Do You Pack To The Brim, Below, Or A Little Above?

[mso489]

When packing, how do you top off the bowl? Do you pack a little below the brim to give the tobacco room to rise when you do the first light? Or do you pack above the rim to allow the tobacco room to settle with the first light? Or do you pack even with the brim to anticipate both tendencies? Frankly I think I do all three on occasion depending on the cut, the moisture, my appetite for a smoke, and my mood. I think I tend to pack pretty loosely a little below the brim.

 

[BarrelProof]

Always a little below, but I have no idea why. Habit, I suppose?

 

[luigi]

I usually plan to pack loosely and below the rim but then end up above it and almost too tight.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

This has always been a question for me. I’d love to pack less but find myself packing to the brim regularly.

 

[warren]

I don't really have an intention of any of the three, I just pack it. Sometimes I over fill, other times it might be below the lip.

 

[FurCoat]

I aim for about 1/8" below the rim.

 

[pantsBoots]

I aim for below the rim and almost invariably end up above. I'm just greedy, I guess.

 

[sablebrush52]

Below. I have no interest in cremating the rim on any of my pipes. Besides, the tobacco expands when lit.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Always a little below, but I have no idea why. Habit, I suppose?

Same.

 

[workman]

A little below.
It lessens the danger of ruining the rim and it makes for a better light.

 

[Charlie718]

Depends on the pipe, if I don’t want to burn the rim then fill to just below. Also depends on the tobac and if I know it will expand.

 

[americaman]

A little below for my smooth, natural pipes. Those pipes will show rim darkening really easily.

 

[jewman22]

Pile as much in as possible. A little spilling out is no big deal.

 

[carolinasmokes]

I pack just a tad below the rim to avoid rim scorch when lighting my tobacco.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Pack It To The Brim, Or Not? :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

If you pack your pipe to the brim, it may rise up at first, but soon settles down into the bowl and slowly burns lower. But if you pack it a little less, it has room to rise up and you don't have to settle it as much with a tamper, maybe. What's your habit? I usually pack just below the brim...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

For me, I have always tended to fill SLIGHTLY below low the rim.... probably in the neighborhood is 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch. My reasons are that fairly often even with the medium-to-medium dense packing that seems right to me.... there is some expansion that occurs on first light.

For me, first light is the period where I have the greatest risk of a small ember burst from the bowl and fall onto my shirt or pants. The below the rim style I uses tends to make the risk of creating a hole in my clothes lower.... and then tamping the top a bit (typically with my finger or thumb.... I rarely have a tamper with me other than my digits) sets me ready for a more stable relight with no errant embers popping out...... then all is good to go! ?

 

[telescopes]

For fear of not having to repeat myself, I try to pack under the brim, but in my exuberance , I often pack to the brim. If I pack German style, definitely below the brim.

 

[OneGoodBulldog]

I pack a little below, always.

 

[mso489]

Oh no! I posted an extraordinarily similar original post last December. The old boy is, ahem, repeating himself. Oh well, it seems to have interested a lot of people along the way, both times. I'll make a mental note not to do post number three. And thanks for your responses ... and thanks for your response. Ha.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Tom-

Are the answers mostly the same as the poll in December?