Do You Do the Dottle?

[Old_Newby]

Ok as a new smoker I have found most of my bowls fizzle out with about 1/4 to 1/5 bowl remaining. I have 2 questions for all of you about what I now know to be “dottle”.

1) Am I packing the first pinch too light, too tight, or is this the norm?

2) I am finding myself dumping the top ash off the dottle and fluffing up the remaining and lighting it. I have always hated wasting anything. Sometimes it’s actually a nice flavor hit on that last relight, yet sometimes I wish I never did it. What do most of you do?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Sounds like you're asking about a strange dance from the 50's. Sometimes I dottle, sometimes I don't. Either way, I never worry about it, nor do I torch the last remaining flakes for tobacco. That's a good way to burn out your pipe.

 

[Old_Newby]

Sounds like you're asking about a strange dance from the 50's. Sometimes I dottle, sometimes I don't. Either way, I never worry about it, nor do I torch the last remaining flakes for tobacco. That's a good way to burn out your pipe.

Yea was kinda a play on words.. ?
When you say “burn out” your pipe are you meaning actually burning the wood and physical damage? Or is that a pipe term for something that causes a carbon or caking / taste issue?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yea was kinda a play on words.. ?
When you say “burn out” your pipe are you meaning actually burning the wood and physical damage? Or is that a pipe term for something that causes a carbon or caking / taste issue?

A burn out can be one of several different things. A pinhole opens up and burns out through to the outside of the pipe, or a section of the thin wood around the draft hole can burn and cause problems with your airway.

 

[Sgetz]

If it tastes nice I smoke it. If it tastes horrible I dump it.

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

I would like to see what people are left with when done smoking. Has there ever been a "Show me your dottle and I'll show you mine" thread?

Was always curious if I am an efficient smoker or if I'm wasting.

 

[Bluemonter]

I gather up all the dottle from numerous bowls and press it, slice it...and jar it with a label that reads Carolina Red Flake with Periqie... ?

 

[Streeper541]

I chew it up and eat it when I'm done.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Sounds normal; a lot of folks don't smoke to a "fine white ash" [tm]

I never, ever stir the remaining tobacco on a relight. A light tamp, for sure.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I would like to see what people are left with when done smoking. Has there ever been a "Show me your dottle and I'll show you mine" thread?

Was always curious if I am an efficient smoker or if I'm wasting.

I seldom have much dottle to show! And, thank Heaven, haven't seen such a thread.

Please put your location in your Profile, as people are forgetful.
Why:
That will save questions in the future as to where you live when you later mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos, wildfires, air quality, etc. In many instances that saves time for those who read your posts. It cuts down on posts or PMs asking where you are.
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.

 

[briarbuck]

I dump as soon as the snap crackle pop starts happening.

 

[mso489]

New pipe smokers worry a lot about dottle. Be easygoing about it. Maybe pack slightly looser and dry your tobacco a little more. A bit of gentle tamping will even out the burn. Once it loses its good taste, scoop it out in the ashtray. Eventually, you'll get very little dottle, sometimes none. But even so, you won't get an award, so don't focus on it.

 

[shanez]

I have always hated wasting anything.

I don't like to be purposefully wasteful but you're talking about less than a nickel worth of tobacco. I see no need to waste my time and risk burning my pipe simply for the sake of being able to say I smoke a bowl all the way to ash.

 

[kcghost]

I smoke some tobaccos to white ash (maybe dumping the ash out before I get the last little bit) and some I don't get last little 1/4nch. What doesn't burn I just throw out.

 

[kg.legat0]

I would like to see what people are left with when done smoking. Has there ever been a "Show me your dottle and I'll show you mine" thread?

Was always curious if I am an efficient smoker or if I'm wasting.

This would be fun!

Some pipes produce more dottle than others. I've found, in my own experience, the humidity effects the amount of dottle more than anything.

Unless you live somewhere with draconian tobacco laws or have a seriously restrictive budget, I'd chuck it. That plug of hot nasty may look enticing but it's just a hot mess on the inside (she looks like a 10 at 2 and a 2 at 10 lol) -- good luck!

 

[mso489]

The unburnt tobacco has served as a sort of filter, but smoking it is often quite sour, so I consider it has served its purpose and throw it out, not following Sherlock Holmes example who picked out the unburnt bits and smoked them. It can't have been tasty.

 

[Laurent]

When I get done smoking a bump out the ash, it’s always like a little surprise. Sometimes I have one sometimes I don’t. ?

 

[Bowlsmoker67]

I snort it

 

[Old_Newby]

You guys crack me up. Love the feedback.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Try meerschaum and gravity filling.