Leaving some free space at the bottom of the bowl
- Thread starter 64alex
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When I learned about the air-pocket method, or whatever other people may call it, it really opened up how to smoke cooler. My cobs never gurgled, but my first Peterson did. Once I started the air-pocket in the Peterson, it really started to smoke well. Once I wasnt worried about running a cleaner through it I had a chance to slow down and relax into the smoke. Subsequently I also learned to dry my tobacco more that I thought I should which aided in tastier smokes. Now I do it depending on the pipe, or blend.
I believe that is often called the "cannonball method", and may be what they refer to as the "Frank method", although I'm not exactly sure. It seems to work just fine, and I find it is easiest to do with a conical-shaped tobacco chamber. If it works for you, by all means, carry on with gusto!
I will do it using the Air Pocket Method if a tobacco is a bit wet. This way I can exhale a bit through the stem at the end of a puff, kind of like a bellows. I find it helps keep a damp tobacco lit.
What exactly is this cannonball, frank. air pocket method you speak of?
I have to assume I don't have a moisture problem because I never need a pipe cleaner in the middle of a smoke, but if it enhances the tobacco, I'm al for it.
How do you leave an air pocket at the bottom if you're pressing the top tobacco down?
I have to assume I don't have a moisture problem because I never need a pipe cleaner in the middle of a smoke, but if it enhances the tobacco, I'm al for it.
How do you leave an air pocket at the bottom if you're pressing the top tobacco down?
With certain ribbon cut blends, ie Sherlock Holmes by Peterson, I'll pinch a clump of tobacco between my fingers and stuff it into the bowl. When I lightly tamp it down it does not reach the bottom of the chamber, thus creating an air pocket.
Other than this method, and again it depends on the blend, I use the gravity feed and the codger scoop. Rarely I'll fold and stuff a flake as I prefer to rub them out.
Most of this I do without much thought or care because the tobacco determines how it likes to be put in the pipe. Too loose is always better than too tight, as I can tamp the ember as I smoke.
Yes sometimes this style has some benefits, mostly I do this with broken flake type tobaccos,they easier to handle
yet this Frank methods sees work best whether with pipes of narrow and deep bowl or conical ones.
yet this Frank methods sees work best whether with pipes of narrow and deep bowl or conical ones.
I like some tobacco in the heel to absorb moisture and tars, but it's definitely a very loose pack.
You can also put a pinch of some dry tobacco down there that is not a blend that you otherwise enjoy smoking very much---- I often find that when I get down very low that by then, the tobacco there has absorbed so much juice from tars, oils and moisture that I end up just throwing it out, that way, nothing is wasted.
All of my Meers have a small "button" at the bottom to maintain a small pocket of air. I find it aids in smoking and speeds up coloring a little.
The best airspace I've found is a calabash gourd where the air draw is straight down rather than from the side like a normal pipe. No problems there smoking down to the last grain of tobacco, and never an issue any tars or juice or anything. She smokes cool and clean and dry---- the meerschaum bowl works REAL WELL with the gourd beneath it, and as a benefit, the pipe stays cool to the touch.
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