Didn't Worry About Packing and Guess What?

[buroak]

For blends that don’t lend themselves to the codger scoop, I find that the @pipestud blender spin at least makes them amenable to gravity filling.

 

[anotherbob]

might only be one little letter different. But this doesn't apply to parking.

 

[telescopes]

In the end, I simply load using a modified German or Frank method. I don't even think about it. Gravity fill, quickly, and last load packed with a roll of my thumb. I could say more about my thoughts on going through the motions without any thought given at all, but why?

 

[multitool]

I'm still trying to get consistent, repeatable results, but the three pinch method has never worked for me. A lot of the advice of the experienced smokers in this thread proves to be true as my pipe smoking journey goes on. Don't overthink it, relax, and fill your pipe the way you want. I either do the codger scoop, or pour it to the rim and give it a light pat, and light it.

The whole point is to enjoy yourself.

 

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

Want to weigh in to say, after twenty years of pipe smoking, the best packing method is what ever keeps the pipe going, your work flowing, and your heart knowing that any pipe with tobacco in it is a blessing.

 

[bullet08]

 

[MisterBadger]

I wonder if there are forums where folks agonize over the best way to eat food, or drink alcohol?

 

[OzPiper]

I wonder if there are forums where folks agonize over the best way to eat food, or drink alcohol?

Oh, ABSOLUTELY

One of my friends has gone so far as to self-publish a couple of books on gastronomy - very limited run of copies for friends only.

 

[Pipeh]

Loved this story.....

Closest thing to this I can recall was when I worked for the local Electric Utility company cutting right-of-way to keep the lines clear. Chainsaws, chipper machines, axes, ropes, bucket trucks, etc. This was my summer job during college a million years ago. Our job foreman rolled his own cigarettes.

He got us to the job site and then got in the shade, squatted down and rolled cigarettes. He could pour the tobacco out of his pouch onto the paper and never spill a shred. He would hold the string of the pouch in his mouth and in less than 10 seconds, the cigarette was rolled, licked and stuck in the corner of his mouth. It was so perfectly round that it was hard to tell it wasn't a store bought Camel, ha.

He lit it with a match that he would strike with his thumb nail. This went on all day long......

I've always wondered about the cigarette tobacco with the pouch with a string... what kind of cut was it? In order to pour it, I imagine it was something like a cube cut, but less chunky? I can't imagine pouring any kind of a ribbon.

 

[Pipeh]

I've always wondered about the cigarette tobacco with the pouch with a string... what kind of cut was it? In order to pour it, I imagine it was something like a cube cut, but less chunky? I can't imagine pouring any kind of a ribbon.

Found the answer to my own question, this looks like it was called "granulated cut."

Pioneer Tobacco Pouch • Antique Advertising

Full, sealed, early paper label, string-tie, cloth tobacco bag for Lorillard Co.'s Pioneer brand, featuring great western image on label. Sold at: Wm Morford Antiques Looking to Buy or Sell? Contact: Antique Advertising LLC

antiqueadvertising.com

 

[Choatecav]

Found the answer to my own question, this looks like it was called "granulated cut."

Pioneer Tobacco Pouch • Antique Advertising

Full, sealed, early paper label, string-tie, cloth tobacco bag for Lorillard Co.'s Pioneer brand, featuring great western image on label. Sold at: Wm Morford Antiques Looking to Buy or Sell? Contact: Antique Advertising LLC

antiqueadvertising.com

It was definitely closer to a ribbon cut than a cube. The key is that the "ribbons" are very short and not long like you find in pipe tobacco.

 

[augiebd]

Well done Mike, you’re on to something! I think the cob might also be part of the secret, they seem quite forgiving. That said, I don’t pay much attention to packing method anymore, just fill the pipe and tamp using feel. I get more consistent results than I ever did blindly following a method.

 

[NookersTheCat]

new smokers seem to want to ... instantly have everything ever experienced at their whim, to instantly have a tobacco cellar, to immediately have a pipe collection, etc.

How dare you mock my crippling credit card debt, sir?!?

 

[Thehogfatherpdx]

I tried that three tamp method when I first started smoking and always overfilled my pipe. The result was too tight of a draw, gurgling, excessive relighting etc. I used to think it was because the tobacco was too wet. Now I basically just fill it in one go. I gravity feed or gently pack it until it’s full add a little more and tamp it with my thumb or finger until it’s packed and a little springy. I find that I get the best smokes when there’s basically no resistance in the draw after it’s lit. Most tobacco smokes well this way without excessive relights and I basically never concern myself about the wetness of the tobacco. For flake tobaccos I might let them dry some or vary how I pack the bowl but usually I just cube cut them and gravity feed with similar results.

 

[JoburgB2]

When I first got into pipes in the 70-80’s, there was no internet.
I must have worked something out, because I persisted for 15 years.

Fast forward to resuming with pipes a few years ago - this online community is a godsend.
I’m enjoying my pipes so much more because of the knowledge gained from this Forums

The downside is the induced rampant PAD

Ditto. Well said.