Burns At The Center Only

[Zartoon]

Greetings,

so I have found that on most my pipes, the burn goes down the center and leaves about 60-70% of the tobacco around the perimeter of the bowl I burned.

what is the secret to getting a uniform burn that is bowl wide?

 

[burleyboy]

To me this happens, when I cube cut flakes, so I tend to rub them out entirely to avoid this issue.

This could also be the result of a too tight packing. You can start with a gravity fill and make sure, that the draw is not affected at all. Then do your charring light and gently adjust the density of your tobacco with the tamper. Especially when smoking flakes, it seems to be important to pack really loose.

 

[Chasing Embers]

what is the secret to getting a uniform burn that is chamber wide?

Tamping

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yes... actually, you must be doing something very right. Burning down the center is how you get the most tasteful smoke, because the cherry heats the tobacco along the side and releases the oils into the smoke. The smoke has no taste by itself, it is the heated tobacco oils that give you flavor.

Just use your tamp to push the tobacco along the sides down.
Or, you can maybe rub out the tobacco a little more to get a more consistent burn... but, then you sacrifice flavor.

 

[kg.legat0]

To me this happens, when I cube cut flakes, so I tend to rub them out entirely to avoid this issue.

This could also be the result of a too tight packing. You can start with a gravity fill and make sure, that the draw is not affected at all. Then do your charring light and gently adjust the density of your tobacco with the tamper. Especially when smoking flakes, it seems to be important to pack really loose.

This is pretty much exactly what I came here to say haha --always happens to me with flakes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I find it happens more dramatically with flakes for me. Cube cut, I can see where it could happen, but the edges tends of those cubes tend to catch a little fire as the pipe burns.

One of the things that bothers me most, is when I am smoking a flake while doing something with my hands, and I have to stop and fiddle with the pipe using a tamper. I mean, it bothers me, but First world problems, right? Ha ha. This is why I cube cut my flakes now.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I smoke flakes most of the time. I light more of the surface of the tobacco. Note, hold the flame away from the tobacco and draw the heat to the tobacco so you don't scorch the pipe rim. I also tamp when needed to push the unsmoked tobacco down. This is required a minimal amount of times.

 

[Casual]

My best smokes are from a tiny ember in the center. Long, slow, cool, flavourful.

 

[BROBS]

Greetings,

so I have found that on most my pipes, the burn goes down the center and leaves about 60-70% of the tobacco around the perimeter of the bowl I burned.

what is the secret to getting a uniform burn that is bowl wide?

when you pack the pipe only push it down in the center.

 

[yaddy306]

In my early days, I found that when I drew too hard on the pipe, the cherry burned down the centre of the tobacco like a drill.
Try more gentle sips.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Maybe its packed too tightly.

 

[Jwebb90]

Maybe its packed too tightly.

This was my thought.

 

[rushx9]

Cos and Casual beat me to it, but down the center smokes are the best! Rolled flakes will do this naturally but with loose mixtures I actually poke a hole down the center with my pipe tool to encourage this kind of burn. Once I've got "fire in the hole" I'll give a light tamp and relight(even if it hasn't gone out) and the sides light up looking like a "ring of fire". By halfway everything has caught up and burns evenly. If the sides don't catch up, it's no biggie. Just smoke slow and enjoy the smoke. Don't think of the unburnt tobacco as waste, but "side dottle"!

 

[olkofri]

I've also found out that a tamper with a concave, tapered rim head such as this one:

What's Your Favorite Tamper? Not The Prettiest, But The One Most Used, 8deco? :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

I have always just used the standard aluminum pipe nail. I have had others, but gave them away as I never found them to be as convenient as the old nail. I have a Czech tamper on the porch, and I use it sometimes, but I'm always fiddling with the tools to get the right one I need. However it's...

pipesmagazine.com

helps with gently pushing the tobacco on the periphery towards the centre and gently scraping any that's stuck to the walls.

 

[Zartoon]

thank you for all the responses..
much appreciated.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

All of the tamps that I make have a concave foot like that, except smooth.
@Zartoon It sounds like you are doing something right. You just may have to fidgit with it using a tamp to push the sides down every now and then. Keep up the good work.

 

[Worknman]

I always thought it was normal and based on physics. You're pulling through a very small opening situated in the center so the heat will naturally be pulled in that direction. I usually do an ash dump about mid bowl and gently move the tobacco on the sides towards the center.

 

[Zartoon]

I always thought it was normal and based on physics. You're pulling through a very small opening situated in the center so the heat will naturally be pulled in that direction. I usually do an ash dump about mid bowl and gently move the tobacco on the sides towards the center.

I do this too. But I do end up with Jared tobacco in the draw hope, so it either blocks the draw or I end up with some charred tobacco bits in my filter or mouth (if it isn’t a filtered pipe)

 

[BROBS]

Jared tobacco

 

[jaytex1969]

A shot of penicillin should set you straight.