Down at the Heel!

[cosmicfolklore]

@Doctor Chopper I noticed your angry emoji... the at the end of my statement means that I am intentionally saying something cheeky. And, I agree somewhat with your post, but some blends (to me) do taste good all the way down... but not all.
But for the last few years, I have noticed that people tend to respond to people struggling or just curious about why they can't smoke to the bottom, or why they have top relight so much, and the consensus is usually "don't worry about it," "everyone has the same issues," and, "settle for sub par." This bothers me. I mean none of this is important, true. No one gets a prize for smoking a whole pipe on one light. But, why stop someone from trying?

It's bullshit. It's like is someone asks why their bike tips over when they stop peddling, and everyone responds, "that's normal, don't worry about it." "Everyone tips over when they stop peddling."
True, relighting the last bit of dottle is heading towards burning up your pipe. DONT DO THAT. But, if you want to know how to win a slow smoking contest or just for your own knowledge, if you want to smoke to the bottom, then never take your pipe out of your mouth. It's not rocket surgery. However, if you can't breath smoke and keep a pipe clenched, then yes... don't worry about it.

AND, sometimes even with a pipe in constant clench, you may not make it down to the bottom. In those cases, "you suck." Ha ha... JK. But, it can happen. Not to me, but maybe someone else.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

@Doctor Chopper I noticed your angry emoji... the at the end of my statement means that I am intentionally saying something cheeky. And, I agree somewhat with your post, but some blends (to me) do taste good all the way down... but not all.
But for the last few years, I have noticed that people tend to respond to people struggling or just curious about why they can't smoke to the bottom, or why they have top relight so much, and the consensus is usually "don't worry about it," "everyone has the same issues," and, "settle for sub par." This bothers me. I mean none of this is important, true. No one gets a prize for smoking a whole pipe on one light. But, why stop someone from trying?

It's bullshit. It's like is someone asks why their bike tips over when they stop peddling, and everyone responds, "that's normal, don't worry about it." "Everyone tips over when they stop peddling."
True, relighting the last bit of dottle is heading towards burning up your pipe. DONT DO THAT. But, if you want to know how to win a slow smoking contest or just for your own knowledge, if you want to smoke to the bottom, then never take your pipe out of your mouth. It's not rocket surgery. However, if you can't breath smoke and keep a pipe clenched, then yes... don't worry about it.

AND, sometimes even with a pipe in constant clench, you may not make it down to the bottom. In those cases, "you suck." Ha ha... JK. But, it can happen. Not to me, but maybe someone else.

I meant "yeah, right" in an acknowledgement of your cheekiness more than anger at all. Lack of emoji choices, and I picked the wrong one in retrospect. It was a good natured tease rather than a disagreement.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

@Doctor Chopper I noticed your angry emoji... the at the end of my statement means that I am intentionally saying something cheeky. And, I agree somewhat with your post, but some blends (to me) do taste good all the way down... but not all.
But for the last few years, I have noticed that people tend to respond to people struggling or just curious about why they can't smoke to the bottom, or why they have top relight so much, and the consensus is usually "don't worry about it," "everyone has the same issues," and, "settle for sub par." This bothers me. I mean none of this is important, true. No one gets a prize for smoking a whole pipe on one light. But, why stop someone from trying?

It's bullshit. It's like is someone asks why their bike tips over when they stop peddling, and everyone responds, "that's normal, don't worry about it." "Everyone tips over when they stop peddling."
True, relighting the last bit of dottle is heading towards burning up your pipe. DONT DO THAT. But, if you want to know how to win a slow smoking contest or just for your own knowledge, if you want to smoke to the bottom, then never take your pipe out of your mouth. It's not rocket surgery. However, if you can't breath smoke and keep a pipe clenched, then yes... don't worry about it.

AND, sometimes even with a pipe in constant clench, you may not make it down to the bottom. In those cases, "you suck." Ha ha... JK. But, it can happen. Not to me, but maybe someone else.

+1. I meant to give advice on a strategy to deal with dottle.

 

[anotherbob]

I think I spend too much time reading tobaccoreviews.com. Everyone on their seems to be a self proclaimed expert.

You’ve reduced my anxiety more with this reply then my therapist usually does.

As far as self proclaimed experts.... Not the same thing per say but I remember noticing when the internet was just becoming a house hold thing and not just for nerds that I could guess how much a band sucked by how great they said they were. I kept seeing amazing musicians say they play this or that and like writing music about this or that. Where as these lame bands would be amazing and important and breaking ground. And it hit me if you think you're the best or so important in that field it means you see it through a smaller lens. I think pipe smoke is not only one of those things too. This is how a pipe should be drilled, then you're ignoring the fact that some people like this or that for the reason it agrees with how they do this thing. And also wow you've mastered pipes!!! Are they also masters at eating cookies too?
Oh and that last comment it's why therapists should smoke a pipe.

