Advantage of Flake Versus Rubbed Out?

av8scuba · Mar 26, 2013

Ok, I'm definitely a noob when it comes to tobacco. I've always smoked bulk tobacco from my local pipe store, which is what I would call "loose" or "rubbed out".
I just received my first tins of Beacon and Black Parrot. Upon opening, I found the tobacco to be in strips about 1" long. I first tried rubbing them out, but also tried "folding" in the ribbons as I've read about others doing. About the only difference I can tell by using the ribbons is that they seem to smoke slower and cooler.
Are there advantages to smoking the ribbons rather than rubbing it out? Or is it just a personal preference? Or are there disadvantages?
Thanks all!
Edit: Moved to Pipe Smoking Basics & Beginner Questions, L.

rmbittner · Mar 26, 2013

av8scuba:
You may want to search the forums for "Flakes"; this was recently discussed in a rather lengthy thread, if I'm remembering correctly.
Conventional wisdom says that *not* rubbing out -- and either cutting the flakes (with scissors) into tiny cubes or simply folding and stuffing -- will yield a slower, cooler, richer smoke. Rubbing out a flake will typically make it easier to smoke with fewer relights.
I never cut up a flake into those little cubes. That seems far too fiddly for me. And, to me, pipesmoking should not be fiddly. I either rub out completely or partially rub out all of my flakes. Sometimes I simply fold and stuff, rubbing out the top of the flake sticking out of the bowl so it will take a light easier.
In short, it's entirely up to you. I love the tactile feel of rubbing out flakes and consider it one of the important and pleasurable steps that make smoking flakes a special experience. And, FWIW, I think you will actually encounter very little difference in the flavor of a smoke regardless of how you handle your flakes.
Bob

withnail · Mar 26, 2013

First of all - Welcome!

How you prepare flake tobacco is a matter of choice really, with no right or wrong way to do it. As you have discovered, the more you rub out the flakes the quicker it burns and the easier it is to light. Slower burning will tends to bring out the more subtle flavours in a blend.
Some rub flakes out fully, some lightly, some fold full flakes and stuff them in the bowl and yet others cut their flakes into small squares or cubes.
Try each method and see which you get on with best. If you don't notice any difference, remember that your pipe will have traces of previous smokes in the bowl. It can also take a couple of weeks of smoking a new blend to really get the taste of all the more subtle flavours.
Hope that helps -

rmbittner · Mar 26, 2013

It can also take a couple of weeks of smoking a new blend to really get the taste of all the more subtle flavours.

After a couple of weeks, I'd have smoked my way through at least three different tins!

I think it typically takes about 3 bowls of a blend before the previous one has burned off and you're able to taste the new one. But I believe you should certainly be getting everything a blend has to offer by the time you're one-third of the way through a tin -- say, 6-8 bowls.
Bob

cortezattic · Mar 26, 2013

The product specialist for Mac Baren, Per Georg Jensen, recommends folding flakes and coins for cooler smoking

and less tongue bite. (I think he means less likelihood of tongue scorching.) That usually translates into greater enjoyment.

Folding or cube cutting flakes is also desirable if you're going to be smoking outdoors or in drafty conditions.
Russ Ouellette of Hearth & Home maintains that rubbing-out a flake will increase the flavor a tobacco blend delivers.

I seem to agree with him for most of the flakes I've smoked.
IMO, the whole business of creating a flake in the first place, using pressure to drive the leaves of a blend together,

is to meld and concentrate the tobacco flavors. It's also a compact way to package any given quantity, though

I don't think an artisan blender would let such considerations dictate his approach to a blend idea. G L Pease

might be an exception here, evidenced by his choices for the presentation of JackKnife Plug (highly recommended

for experimenting with the changes that preparations make).

simnettpratt · Mar 26, 2013

Hey Scuba, here's the link to all the great answers I got when I asked what the point of flake tobacco was:
Flake tobacco
And welcome to the forums!

cigrmaster · Mar 26, 2013

I cube cube cut all my flakes and find it works best for me.

