Flake Tobacco

[thebigragu]

I kind of do the same as kurtbob but kind of RIP it smaller first, and I dont crumble it to much, personally I like it not fully crumbled it makes the smok last longer

 

[sandollars]

I roll it into a ball and just keep rolling while reducing pressure until there is no more tobacco in my hands. The rubbed tobacco falls out onto the plate where I let it dry for at least 30 minutes. Pack it using the 3 pinch method only with a little lighter compression and I'm ready to go. It's a bit more work but most flakes, coins and Cakes are worth the effort.

 

[seanv]

I fold the flake the long way then fold it the short way. I twist it a bit to break it up while it is folded then put it in the pipe rough edge up. The most important thing is to dry it out and have a bit of kindling on the top.

 

[anotherbob]

I pull the flakes into strips and just gently stuff the strips into the pipe the last strip or two gets fully rubbed out and placed on top of the bowl. The trick is to when packing the bowl barely tamp, use your finger to do that. Keep in mind the strips will swell so a very loose pack is what is required. The rubbed out portion is easier to get a good even char light. Burns evenly doesn't need a bunch of relights (mostly at the beginning of the bowl.

 

[diamondback]

You’ve got great advice, so I’ll only add you sure picked a delicious flake to start with! Hang with it

 

[Mr.Mike]

I bought a Burr style coffee grinder to replace my bladed version a while back. Now, I take a couple flakes and throw them in this Grinder, then I let it dry out for a few minutes. It only takes a couple of pulses. I do the same for plugs and ropes.

That's new, never heard of anyone doing that, pretty cool

 

[kylef]

I've have used every packing method discussed and have always had the best experience with rubbing the flake out fully, letting it dry at least one hour, and then packing with the three pinch method. YMMV.

That's exactly what's worked best for me, as well.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yup, the folks here are inventive. Blade grinder, fine. Just don't put it in your burr grinder!

 

[americaman]

I fold flakes, and lightly press down at the top. I find that this method gives it more room to breathe.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've seen a few guys use marijuana grinders to grind up flake and plug pipe tobacco. Looked like it worked pretty good, better than I would expect from an electric food grinder, cheaper and easier to clean.

 

[BROBS]

Yup, the folks here are inventive. Blade grinder, fine. Just don't put it in your burr grinder!

I was going to say... a burr grinder would turn your tobacco flake into dust!

 

[krizzose]

a flake that’s rubbed out (no longer in a compressed form) is going to have different burning qualities than one that is folded and stuffed or cube cub (still generally compressed). Sometimes that can result in noticeable flavor differences as well. You may end up preferring one method over another, but that choice is purely subjective and you won’t really know what works best for you until you try all the methods

 

[BROBS]

I've found certain tobaccos seem better rubbed out and some seem better folded/stuffed.

 

[olkofri]

?

 

[anotherbob]

Briar Works- Back Down South 2 oz. - http://www.marscigars.com/briarworks-backdownsouth.aspx This is a good flake for seeing how drastic rubbing out a flake can effect the taste. I find the more rubbed out it is the less casing flavor I get and the more tobacco flavor. As a fold and stuff it really just taste like port and chocolate and fully rubbed out it tastes like a va/per, I like it slightly rubbed out rubbed out but lazily so.

 

[BROBS]

^^^ I thought that was one of the worst tobaccos I have ever tried.

 

[anotherbob]

^^^ I thought that was one of the worst tobaccos I have ever tried.

I enjoyed but I am easy to please. Though not buying it again, though if you want to see how much rubbing out a flake changes the flavor it's a really easy example to see. As the changes are not nuances but pretty much hammer on the head obvious.

 

[mso489]

As a beginner, just break it up and grind it around in your fingers and palm, and when it is small enough and uniform enough, pack it. There are little graters that work well to make it more uniform. Fold and stuff can be perfected with a little practice. But give yourself plenty of leeway to play around with it and do it your way. I usually rub out several bowls full to keep the pleasure of a bowl seeming less like work.

 

[anotherbob]

or put a pinch in your palm and rub your fingers from the other hand in circles around the flake pinch in your palm. That tends to rub out the flake pretty perfectly. Add seconds on for more rubbed out.

 

[smokeyweb]

I take a flake out, let it dry for an hour or two, cube cut it with a sharp knife, and then gravity fill. Love flakes... especially anything Samuel Gawith.