English blend packing advice?

[Phill_osophical]

Hey guys, I am a relitively new smoker. I just picked up my first bag of english blend. It is a house blend called "Thee Blend" at Regel's. I love the taste but everytime I try to smoke it, it takes a few tries to get the bowl really going.

Is there any advice you can give? or is it one of those things where I just have to figure it out. hah.

I have had other blends that weren't english, that I could get a good pack/light just fine right away. But this blend is giving me some troubles. Thanks for any help

 

[Harlock999]

If it's on the moist side, you might let it dry out a bit. Play around with the way you're packing it. Getting the right "feel" for new blend can tricky sometimes.

 

[Phill_osophical]

Thanks mate, I appreciate the advice, I'm working on it at the moment

 

[MisterE]

Hey man, let it dry a little like H suggested. Also pack it pretty loose to begin with and give it a go that way. Once you get it lit you can tamp it down a little to focus the flavor. Ribbon cuts (most English blends are) beg to be packed tighter than necessary because they compress so well. What appears to be too loose actually will be good place to start. It´s easier to tamp it tighter once lit than loosen it. Just my $.02. Good luck!

 

[ruta2]

Add another to the list of "let it dry out."

 

[Harlock999]

Hey man, let it dry a little like H suggested. Also pack it pretty loose to begin with and give it a go that way. Once you get it lit you can tamp it down a little to focus the flavor. Ribbon cuts (most English blends are) beg to be packed tighter than necessary because they compress so well. What appears to be too loose actually will be good place to start. It´s easier to tamp it tighter once lit than loosen it. Just my $.02. Good luck!

Ahh...the classic "Krusty Method"! :lol!:
https://www.brothersofbriar.com/t13307-bull-dog-condundrum

 

[Phill_osophical]

Hey man, let it dry a little like H suggested. Also pack it pretty loose to begin with and give it a go that way. Once you get it lit you can tamp it down a little to focus the flavor. Ribbon cuts (most English blends are) beg to be packed tighter than necessary because they compress so well. What appears to be too loose actually will be good place to start. It´s easier to tamp it tighter once lit than loosen it. Just my $.02. Good luck!

I think that's a problem I am having, I was too used to packing the others a little tighter, I will certainly try packing it a bit looser!

 

[MisterE]

Hey man, let it dry a little like H suggested. Also pack it pretty loose to begin with and give it a go that way. Once you get it lit you can tamp it down a little to focus the flavor. Ribbon cuts (most English blends are) beg to be packed tighter than necessary because they compress so well. What appears to be too loose actually will be good place to start. It´s easier to tamp it tighter once lit than loosen it. Just my $.02. Good luck!

Ahh...the classic "Krusty Method"! :lol!:
https://www.brothersofbriar.com/t13307-bull-dog-condundrum

The Krusty Method!! Love it!! It works.....

We of course all know the Frank method, but there is another not-so-well-known version. It´s called the Obtuse method. That is to dry it and rub it out and not pack it. Rather, you light it in the ashtray and suck the smoke through the pipe as it smolders. Extremely cool smoke but takes ages to break your pipe in that way...

:lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!:

 

[bluemanitoulin]

This is my first post. I discovered English blends about two years ago, after 30 years of very occasional aromatic smoking. But I only recently discovered a better way to pack a pipe. I should have paid attention to the many posts here. Anyway, I too had great trouble keeping the pipe lit. I read about forming a ball of tobacco and inserting it into the pipe, pushing it down to just below the rim. The intent is to leave an air gap at the bottom.

Well, this is a whole new world for me. Even my favorite blend (C&D Stanhope) which was a bear to keep lit, burns well. Moreover, it even tastes better. Every blend I have tried this was tastes better.

As a side note, I tried drying out the tobacco previously. It did burn better than when moist, but it is not equal in enjoyment to the "air gap method". Now I understand why some guys comment in reviews about the moisture content of the tobacco. If it is at least a bit moist, it packs into the ball much easier. Hope this helps.

 

[Krusty]

LOL
Continued use of the term "Krusty Method" may prove harmful to my health as it now seems to incite a severe face-palm when I see it!

If it's on the moist side, you might let it dry out a bit. Play around with the way you're packing it....

And there's the fun of the play!
With the exception of the air pocket method, most all cuts of tobacco, regardless the manner of loading the bowl, work best when not overpacked.
Some time back I read a description of determining when the packing was right by how springy the load was prior to initial light.
That was my Eureka moment.
Regardless the cut, well, intact flake need be loose but it doesn't lend to the springy idea.... anyway.... no matter the blend I usually strive for a bit of a spring to the tobacco. Lightly pressed with a finger, the load in the bowl will depress slightly and come back up.
Too loose, it doesn't rise back, over-tight it doesn't depress.
So yes, all a piper can do when approaching a new blend is experiment to find what works.

 

[Harlock999]

We of course all know the Frank method, but there is another not-so-well-known version. It´s called the Obtuse method. That is to dry it and rub it out and not pack it. Rather, you light it in the ashtray and suck the smoke through the pipe as it smolders. Extremely cool smoke but takes ages to break your pipe in that way...:lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!:

You musician types know all the sophisticated stuff! :cheers: :cheers:

 

[Phill_osophical]

Thanks for all the advice guys! Its great to have some supportive people when it comes too a new hobby like this!