Getting to the Bottom of the Bowl

[wahoo92]

Sorry about the empty post earlier. Computer glitch.
Anyhow, what I meant to say was ... I finally smoked all the way to the bottom of a bowl of Dunhill Nightcap (which is one of my early faves) with virtually no unsmoked tobacco left. It was my first time finishing a bowl all the way, and I'm really proud of myself. But I'm not sure how to duplicate it. I think I was patient and had no tongue bite, but I still had to relight 7-8 times, which seems like a lot.
Any advice for making this a more regular occurrence? Is it unusual to finish a bowl all the way to the bottom?

 

[mso489]

I too think it's nifty when I smoke more or less the whole bowl and scoop out nearly all ash. When the whole

bowl tastes great, this sometimes takes me by surprise. On the other hand, any time the taste is diminishing,

I'm happy to empty out the bowl with some unburnt tobacco. It's kind of an interesting game, trying to smoke

the entire bowl every time, but I wouldn't let it distract from the deeper pleasures of a good pipe smoke. If

you don't even notice how much ash-to-unburnt tobacco you have left, that's fine. Not really important.

 

[cigrmaster]

I always dump ash out before I re light my pipe, makes the re light easier and also helps cut down on it going out. I normally relight my pipe 2-4 times per bowl and think nothing of it. I have no goals of smoking it to the bottom on one light.

 

[salewis]

I also clean out my ash like cigmaster. This procedure is a little controversial since many experienced pipe smokers claim they never ream ashes until the bowl is completed. Use your own discretion regarding having too much ash.

 

[plateauguy]

Here's a laugh - the last time I had a pipe I emptied out the ash and my wife (aspiring pipe smoker) looked appalled and asked why I hadn't smoked it till it was "all gone". Evidently when she was growing up she belonged to the clean you bowl club.

 

[wahoo92]

Good advice guys. Thanks to all. Two things I'll focus on are trying dumping the ash when time for a relight and getting a good char light to start out. That and just enjoying the smoke! Probably the best advice of all.

 

[acme]

Pipe smoking is not a sport.

anthony

 

[weezell]

I have no goals of smoking it to the bottom on one light.

YES...