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I just finished loading my rusticated peterson lestrade (with dunhill nightcap) and it brought the question up, do many people use the frank method? I for a while used a three pinch, but never had a good smoke until I stumbled upon the frank method!
I use the Geezer grab and stuff method . Developed over the last 40 some years of pipe smoking.
Thank you , mister helpful.
I use the same method as Unclearthur, it is more of a modified three pinch method...
Hahaha! The geezer grab makes me picture my gramps loading his pipe!
To be quite frank, I don't use it. 
I use a modified geezer grab known as the senior stuff.
All I know is: "If it's too tight, it ain't right."
I've used it a few times, however, only had 1 good smoke. Since then, I've done pretty much as the others above have stated and just grab and stuff. The tricky part is getting the right density of your packing method, whether it's Frank's Method or your own.
I use the grab and stuff method myself with little or no problems.
I've had great results with the frank method ; but I need occasional reviews.
I really need to spend more time with pipe smoker's....just don't know many of them.
Im in the same boat tanless. I am the only person I know that smokes pipe.
Listen to Arthur and Bubba. I've been at it for 40 years and grab and stuff works just fine. Leave it to the German's to develop a 20 minute excercise to get you to the point where a 6 second stuff will bring you. I watched the youtube videos of the Frank method and it was mind numbing. I, for one, consider it a hoax.
The 3 step method never worked for me. I experienced very inconsistent results.
I use a simplified approach inspired by the Frank method, but it's unorthodox enough to probably just be close to "grab and stuff" - it isn't so precise and deliberate as Frank's, but it has never failed me since I've seen his video. Great smokes time and time again. Before that, I was always packing poorly and never truly enjoyed the experience.
Echoing unclearthur, I think there is something to be said for experience and simple intuition. But for a newcomer who doesn't know a tap about pipe smoking - take a lesson or two from Otto Frank.
I think the guy's name is Achim Frank.
Listen to Arthur and Bubba. I've been at it for 40 years and grab and stuff works just fine. Leave it to the German's to develop a 20 minute excercise to get you to the point where a 6 second stuff will bring you. I watched the youtube videos of the Frank method and it was mind numbing. I, for one, consider it a hoax.
It only takes me +/- 3 minutes to load my pipe using the frank method, tho I do a sort of modified version that just kinda developed from doing 6+ times a day for the last 8 months. As for it being a hoax, isn't it the method used to load Brittish Pipe Smoking Championship pipes?
Like the rest of you, I also use the ol' grab and stuff method! I don’t take the time to care to use the Frank Method. I’ll give the Frank Method a try here soon, and let you guys know what I think. After watching a video of the method I must admit, that is a beautifully packed bowl of tobacco (It was the PipesMagazine video instructional).
I’m interested to know if different manners of packing will provide a different smoke.
To tell you the truth...
I use the Frank method when I'm practicing for, or participating in a slow smoke competition.
I found that it is quite conducive to a good slow smoke...
Only one drawback... it has to be done in a hurry/quickly in competition because of the time constraints. It can be problematic if the match tobacco is in need of much preparation.
(sorry about the puns)
These may be of use for those who aren't familiar with the Frank Method.
I have used it in the past, but now I mainly use the three step method now. The Frank Method just seemed like to much of a hassle for me.
However, if you don't mind going through the motions, it is a good technique.
You can see a few more different packing techniques, including a hybrid method of the Frank Method here:
Tobacco Pipe Packing Methods Part 1
Tobacco Pipe Packing Methods Part 2 (Videos)
Part 1 has written instructions and Part 2 has the Video Tutorials.
Hessenland,
Otto would appear to be father of the famous Anne Frank. Thanks for pointing out my mistake - it has been a long time since I viewed that video! My apologies to Achim; he deserves all the credit.
I think I'm in the same camp as marmal4de. An "abbreviated" customized version of the Frank method is very beneficial for a casual smoke. I'll give a shout out to Bob and his videos for providing us with a less precious, more concise example of the Frank method in action. His video was brief and to the point; I've smoked many enjoyable bowls since learning from his technique. Thanks Bob!
I agree with Lawrence, it sure gives a slow smoke and allows for much more consistent combustion in my opinion. Another correlation I've noticed - a factor among many - I haven't experienced tongue bite since I adopted the Frank method. (I also smoke better quality minimally cased tobaccos, keep them at a proper moisture, and go slower than I used to - but I've noticed a biting tendency when I try other packing processes. Might just be human error.)
Edit - Beat me to it, Bob!
The Frank method works . But so does the pack like a baby , pack like a woman and push it home like a man .Or if all else fails the Geezer grab and stuff method . Now flakes that would be altogether another story .
While I do use the Frank method... when I need to.
Mostly it's the Geezer Grab.
