In view of recent threads outlining popular methods of pipe loading, while all valid, the methods lacked one thing, repeatability. The following is my simple process I have devised to ensure an optimized pipe smoking experience that is repeatable.
First I determine and record the bowl capacity/volume of each of my pipes. This was determined by filling each pipe with liquid, such as whiskey. I then poured the contents from the bowl into a graduated cylinder taking careful note of the measurement. I repeated this process several times to ensure an accurate measure. This value is recorded and maintained for each pipe in a notebook.
Since we now know the volume, we need to find the weight of tobacco for a proper packing density for the tobacco in the bowl. This packing density can vary from tobacco to tobacco, and is optimized through repeated trials. Once determined, this number will be recorded for future reference. (Note - Moisture content can affect this value, but this topic will not be covered at this time.)
Determining packing density. Although there are many loading and packing techniques, for this example we will determine the proper 3-step packing density. Place your pipe on a digital scale. Gravity fill the bowl to approximately ½ full. At this time either record the value on the digital scale, or zero the scale. Now lightly tamp down the tobacco, and while doing so record the value on the digital scale. This will be the amount of force being applied to the tobacco on this initial packing. (If you didn’t zero the scale, and only recorded the initial value. The difference between that value and the tamping pressure value will be the tamping pressure.)
Again fill the bowl, this time about ¾ full. Tamp down the tobacco as before; this time using about 33% greater pressure. This force can be determined from the digital readout of the scale. Record this value.
For the third and final step, fill the bowl completely. Using approximately 66% greater pressure than used in step one, tamp the tobacco. As before, record the digital scale readout. These three values provide you with a repeatable pipe packing density process. This process is performed for each tobacco and the values are kept in notebook for further reference. The packing pressure and ratios can be varied to determine optimal packing pressure for each tobacco and pipe.
We can now determine the packing density. Re-zero the digital scale, and carefully remove the tobacco from the pipe bowl and place the contents on the scale. Record the weight. We now have our weight of tobacco and using the volume of our bowl, we can now determine the average tobacco pack density from our pipe. Density is simply mass divided by volume. This is done by dividing the measured weight of tobacco removed from our pipe by the measured volume we determined in the beginning. In the metric system our calculated value will be some number with units of grams/cubic centimeter. (Note for simplification we will assume that 1 ml = 1 cc).
We now have a repeatable packing process and method to determine optimal packing density.
Continued experimentation with varied packing pressures will optimize your pipes performance. By recoding these optimized values for each pipe, and tobacco, you are ensured of a repeatable smoking experience.
Happy piping.
First I determine and record the bowl capacity/volume of each of my pipes. This was determined by filling each pipe with liquid, such as whiskey. I then poured the contents from the bowl into a graduated cylinder taking careful note of the measurement. I repeated this process several times to ensure an accurate measure. This value is recorded and maintained for each pipe in a notebook.
Since we now know the volume, we need to find the weight of tobacco for a proper packing density for the tobacco in the bowl. This packing density can vary from tobacco to tobacco, and is optimized through repeated trials. Once determined, this number will be recorded for future reference. (Note - Moisture content can affect this value, but this topic will not be covered at this time.)
Determining packing density. Although there are many loading and packing techniques, for this example we will determine the proper 3-step packing density. Place your pipe on a digital scale. Gravity fill the bowl to approximately ½ full. At this time either record the value on the digital scale, or zero the scale. Now lightly tamp down the tobacco, and while doing so record the value on the digital scale. This will be the amount of force being applied to the tobacco on this initial packing. (If you didn’t zero the scale, and only recorded the initial value. The difference between that value and the tamping pressure value will be the tamping pressure.)
Again fill the bowl, this time about ¾ full. Tamp down the tobacco as before; this time using about 33% greater pressure. This force can be determined from the digital readout of the scale. Record this value.
For the third and final step, fill the bowl completely. Using approximately 66% greater pressure than used in step one, tamp the tobacco. As before, record the digital scale readout. These three values provide you with a repeatable pipe packing density process. This process is performed for each tobacco and the values are kept in notebook for further reference. The packing pressure and ratios can be varied to determine optimal packing pressure for each tobacco and pipe.
We can now determine the packing density. Re-zero the digital scale, and carefully remove the tobacco from the pipe bowl and place the contents on the scale. Record the weight. We now have our weight of tobacco and using the volume of our bowl, we can now determine the average tobacco pack density from our pipe. Density is simply mass divided by volume. This is done by dividing the measured weight of tobacco removed from our pipe by the measured volume we determined in the beginning. In the metric system our calculated value will be some number with units of grams/cubic centimeter. (Note for simplification we will assume that 1 ml = 1 cc).
We now have a repeatable packing process and method to determine optimal packing density.
Continued experimentation with varied packing pressures will optimize your pipes performance. By recoding these optimized values for each pipe, and tobacco, you are ensured of a repeatable smoking experience.
Happy piping.
