Eureka! I Found the Bottom of the Bowl!

[kyriefurro]

Last night I had what was probably the most frustrating smoke, ever. My pipe went out every three or four puffs. I got a really bad case of tongue bite - a couple of times. And so on, and so forth. By the time it was over, or more accurately, by the time I'd given up, I was considering that maybe it was a sign that pipe smoking was not for me.
But I'm a bit stubborn, and I was more than willing to consider that there were some problem with my technique, so off to Internetland I went. I checked the usual sources: the forums here, pipedia, puff.com, and so on. Then I Googled "pipe smoking technique videos" and came up with two gems.
The first is a basic tutorial series. I've watched a few of them, but it's pretty obvious that just because someone can smoke a pipe on YouTube, doesn't mean they know what they're doing. This guy does - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDqvVDvJDdM
For me it really helped that he shows how to get a good first light on the pipe - which really contributes to being able to smoke with only a couple of relights (I'll get to zero, some day :wink: )
The second one is about Breath Smoking. There have been a couple of posts here talking about it, but I just couldn't grok the technique by reading about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o8Sfg6EH9k
This video really helps show it. I can't keep the pipe in my mouth all the time like he does - I salivate too much and end up wiping drool off my chin :roll: . But I found that if I used that double-breath technique for each puff, I get a few wisps of smoke during the breathing even before I puff, which makes me less inclined to over-puff (is that even a word? lol). Even when I don't use the technique and just straight puff, I'm finding that I'm now puffing much more slowly and gently. The result? I'm getting lots of cool, rich, yummy smoke and my pipe doesn't even get a little bit warm, not even at the bottom of the bowl.
I was so excited about finally understanding the Breath Smoking technique that I went out at 3 a.m. and so I could try it. Amazing. Best smoke yet! And even better still, I went out for my morning coffee and pipe and repeated the experience :worship: ::
P.S. To all you nice folk who've been recommending Frog Morton Cellar - that stuff is amazing.

 

[rayje589]

I will definitely have to try that breath smoking. I've only had a bowl of FM cellar and liked it. Thanks for sharing the info.

 

[lostandfound]

The pipe almost becomes an extension of you while breath smoking, as opposed to being a tool we use for consumption, does it not?

 

[kyriefurro]

I like the fact that since I can pretty much constantly taste the tobacco, I have no motivation to gulp, even when I really, really like the tobacco.
Now if I could only get the pipe packed just right.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Huh... I've been smoking like that (the breathe technique) for a while now. Just a technique I developed myself... or thought so anyway. Still, I'm going to watch his video a few times while I smoke my pipe because I don't breathe into the bowl as often as he does.
Aside from that, I think I could watch that old guy smoke a pipe all day long :lol: Something "old worldly" about him.

 

[cigrmaster]

kyriefurro, glad to hear you are sticking with it. Don't be so caught up in the zero re light game, I never do it. I usually re light 2-3 times per bowl and dump ash each time. I cannot remember the last time I had zero re lights.

 

[pitchfork]

Agreed. Sometimes I have 1 or 2 used matches after a smoke. Sometimes I have a whole pile (8-10) of them. But that's because I'm not overly worried about the pipe going out. If it does, I wait a minute or so and then carefully relight. Some blends just burn better than others. I find that Gawith Hoggarth flakes rarely take more than 3 or 4 matches for a single bowl. Meanwhile, some of the GL Pease latakia blends can be very challenging to keep lit.

 

[haroldt]

Great post. When I read your subject I said "this ones for me." I've now only been smoking the pipe for a week, 10 days, after a 25 year hiatus. Understanding packing and puff is what I need. I know one reason I gave up my pipes years ago was my inability to master the hobby. This time, with help from you folks and youtube... I'll get it and enjoy the pleasure for years to come. So once I'm done watching a 1972 concert of Mahavishnu on youtube... I'll check out the videos you suggested.
Another tobacco suggestion is Berry Good by Cornell & Diehl. Nice smoke.

 

[sablebrush52]

Interesting. I didn't know that there was anything such as a breathing technique! That's pretty much how I just came to smoke on my own.

With the exception of lighting up, I don't puff a pipe. Sipping, like you're sampling a good scotch, is the way to go.

The proper packing of your pipe is also an essential part on the equation as well, along the smoking characteristics of the blend.

With the right combination of rhythmic sipping, and correct packing, and a cooperative tobacco blend, you can pretty well keep a bowl going for as long as you want.

I sometimes have to make a quick stop indoors to handle an errand when I'm out on a walk smoking one of my pipes. If I've done the set up properly, I can stick the pipe in my pocket, do my business, exit, pull the pipe out and with a couple of long draws I'm once again enjoying my walk without a relight.

 

[bryanf]

Me, too. I never knew there was anything called "Breath Smoking". That's just how I always smoke my pipes. Never smoke them any other way, and didn't really know there is/was any other way.
For me, packing technique is over-rated. I just stuff tobacco in my pipe and light her up. Not too tight, not too loose, and try to pack evenly. Each tobacco, from experience, I know how I like them packed. Irish flake- loose, Ennerdale flake- tight, etc...