Adding Tobacco On Top

[Growley]

Warning..I'm letting my "noob" show a bit.

So, I'm sitting outside on a beautiful night, leaves rustling with the slight breeze, crickets singing their evening song, and I'm smoking some FVF. I got down to about half a bowl left and realized that I'm not ready to have the bliss end quite yet.

Having I dried out and prepared just a bit more than my bowl could hold, I still had a little left, so I decided to add it in on top and re-light. I've had to light a few more times than normal, but I'm wondering if there's anything inherently wrong with this.

What are your thoughts?

Brian.

 

[MisterE]

I do it often, but only after the pipe goes out.

I like to dump out all the ash first, then add the fresh tabac. If it's been out for a while, I blow some air through the pipe to slightly rehydrate the DGT'd tobacco. The flavor is different with the layer of new, but not bad at all.

Just my $.02

 

[Dutch]

This is exactly the technique I use when breaking in a new pipe. The tobak in the bottom of the bowl absorbs more moisture and can make it difficult to smoke all the way to the bottom of the bowl, but when I am breaking in a new pipe, that is exactly what I want, in order to protect the bottom of the bowl.

 

[taharris]

I do that frequently without consequence.
Just dump most of the ash out first.

Todd

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Once in a while, I do the same thing. There's those moments when it's just too good to be "over" yet...

...before it's totally ash, I will stir up the top layer of soft ash, making sure there's a little bit of tobacco left, and let the pipe sit for a good five minutes to cool/dry out. Then I gravity-fill a little more on top of what's left and cool, and resume. I love the "end of the bowl" experience, the flavors get really "honest" at that point, and I can have just a little more sit-time that way.

8)

 

[J Soshae]

I never have tried this but i will now. I just need to find the additional hour for the second bowl full.

 

[Rob_In_MO]

I've done this, but instead of just putting the fresh tobacco on top, I first scrape off a bit of the ash on the top layer. The top layer of ash is a barrier between the fresh tobacco you want to add and the still-burning tobacco underneath. By first removing most of the ash on top, I end up getting a more complete burn from top to bottom of the bowl when I do finally get done with the smoke.

Of course I've also emptied the bowl, blew it out, and started another one - with no ill effects. Though I don't do this often, it seemed to work fine on the rare occasion I do try it. More times than not, I use the first method though...

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I was listening to the Giants/Dodgers game on the radio last night, and HOTW needed to hang out with me a little more... so, I "topped off" 3/4 through the bowl, and it's almost like an "instnat" DGT, if there was ever such a thing. :cheers:

8)

 

[DoverPipes]

Yes, all of the time.

 

[KevinM]

The only time I've done that is when the pipe had a defect in which the air hole was above the floor of the bowl leaving an unburnt spot at the bottom. But as long as you're not trying to smoke wet tobacco or ash . . .

 

[tzakiel]

Interesting thread... was wondering the same myself since my pipe tends to go pretty quick so far.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

If one finds themselves needing to add tobacco on top frequently...bigger pipes are probably something to look into...

8)

 

[tzakiel]

If one finds themselves needing to add tobacco on top frequently...bigger pipes are probably something to look into...

8)

I have a wizard churchwarden from macqueen that I am loving - my first pipe - but I'm starting to like some of the old-school "mad men" style billiard pipes, and might give one of those a try some day. I might also consider a shorter macqueen such as a ranger or dwarf.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

More pipes? Oh dear! :lol: None of us can relate.

8)