Crackling Sound

pianopuffer · Nov 27, 2017

As a newbie pipe smoker, I’m beginning to break my pipes in slowly as you folks have suggested.

I noticed that as I get to the bottom of the bowl, I occasionally need to dump my ash, do a light tamp, and relight to smoke all the way to the bottom.
Sometimes I hear a crackling sound as I’m drawing the flame down to light the rest of the tobacco. It kind of reminds me of a campfire crackling or a bowl of rice crispies in the morning.
Is this normal? I don’t want to start burning a hole of the bottom of my chamber, however, haven’t seen any evidence of this when I’m finished.

Could be the dry tobacco/dottle?
Thanks.

cosmicfolklore · Nov 27, 2017

I have a Neerup that my wife gave me for Christmas a few years ago that popped and pinged as I smoked it on the first few dozen smokes. I still have no idea what it is, but no signs of burns or cracks. I don't have any technical info for you, and it could be that there is no one explanation for what causes this. But, my Neerup smokes fine. Once every blue moon, I will get a cracking sound, but it doesn't worry me now. It could just be moisture in the wood or something, but that is just my shot in the dark guess.

doctorbob · Nov 27, 2017

If your dottle is wet, it will crackle/sizzle as the ember gets to it. That could explain why happens at the bottom of the bowl.
Doc

cosmicfolklore · Nov 27, 2017

I would think that the crackling and sizzle of wet tobacco would be obvious, but maybe... On my pipe, I am certain it was not the tobacco. Everyone in the room could hear the pings and cracks. It actually could be felt through my teeth and skull.

deathmetal · Nov 27, 2017

Sometimes burning stems make a brief crackling sound.
If the pipe is doing it, it is probably just warming up. Especially if you have dual layers of material, the transfer of heat could cause sudden pings like that, sort of like windows warming up in the sun (coincidentally, an event happening here right now).

huntertrw · Nov 27, 2017

Perchance does your pipe-tobacco's label feature images of these gentlemen?

Actually, as suggested above, the origin of the sound is probably wet dottle in the heel of your pipe reacting with the burning tobacco above it.

georged · Nov 27, 2017

pianopuffer ---
It's none of the things listed so far. You are being deceived by Puppet People. Former humans who also once wondered what the crackling sound was, but now can no longer think at all.
It's alien eggs hatching in the bowl of your pipe. Little buggers that crawl their way down the stem, into your mouth, drill into your brain, and take over your body.
They are taking over Earth as we speak. Stop smoking and run while you can! I hear Antarctica is good. I'm headed there shortly, so you won't hear from me again.
Goodbye and good luck!
.

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jpmcwjr · Nov 27, 2017

Sometimes I hear a crackling sound as I’m drawing the flame down to light the rest of the tobacco. It kind of reminds me of a campfire crackling or a bowl of rice crispies in the morning.
Is this normal? I don’t want to start burning a hole of the bottom of my chamber, however, haven’t seen any evidence of this when I’m finished.

Could be the dry tobacco/dottle?

It's wet tobacco/dottle. Dry your tobacco before loading. Make sure heel of chamber is dry and no moisture in airway.

mawnansmiff · Nov 28, 2017

I sometimes hear that sound when I tilt my pipe bowl down and the condensate in the stem runs into the bottom of the bowl. It's the sound of the fire being put out by said condensate that's all.
This is easily remedied by my removing the stem halfway through the smoke (shock horror...) and running a cleaner through the stem to dry it. Dry stem re-attached I then carry on.
Regards,
Jay.

newbroom · Nov 28, 2017

I suggest you dump / finish your bowl before you get to that point. Eventually, with the proper cadence and packing technique, you'll smoke it all without trouble.

Any practical jokers around where your pipe was? Cosmic? (you don't count)

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