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BriarsAndBottles

Can't Leave
Sep 4, 2022
306
1,255
37
Hercules, California
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.
 
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BriarsAndBottles

Can't Leave
Sep 4, 2022
306
1,255
37
Hercules, California
fun fact the less you worry about it the better chance of it happening. Oh and you probably spill more packing the pipe anyways. And there is a reason it's called dottle.
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.
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,963
117,467
Packing lighter makes a difference, drying thr tobacco makes a difference, smoking slower makes a difference, and Tobacco Reviews is about as useless as ass hair. You really will get to a point of having better luck the less you think about it, but the first several times are going to be completely accidental.
 

karam

Lifer
Feb 2, 2019
2,585
9,865
Basel, Switzerland
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.
Don't worry about it, really doesn't matter! It can happen even with blends you've dried to a crisp, water is a natural part of combustion.
Then again, some of these last draws of the freshly stoved tobacco at the heel can be caviar!
 

OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
6,760
36,434
72
Sydney, Australia
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 😁
 

blackpowderpiper

Part of the Furniture Now
Dec 19, 2018
836
3,877
Middle Tennessee
I rarely if ever smoke a bowl down to fine, white ash. It happens every once in awhile. It's something that I quit caring about a long time ago. I'm not one that wants to waste stuff, but a little dottle left in the bottom of my bowl is just part of the cost of doing business. My approach has always been that when the tobacco starts to taste bad, I dump it. My advice is to not get too caught up in the things you read and hear. Dottle is natural.
 

captpat

Lifer
Dec 16, 2014
2,389
12,423
North Carolina
I also don't try to smoke down to a fine white ash, I find those last little bits too hot, ashy, and generally bad tasting. It's also not efficient as I find it takes multiple re-lights to consume that last little bit, the heel of the pipe gets pretty hot as well. If you're concerned with waste just save the dottle until you get enough to fill a bowl and smoke that.rotf
 

bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,231
41,551
RTP, NC. USA
Don't worry about it. There are ways to limit the amount of dottles, but might or might not work. Best one that I found was to dry the tobacco until it crumbles. But I find that makes smoke somewhat harsh. Others seem to enjoy it bone dry. Even if you pack light, some will be left on the bottom. Another thing, if you always find wet dottles is System pipes. But if you are just a wet smoker chances are there still might be little dottles. I accepted the fact there will be dottles in my pipes and made peace with it.
 
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Reactions: yanoJL
Aug 11, 2022
2,640
20,738
Cedar Rapids, IA
I feel like everyone else just gets a pile of white ash every smoke.
I certainly don't! :ROFLMAO:

A few small charred (or unburned) chunks or ribbons usually come along when I dump out every bowl. I get the disappointment out of not turning every last bit of tobacco into smoking enjoyment, but I've realized that trying to separate out the ash and ignite those last bits rarely tastes good. Usually it just gives me one last salvo of tongue bite.
 
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sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
20,714
49,036
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
The "burned down to a fine white ash" is one of the dumbest and possibly most destructive of pipe myths for the slobbering masses.

First off, most blends burn to a fine gray ash. The only one that burned to a fine white ash, that I can remember, is the original Sobranie made Balkan Sobranie.

More importantly, making the effort to force a blend to burn to the bottom will generate enough heat to eventually create fissures, crazing, or cracking in the briar around the base of the chamber. It's a patently stupid goal to have.
 
OK ok ok ok... if you want to know the secret to smoking all of the tobacco down to ashes... just learn to clench and breath smoke, and just leave your pipe in your clench until you taste ash. Just don't stop or remove the pipe. Now, we get people who complain about getting ashes in that last little bit of smoke, and if one has complained about dottle, and is still complaining, you may be the problem.

But, to add to what Sable says, don't relight the last little bit, as it will hurt your pipe. But if someone wants to know the secret... keep your pipe in your mouth. It's as easy as that. But, beware of that last puff of ash. It doesn't bother me, as it is my signal to reload another pipe.

And, if you hold the pipe while smoking, just get used to dottle.
 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,611
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.