Half Bowl Now, Half Bowl Later?

[dctune]

Title edited- capitalize important words. -JPM

Any thoughts on smoking half a bowl, then coming back to it later?

i find I’ll sometimes have a very satisfying smoke going for quite some time, then it burns out. No problem. I tamp some ash down and dump it, only to happily find I’ve still got about half a bowl left.

Then the mental back-and-forth begins.

Should I relight and finish this bowl to the dregs? Or rack it and come back to it in a bit?

Of course, my ultimate decision depends on a host of variables. Time available. If there’s moisture in the bowl. What the wife and kids are doing/wanting me to do. Whether I should really have another slice of that cinnamon crusted spiced friendship bread right now. Etc.

I usually just relight and keep on puffing. But I’m curious if anyone prefers to take it half a bowl at a time, enjoying the second half an hour (or more) later.

 

[anotherbob]

I don't know why but lots of people here will say yeah go for it. I personally usually find that terrible, except if it's a blend that needed to dry out more. Then it seems to improve the smoke. No clue why so don't ask me.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Virginia dominant blends seem to do well with this approach. I run a pipe cleaner through to soak up moisture when I sit it down. Somehow I envision latakia and Aromatic blends getting bitter but no experience to support that.

 

[mso489]

Mostly, that's how I smoke pipes, just because of distractions and obligations. The delayed relights always taste good, sometimes better than before, and when the taste goes bad, whether in an ongoing smoking session or an intermittent one, I end the bowl. By now, I can usually tell whether there is smokeable, enjoyable tobacco left, even or small amount, or not. It probably varies from smoker to smoker, with many variables, but it works for me.

 

[dctune]

I don't know why but lots of people here will say yeah go for it. I personally usually find that terrible, except if it's a blend that needed to dry out more. Then it seems to improve the smoke. No clue why so don't ask m

Some of my briars handle the second half of a bowl better than others. A few of them tend to get a little “ashy,” which I suspect to is some ash getting drawn into the stummel.

My MM Twain cob tastes consistent top to bottom, as does my filtered briars, charcoal 9mm in particular.

In general, I do usually find the top half more pleasant than the bottom half.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Yes, depending on the blend, Virgina tobaccies goes pretty well with this so-called DGT ''method whereas burely forward blends not so, moreover I.m trying to pick a pipe wich chamber size suits to a particular smoking session and time frame I'm intending to spend, so to say, I'm one of those individuals who tend to avoid smoking partial bowls

 

[anotherbob]

Some of my briars handle the second half of a bowl better than others. A few of them tend to get a little “ashy,” which I suspect to is some ash getting drawn into the stummel.

My MM Twain cob tastes consistent top to bottom, as does my filtered briars, charcoal 9mm in particular.

In general, I do usually find the top half more pleasant than the bottom half.

cobs and meer certainly do better both of which wick moisture away from the tobacco.

 

[dctune]

Mostly, that's how I smoke pipes, just because of distractions and obligations. The delayed relights always taste good, sometimes better than before, and when the taste goes bad, whether in an ongoing smoking session or an intermittent one, I end the bowl. By now, I can usually tell whether there is smokeable, enjoyable tobacco left, even or small amount, or not. It probably varies from smoker to smoker, with many variables, but it works for me.

I will also dump a bowl when I find it becoming unpleasant. And yes, distractions and obligations often dictate whether I have a half hour to sit and puff, or if I must put it aside til later.

 

[OzPiper]

I know quite a few members do. To each his own.
When I want a smoke, I dedicate time to it.
I'm not a believer in delayed gratification.
Why start a meal if you can't sit and finish it ?

 

[Streeper541]

Sure. Why not?

 

[dctune]

Virginia dominant blends seem to do well with this approach. I run a pipe cleaner through to soak up moisture when I sit it down. Somehow I envision latakia and Aromatic blends getting bitter but no experience to support that.

I don’t usually notice the so called “nicotine hit” in a decipherable, obvious way. For me it manifests as a more relaxing alertness that only subtly gets my attention.

However, with some blends (English notably), if I smoke a bowl to the base, I’ll begin a notice that nic hit. It’s likely more of a cumulative effect, but the only time I really detect it is at the dottle when I’m determined to get every last leaf. (Not often, and not advisable!)

With most aromatics, I usually don’t get that far, as the moisture lifts it staff and declares, “You shall not pass!”

 

[OzPiper]

Sure. Why not?

When I had my first job, I was never sure if I could finish a meal. If a call came, I was expected to drop everything to attend to that.

Hence not starting a smoke unless I know I will be uninterrupted. I do it at my leisure. My smokes are "planned" events.

Of course there are times when half way through a bowl something comes up. But that is rare.

 

[gamzultovah]

If it’s a large pipe or if I’m in a particularly fickle mood, I might come back to a pipe four or five times in a day. Never did think about it much.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I'm fine with leaving a bowl for a couple of hours if needs must.
longer than that and something strange and unpleasant starts to happen in the tobacco.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

I’ve left them overnight and in the garage. No discernible problem.

 

[wordheavy]

I do it often, sometimes I'm just too busy to finish a bowl in one sitting. Doesn't bother me and at least in my experience, is still enjoyable.

 

[LotusEater]

I often leave a half smoked pipe in the door handle well of my car while I’m at work. It usually tastes good when I get back to it but my car has taken on an odor that is likely similar to S. Holmes’ Persian slipper.

 

[Talon]

The half bowl now and half bowl later is pretty much exactly how I do it most days! Sometimes I'll go at a bowl 4 times before I finish it. I've never had much of a problem with it and I don't think it ever "ruins" the flavor of the bowl. It just changes and it's always enjoyable!

 

[WNCLEE28466]

Don't always have time for a full bowl of tobacco. I find it ok and do the same if it doesn't taste ashy or biter.

 

[kcghost]

I see no problem with it. I smoke in the evening and occasionally finish the bowl the next day. No problemo.