl in thirds. The first pinch is loose, the middle layer is a bit firmer, and the last third is firmer still. Light the entire bowl surface (yeah, I know...Duh), tamp lightly, then another light. Tamp once more, just enough to settle the surface ash. This way, the coal is staying in the firmer tobacco all the way down. Subsequent tamping will slowly tighten up the loose tobacco towards the bottom and give something for the coal to burn in. Other folks have commented on the moisture content, pretty much correctly, and the only other point I can offer is that the resistance to your draw should be both gentle and consistent from top to bottom.
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