Pipes Magazine » Pipe Smoking Basics & Beginner Questions

1. 

   misterzombie
   

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   So I have a few beginner questions that I haven't really seen answers to. This may seem like a stupid question but when you tamp down to keep your pipe lit, should you be taking in puffs while doing so? Even though I only use the weight of my tamper, it tends to kill the burn. Also while I have the pipe in my mouth and breathe, some air tends to go back into the pipe. Is this something that is killing my burn? If so, how do I prevent it? Lastly, with lighting, how long should I keep the flame over the tobacco? I partly wonder if I'm burning the tobacco too long as the smoke gets hot when I lite it. Thanks everyone and happy smoking

   "If you meet Buddha, kill Buddha. If you meet your father, kill your father. Attached to nothing, bound by nothing. Live life for the sake of life itself." - Buddhist proverb

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   rothnh
   

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   when you tamp down to keep your pipe lit, should you be taking in puffs while doing so?

   The first tamp is after filling the bowl, prior to the charring light, done with the index finger so the tobacco feels "springy" and not tightly packed in there.

   The next tamp (with your tamper this time) is after the charring light (when you're doing the charring light, you do puff, so as to get the tobacco lit). It's not uncommon for the burn to quit while you tamp -- you're leveling out the charred tobacco in preparation for the true light.

   The true light is next, here you light the tobacco evenly and puff while doing so. If you've dried out the tobacco properly, it should stay lit, but if it does go out anyway (it does happen), tamp lightly but evenly and perform a re-light.

   while I have the pipe in my mouth and breathe, some air tends to go back into the pipe. Is this something that is killing my burn?

   No. You might get embers and ash in your face and on your clothes if you breathe out too hard, so try to avoid doing that, but a light breath back into the pipe won't kill the burn.

   with lighting, how long should I keep the flame over the tobacco?

   First use a match (best), or a lighter such as a Zippo for pipes (good), or a soft flame butane (OK, but be careful), and *never* use a torch. The reason for this is butane can be too hot and torch lighters, while fine for cigars, can burn the crap out of your pipe's wood. Keep up the true light process, puffing, until the tobacco is evenly lit.

   I hope this helps you out

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   wildcat
   

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   Welcome Zombie!

   I'm a visual guy and while reading something gives me the jist, watching really helps put the words into my actions. There are a lot of good pipe smoking videos on youtube. There are also some really lousy ones too... Anyway, watch other people smoke, tamp, fill, light... Lotsa different ways. Find one that suits you. Just my 2 cents. Cheers!

   For whereas men of an older school, like myself, smoke for the pleasure of smoking...
   A.A. Milne

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   happyjacks
   

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   Rothnh pretty much got you on the right track there. As you gain exp. your method may change, but stick to what Rothnh said and you will be on your way.

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   wildcat
   

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   Rothnh pretty much got you on the right track there. As you gain exp. your method may change, but stick to what Rothnh said and you will be on your way.

   Agreed. Watching someone do it right helped me tho...

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   rmbittner
   

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   misterzombie:

   Welcome to the forum -- and to pipe smoking! I'll just add that you should not worry about little breaths going back into the pipe while you're smoking. In fact, this is one of the ways to keep the pipe going, and I'd recommend getting into the habit of breathing very gently back into the pipe every now and then as you smoke.

   Pipe smoking is science and art. You'll get the hang of what works for you over time. You'll also find, though, that you'll need to approach different tobaccos (and different cuts) differently. When you're trying a new blend, you may have to adjust your approach to figure out what will work best with that blend to maintain a light and to reap the most flavor from it.

   On the other hand, don't be afraid of using matches! Sure, we sometimes get through a whole bowl with only one or two matches. But if you're smoking a dense flake, say, it may take a half-dozen. If you're using a half-dozen matches for a lighter ribbon-cut blend, though, it may be a sign that you need to adjust your puffing technique. But don't fret about keeping a light to the extent that you're puffing so vigorously that you're creating a bowl that's too hot to touch.

