Do You Ash?

[sardonicus87]

"Ash" is now a verb? What the hell has happened to the English language?

Has been used as a verb since the mid 1600's...

ash, v.² meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary

ash, v.² meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

www.oed.com

The earliest known use of the verb ash is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for ash is from 1655, in the writing of James Howell, historian and political writer.

It is also recorded as a noun from the Old English period (pre-1150).

 

[hall222]

I dump it, but most of my pipe bowls are on the larger size.

 

[renfield]

I ash on an as-required basis. So the answer is “it depends”.

 

[upnorth1]

I don’t. I like that protective layer when finger tamping.

 

[MRW]

I'm sure it's subjective but do you ash throughout a bowl? I've heard some guys won't touch it with anything but a tamper/finger until it's done and dusted. Personally I'll get to a point, usually halfway down, where it starts to get difficult to light and I'll agitate and then dump the really fine white ash. Repeat when necessary.

Have I been committing a cardinal sin? Is this a testament to my poor smoking abilities?

Do what works best for you. I do ash midway in.

 

[Bbailey324]

Pretty much almost never. I smoke the bowl down and dump out the ash when done. Rarely when there are draw issues I will dump the ash, stir the tobacco and lightly re-tamp. I don't remember doing that yet this year.

 

[warren]

Has been used as a verb since the mid 1600's...

Thanks.

 

[HRPufnstuf]

On a BIG bowl I am likely to ash so I can keep track of my ember. I only have one pipe like this. I may ash a wet smoke to allow it to dry with a relight.

Almost never a "tap-out" just an inversion. I'm not a quitter, I don't tap out.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I ash if needed.
“ash and stir”?? Less and less as I learn more and more about what different cuts/blends prefer for packing, cadence, etc.
Usually if draw is affected by my crappy loading, I’ll chuck it around the last third because the enjoyment isn’t there.

 

[gamzultovah]

On tall, non-conical pipes (think Dan Shape Reformed), I will ash, but on all others I haven’t found it necessary.

 

[username]

Since it's a pipe and not a cigar never found the need.

 

[RookieGuy80]

It just depends on the smoke each time. I have in the past and I'm sure I will again. If the bowl needs it, I'll dump some out. If not I won't.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

With stack pipes that are taller, or if my lighter is running low on fuel and the flame isn’t long enough to draw down far enough for a quick relight, I’ll do a light stir and dump ash. It also depends on the cut of tobacco—ribbons burn and compress more easily, so the flame ignites the tobacco below with greater ease, lessening any need to dump.

 

[ADKPiper]

Usually not.
80% not ash, 20% ash.

 

[Sigmund]

I tend to and probably at times when its not critical. I like to fuss with stuff.

 

[RudyG]

I'm with Warren. If I'm not enjoying the smoke as well as expected, I will dump the ash and run pipe cleaner through.

Usually works well for me

 

[JackOrion]

Tamp. If the pipe is new I’ll cover the bowl and shake it before dumping the ash out.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

I rarely ever do, and when I do, it's because I accidentally bumped or jarred my pipe that it disturbed the ash and tobacco in the bowl. At that point I'll just give it a gentle tap.

100% my experience. Anytime I’ve ever dumped the ash it’s been an accident.

 

[multitool]

I usually dump the ash.

Not because it's regular routine, but because like some have said, it gets difficult to relight and the draw is a bit closed. But that could also be to my own poor technique. I tend to pack or tamp too hard at times.

 

[mso489]

Usually dumping ash isn't needed, maybe every 25 bowls or so, depending on the blend, cut, humidity, or whatever. The trick is to dump the gray ash without losing any part of the ember or unburnt tobacco. Usually the ash is fine enough not to impede tamping or the burn, just not necessary. But there's no shame in it. If you like to ash, have at it.