How does one pack shag (finer than ribbon) cut tobaccos? D&R and the likes

[georged]

STEP ONE --- Put a fistful of tobacco on a cutting board, spread it out, and press it firmly into a hamburger-sized circle about a half inch thick, then chop it with a chef's knife like so: One pass through it at about 5/8" intervals, then rotate 90 degrees and make another pass.

Mix and fluff with your fingers back into a pile, then burger-flatten again and cut through it the same way again.

Rinse and repeat 4 or 5 times, until the majority of the shreds in the pile are around a quarter inch long.

Put it in a separate jar marked "Prepped Kendal Kentucky" (or whatever it actually is)

To fill a pipe, do it entirely with aspirin-tablet-sized pinches. Drop some in, rap the side of the bowl with a knuckle to settle it, put in another pinch. Rap again. Another pinch, rap again, etc. until the chamber is "level full".

Then test the draw. It will be too loose at first, of course, but do it to get a baseline (so to speak). Add a pinch and press back to level. Test draw again. Add another pinch, press flat and test.

Keep going until the draw is spot-on-perfect.

STEP TWO --- A couple of charring light with a re-flatten-level tamp, then a full-on light when the tobacco stays flat and stops "blooming".

Be ready for the most steady-burning and long-burning pipe of your life. I regularly get zero-relight and one-relight 2.5 hour smokes from giant pipes (1" x 2.5" chambers) by prepping and filling this way.

Note: dump accumulated ash with a gentle stir and a pour---not a hard knock---then re-level.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I just stuff it in the pipe. There are a lot of complicated ways of doing it, but IMO all those "methods" are silly.

You can pack a shag cut too tight. I'd bet that's the main problem.

You have to find that sweet spot.

 

[georged]

I just stuff it in the pipe. There are a lot of complicated ways of doing it, but IMO all those "methods" are silly.

You can pack a shag cut too tight. I'd bet that's the main problem.

You have to find that sweet spot.

51 years of pipe smoking has shown me that physics is in charge of the entire business---and consistent application of a method which addresses that fact---is the key.

 

[Skyfall]

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I pack it into the trash can and load a nice Virginia Flake which packs easily and smokes wonderfully. I think, though, the key to smoking Shag is to dry it out adequately. Try packing moist Shag tight, it will expand when it heats up and creates an air blockade. Dry it out properly, stuff it in the pipe with medium pressure and adjust with a tamper as the smoke progresses.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’m glad no one told me how complicated shag was to smoke or I’m sure I would’ve fouled it all up, and missed out on may of my favorite blends.

 

[buroak]

I suspect

STEP ONE --- Put a fistful of tobacco on a cutting board, spread it out, and press it firmly into a hamburger-sized circle about a half inch thick, then chop it with a chef's knife like so: One pass through it at about 5/8" intervals, then rotate 90 degrees and make another pass.

Mix and fluff with your fingers back into a pile, then burger-flatten again and cut through it the same way again.

Rinse and repeat 4 or 5 times, until the majority of the shreds in the pile are around a quarter inch long.

Put it in a separate jar marked "Prepped Kendal Kentucky" (or whatever it actually is)

To fill a pipe, do it entirely with aspirin-tablet-sized pinches. Drop some in, rap the side of the bowl with a knuckle to settle it, put in another pinch. Rap again. Another pinch, rap again, etc. until the chamber is "level full".

Then test the draw. It will be too loose at first, of course, but do it to get a baseline (so to speak). Add a pinch and press back to level. Test draw again. Add another pinch, press flat and test.

Keep going until the draw is spot-on-perfect.

STEP TWO --- A couple of charring light with a re-flatten-level tamp, then a full-on light when the tobacco stays flat and stops "blooming".

Be ready for the most steady-burning and long-burning pipe of your life. I regularly get zero-relight and one-relight 2.5 hour smokes from giant pipes (1" x 2.5" chambers) by prepping and filling this way.

Note: dump accumulated ash with a gentle stir and a pour---not a hard knock---then re-level.

I suspect your cutting process would facilitate blending together different shag cut tobacco varieties. This could revolutionize how I process whole leaf. To this point, I operated under the apparently mistaken belief that cutting shag would make it too fine and granular for good smoking.

 

[anotherbob]

jam it in very firmly. And not worry about even burning. like light the middle and tamp the sides towards the ember. Also barely draw on the smoke letting it burn it's self mostly.

 

[ThermionicScott]

If you're not inserting a pipe cleaner prior to packing, that might be a good idea to make sure the draft hole stays clear. I do that in most cases, regardless of the pipe and blend.

 

[zercules]

I just can't seem to get it right. I pack too light and it burns up in 20 seconds and singes my tongue, too tight and it seems to extinguish itself. I tried the air pocket method, no bueno. Any time i try to have a 'cadence' it's a burnt tongue. Currently I'm trying to rehydrate it a little bit to see if it helps. Any tips? I used small to medium sized bowls

Same as literally any other cut of tobacco. Keep packing until the draw has some resistance and you’re good to go. I have been smoking a lot of 5 brothers lately and this has always worked for me.

 

[khiddy]

Yeah, I just tend to stuff it in there pretty tight, and the draw always seems just right – like sucking a milkshake through a straw. Didja ever notice that McDonald's straws are wider than normal straws? That's to help with the flow of the milkshake, and the feeling that it gives is a good guide to what you want on a draw through a pipestem as well.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Honestly, I’ve taken to “rolling” a good pinch up just less than the diameter and 1.5-2x the depth of the chamber and cranking that in there and pressing to just below the rim. Been working pretty well.