Bernoulli, Venturi, Carburetor

[jpmcwjr]

The technique of holding your hand or fingers over the chamber to stoke up an almost dead ember is, I think, nifty.
Yet some months ago a member said that was a terrible thing to do; relight, he said.

So, experience, thoughts, speculation why it might be bad?

And which of the three words above is the right one?

 

[FurCoat]

I do both. I relight more often but I don't see how "stoking" the flame would have any ill effects. I may be wrong and it will be interesting to read the responses.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I do it all of the time. Bernoulli is the principle or act of doing it, Venturi is the result of doing it. One is a part of the other.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yet some months ago a member said that was a terrible thing to do; relight, he said.

So increasing air speed to strengthen a waning ember is worse than exposing the chamber to a full flame?

 

[Fralphog]

Hmm, I always try to keep my smoke at that “perfect combustion” level and will restrict air flow with one or two fingers to increase air flow speed while lightly tamping to revive the ember. If I‘m unable to achieve the desired level of combustion, I will relight.
I think it is personal preference. When I first started smoking a pipe, I thought that the goal was a Char lite and then relight the tobacco and smoke it all the way down to white ash. Now I realize that it’s not that hard and fast. There are many variables that come into play and the goal is to enjoy each pipe smoking opportunity. Skills and techniques are picked up along the way thru trial and error, when with other pipe smokers or on valuable sites like PM.

I like the three terms you used in your thread title. As a former Army Aviator, the one term that seems to capture what’s actually occurring is “ Venturi”.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't see an issue with it. Not Bernoulli Principle, more like the Venturi Effect.

 

[mortonbriar]

I only light once a year using the sun at summer solstice, the rest are lit by carefully transferring the embers into the next bowl.

I think the reason I don't often do the 'nifty hole cover up' so much is I generally don't feel any urgency or compulsion to keep a pipe lit. If it goes out I will either relight or put it down for a bit...in saying that, I do find a certain satisfaction with this method when I occasionally apply it.

 

[peregrinus]

So, experience, thoughts, speculation why it might be bad?

And which of the three words above is the right one?

I will do either, finger over bowl or just relight, just depends on how much of a remaining ember there is, if I have a match handy or whatever.
Bad? Hmmm.. the pipe police will get you.

Venturi affect I believe from my brushes with HVAC.

 

[warren]

I do what is easiest/safest at the time. A partial covering of the blend is a lot easier than a relight while driving or otherwise beening too engaged to handle fire.

 

[olkofri]

Nigh anything to keep me from relighting is welcome, I don't care if it's not "right" for someone who's not smoking MY pipe!

 

[kcghost]

Whatever trips your trigger.

 

[DanWil84]

As said I think its better to spike the ember that way, I do it all the time when my pipe is on the verge of going out.

The point on relights is do you put the flame directly to the tobacco or try to spark the ember again with the heat of it? I think there is a difference in that. When I relight I put the flame not in the bowl, but try to suck the flame into the bowl, that way it gets the heat of the flame to relight and not the direct flame itself. I compare it with lighting a cigar, I prefer toasting it with a torch instead of blasting it directly in the torch. The torch gives enough heat to combust it at a distance.

 

[jpmcwjr]

All righty, then.

No one can even postulate why the fellow said what he did? I can't think of a reason unless it's to show off your $700 lighter...

 

[bullet08]

I just relight now days. Quicker, less fuss.

 

[anotherbob]

I relight mainly because well the other method just doesn't seem to work great for me. Mainly because I don't have the pipe go out a lot and when it does it's because I wasn't paying attention so it's already out by the time a remedy is called for. But on rare occasions a fold and stuff will use the bellows method as it was called when I was introduced to it. When the flake is just hovering on barely lit.
I guess one could really over do it if they tried super hard and maybe that poster is only capable of over doing it?

 

[WVOldFart]

I consider my pipe like any other fire I deal with. I would rather keep the fireplace embers going than built another fire. I would rather keep the charcoal in the grill going than try to relight it. So with my pipe, I would rather fan the spark than throw the fire to it. It is part of the craft of keeping the pipe and the smoking experience to a fine working condition.

 

[mso489]

Sometimes I can get past the charing light with two fingers. I thought it was because it retained a little more heat that kept the fire going. It's such a tame fire at that point, any damage seems completely theoretical. I think this is strictly for the debating club.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I just relight now days. Quicker, less fuss.

That's a good reason for not doing it!

I am looking for reasons to not do the stoke the ember thing that are harmful, turn you into a female, whatever. I.e. preference for either is fine. Some of us use either method depending on the circumstances.

 

[WVOldFart]

That's a good reason for not doing it!

I am looking for reasons to not do the stoke the ember thing that are harmful, turn you into a female, whatever. I.e. preference for either is fine. Some of us use either method depending on the circumstances.

I really don't think that putting two fingers over a pipe bowl is going to make fire shoot out your ass or snot fly out your nose. I am like you in how can this simple act be harmful. You might burn a fingers, but then again, you aren't putting your fingers in the pipe. I guess it's "Do what feels right."

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

That's a good reason for not doing it!

I am looking for reasons to not do the stoke the ember thing that are harmful, turn you into a female, whatever. I.e. preference for either is fine. Some of us use either method depending on the circumstances.

I do it occasionally. Growing up, I saw the old timers do it a lot. Of course, they mostly smoked dryer ribbon cut tobacco. I'm going to speculate and say they did it in lieu of tamping. I don't see an issue with doing it, just don't over do it. You're essentially turning the pipe into a billows and this stoking method could heat things up rather promptly. I don't think it works as effectively with Flake tobacco.