 

[anotherbob]

notice too that one factor is what tobaccos and what pipes you are smoking.

 

[Davy]

Dottle happens.

Exactly. Well said.

 

[AJL67]

I never have worried about it, while i do notice that i dig out about 15% of the tobacco as dottle, I always figured it was so cheap that it's not like flushing Bolivian Marching Dust or anything, also i don't want to burn anything that low in the bowl / by the draft hole, seems like it's harder on the pipe smoking things to the bottom of the bowl.

 

[yanoJL]

...yes I dump in my hand to see the magnitude of my failure...

Hahaha!
I do this too. Yeesh.

I just wanted to add: tobacco doesn't need to be combusted into ash in order to be adequately "used". The heat from an adjacent ember is sufficient to release the flavors of the blend into steam (and smoke).

 

[ThermionicScott]

I just wanted to add: tobacco doesn't need to be combusted into ash in order to be adequately "used". The heat from an adjacent ember is sufficient to release the flavors of the blend into steam (and smoke).

Yeah, if you do manage to combust 100% of the tobacco, you’ve actually gone a bit too far!

 

[gervais]

Dottle, the unburned leaf, is just part of the deal. Some cuts, some blends, in some pipes, on a good day, pretty much burn up. But usually there is a little pinch of unburnt tobacco. I sure wouldn't dump it in your hand. It's just standard pipe smoking residue. Don't make it a gloomy failure for nothing.

For some reason, my MM cobs are the most often to burn up the whole chamber and just leave dusty ash, all without diminishment of flavor. But most of my briars and my Meer do well most of the time too.

Consider those leavings of unburnt tobacco a filter that absorbs moisture. it's done its job.

@Doctor Chopper I noticed your angry emoji... the at the end of my statement means that I am intentionally saying something cheeky. And, I agree somewhat with your post, but some blends (to me) do taste good all the way down... but not all.
But for the last few years, I have noticed that people tend to respond to people struggling or just curious about why they can't smoke to the bottom, or why they have top relight so much, and the consensus is usually "don't worry about it," "everyone has the same issues," and, "settle for sub par." This bothers me. I mean none of this is important, true. No one gets a prize for smoking a whole pipe on one light. But, why stop someone from trying?

It's bullshit. It's like is someone asks why their bike tips over when they stop peddling, and everyone responds, "that's normal, don't worry about it." "Everyone tips over when they stop peddling."
True, relighting the last bit of dottle is heading towards burning up your pipe. DONT DO THAT. But, if you want to know how to win a slow smoking contest or just for your own knowledge, if you want to smoke to the bottom, then never take your pipe out of your mouth. It's not rocket surgery. However, if you can't breath smoke and keep a pipe clenched, then yes... don't worry about it.

AND, sometimes even with a pipe in constant clench, you may not make it down to the bottom. In those cases, "you suck." Ha ha... JK. But, it can happen. Not to me, but maybe someone else.

I'm starting to think that you smoke nothing but dried out, old crispy shag

I'd pay to see you smoke down a full bowl of full VA flake or plum pudding without relights, down to ash.

Id bow down before you Cosmic

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm starting to think that you smoke nothing but dried out, old crispy shag

I'd pay to see you smoke down a full bowl of full VA flake or plum pudding without relights, down to ash.

Id bow down before you Cosmic

If you’ve tried breath smoking in a constant clench, and it hasn’t worked for you, I’m sorry. Doesn’t always work for me either. I get dottie from time to time also. I was just trying to be helpful.

I wouldn’t ever want anyone bowing down to me. That would be weird.

 

[BriarsAndBottles]

You guys are all awesome. In my 25 years of internetting, this has got to be my favorite exchange I’ve ever had with a bunch of people I’ve yet the pleasure of meeting.

 

[gervais]

If you’ve tried breath smoking in a constant clench, and it hasn’t worked for you, I’m sorry. Doesn’t always work for me either. I get dottie from time to time also. I was just trying to be helpful.

I wouldn’t ever want anyone bowing down to me. That would be weird.

I'm almost hesitant to admit to how many times I have to relight through a full bowl, lmao. You know what though, screw it. I don't mind being ridiculed from time to time.

Id say I'm relighting at LEAST 15 times, and thats almost everytime.

