Draw the Flame Down?

[sparker69]

If you only bring a butane flame to the tobacco when drawing and remove it while still drawing, the flame will never touch the rim.

Unfortunately, I'm not too precise, not to mention, I have a difficulty seeing in 3d, so I tend to overshoot or undershoot the bowl. I find the pipe insert, frames the flame better for me. But, that's just for me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I find the pipe insert, frames the flame better for me. But, that's just for me.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have a difficulty seeing in 3d,

A chemical explosion left me a cyclops so I can't totally understand.

 

[sparker69]

Nothing wrong with that.

View attachment 200221

Nice engraving!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

For the "heat" users, video please.

If I knew how to post a video to here, I would, but it’s really easy. Heat is all you need. The flame jumps up from the tobacco, and more evenly lights my pipe. I don’t even deal with a char. I just light it and go.

 

[sugardaddy]

How long are you taking to light the pipe? You're not going to scorch a rim unless your holding the flame to the wood and not the tobacco. If not using my Beattie, I bring the lighter down to the tobacco.

I'll have to count, but maybe 12-15 puffs?

If I drag strong enough to pull it down in, then maybe 5-7?

 

[sugardaddy]

If the tobacco is the right dryness more likely than not it'll catch with out touching.

Ah... interesting point!

 

[sugardaddy]

By butane lighter do you mean a torch or something like a Bic lighter with a soft flame? If it's a soft flame, I would assume you could use it more or less the way you use your Zippo. If it's a torch, I wouldn't risk using it at all. One moment of preoccupation or misjudgment and you have a major scorch on the rim (of the bowl ... of the pipe. I know, you're in the bathroom.)

Good point. Soft flame only.

 

[sugardaddy]

I starting using the Zippo pipe insert exactly for what you mentioned - to avoid scorching the rim. The flame is pulled down, but to the tobacco, not the rim. That's why I like it. With the bic, the flame comes out with more "pressure" and tends to go up against the rim unless I have it completely upside down.

EXACTLY!

 

[sugardaddy]

I don’t draw the flame down, I just hold the lighter half an inch above the chamber and draw the heat down (not the flame) , and flames shoot up out of the bowl… like when you light a cigar with a match. This way I protect my rims. I don’t like holding fire down into the chamber. Plus, it better lights my bowl faster.

Yes! I have noticed that after several puffs, you can tell the heat is starting to work on the tobacco, and then where there were no flames before, then wham, flames between the lighter and bowl, looking like they actually came from the tobacco, rather than the lighter.

When that started happening, it made me think I was onto something.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'll have to count, but maybe 12-15 puffs?

If I drag strong enough to pull it down in, then maybe 5-7?

Hmmmm. Shouldn't take more than a second or two. You may be packing too tightly.

 

[bullet08]

If I knew how to post a video to here, I would, but it’s really easy. Heat is all you need. The flame jumps up from the tobacco, and more evenly lights my pipe. I don’t even deal with a char. I just light it and go.

That only happens once in awhile for me. Smoking outside only, I like my Zippo close to the pipe without touching it. When weather is good and no wind, I try drawing down the flame without touching the top. Occasionally, I see flame jumping out of top of the tobacco.

 

[kcghost]

If I don't put the flame where it will touch the tobacco it will never light.

 

[Bob the bear]

Yes i agree that a flame just kissing the tobacco tends to impart a better flavourful smoke. Perhaps because it does not scorch the tobacco or it's a softer burn to start with but it just seems better.

 

[Briar Tuck]

The first time I ever observed that phenomenon was at summer camp over 40 years ago.

 

[TN Jed]

The first time I ever observed that phenomenon was at summer camp over 40 years ago.

12 year old humor for sure

 

[Doctor Chopper]

This is nice and all in a quiet indoor location with humidity control, but when I am outside in the frozen tundra - nothing beats a good old Zippo with pipe insert!

 

[rmbittner]

As a result of that, it seems that sometimes I'm able to successfully light the tobacco and the flame really doesn't move down into the bowl at all.

I’d encourage folks to spend some time exploring all of the information on this site, and not just the forum. Greg Pease recently wrote about this for an article here: The Charring Light - https://pipesmagazine.com/blog/fireside/the-charring-light/.

 

[sugardaddy]

This is nice and all in a quiet indoor location with humidity control, but when I am outside in the frozen tundra - nothing beats a good old Zippo with pipe insert!

Yes! I often smoke on walks and on the porch. Zippo Pipe Insert for the win!

 

[sugardaddy]

I’d encourage folks to spend some time exploring all of the information on this site, and not just the forum. Greg Pease recently wrote about this for an article here: The Charring Light - https://pipesmagazine.com/blog/fireside/the-charring-light/.

Very good read. I know that I experienced a lot more sweetness when I lit up some Prince Albert in a slower more contemplative way.