lordofthepiperings · Mar 26, 2013

I just fold and stuff my flakes. Cube cutting them seems like too much work for me. When I fold and stuff flakes it does seem to stay lit better in breezy or windy conditions outside and it does seem to smoke cooler. It's all a matter of personal preference though.

av8scuba · Mar 26, 2013

Thanks all !!!
Like I said, I really only had experience with rubbed out tobacco. But I tend to smoke my bowls a little hot, so I think I'll concentrate on the fold-and-stuff method to see how it works out over the long haul. Besides, it is less work too!
I did pick up some Five Brothers today and it is almost so fine it reminds me of tree moss. My first couple of bowls burned so fast and hot I don't think I'll be buying much more of that in the near future (also wasn't really thrilled with the taste either).
I'm beginning to see that pipe smoking is an never-ending process of experimenting and discovery. And thanks to all for the great advice and the warm welcome.

cigrmaster · Mar 26, 2013

scuba, of all the methods for smoking flakes, fold and stuff is the least consistent especially for a new guy. I would recommend trying the cube cut first, it is a much more consistent burn than fold and stuff and it gives you the advantage of a nice cool, flavorful smoke. I have tried all of the methods and have settled into cube cutting. I smoke flakes exclusively(4-5 bowls a day) and I get a consistent burn every time.

gwtwdbss · Mar 26, 2013

I cube cut most of the times. To me the extra prep is worth it for a nice smoke. Sometimes I will fold and stuff if I am on the go or experimenting with a new blend.

salewis · Mar 26, 2013

In all my reading forums about the rub or fold techniques of tobacco flakes I have never heard of slicing and dicing flake tobacco. I have only heard of slicing cake tobacco since it comes in a rectangle block.
I use a combination of fold and rub when filling my pipes with Virginia flake. I tend to lightly rub out my tobacco so that it resembles a lightly folded concoction. I find that this method delivers the most taste, remains lighted longer and is easier to smoke to the bottom of the bowl.
If I would slice and dice I would buy a Virginia ribbon tobacco of which there are several.

withnail · Mar 26, 2013

I'd agree with the comment above about cube cutting (or Bentmike method

). It gives a long a flavorful smoke. You can always add a little rubbed out tobacco to the top off the bowl to help lighting.
As I mentioned in the other Flake thread - there are other advantages to Flake. It keeps fresh longer than ready rubbed after popping the tin. It's more compact so needs a smaller package and regardless of how you smoke it, a lot of the excellent flavour is down to the pressing process that makes the flake in the first place

Long may they live!

rhogg · Mar 26, 2013

Every time you pack a bowl you get to rub 1 out.

cigrmaster · Mar 27, 2013

Ok, that is it. From now on everyone will do the BentMike( cube cutting flakes) or you will be thrown off the island. If you cheat we will know, we have cameras every where.

dragonslayer · Mar 27, 2013

Cigrmaster I think that all flake containers should come with a warning. If you have any intension of not cube cutting and enjoying the full flavor of a carefully blended tobacco which received the best, most expensive preparation on the market. You should return it and order some ribbon cut.

peckinpahhombre · Mar 27, 2013

I don't cube cut I triangle cut. I am very precise with my euclidian geometry: every flake of tobacco must be cut into a triangle with a precise 90 degree angle, and the hypotenuse must be 6.2 mm in length. If you use a different method, then you simply aren't getting the best smoke that you are capable of.

dragonslayer · Mar 27, 2013

If you can't use a pair of scissors, you shouldn't be playing with matches.

tbradsim1 · Mar 27, 2013

I use a vertically challenged person we used to call a midget to cube my Flakes they are unemployed and like their work, it is a challenge to find little bitty siccors for their small hands, sometimes I have to raid the coloring class at the local kindergarten class, makes me sad when I have to pull them off of a 5 yr old child, but hey I need my cube cut. The old cajun :rofl:

misterlowercase · Mar 27, 2013

It also can vary according to whichever blend, most I like 'em half-rubb'd chunky, but some do better with cube-cut, while others like Dark Star or McConnell Latakia Flake I can only get a good burn when it's heavily rubb'd to near dust!

Advantage of Flake Versus Rubbed Out?

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