The Pipe for Noobs: There is No Pipe Technique

[ADK_Pipe]

I find that I usually have a first light that goes out on its own... then, while the pipe is out - I tamp it down with a finger or czech tool and light it up. That next light usually lasts the bowl.

Slow and steady wins the race

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

OK, all you slow smoking brothers, heed my question, if you would.

I'm still trying to master slow smoking. My problem is that when the pipe is just smoldering, which is the right burn from what I know, or when I'm puffing softly and slowly and minimally, I get smoke but not enough smoke to tickle the tastebuds. I like this slow smoking but I'm not tasting much.

Do I just need to get accustomed to finding taste in less smoke?

I truly appreciate your replies!!

 

[monbla256]

Back in the prehistoric days of pipe smoking ( pre-interweb knowledge) most pipe smokers did just that, smoke the pipe while living their life. I saw them smoke while sitting, walking, doing yard work, working in a shop etc, etc. And in the process I saw them put the pipe down, let it go out, pick it up and re-light, time and time again. The only time I witnessed this one light thing was when I wen't to a "slow smoking" contest at a B&M back in the mid eighties. And the only folks I knew who were participated in them. For me, I light the pipe smoke it, if it goes out I re-light and keep on truckin'. This whole "one light" thing is just plain stupid !! Some times circumstances will allow me to do a one light smoke, sometimes not. Big deal I can still enjoy my pipe whether I do or don't. Besides matches are cheap

 

[shootist51]

I had the hardest time for about a month trying to keep a pipe lit throughout the entire bowl. Relighting over, and over, and over. First I thought it was a moisture issue, I needed to dry out the tobacco more. Wrong. Then I thought it was a packing issue, I was packing the bowl too tight. Wrong again.

Finally, I stumbled on the one technique that made moisture and packing seemingly unimportant, and that technique is draw speed. To keep a pipe lit means drawing air slowly through the pipe. The slower the better.

My first instinct when smoking a pipe was to take a quick, short draw, pulling air through the pipe at a relatively fast speed to fan the flame. In reality, this just extinguishes the burning tobacco. The slow draw will pull heat down through the underlying tobacco, warming it up for burning and drying out.



And here is a photo of my current pipe tool:

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This is what we are talkind about when we say SIP the smoke.

 

[MisterE]

Alfredo, in a nutshell, yes.

I know what you mean, though. Sometimes it seems like there's not as much flavor in a micro-puff. It's actually a little counterintuitive to smoke that way as well. One thing I like to do when I relight is not to light the entire surface area, but rather just in the middle. It burns mostly down the center of the bowl and tends to keep the overall temperature down, yet give a very flavorful smoke. If I take a bigger puff at some point, it still stays relatively cool. The tobacco around the edge of the bowl will fall into the center as you go. Give it a shot.

 

[s.ireland]

I love this thread! Glad to see it resurface

Glad to see you too, Mike! I smoked an exquisite bowl of Cumberland this morning to wake me up. Espresso on the side. Dark roast. It was sublime, my brother!

Alfredo, in a nutshell, yes.

I know what you mean, though. Sometimes it seems like there's not as much flavor in a micro-puff. It's actually a little counterintuitive to smoke that way as well. One thing I like to do when I relight is not to light the entire surface area, but rather just in the middle. It burns mostly down the center of the bowl and tends to keep the overall temperature down, yet give a very flavorful smoke. If I take a bigger puff at some point, it still stays relatively cool. The tobacco around the edge of the bowl will fall into the center as you go. Give it a shot.

E, lately I've been using my finger more than a tamper after PD and PB discussing the Ken method in some other thread. Essentially, it yields similar results as the method you are describing.

I light the bowl, puff a bit until it goes out. Finger tamp. Re-light. The bowl burns down the middle then when the pipe is almost out or needs a tamp I use my finger directly in the middle and only push down until I feel the tobacco. As in the ash is fluffy but the tobacco underneath can be felt. The shape of my finger makes an indentation and the tobacco around the middle that has not burned will begin to. Re-light and or dump ash as needed.

 

[MisterE]

^^That's a good method too, Shane. The times I forget my tamper I end up using my finger and it does accomplish pretty much the same thing. It also helps you resist the urge to over tamp!! 8)

Good to see ya! Where have you been?

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

Hi Shane,

Thanks for the welcome back; good to be back.

Is the advantage of a light tamp with your finger vs. tamper that the sensitivity of a finger can sense just the right amount of the tamp? Also that slight tamp doesn't extinguish the ember but gently increases its burn through a bit of pressure or allows the relight to penetrate the tamped ash for a more effective relight?

 

[J Soshae]

the sensitivity of a finger can sense just the right amount of the tamp?

For me it is a sensitive tamp because I do not want to burn my finger on the hot coal underneath.

 

[KevinM]

Somehow we all get a little voice bred into us that keeps insisting at awkward moments, "Oh, no, you can't do this. Not you. See, you made a mistake! That's awful! You should be very upset! Other people can do this right, but not you. Oh. my, you'll never learn . . . fussfussfuss."

When the litttle voice begins, just tell it to STFU and cheerfully go about whatever business interests you. With pipes it's mostly common sense and patience. Also a little help from your friends, but as you see that is freely given.

Good luck.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Slow smoking for me these days equals "clenched DGT..." busy doing other things, typing, reading, a little yard work at the not-in-laws...oops did my pipe go out? Darn. *flicks lighter* Ah! Much better. :lol:

This is a good thread.

8)

 

[s.ireland]

^^That's a good method too, Shane. The times I forget my tamper I end up using my finger and it does accomplish pretty much the same thing. It also helps you resist the urge to over tamp!! 8)

Good to see ya! Where have you been?

I've been lurking a bit lol after my knee surgery last month I was mostly spending my time in physical therapy etc. but I'm doing much, much better. Pretty close to 100% I reckon

Anyhow, all is well and It's good to be back

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Figures I'd read this just as soon as I sent you a "how's it going, Shane" PM. :lol:

Glad to hear you're gettin' back to normal.

8)