Half a Bowl

[fellrobin]

Hi all

I recently posted about it taking a long time to smoke some of my larger pipes down to the heel. So I’m thinking of maybe sometimes just smoking half a bowl. My question is, do I still use the three pinch method but… half the amount? Or do I just do say two pinches?

 

[bullet08]

Number of pinches doesn't really make difference. You could use as many or few. Just fill half way.

 

[fellrobin]

Number of pinches doesn't really make difference. You could use as many or few. Just fill half way.

I thought the amount of force you apply to press the pinches down might affect the packing? Ie the three pinch method is a light tamp, then a medium tamp, then a firm tamp.

 

[bullet08]

That works, but so does other method. I usually pack very light till the last pinch and just make sure it's firm enough not to fall out when I up end to dump ash.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Hi all

I recently posted about it taking a long time to smoke some of my larger pipes down to the heel. So I’m thinking of maybe sometimes just smoking half a bowl. My question is, do I still use the three pinch method but… half the amount? Or do I just do say two pinches?

Air Pocket.
Learn to make a plug in the top and leave the bottom half empty.

 

[pantsBoots]

Air pocket/musketball is a good option. When I want a half bowl, I'll either codger scoop, or do the regular 3 pinches, but halve the size of the pinches.

Experiment! Different techniques for different blends and cuts.

 

[DAR]

When I want half a bowl (which is more often than a whole bowl), I just loosely pack half a bowl in one pinch. There is no magic or complicated method.

 

[Kal]

I would upload a short video how I dip my CC into the bag fill it, and tamp it down in one motion with my finger.
But I'd get to many comments how I used the wrong finger or something. ?

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Pipe smoking is a relaxing and enjoyable pastime.
Each to his own as they say, but to me pinch methods and air pockets mean nothing at all.
Just shove it in and light up.
Can't see any need to be forensic about it.

 

[mso489]

Or if you just can't resist a method of some kind, try the two you mention and one or two others, and decide. The pleasures of over-thinking.

 

[kcghost]

I usually fill up the bowl and smoke it half way down. Then when I am ready for the second half I relight the pipe.

 

[anotherbob]

I thought the amount of force you apply to press the pinches down might affect the packing? Ie the three pinch method is a light tamp, then a medium tamp, then a firm tamp.

personally I use a simplified version of that. Where I only press at all in the top 1/4 of the bowl (not an exact measure but close). Gravity fill the rest. Pack it till the top is firm. And I know that works really perfectly for partial fills. So my guess is that what you're asking would probably work. If not you only wasted half a smoke.

 

[mortonbriar]

Its just a good excuse to buy a couple of small bowled pipes.

 

[MARC52]

I'd just add a couple of smaller bowled pipes to your rotation for shorter smoke sessions. Personally. I like smaller bowled pipes now a days and are pretty much all I smoke anymore.

 

[hauntedmyst]

As you progress, you'll stop thinking about packing methods and just get used to shoving tobacco in and knowing how it feels instinctively.

 

[Charlie718]

I do like Kcghost and just pack a whole bowl and smoke as much as I want and put the rest down for latter. I haven’t noticed a negative affect to taste, sometimes quite the opposite. I’ll have a large pipe going for a whole afternoon and sometimes even 2 afternoons lol.

 

[Grangerous]

I find myself just packing a normal bowl and quitting whenever I feel. — I may or may not dump the change. More often than not I’ll tap it out. I know many others here enjoy returning to a pipe next day or several hours later, but that rarely does it for me like a fresh and clean pipe.

The benefit, of course, is you’ll pack it the way you’re accustomed. Also, a half bowl, carelessly lit, can scorch the tongue or roof of the mouth —for the inexperienced whom may draw too hard while lighting a tightly packed half bowl.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Never truer words spoken Grangerous.
A half bowl carelessly lit. Not a clever thing to do !

 

[Distant Roads]

Amazing topic!

Can I ask the same question a little differently? Does packing half (or 2/3) of a bowl hurt a briar pipe in the long run?

I use both small and larger bowl pipes. But I was given one of those Auenland LOTR Churchwardens. I really love the length and the look, and the shape of it. But its bowl is bigger than I'd prefer.
Would smoking it half-bowl damage it in the long run?

P.S. By the way, if someone likes a smaller bowl filtered briar pipe, I would recommend any of Rattray's Mary Gray Smooth (162 or 163) pipes.

 

[BingBong]

Amazing topic!

Can I ask the same question a little differently? Does packing half (or 2/3) of a bowl hurt a briar pipe in the long run?

I use both small and larger bowl pipes. But I was given one of those Auenland LOTR Churchwardens. I really love the length and the look, and the shape of it. But its bowl is bigger than I'd prefer.
Would smoking it half-bowl damage it in the long run?

P.S. By the way, if someone likes a smaller bowl filtered briar pipe, I would recommend any of Rattray's Mary Gray Smooth (162 or 163) pipes.

Put a basket-type mesh screen in. I've done that with a couple of pipes whose chambers are bigger than my preference, works like a charm.