Frank Method

[locopony]

Ranger, thanks for your service. Fare the well.
As for then number of pipes a fellow has, or the number of blends a fellow smoke. Well that's his business along with what ever method he uses to stuff his pipe. However I find it interesting and often helpful in my own search for my own enjoyment. As I often say happiness is a huge problem. If being a bit OCD about smoking a pipe is what brings you happiness I am interested in hearing about it. The happy make the world a better place. The un happy make it worse. The people that Ranger has been defending us from is what happens when a large group of highly unhappy people stew in their discontent for too long. So if you are so inclined to share what makes you happy then you may help another person to find some happiness them self. Even if it is a bit of silliness

 

[hobie1dog]

Ranger: come on back, it's just not worth it..take the forums for what they are...lots of people, with lots of opinions always being shoved down your throat, it's just modern life. Enjoy all the other knowledge and input of the different blends, admire the pretty pipes that are shown, admire the pretty girls Kevin gifts us with. :worship:

 

[cyndi]

Anyone ever notice that the evil Chief of Medicine on Scrubs smokes a pipe and packs using the Frank method? I noticed it yesterday while watching the first disc of season 1.

 

[bigvan]

Attention sjpipesmoker,
As a veteran, I can say that it's totally cool if you don't 'express your love' for us.
But that's just me.

 

[maduroman]

as a vet, (army), you need to understand there are 3 ways of doing something, the right way, the wrong way, and the ARMY way...
and to use my old call sign... "romeo 59, out"

 

[lulash]

Love the Frank method. It allows unparalleled even light and burn.

 

[cortezattic]

I failed to follow this thread after my earlier post, and I missed Ranger's rant.
The reason there are "methods" for packing a pipe is that so many pipe smoking problems can be traced back

to improper packing: cake issues; re-light issues; burn through; tongue bite; gurgle; dottle; flavor loss, etc.
Given the number of blends and cuts, we are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things;

and giving a packing method a name merely facilitates conversation. Every field has its special purpose nomenclature.
Jankomatic nailed it. If you find these discussions noisome, then WTF are you doing here?

If Ranger thinks we're being pretentious, then he should avoid us.
@Lawrence: Why must you inject Ranger's occupation into the discussion? No one else did; and, that I could tell,

he was the only one to "cast dispersions" [sic]. A little less jingoism and a little more "orthography", puleeze!

 

[ssjones]

I just watched the video with my wife. She said imagine the mess on the floor if you packed that way, you already leave half the bag on the kitchen floor as it is! I'm 1-2-3 guy I guess.

 

[kcvet67]

The reason there are "methods" for packing a pipe is that so many pipe smoking problems can be traced back

to improper packing: cake issues; re-light issues; burn through; tongue bite; gurgle; dottle; flavor loss, etc.

I agree absolutely. Having said that though, I have very little use for the dozens of "methods" that all claim to have a miraculous solution for every smokers problems. Most of them have some good points, some are actually very useful. NONE of them are suitable for every blend in every situation. You're not doing a beginner any favors by telling him that learning one way to pack a pipe will guarantee that every bowl will burn perfectly. What works for a coarse-rubbed flake is of little use with a shag cut. What works well sitting in your living room will probably be a disaster outside in a strong wind. What works for me may not work for you at all.
There is no single way of packing a pipe that will work well in every situation. Learning the basics and then experimenting to find what increases your enjoyment is all part of the game.

 

[cortezattic]

Right KC. I should use the term "inappropriate packing" rather than improper packing. Good to keep in mind. :wink:

 

[jankomatic]

Love the Frank method. It allows unparalleled even light and burn.

Frank?????

 

[thesmokindragon]

I say digital drama is what ranger wanted to create...he did..... but it was fun reading the posts and hearing from everyone...
I agree with others...different pipe-load options for different bacci...and really should be about incorrect ways....
I would call a Frank Method as a simple gravity fill, grab a good pinch of bacci and load up, pushing down on sides not center,

It is a quick method to the hype-crave...for shag and ribbon cut stuff (English blends like this smoke fantastic in my larger pipes/even and slow burn...min re-lights and tamp'in)

 

[spyder71]

It is probably my lack of experience speaking here, but after trying every damn thing I can Google I keep going back to filling by feel. I usually fill and tamp my bowls twice while trying to remember that if it's too tight it will get wet, hot, and nasty. I'm just going to explore what works for me and when I find I will stick to it. Maybe in time this will change but for now its working for me. Its been a week since my tongue felt like I licked a tea kettle and am learning to slow down and control the burn. I've always been a hands on figure it out kinda guy, so this all suites me well.

A huge part of the fun for me has been trying different blends and trying to score cheap estate pipes on the Bay. I have a set of 4 on the way to the house and I await them nearly as anxiously as I do a new guitar. Now I'm reading all about how to clean and restore them while I wait so I can sanitize and polish em up! Smoking pipe has been so relaxing and enjoyable that I truly regret wasting 25 years on cigarettes. Only 3 cigs yesterday and the wife thinks it's sexy, so what ya gonna do? Guess I'm silly too!

 

[kcvet67]

spyder, sounds like you're well on your way. Good advice along the way can be very valuable, but in the end only experimentation will show you what works best for you.