Last 1/4 bowl not burning???

tinbird · Mar 29, 2017

Okay good people of this forum, newbie using a MM cob and aromatic baccy, wondering what I'm doing wrong besides likely everything at this point

I notice that while I'm getting better at packing and being able to basically keep the bowl lit for the top 3/4, the last bit of tobacco doesn't stay lit and I end up dumping out unburnt tobacco when emptying the pipe.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to face the east while reciting the Lord's Prayer in latin or are my socks and underwear supposed to match to get that last little bit of goodness in every bowl?

What might you suggest?

As always, my greatest appreciation for your input.

Humble knave
tinbird

Chasing Embers · Mar 29, 2017

Think of the bottom layer like a filter. Burning to the bottom of the bowl doesn't always happen.

aldecaker · Mar 29, 2017

It's been my experience that when the last quarter or so doesn't want to burn, it will taste pretty crappy and bitter when you force it to burn. There's a fair amount of debate on drying tobacco or not that you can read up on, to see if you think that may help. I tend to smoke faster than I should, which leads to the same issue; when that happens, I call it a loss and dump that last bit of tobacco. (There's no award for sucking fine white ash into your mouth at the end of a smoke, anyway.)

Chasing Embers · Mar 29, 2017

There's no award for sucking fine white ash into your mouth at the end of a smoke, anyway

Especially when there's still fire attached to it!

jpmcwjr · Mar 29, 2017

At the risk of repetition, unsmokability towards the bottom is usually the result of the tobacco being not dry enough to start with. As you smoke, some moisture is drawn down through the unburnt tobacco, and if it's dry to start with, the amount isn't so much as to impede smoking further. But if moist at the top and throughout, the added moisture will overwhelm the ability of the heat to drive enough water out of the tobacco in the bottom to make it combust.
And, as aldecaker says, if it doesn't want to burn, it'll taste bad when you force it.

prairiedruid · Mar 29, 2017

If you enjoy the way the first 3/4 of the bowl smokes and have to dump the last bit I wouldn't worry about it. You're dumping 5-10 cents worth of tobacco. Sort of like trying to not having relights; sometimes it seems people get too hung up about smoking every last bit of tobacco. If you are enjoying what you're doing why change?

tschiraldi · Mar 29, 2017

Dry and TAMP, MAN, TAMP! I don't think I'm all that skilled. but the vast majority of the time, I smoke all the way down to the bottom. Sometimes there is a wee bit left, but not often. The only exception to this is with a brand new pipe. Sometimes I gotta' break it in a bit first, but eventually, they all seem to burn it up just fine. The very few Aros I smoke are very light Aros. Mostly Virginia and Burley. Maybe that has something to do with it. Also, when tamping, I use a round tamper and twist it as I tamp. This insures that the coals go all the way to the outside of the bowl and seems to keep everything burning. Hope this helps.
Tim

tinsel · Mar 29, 2017

I almost never smoke the last 1/4 of the bowl.
FWIW I also tend to smoke a little fast and hot. Maybe slowing down would help, I don't know, I don't intend to find out.
I think of the last 1/4 of the bowl as the "angel's share". Or, since it winds up getting dumped on the ground "Mother Earth's share".

aldecaker · Mar 29, 2017

Good way to look at it, Tinsel.

toobfreak · Mar 29, 2017

I've learned to completely sidestep the issue by cutting all of my pipes down one quarter of the way lower so that by the time I hit rock bottom, I am done just in time! :mrgreen:

tinbird · Mar 29, 2017

Awesome replies and input gang, appreciate the intent, instruction and humor

I guess it's still all about the learning.

akfilm · Mar 29, 2017

You're probably packing too tight, or the tobacco isn't dry enough (or both), and smoking too fast as well. In some pipes, the hole is higher then the bottom and you'll have a hard time smoking the whole thing to ash sometimes resulting in the dottle. Sherlock Holmes is known in the stories to dry his dottle and smoke it, and I believe there are some smokers that do, I haven't tried it yet.

warren · Mar 29, 2017

I dump the ash, gently tamp and apply more fire. If that doesn't work, I dump the pipe, reload, light and go back to work or play.

jndyer · Mar 30, 2017

You are getting some great advice here. The only thing I will add is to remind you to relax and enjoy the smoking experience. You will get this figured out in time, especially when you find the ability to just let your early expectations go, sit back and enjoy each smoking session be what it is going to be. I understand that it may not seem like it now, but trust those of us who have gone before you when we say that learning is a part of the fun and soon you will soon find that you have made some great strides. Happy puffing.

jndyer · Mar 30, 2017

You are getting some great advice here. The only thing I will add is to remind you to relax and enjoy the smoking experience. You will get this figured out in time, especially when you find the ability to just let your early expectations go, sit back and enjoy each smoking session be what it is going to be. I understand that it may not seem like it now, but trust those of us who have gone before you when we say that learning is a part of the fun and soon you will soon find that you have made some great strides. Happy puffing.

ophiuchus · Mar 30, 2017

Dumping the stubborn crap at the bottom of the bowl is not a crime. Just because you're not ending up with a bowl full of fine white ash does not mean you're doing it wrong. I'm not claiming that this is the right way, but I find that when a bowl has a good final act, the last bit of tobacco has been reduced to carbon-coated dottle, but hasn't been burned to ash.
Sometimes dumping the ash on top, relighting, and choking the chamber with a couple fingers over the hole while drawing can get to that pesky moist stuff at the bottom to smolder; for Virginias and Orientals, this can sometimes be the best part of the bowl! : puffy

:

mawnansmiff · Mar 30, 2017

I have to confess that I feel rather pleased with myself when I come to empty out a bowl and see only ash tumbling out.
That said, I would never struggle to get the last bit of baccy to burn. If it refuses to burn then I won't force it to burn.
Good packing with properly dried baccy is the key.
Regards,
Jay.

mcitinner1 · Mar 30, 2017

I almost always smoke a little too fast, which causes the second half of the bowl to be less pleasant, and dumpage occurs.

anthonyrosenthal74 · Mar 30, 2017

I would add to tamp lightly, if it hasn't already been mentioned above. You may be tamping the last bit of tobacco too tight along with the added moisture to not burn well.

PaulTheScandinavian · Mar 30, 2017

and to what Mr Anthony said this too heavy tamping is even more leathal if the tobacco in question happen to be folded flake

Last 1/4 bowl not burning???

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