How much dottle does one usually have after smoking a pipe? Yesterday I smoked my pipe down as far as it would go, and I still had about 2 quarter-thickness of tobacco left that wouldn't light. How much dottle do you guys normally have?
Dottle?
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For me, it depends on how the smoke is developing. Sometimes I'm lucky and I get every last bit without trying too hard. Sometimes the taste gets ashy and I just dump what's left. Also, I've found that drawing while lighting that last little bit can be quite hot so personally, I don't worry about it.
Do what works for you and enjoy the smoke... That's the whole point right? If you burn yourself or the taste isn't good, why turn a otherwise pleasant smoke into an unpleasant one?
Do what works for you and enjoy the smoke... That's the whole point right? If you burn yourself or the taste isn't good, why turn a otherwise pleasant smoke into an unpleasant one?
There's many factors that lead to dottle and the amount of it. Moisture of the tobacco, packing, tamping, puffing rhythm etc.
I'd make sure the tobacco isn't overly moist. Tamp the ash down periodically, about once every four or five minutes and when you do try and make a dome of the ash by tamping on the sides of the bowl mostly. Make sure you light the tobacco evenly by using the lighter/match in a small circular motion and keep the flame just above the tobacco.
You could always do what the most famous detective in the world did and store the dottle in a Persian slipper on your mantle and make a bowl out of it later.
I'd make sure the tobacco isn't overly moist. Tamp the ash down periodically, about once every four or five minutes and when you do try and make a dome of the ash by tamping on the sides of the bowl mostly. Make sure you light the tobacco evenly by using the lighter/match in a small circular motion and keep the flame just above the tobacco.
You could always do what the most famous detective in the world did and store the dottle in a Persian slipper on your mantle and make a bowl out of it later.
I would suggest you not worry much about dottle. It's nice when a bowl burns down to
practically no dottle and still tastes good, and that happens to me fairly often, just a
shred or two of leaf left among the ash. But trying to wring the last light or two out
of a bowl will result in a lot of poor smoking. I go pretty much by taste. If things get
a little ashy tasting or bite even a little bit, I call that a bowl. Or if I can see that I am
well into the bottom of the bowl, I'll just scoop out the remains of it. The amount of
tobacco that gets wasted even when there is some left in the bottom of the bowl is
negligible, and the object is a good-tasting smoke, not saving two and a half cents.
practically no dottle and still tastes good, and that happens to me fairly often, just a
shred or two of leaf left among the ash. But trying to wring the last light or two out
of a bowl will result in a lot of poor smoking. I go pretty much by taste. If things get
a little ashy tasting or bite even a little bit, I call that a bowl. Or if I can see that I am
well into the bottom of the bowl, I'll just scoop out the remains of it. The amount of
tobacco that gets wasted even when there is some left in the bottom of the bowl is
negligible, and the object is a good-tasting smoke, not saving two and a half cents.
It really depends on the pipe and the technique. I will smoke English blends down to the bottom with no problem. Any aro blend, besides 1Q, is tough to get the entire bowl. I usually waste about a quarter of it. Good luck.
Thanks for the help. I got down to the last quarter, maybe a bit further, and it just wouldn't stay lit. As long as it won't cause a bad cake, I'm not going to worry about it.
If its a tobacco I like, then none. Or just a tiny bit. If its a so so blend, I might dump early.
I almost always have some dottle. Those who claim that they have nothing but ash are either far better at smoking than I or have far better pipes than I.
I have noticed that I had developed a habit of tamping too often and too much. Since I've been conscious of this and tamping less and less forcefully, I do think I am seeing less dottle. Except for Sunday afternoon. I was smoking Sunday Picnic (how cliche, to smoke Sunday Picnic on a Sunday afternoon) and it seemed done, but there was a huge amount of dottle, even by my low standards. Too bad. While I don't want to waste good tobacco, I'm not about to let obsession about dottle ruin my enjoyment.
I have noticed that I had developed a habit of tamping too often and too much. Since I've been conscious of this and tamping less and less forcefully, I do think I am seeing less dottle. Except for Sunday afternoon. I was smoking Sunday Picnic (how cliche, to smoke Sunday Picnic on a Sunday afternoon) and it seemed done, but there was a huge amount of dottle, even by my low standards. Too bad. While I don't want to waste good tobacco, I'm not about to let obsession about dottle ruin my enjoyment.
Usually none.
I have one or two pipes that will leave a little dottle if I don't smoke tobacco that is very well dried out.
I have one or two pipes that will leave a little dottle if I don't smoke tobacco that is very well dried out.
Depends, sometimes none, sometimes maybe an 1/8th of the bowl at the bottom. It's like a good cigar, you leave the last bit because it starts to taste like crap otherwise, it's not like you pull out roach clips and smoke it right down just because it was a good cigar.
What I haven't heard anyone me thin yet is if your smoking an aromatic it's almost impossible to smoke the last 4th short of relighting every puff and mostly Inhaling steam. The stuff is just to goopy. Also the cake is important but it's more important your enjoying yourself, don't suffer through some untasty Dottle just to feel like your doing it right.
I don't pick any of that up. But I don't have the experience or heel caked pipes to compare. Send me one of your Ashtons and I'll do a comparison. I'll swap you a corn cob so it doesn't screw up your rotation. I'll even pay shipping!
Back to the original(ish) topic. I love this hobby. It's all about experiences and refining techniques. This forum is a great place for guys like me who don't have people around them to smoke and converse with.
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