This is my approach exactly, but cobe cut.Really? I just rub it out nice, dry it for 30 minutes, load up and go. It’s never given me trouble. In fact, it’s always a great smoke.
One thing I do though is take a small chunk of flake and rub it into powder. Like we’re talking really super fine. Put that on top as kindling.
I think a lot of my early issues were mistaking the spiciness for the beginning of tongue bite, slowing down until it went out - & rinse & repeat.