   Bob

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   shaintiques
   

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   Yes draw while tamping

   I know what I need, smoke, I can't recall the last time I tasted it....Gandalf in the mines of Moria.
   
   "we shall have to share pipes, as good friends must at a pinch'....'I keep a treasure or two near my skin, as precious as rings to me. Here's one: my old wooden pipe. And here's another an unused one...He held up a small pipe with a wide flattened bowl, and handed it to Gimli. 'Does that settle the score between us', said Merry. 'Most noble hobbit, it leaves me deep in your debt."

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   foggymountain
   

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   Draw while tamping as shaintiques said above. Resting the tamper lightly on the burning tobacco after tamping and drawing a few times is the best way to rescue a smoke that is about to go out.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   misterzombie
   

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   Thanks for your input everyone Today I had a much more flavor from my bowl. I wish it was like that everytime!

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    redbeard
    

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    What if you do not own a tamp? Can you use something else? Anything metal? Preferably flat and round or what? Thanks for any info

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    bubblehead33
    

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    yes red, anything will work, even your little finger if you're really stuck.

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. 

    tbradsim1
    

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    Red find a large nail, the old cajun

    The Old Cajun

    Posted 4 months ago #
13. 

    redbeard
    

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    Ty bubblehead and tbradsim!!

    Posted 4 months ago #
14. 

    misterzombie
    

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    Until my shipment comes in I'm also using a nail

    Posted 4 months ago #
15. 

    redbeard
    

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    Went into my local tobacco shop and they had a small tamp + scoop for $0.89

    Posted 4 months ago #
16. 

    baronsamedi
    

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    A 16 penny nail works great. I also have been known to pick up a random stick and sharpen one end to a point for a pick, using a flat end for the tamper.

    Proud Member of the Blackblood Society

    Posted 4 months ago #
17. 

    cigrmaster
    

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    Another way to keep your pipe going is place two fingers over the bowl restricting air flow and draw on the pipe a few times, this is handy if you are driving and don't want to reach for a tamper.

    Harris

    Posted 4 months ago #
18. 

    swhipple
    

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    Another note on tamping. While smoking I try to tamp when the draw gets to light. It's a subtle change but if the pipe gets too easy to puff, it's time for a tamp. I draw while tamping so I can feel how much of a pack I'm creating. When I tamp I try to get the draw back to what it felt like when I first lit the pipe.

    I made a couple of tampers out of dry twigs I found in the yard. I just whittled them down so they have a flat end for tamping and they work great.

    Posted 4 months ago #
19. 

    igloo
    

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    Other than durning the lighting process I try not to tamp until half way down the bowl . Lately I been useing a Mitchell Thomas tamper and have been useing the thin poker more than the tamper part . The tamper has a good feel and heft . http://pipesandcigars.com/mithslpitoin.html

    “There was an awful suspicion in my mind that I'd finally gone over the hump, and the worst thing about it was that I didn't feel tragic at all, but only weary, and sort of comfortably detached.”

    Posted 4 months ago #
20. 

    machurtado
    

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    Igloo when you say your using the poker more are not actually tamping the tobacco but allowing more air to the ember?

    Posted 4 months ago #
21. 

    Mike
    

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    Did anyone catch a few shows back when Brian was talking about his tamper that was like an inverted cone, so it pushed down the sides and not the middle of the bowl? Sounds like a good concept, where can I get one?

    Mike
    
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. -Winston Churchill

    Posted 4 months ago #
22. 

    troutface
    

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    I cut about 3 1/2" off an antler tip of a small buck for a tamper. Flat on the bottom for tamping and pointy on the other end for cleaning out the bowl. Nice and light too. Just remember to shoot the buck first, the live ones don't appreciate it too much

    Bogie-"And remember, this gun is pointed right at your heart"
    Rains-"That is my least vulnerable spot"

    Posted 4 months ago #

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