Flake. Just The Best.

[madox07]

I don't mind flake, but I must admit that I do prefer a ribbon cut above all else. It's less drying, no rubbing, and most often than not I don't actually have the time to smoke a full pot of flake, so a smaller pipe with a ribbon cut will do.

 

[seanv]

I like flake and coin for the versatility mentioned earlier. That said, I still enjoy a lot of ribbon cut blends

 

[Sonorisis]

I enjoy flake tobacco. But, I don't always have the time to fuss around with getting it ready and loading the pipe.

 

[seanv]

I enjoy flake tobacco. But, I don't always have the time to fuss around with getting it ready and loading the pipe.

In the summer when I smoke more I like to put out a few flakes for a while to dry, then pack 3 or 4 pipes for future use that week. The longest I have left a packed pipe unsmoked was 2 weeks. Still smoked great.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have 40 different flakes in my cellar. I smoke them all the time except when I smoke a plug or a rope. I buy my pipes based on how well i think it will smoke my flakes. For a couple of years I used the cube cut method with very good results..
I fold and stuff all the time now.

When you do a fold and stuff use a little kindling on top and make sure you get a real nice full cherry. Usually around halfway down my pipe will go out.. I take the pick end of my tamper, lightly tip the bowl to get rid of the ash. Now comes the important part. Take the round top of tamper and scrape the sides on the bowl and then lightly tamp before re lighting. Depending on how much I am paying attention I usually light my pipe 2-4 times. It is no big deal if it goes out.
I get a cooler, more flavorful smoke with the fold and stuff and if you can look for that video. His name i think was Per something or other.

One thing I forgot to mention. There are a few wrap around flakes on the market. Blends like Astleys no 109, Reiner Long Golden, Wessex Brigade Campaign there are probably more. with those I just rip off a big chunk and then start stuffing big pieces into the pipe. Somehow I get it to work out .

 

[sablebrush52]

Flakes, coins, shag, ribbon, whatever, all smoke well for me. I have the occasional relight, often none, don't worry about relights, don't use any particular "method", just proper prep, pack, and sip. There are some blends that are notoriously difficult to keep burning, Like Tawney Flake, but it's really a matter of getting familiar with how to handle that particular blend.

Like Embers, I can duck into a store to do some shopping while in the middle of a bowl, tuck the bowl in my pocket, do my shopping, come out and take a couple of pulls to get the bowl going without a relight. No big deal.

Just relax with the learning process. Experience is the best teacher. Most of you will figure it out, and some of you never will. But that's true of life in general.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'm a large flaker myself but, in my hands, it depends on the tobacco. I actually like Capstan ready-rubbed better than the flake version. It just seems a bit more flavorful.

Ymmv.

I recently discovered the same thing. I thought it was just me being weird.

 

[danimalia]

I've become more of a flake guy recently as well for the same reason. They tend to burn a bit slower. Even C&D flakes which sometimes gets shit for how loose and delicate their flakes are, deliver those same burning and flavor benefits. For my money, MacBaren probably makes the best flakes in the business (in terms of construction and ease of smoking, not necessarily flavor). The Gawith dark flakes might be the slowest burning of all. Even a medium-chambered pipe can deliver 2+ hour smokes of Dark Flake, 1792, etc.

 

[logs]

For my money, MacBaren probably makes the best flakes in the business (in terms of construction and ease of smoking, not necessarily flavor).

Mac Baren and also Kohlhase & Kopp. Both companies make amazing flakes. The precision and the presentation are top notch.

 

[marlinspike]

One thing that has seemed to help me over time while learning the mechanics of smoking a pipe is to "twist" the tobacco packed into the chamber. As I pack in the 'baccy, I use a thumb to gently rotate each layer in the same direction (clockwise, in my case). One of my uncles showed me that years ago, and it seems to really help the tobacco "lay" right, well joined together, and help it burn cohesively. Unless a tobacco is fairly damp, I rarely have to relight more than once. If I know a particular blend is more difficult to keep lit, I'll occasionally pack the bowl a couple of hours before I intend to smoke it.

 

[marlinspike]

Newminster No. 400 Flake is my usual day smoke. It packs and burns beautifully.

 

[DedHed Piper]

I have no problem with any tobacco cut. I guess it’s because I smoke sort of the same as Chasingembers up in the thread. Pipe clenched and then just have a steady, slow draft into my mouth while breathing through my nose. It’s constantly just barely lit. Never goes out.
Of course it helps sitting alone, shutting up. If I were to talk to someone, the draft would stop an the pipe would, probably, go out.

And on flakes, I vary between rubbing it out and folding it. Different methods, a bit different flavour.

 

[shanez]

You can place finely rubbed out tobacco on top to get it going then it's smooth sailing.

I need to practice this. I also have a tendency not to dry my tobacco so there's that too.