I tried using the frank method once and it struck me as being the single biggest waste of time without any tangible benefit within the pipe smoking world.
I tried using the frank method once and it struck me as being the single biggest waste of time without any tangible benefit within the pipe smoking world.
The only thing that matters when smoking your pipe is personal pleasure. Your ritual is your ritual, mine is mine, ad nauseum. So with that logic, any technique that makes an individuals pipe smoking experience better has weight in the pipe smoking world.
The Frank method works pretty well for me, but I think I might have modified it into a slight grab and stuff too.
Sparroa, I'm glad the articles helped you!
Igloo Said: Now flakes that would be altogether another story.
I have an article with videos on those too:
Flake Pipe Tobacco Preparation
The "cutting into cubes" method is way too time-consuming, but does work. 
Marmal4de said it best: "The only thing that matters when smoking your pipe is personal pleasure. Your ritual is your ritual, mine is mine..."
To me, pipe smoking is one of life's simple pleasures.
I intend to keep it that way.
I fill my pipe. I smoke it. I enjoy it. I really don't think about it.
There is no methodology in play when I fill my pipe. I guess it's just something that I've learned to do through trial and error over the years. I am not conscious of any technique and had never really thought about it until I read this thread. It's an uncomplicated act, not unlike pouring a cup of coffee.
Life has plenty of complications, but smoking a pipe isn't one of them.
I use a quasi Frank method for large(r) bowls.
I stumbles across the Frank method a couple of days ago .I tried it and love it.It has consistantly made for a better smoke then the 3 step method.works well on both small and large bowls.
Man thats all too flippin complicated, I guess I am an old fogy when it comes to my pipes, I stuff pipe in baccy and cram with index finger into bowl, works great and takes about 10-15 seconds....after doing it for so many years I always have the right pack in the bowl I very rarely have a gurgle and seldom need to relight, unless I was Jawjacking too long..questions?????? 
On the rare occasion I get the chance, I love watching other pipers load their instruments. Its such a unique and individual art!
The only thing that matters when smoking your pipe is personal pleasure. Your ritual is your ritual, mine is mine, ad nauseum. So with that logic, any technique that makes an individuals pipe smoking experience better has weight in the pipe smoking world.
True, but over time you'll find you'll learn to load your pipe without all the complications and it will smoke just as well with 10 seconds of load prep as do the minutes of the Frank method, which always struck me as a solution looking for a problem. Every new pipe smoker goes through a learning curve but if it works for you use it.
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I use the Frank Method when I have some lazy time, it provides a wonderful slow burning smoke. On a regular basis I use the air pocket method or the three step.
Well being new to pipes a year ago, I watched a lot of videos and read explanations on packing your pipe. I have tried the 3 step method, Frank's method and the air pocket method. I had the most luck with the air pocket method, then Frank's and lastly the 3 step. I realized that even though I got a better smoke with the air pocket method, that I was never building any cake up in the bottom of the bowl at all, which I read was bad. 
So now I kinda just do a grab and stuff and make sure I get tobacco to the bottom of the bowl. I always wanted an experienced pipe smoker to load my pipe for me one time so I could see it being done AND smoke a properly loaded pipe.
No matter how I pack any pipe I own, with any tobacco, it is gurgle city.
True, but over time you'll find you'll learn to load your pipe without all the complications and it will smoke just as well with 10 seconds of load prep as do the minutes of the Frank method, which always struck me as a solution looking for a problem. Every new pipe smoker goes through a learning curve but if it works for you use it.
but he's right, I really don't use the frank method anymore, i load and smoke my pipe much faster and without thinking.
I use the Frank Method with my English tobacco. I find it wakes up the flavor, since most English tends to taste the same after a while.
It seems to me that the flake tobacco has it's own way of packing and for everything else I fill the bowl loosely to the top and then depending on the size of the bowl I take a pinch like I'm putting a dip of Copenhagen in my lip into a small bowl and for larger I pinch a big hunk like Redman and stuff it and puff it.
Ive been using this method and it works wonders for me
Never having heard of the Frank method I went on youtube to watch it. It has to be a joke. But I wasn't laughing & couldn't watch more than a minute of it. What a load of bull. HOW TO LOAD A PIPE: 1)grab a pinch of tobacco 2)pull out stems and slightly round the bottom with your finger so it doesn't clog the air hole. 3) insert in the bowl with light pressure.4) repeat until full, packing each layer slightly tighter. 2,3,4 or 5 layers are ok. END OF INSTRUCTIONS
@cornguy and @foggymountain: You cats have it right.
Also, on a personal level, I guess I use a geezer grab hybridized two-to-four-stage packing method. It's all feel. Absolutely depends on the blend and pipe. So yeah. No method. Feeeel.
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