Now, I do not clench or breathe smoke. That could have something to do with it. I also mainly smoke flakes and cakes, maybe that contributes as well. All I know is that if I make it 10 minutes without pulling out my lighter. I feel like a pipe God

That's just me, and I'm probably doing something very wrong with my preparation. I've learned to live with the relighting and try not to be too serious about it anymore.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'm almost hesitant to admit to how many times I have to relight through a full bowl, lmao. You know what though, screw it. I don't mind being ridiculed from time to time.

Id say I'm relighting at LEAST 15 times, and thats almost everytime.

Now, I do not clench or breathe smoke. That could have something to do with it. I also mainly smoke flakes and cakes, maybe that contributes as well. All I know is that if I make it 10 minutes without pulling out my lighter. I feel like a pipe God

That's just me, and I'm probably doing something very wrong with my preparation. I've learned to live with the relighting and try not to be too serious about it anymore.

I would never intentionally ridicule you, Gervais. And, if I have unintentionally served you shade, I apologize. I am in no way a perfect smoker. I relight from time to tine also, especially if I have to take my pipe out of my clench. I see nothing wrong with relighting at all, nor having dottle. I just offered up that when I do have a smoke that burns all of the tobacco, it is when my pipe stays in my clench.

I don’t even think that everyone should have to clench. Whatever works for each is the correct way.

Any cheekiness in my posts were meant as self deprivation, not a real bravado.

 

[gervais]

I would never intentionally ridicule you, Gervais. And, if I have unintentionally served you shade, I apologize. I am in no way a perfect smoker. I relight from time to tine also, especially if I have to take my pipe out of my clench. I see nothing wrong with relighting at all, nor having dottle. I just offered up that when I do have a smoke that burns all of the tobacco, it is when my pipe stays in my clench.

I don’t even think that everyone should have to clench. Whatever works for each is the correct way.

Any cheekiness in my posts were meant as self deprivation, not a real bravado.

I have nothing but love for you Cosmic. I'd never take anything to heart from you. Well, unless you said "Gervais, I honestly can't fucking stand you and wish you'd drop from this forum like BROBS."

Then I'd probably shed a tear or two.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I'm almost hesitant to admit to how many times I have to relight through a full bowl, lmao. You know what though, screw it. I don't mind being ridiculed from time to time.

Id say I'm relighting at LEAST 15 times, and thats almost everytime.

Now, I do not clench or breathe smoke. That could have something to do with it. I also mainly smoke flakes and cakes, maybe that contributes as well. All I know is that if I make it 10 minutes without pulling out my lighter. I feel like a pipe God

That's just me, and I'm probably doing something very wrong with my preparation. I've learned to live with the relighting and try not to be too serious about it anymore.

Counting the relights is like keeping score when I play golf. I don't wanna know.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I have posted this several times
Tobacco is very expensive in Oz,
Not one to plan too far ahead, so often I don’t get enough time to dry the tobacco well.
The weather in Sydney is often wet and humid

I find using a few meerschaum chips or Nording Keystones at the bottom of the bowl reduces dottle substantially.
Most bowls smoke down to ash

Not packing too tight, light tamping and not puffing like a Choo-Choo train helps too

To save time and some agony, dry out a bunch of tobacco, jar it up, and you'll right the time crunch.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Back to the OP: The pipe will smoke better if it's dry, and not just cosmetically so. Unfortunately, the easiest way to have that is to smoke way down, where the heat will drive some moisture from the briar.

In the mean time dry your tobacco considerably more!

And I smoke to the bottom when I can, with plenty of gray matter left over. (though not in my brain.)
Good smoking! Enjoy!

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

Although dottle is really of no concern (just dump it out)…. I find I get a better smoke and usually white ash…. when the tobacco is pleasantly dry. So, if you really want that “nirvana” white ash effect….. try one or two times to smoke what you “consider” overly dry tobacco and see if that helps your desire come true. You might find you like the pipe tobacco even dryer than you thought.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

When I get down to the last 5-10% of my smoke, it becomes difficult to impossible to keep the bowl lit and what I do combust, doesn’t taste all that great. When I dump it, what ends up in my hand (yes I dump in my hand to see the magnitude of my failure) is usually a mix of crunchy charcoal and slobber. It’s not a lot these days compared to when I started, but seems like could/should be getting a few more minutes out of my smoke.

I feel like everyone else just gets a pile of white ash every smoke. But I can’t pinpoint doing anything wrong.

Not the case and not something you should be concerned about. Smoke until it no longer is enjoyable or becomes too much effort. Move on to the next bowl.