I Mostly Enjoy The Last 2/3rds Of a Bowl

grue · May 3, 2016

I noticed lately that I kind of not enjoy the first third of a bowl. The charring light and first true light is almost a struggle to get the ember going puffing variously and tamping as needed. I love the expectation while packing the tobacco, preparing the lighter and pipe tool on a convenient position and replacing the lid on the jar and then sitting back to enjoy.
It might be that I mentally let go of everything after a while and just smoke subconsciously but still, the last two thirds are truly excellent most of the time. : puffy

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mawnansmiff · May 3, 2016

Grue, I have been pondering that very phenonemon myself lately. It's as if I can only hit the 'sweet spot' once past the halfway point of the bowl.
Though I have only been piping since September last year I do feel that I have mastered the correct packing/lighting technique so that cannot be to blame. I would say that out of perhaps 50 pipes I have, only maybe three of those pipes can I pick up, load and light knowing that the smoke will be perfect from the very start to the end. All the rest I have to wait until roughly halfway then WALLOP....the sweet spot is hit and I can sip away to my heart's content. Another thing I have noticed is that once the sweet spot has been hit and one leaves the pipe alone long enough to go out, upon relighting that sweet spot is no longer there!
It is very odd but I'm rather glad to know it is not just me who has experienced this.
Regards,
Jay.

ssavarimuthu · May 3, 2016

This is interesting. I myself noticed this, but instead, I enjoy the first half of the bowl! :?

grue · May 3, 2016

In my case, and probably mawnansmiff's, it might have to do with moisture level as well. Maybe the first third of smoking dries the tobacco to the almost perfect level to achieve lasting plus good tasting effect...

ericthered · May 3, 2016

The bowl of 20/20 (a broken-flake bulk English blend from my local B&M) I had this morning didn't get good until about halfway in, primarily because I couldn't get it to properly stay lit until then. I've had the opposite experience however, with blends that are ribbon or shag cut. For me, it seems to depend the most on the tobacco's cut and how successful I am at packing it.

agnosticpipe · May 3, 2016

I find that I enjoy the first 2/3-3/4 of the bowl the most. The last part is usually a little more wet and saturated with the burning of the top part. But there again, it depends on the cut of the tobacco. With some cuts I find that it will burn just about all the way down with good results. (but not to a fine white ash) :mrgreen:

mso489 · May 3, 2016

I'd be lying if I said I don't enjoy lighting up, and the early third of the bowl. It awakens the taste and often is a bit different than the rest, though I agree that usually the flavor and burn get better. So yes, the last 2/3rds are best, but keep practicing, and you may find that eventually the first third can be real good. Sometimes the char light stays lit, and that's nice. Or the char light gets everything puffed up and settled in, with tamping, and that's really satisfying too. Don't be too self-critical; take it all as pleasure and things usually work well.

mawnansmiff · May 3, 2016

The tobacco I smoke the most is Condor Ready Rubbed & Condor Long Cut (a flake that I rub out) and both are aired for an hour or so afore being jarred. Obviously there is still moisture in there but much lessened by the airing. My packing technique is pretty consistent so I really can't think what makes the smoke so variable.
As I stated above, I have perhaps 3 pipes that smoke great from the off, one is a large squashed tomato, another a poker and the third a bent billiard so it's a bit of a mystery to me.
Regards,
Jay.

crazyhog · May 3, 2016

Me, I enjoy for the first 2/3 rds and often dump the last 1/4.

iamn8 · May 3, 2016

Try as I do with certain films. Sleep through the first half and wake up for the end.

mawnansmiff · May 3, 2016

Back to school for you Crazyhog.
Regards,
Jay.

gtrhtr · May 4, 2016

I often deliberately allow my pipe to go out with about a third of the bowl left. The flavor of that relight is amazingly full.

newbroom · May 4, 2016

I usually really enjoy the charring light. Sometimes a 'blend' will not develop until later, and at first will be acrid or bitter but with patience it settles into a flavorful smoke.

I often let pipes go out and will start another only to revisit the ones I've allowed to chill, often with great effect.

No rules, whatever works for you.

Some blends yield consistent results from char to ash, but most do change as the process 'develops'.

crazyhog · May 4, 2016

Back to school for you Crazyhog

Ha, I'm a short, slow puffer now, 45 minutes at most. I had to cut back for health reasons. I keep putting too much tobacco in my bowls. I dump more than I should probably. I do hate getting anywhere close to ash. Especially true with some wet aros. Lol

mso489 · May 4, 2016

Sometimes I have to let a pipe go out and come back much later or the next day. Rather than diminishing the bowl, I often find it enhances it. Odd but true.

mawnansmiff · May 4, 2016

MSO, I actually experience the opposite. I find that after anything over an hour the baccy has dried up too much and therefore the flavour is much reduced.
I did once try knocking out the ash at the top and then refilling the bowl but that didn't work for me.
Regards,
Jay.

crazyhog · May 4, 2016

I've never had a good experience during relights. The first few puffs are horrible. Same holds true with cigars.

shutterbugg · May 4, 2016

Ditto ^ however also I find it's the last 1/3 that usually tastes like crap, which at least has a reasonble explanation as that's what catches all the tar and junk from the first 2/3, like a filter.

mayfair70 · May 4, 2016

Glad I'm not the only one let's a half full bowl sit for a while before relighting. I've gone a couple days and still enjoyed the last. I tend to smoke fast so letting it dry out a good bit is probably best for the way I smoke.

mawnansmiff · May 4, 2016

Shutterbugg, what you say makes perfect sense, however I have never experienced myself. At least not in smoking Condor.
Regards,
Jay.

I Mostly Enjoy The Last 2/3rds Of a Bowl

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