Debate : Fine White Ash

[cshubhra]

Some swear by fine white ash. Others say that fine white ash a myth.

I have been getting fine white ash quite consistently when I look at the pipe. However, when I dump the bowl, mixed with the dottle, it no longer looks white.

So at the end of the bowl, I took two pictures (Before and after tamping). Looks like fine white ash to me. What do you say?

Pipe: Sasieni Eight Dot Reigate
Tobacco: Watch City Simply Red

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Looks white to me. I never give the color of ash any thought. If it's drawing nicely and tastes great, I don't care what color the ash is. I try to keep my metrics pretty simple and ignore the other stuff that's I consider noise.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Are you trolling??

 

[cshubhra]

I must say the following tobacco give me fine white ash consistently

1. Watch City Simply Red
2. Watch City Rhythm and Blues
3. Samuel Gawith Black XX Twist

 

[OzPiper]

I don't worry about the colour of the ash.

Given the cost of, and difficulty importing tobacco into Australia, I'm more focused on not leaving too much dottle ?

 

[warren]

For me, smoking a pipe is not a competition, real or imagined. White ash? I don't give it a thought. A gurgle now and then? Never a bother. Need to relight? I just apply a flame and get about my business. I do get it that some pipe smokers enjoy striving for the "perfect bowl." I simply want a reasonably enjoyable bowl smoldering nicely while I work or relax.

 

[craig61a]

Well the thought on fine white ash in cigar lore is that the tobacco has a higher concentration of minerals. Specifically magnesium and calcium.

Lower concentration of minerals will yield a more acidic tasting tobacco. Higher concentrations of magnesium will make the ash flaky.

What does this have to do in the grand scheme of things…?

Not a whole hell of a lot in my opinion. ?

 

[bassbug]

It's a well known fact that sandblasted pipes with a dark finish made in Europe produce whiter ash than smooth finished, lighter coloured pipes.

Let's all ruminate on this.

 

[mortonbriar]

I send my dottle back to the manufacturer for a refund whenever it is not a fine white ash.

 

[luigi]

Those who smoke all the way down to fine white or purple ash also smoke a dottle, yuk!

 

[didimauw]

Like a vehicle oil test kit. Send in a sample and they tell you how often you should be cleaning your pipes.

 

[Donb1972]

I rarely even bother to look. If it happens, it happens. If not, that's fine, too.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

I rarely even bother to look. If it happens, it happens. If not, that's fine, too.

Same here. I could care less. I smoke the bowl down to the point that I'm no longer enjoying it, then dump it. If there is some dottle left, oh well. As a younger man, I would try to smoke all of the tobacco in every bowl. Thankfully, I no longer care.

 

[Streeper541]

Over rated.

 

[solideogloria86]

I don't think it's the color or texture of the ash that has been the center of the conversation. It's the fact that that's all that's left. Many new smokers read reviews that say "burned down to a fine white ash".
This leads a lot of people to believe that if you're leaving dottle in the bowl at the end of the smoke, you're doing it wrong. That the epitomy of pipe smoking experience is smoking down to nothing but a fine white ash. It can and does happen, but it's not something you should chase.

 

[OldWill]

Here is my tuppence worth:

There are many blends that I love to smoke all the way until it won't light anymore, stirring the residue as needed.
Chief among these blends are Lakelands and fine virginias, which often give me new flavors as I smoke down.
It's sort of like Cajun cooking, so overcooked that a whole new set of flavors develop.
However, many heavy aromatics just don't over smoke well for me.

Given time and the right blend, leaving only an ash can be a good experience, regardless of its color.

 

[sablebrush52]

That the epitomy of pipe smoking experience is smoking down to nothing but a fine white ash. It can and does happen, but it's not something you should chase.

Unless you're into damaging your pipes by causing heat fissures in the wood.

 

[sablebrush52]

Sorry, but very pale gray, sure. White? Nope.
The Sobranie Ltd products came closest to a white ash, very fine with no mottling. It looked like talcum powder. It also took no effort.

 

[MacMarty89]

I don’t look at my shite when I have pooped, nor do I take notice of the colour of the ash in my pipe.

 

[trouttimes]

Over thing things. Fill, light, smoke. When it no longer taste good, dump. Repeate several times a day. Not rocket science. 30 to 40 million people were able to do it in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.