Tamp While Lighting

ignaciojn · Jun 16, 2018

Today, I've been given a piece of advice.
The man, a master blender and pipe smoker for 50 years, wrote this to me: when you light or relight the pipe, always tamp and puff at the same time, to align and horizontally distribute the ember.
I've always tamped before a light, or in the middle of the smoke, never during the light.
What do you think?

npod · Jun 16, 2018

Well I learn something new all the time. I’ll admit that I usually tamp and then light based on habit. I’ll give this more practice.

mrenglish · Jun 17, 2018

Yep, I will do the initial light, take a few puffs then lightly tamp down so it's all even, then light the bowl again. Makes it much harder for burning pieces of tobacco to take flight and destroy something, like my shirts (with burn holes). lol

jpmcwjr · Jun 17, 2018

OK, except the "always". Some times I tamp before the re-light, sometimes after, sometimes while puffing, sometimes not. Sometimes while clenching, sometimes holding it in one hand. And I don't think I tamp a huge amount. (?)

Chasing Embers · Jun 17, 2018

I always tamp before a relight, and use the tamper to guide the ember in a downward spiral down the chamber.

bnichols23 · Jun 17, 2018

Hmmmm. Ok, I'll try it. Like I guess everybody else who was taught to properly smoke by a tobacconist, for me it's always been char-light,tamp, light again, unless it burns solid the first time (depends on the leaf). I'll try to try this & see how it works for me.

robcapp · Jun 17, 2018

I'll definitely try it... But fear my pipes would suffer for the attempt. I don't think I'm coordinated enough to light and tamp at the same time, while not having my pipe in hand.... And not coordinated enough to hold and tamp a pipe with one hand!

ignaciojn · Jun 17, 2018

Some clarification, since my english is terrible. You have to tamp and puff immediately after you finish lighting, not at the same time. (according to him, blow off the match and tamp).

seanv · Jun 17, 2018

That’s how I do it. Light then a slight tamp. Works for me

irishearl · Jun 17, 2018

Gee, I've always done it that way.

jpmcwjr · Jun 17, 2018

Huh? Earl, are you saying you tamp only one way, for ever and ever??

jvnshr · Jun 19, 2018

I do that all the time, I was thinking that everyone was doing it that way. 8O

kickinbears · Jun 21, 2018

I don't think I'm coordinated enough to light and tamp at the same time

Thought I was the only one!
I’ve always tamped after lighting as well; the tobacco tends to puff up (even after a charring light and tamp), and seems to disperse the ember otherwise

aldecaker · Jun 21, 2018

I had to stop and think about it, but this is my method: Initial light, tamp while puffing, second light. All bets are off for the relights. It depends on how well the tobacco is burning and drawing at the time. I hate to ruin a perfect draw with excessive tamping.

jpmcwjr · Jun 22, 2018

Same most times, except my initial light usually takes, and relights happen much later, when I tamp before the relight, or just after when I puff and tamp. Does that cover all the bases??

Tamp While Lighting

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