During the burn...

[sinister]

For the past few smokes, Ive noticed Im able to get down quite a good way on the bowl (a good 3/4) without having to tamp or mess with the tobacco from the initial first light up. I guess Ive been getting better at packing a good bowl that isnt too loose or tight. 8)
Should I be knocking out or continually tamping down any of the burned tobacco on top or is it better to just let it be if the pipe is smoking well? The times I have knocked it out (to relight) I always swirl it around and give the pipe a good shake with my thumb over it in order to help build up cake, dump it, then relight.
Just wondering if it's good practice to leave the burned tobacco untouched or if I should be dumping it during the smoke?

 

[captainprophesy]

If im smoking out of a "reg" sized bowl, I usually smoke it all the way down. If Im smoking out of a "large" bowl then usually I'll dump some of the ash out about half way through.
Im sure there will be many who know waaaay more than me though because who knows maybe ive been wrong all these years LOL
EDIT: Oh BTW ... welcome to the boards Sinister.

 

[sjpipesmoker]

I'm with captain. It seems to me if there is alot of ash in my big bowl, it smothers the tobacco

 

[mick]

You're lucky (well, more skilled) to get three quarters down without needing a relight or tamp! Personally, I tamp a lot instead of relighting, just to keep the embers in touch with fresh tobacco. That said, I still need a relight or maybe two.
I would never swirl or shake because I don't want to smoke or get a mouthful of ash. Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't mixing ash into fresh tobacco make it more unpalatable? :?

 

[sinister]

EDIT: Oh BTW ... welcome to the boards Sinister.

Thanks!

You're lucky (well, more skilled) to get three quarters down without needing a relight or tamp!

I'll call it beginners luck so far. I try to take my time packing and draw on it a few times while I pack to make sure I have a good draw. Last few bowls have burned really well, so I guess experience is finally starting to shine, lol

I would never swirl or shake because I don't want to smoke or get a mouthful of ash. Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't mixing ash into fresh tobacco make it more unpalatable?

You know, I never considered this...youre probably right and now thinking about it, there is usually a small moment of bitter taste during a relight. Bleh!!!! That probably explains it!

 

[mick]

You know, I never considered this...youre probably right and now thinking about it, there is usually a small moment of bitter taste during a relight. Bleh!!!! That probably explains it!

Yeah, although what we smoke turns into ash, we don't actually smoke the ash, AND the fresh tobacco near the draft hole filters out a lot of nasties, so if you mix it around, you are also mixing the worst tobacco (the stuff at the very bottom , a.k.a. dottle) with the good tobacco above.

 

[cortezattic]

I need re-lights all the time, usually because I'm too preoccupied with something to pay attention.
The only thing I read about dumping the ash during a smoke was Paul Szabady recommending that one

should always do this with a Virginia flake once you get past mid-bowl. I've tried this and it seems

to restore the original freshness somewhat; or, at least well enough to justify the additional bother.

 

[shawn622]

I usually need one relight. I usually dump my bowl at the 3/4 mark though except when I'm using my meer. I like my meer way better than my briars. It burns cooler and drier. I can't explain why though. Anyway, it sounds like you really got your technique down.

 

[cigrmaster]

I carefully dump the ash every time I relight. I make sure not to dump tobacco, only ash. I use my tamper to pick the ash out as I tip the bowl a bit.

 

[sinister]

I carefully dump the ash every time I relight. I make sure not to dump tobacco, only ash. I use my tamper to pick the ash out as I tip the bowl a bit.

I don't think it matters. I dump the freakin' ash when I need to relight and the ash gets in the way.
Like Cigrmaster says, dump the ash carefully when you have to relight the tobacco.

Sounds like good advice to me. Thanks everyone for the feedback ::

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

If I have a large bowl pipe then I usually dump the ash about half way through. As for tamping a relighting I just do it as necessary; which varies from smoke to smoke.