Fingernail Tamping

[64alex]

I found that tamping with the fingernail (obviously when there is some ash in the bowl otherwise you would burn the finger) is way better than using the tamper. From the tactile feedback I can understand right away where and how much to tamp in the bowl and I am much more successful in bringing back to life a nearly dead bowl without the need to relight.

Are others experiencing the same?

 

[murica]

Ive always used my finger. Never could keep up with the tampers.
Plus, you always know when its enough, as it starts to burn.

 

[madox07]

Interesting ... personally I find using the finger a tad too messy, not to mention that I am a pretty clumsy person so 9/10 cases I would get burned ...

 

[alexnorth]

I tried this weekend... I think I prefer the regular tamper :crazy:

 

[aimlesswanderer]

Czech tool for me, or a simple c/sink woodscrew on slimmer bowls. I easily get enough feedback, and it's less painful if using as a choke to fire back up a dying ember.

 

[addamsruspipe]

I find that with aromatics using your finger just gets messy. But it works with everything else.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I love that this is the only type of forum in the world where guys come together to talk proudly about sticking their fingers in a dirty hole. ::

 

[toobfreak]

For me, the finger is the only way to go! With your finger you can feel the charred tobacco, pull it away from the wall, move it around and reorganize things without crushing the now-brittle half-charred leaf into dust. And dirt? I don't know what you are smoking in there, but I get very little dirt on my finger---- a simple wipe with my other fingers and it is clean.
With my tamper, all you can really do is crush everything flat to one level again. Of course, before I tamp, I stir the ashes loose and dump them out.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I don't know... Toobfreak, I use a couple of different types of tampers. I never push down hard on the tamp, I just let the weight of the tamp do the work. But, I mostly use a concave shaped tamp, similar to the end of a golf tee. Sometimes I actually use golf tees. But, it allows for a mounding up of the ash, and since I only want the cherry to stay in the center, so that more flavor is pushed out from the tobacco on the sides, this works best for me.
Then I have one that is like a rounded spatula that I pull the edges down, especially when smoking a flake, of which I hate, because I have to constantly pull the edges down, ha ha. Flakes require too much fiddling, but sometimes I will smoke one folded just to remind myself... The rest of the time, I rub out all of my flakes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

But, if someone likes to use their finger, then by all means... I actually enjoy reading these types of threads, as I said...

 

[madox07]

Like I said, this whole finger thing ... not for me, regardless of how well somebody argues that it works. I have used a variety of stuff to tamp my ashes, even an empty case of .30-06 ... but never crossed my mind to stick my finger in there, in my books that just defies common sense. Obviously if it doesn't work for me, it doesn't mean that it's wrong or no good ...

 

[mso489]

For information from tamping, I find a pipe nail more useful than my fingers/thumbs. Also, you can get the edge of the nail head against the side of the bowl to even out the ash, and have fairly precise control of the pressure on the center of the fire. I use my fingers fairly regularly, but for me, the pipe nail does a better job. The light weight of the nail (as opposed to heavier tamper tools) gives you good feedback.

 

[mayfair70]

I use my finger. I have enough callouses to basically render my finger fireproof. I only use Chzech tool for extended tamping operations. I've been fingering bowls for thirty years. :rofl:

 

[mcitinner1]

What Tom (MSO) said... :clap:

 

[toobfreak]

Just tried my tamper again. Nope, Nothing beats the finger for tactile feel and control of the top tobacco plus the ability to tamp either selective small areas or the whole top itself as needed. And wherever I go, I always have my tamper. ::
But I like the idea of a concave surface. Might have to dig out a golf tee just for the hell of it.

 

[snag]

I used a finger often, but I feel a tamper works better.

 

[mawnansmiff]

If I'm to use a finger to tamp my pipe I would much sooner use someone else's finger than use my own ::
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I have dozens of tampers, most are ones I've made from prunings of my orchard or wood findings around the property. But I generally use my finger when picking up a cool bowl, or at least one that's just warm, not hot with an ember going. In my car, I always use a tamper when driving can't risk a burn at highway speeds.
So, it's all good!

 

[toobfreak]

I never tamp when the bowl is still lit. That means it is still smoking! I only tamp if the bowl has gone out and I need to reorganize the house before another relight.

 

[aldecaker]

@Mayfair- I've never been involved in any extended tamping operations, but I sure do like the sound of it!