The Stages of a Bowl and the Bottom of the Bowl

alfredo_buscatti · Aug 5, 2009

First, the first ¼ of the bowl can lack flavor 50% of the time (in that pipe) whereas with other blends the flavor is full from the very first puff. The next ½ very usually is at full flavor. The last ¼ can be the most flavorful due to the tobacco's tars and resins accumulating there.

Second, the bottom of the bowl. If that flavor boost is occurring it may be tempting to try to smoke all the way to the bottom; also TR doesn't help when they use as praise the phrase "burnt to a clean white ash." But I have found that my elaborate techniques to help me realize this goal are a waste of time, and the first ash that I suck into my mouth or the smoke getting especially hot are indications that the bowl should be dumped. The time to dump the bowl may happen even when there is 10-15 minutes of tobacco left in the bowl.

Anonymous · Aug 5, 2009

I agree, especially with your second point: The Bottom Of The Bowl.
I always wonder when guys report "...smoked cool and dry to the bottom of the bowl..." This is a rare occasion for me, as I tend to clench and puff alot which typically creates a hot & wet

bowl. On the occasions where I am able to achieve the elusive "cool & dry" to the finish bowl, it's been with much care and lots of time. No clenching, take a few puffs, short break, few slow puff, break, slow puffs, set pipe down........few slow puffs ...you get it. This is nice but I usually don't have this kind of time, I just want to smoke my pipe and enjoy it the way I want too, if this means loosing a pinch at the bottom of each bowl then so be it. If times get really tight I'll start saving that pinch each time and dry it out to resmoke.

the macdonald · Aug 5, 2009

I'd agree that clenching seems to be the lynchpin in the cool and dry bottom. I am not a patient attentive or gentle smoker, not a clecher, but do get the ellusive cool dry bottom. I usually see it as the sign of a good pipe if I can get to the bottom without finding a steamy swamp. I'll also add that all of the pipes in my regular rotation are straights. I quit bents early because I always seemed to get a wet pipe out of them.

jlong · Aug 7, 2009

Some days are better than others for me. It could be the pipe, the dryness of the tobacco, my palette, or my puffing pattern. There are times the bottom of the bowl is the tastiest part. Not all of the time nor with the same tobacco. Penzance has always been good to the very last drop no matter what.

Smoking clear to the bottom is something I insist on when breaking in a new pipe. Otherwise, I dump when I see fit.

DoverPipes · Aug 8, 2009

Am I doing it wrong? :lol:
I seem to be able to make it to the bottom of the bowl without too much difficulty with most of my pipes. I haven't had the cursed "wet bowl" yet. I am not a clencher and I do tend to puff rather than "smoke stacking" the whole bowl. I find the initial first quarter of the pipe lacks the real flavors that seem to bloom further down the bowl. The flavor carries pretty much to the last bit of baccy at the bottom.

Keep in mind I don't really smoke a lot of different stuff. Mostly Va-Pers.......

Anonymous · Aug 8, 2009

DoverPipes":ut1pzj1a said:
Am I doing it wrong? :lol:
I seem to be able to make it to the bottom of the bowl without too much difficulty with most of my pipes. I haven't had the cursed "wet bowl" yet. I am not a clencher and I do tend to puff rather than "smoke stacking" the whole bowl. I find the initial first quarter of the pipe lacks the real flavors that seem to bloom further down the bowl. The flavor carries pretty much to the last bit of baccy at the bottom.

Keep in mind I don't really smoke a lot of different stuff. Mostly Va-Pers.......

It could be the tobaccco, but I think it's the pipe. My newest Larry Roush is notorious for smoking to the bottom. With some of my pipes, I to to relight then notice that I have a bowl full of (white) ash. I wonder it it's packing technique.

I am smoking my newest Ruthenberg right now and it is heavenly. I have a strong feeling that this pipe packed with Old Gowrie is going to smoke to the bottom. Cool as a breeze as well.

As far as the last part of the bowl smoking hot, this is usually a result of lack of cake on the bottom of the pipe.