Bad Good Advice
- Thread starter Rolling Smoke (Stu)
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
I'd love to hear more about your smoking of tobacco wetter than a horny dolphin and how you manage to make that work without relighting every puff....lol
o.k. with a pipe you have a simple goal. Burn the tobacco with as little pain in the neck as possible and as much flavor as possible. All advice should be taken as here is what's worked for me to reach that goal. Which probably changes from pipe to pipe tobacco to tobacco and more importantly from smoker to smoker. Advice is worth listening to but not a one of us is the pipe pope so take our advice with some salt.
Wait I don't see the difference here? Unless you're not treating granny right. Also there is no such thing as a horny dolphin they're always like that, their the only animal that is trying to out perv humans.
Recently found out that Carson had provided stiff competition for the dolphins in that contest.
I dunno, I just smoke it?
I never understood this whole "I can't keep moist tobacco lit" thing that people have. My presumption is that they're maybe packing too much when it's wet?
No dry time, tobacco is moist, it takes a little more effort to light than dry but once lit, for me it just burns no different really than dry tobacco, maybe burns slower? Only difference I ever noticed is like, 0.1% more dottle at the end, but I don't need to relight it more than dry tobacco. The only other difference I notice with wet tobacco is that the nearly paper thin bit of dottle at the end is like a stuck together puck rather than individual bits of tobacco. Well that and the dry stuff to me often has more muted flavor than fresh from the tin (not better, not different—same flavor, just weaker).
I honestly don't get how people can't keep moist, fresh from the tin tobacco lit, and I've yet to come across any, even heavy PG-laden goopy aromatics, that were just TOO wet to do anything with.
Last edited:
I struggled as a beginner with excessive relights. All advice pointed to packing more loosely. I did that and continued to struggle. It turned out that I was already packing too loosely. I started packing the tobacco more firmly, particularly the top layer of the bowl, and as if by magic, I could suddenly smoke a bowl with only one or two relights usually. All of my pipe problems came from not packing firmly enough, not tamping enough, not applying the flame enough, and puffing too vigorously.
It's hard to diagnose technique issues via forum, and while I appreciate the well-intentioned advice from veteran pipe smokers, following said advice it doesn't always solve the problem. I think the best advice to give to struggling beginners is to vary one's technique and to change one thing at a time to isolate variables. When something isn't working, change something.
It's hard to diagnose technique issues via forum, and while I appreciate the well-intentioned advice from veteran pipe smokers, following said advice it doesn't always solve the problem. I think the best advice to give to struggling beginners is to vary one's technique and to change one thing at a time to isolate variables. When something isn't working, change something.
All this dolphin talk reminded me of a story I heard long ago: A Little Humor for the Day 2025 :: General Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/a-little-humor-for-the-day-2025.107997/post-37206468
Sorry.
Sorry.
Use a quarter to pry the tin open, and a bib to catch the drool.
I agree with you. I don’t dry tobacco, I smoke it as it is.
Here is my short rant:
It’s an overcomplication of a simple thing. The humidity of where you live factors in. The blend factors in (some stuff just does not dry out). Each blend would have a different dry time. You have to figure it out. The only benefit I can think of regarding drying tobacco is it makes it easier to light. But in my experience, dry tobacco just burns hotter and tastes like ash. I have never burnt my tongue as bad as I have on dry tobacco, and it was not even bone dry. I also think that it diminishes flavor. The moistness of the tobacco brings more flavor out, in my experience. I have also always figured that blenders sell tobacco at an intentional moistness. If they didn’t, all Englishes would be sopping wet. But they’re not. Also, it’s just silly to me people microwave tobacco to dry it out. Anyways, that’s just my 2 cents.
There's also been several times where a particular tobacco or this kind of discussion comes up and one will say "I get the best flavor with X blend when it's dry" and another will go "odd, I get the best flavor from X blend when it's fresh and moist".
Seen that play out several times, which only speaks to maybe dry isn't the answer, maybe it's the answer for you (not you specifically, I mean "you" as in those that give that advice), but not for everybody
And mind anyone that thinks otherwise, I'm not anywhere saying it or you is wrong for drying your tobacco. What I am saying is wrong, is dogmatically preaching it like it's a necessity. If it works for you, great, have at it, but don't act incredulous when someone doesn't dry theirs and that works for them.
That's mostly my problem with most advice... lots of it is given with either no explanation as to why, or is given as if it's hard fact, and people act like any other way must be impossible.
Drying tobacco is weird. Non-aromatics can be more flavorful after drying, though not always. Aromatics tend to lose their topping (and often, most of their flavor) after drying, unless the underlying tobacco is of good quality, in which case diminishing the toppings may be desirable. Some blends seem to burn hotter after drying, and some don't. Short term drying, over a period of minutes/hours/days is more likely to yield favorable results, whereas tobacco left to dry for an extended period tends to go flat. As always, YMMV.
I tend to prefer drier tobacco, but I stopped bothering to deliberately dry mine unless it's a flake I plan to fold and stuff. I just smoke it as-is from the tin or jar. Doesn't make a huge difference, IMHO.
More moisture = more water, less tobacco for your money. Some moisture, however, is reported to help with aging. I have definitely gotten some soggy englishes. Sutliff Count Pulaski comes to mind, as my bulk portion was practically dripping when I opened the bag; as wet as any aromatic gooper I've ever come across.
Dont feel too bad. I didnt buy Netfix on the dip when they stopped shipping CDs. If I recall it dropped to 66 dollars!
I scientifically developed THIS method several years ago.
You're welcome, internet....
View attachment 388263
You're welcome, internet....
View attachment 388263
Yes….this was well written and made me chuckle here…..thanks!
Sounds like a similar journey you have been on to mine. Pleased you are also getting more pleasure from your pipes after some experimentation.