dolemiike":k0gfiv37 said:
Don't be a tease. Please share this packing method.
dolemiike, Here's what I sent to another brother who inquired about this via PM. The method is the laziest one that I know of, but it does work quite well with loose pressed flake blends like Embarcadero, Fillmore & Union Square. You'll probably have the most success using a pipe with a taller/narrower bowl because you're going to be smoking end to end through a small pile of flakes.
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1. Take a small pile of intact flakes, give them a little dry time and then simply slip the whole pile one end down, straight into the pipe. However, be sure to leave a little room for expansion.
2. If there's any tobacco sticking out of the top of the pipe, (there usually is unless your using a chimney), pinch it off and set it aside to be rubbed out and used as top kindling to get the true light going.
3. Gently press the trimmed flakes down and then add the rubbed out trimmings to the top of the bowl, light and enjoy.
At first you'll find yourself relighting a little more than if you rubbed the flakes out fully, but as you get the hang of the method (dry time, when to tamp, the usual business) it does make for some interesting, flavorful pipe smokes because your literally smoking down through the intact blended product. IMHO, it's worth the effort.
Chris