Blowing back into the pipe?

[damianmonk]

I sometimes blow what I puffed back into the pipe, makes really nice smoke rings and it's easier that opening up my mouth halfway still trying to balance my pipe.
Does it slow down the burning of tobacco or affect the flavour, or is it a common thing to do?

 

[aldecaker]

I don't do it because I think it is counterproductive to the ember I've tried to stoke. Some do it as a means to reduce gurgle, but I rely on a pipe cleaner for that. The smoke rings can be kind of mesmerizing, though.

 

[fadingdaylight]

Actually, it should help keep your pipe burning better. I have been told by several people that blowing a bit back into the pipe from time to time is a good thing to do. It shouldn't really have any negative effects, unless you do it on every puff.

 

[hawke]

I read a post where the smoker did this to moisten up a dry tobacco. I have adopted this at those times.

 

[elbert]

I used to do this to puff loose ash out the top. Smokes wetter when I did. My ash dump routine is more satisfactory now--but I still puff through the pipe from time to time, mostly to satisfy my own desire to see that little curl of smoke rise out of the pipe.

 

[dottiewarden]

I read a post where the smoker did this to moisten up a dry tobacco. I have adopted this at those times.

I've found this technique works very well with a fine ribbon cut.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Sometimes something sort of like that is called "breath smoking" but there doesn't seem to be any clear nomenclature about what to call it when you smoke your pipe without puffing out of your mouth.
I just call it "smoking through my pipe".
Basically that's the only way I smoke a pipe. Maybe one in ten puffs I'll let smoke out my lips so that I can smell it a bit better, but too much of that makes my nose stuffy.

I don't like smoke near my face, thus, long stems and smoke normally only comes out the bowl.

 

[dutch65]

Lightly exhaling back thru the pipe, is one way to control the burn rate. I like to smoke small lightweight pipes, which tend to heat up a little quicker than a heavier pipe. Exhaling back thru the pipe can allow me to keep smoking, rather than setting the pipe down to cool off.

 

[jpmcwjr]

If you're blowing enough to make several smoke rings, it's probably too much air, and the pipe will tend to get hot. Does it?
Common? A small puff or two back through the stem is something I do to regulate the burning, esp. on relights.

 

[seacaptain]

I do it too.