How Long Should a Bowl Last?
- Thread starter djwebb1969
- Start date
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Most of my pipes are in the type 4 class, which is an average bowl. It lasts me from and hour to an hour-and-a-half. Nothing wrong with relights. It helps keep you from smoking too fast. Most likely cause of too many relights is packing your pipe too tightly. Easily the number one thing that beginners get wrong.
For me, it usually takes me twice half the time to smoke a bowl.
When you are starting out, focus on packing light and smoking slowly to get the flavor, as there is usually (but not always) the most flavor at the bottom end of the temperature range. Then you start playing with cadence and temperature to see how heat affects the blend. Time is a product of that.
When I was starting to figure it out (which was well after I started smoking a pipe), I would often dump 1/2 a bowl thinking I was smoking long enough and it was cashed. That's part of the learning process too.
When you are starting out, focus on packing light and smoking slowly to get the flavor, as there is usually (but not always) the most flavor at the bottom end of the temperature range. Then you start playing with cadence and temperature to see how heat affects the blend. Time is a product of that.
When I was starting to figure it out (which was well after I started smoking a pipe), I would often dump 1/2 a bowl thinking I was smoking long enough and it was cashed. That's part of the learning process too.
Unfortunately my pipes tend to last longer than I have time to smoke them. I just put a wind cap on top, sit it on my shelf, and come back to smoke it tomorrow. Sometimes one bowl can last me three days/outings if my wife and kids are relentless. Lol.
Right there with you in being new to this. I just started with a couple of Kaywoodies I found that had belonged to my dad. I have smoked about 4-5 times now, and one of these lasts right at an hour.
How long SHOULD a bowl last?
Until the smoker reaches the "had enough" point, whether that's ten minutes or ten days.
How long WILL a bowl last?
Until the tobacco runs out.
Next question.
Until the smoker reaches the "had enough" point, whether that's ten minutes or ten days.
How long WILL a bowl last?
Until the tobacco runs out.
Next question.
If your pipe does not last quite a bit longer that the above, you are doing something wrong!
don’t get too discouraged about relights. It’s a normal part of learning. Some tobaccos also smoke easier than others. Just keep practicing, and enjoying your new pipe!
Also don’t think too hard about packing. Trial and learning from errors works fine. Many people have learned to smoke a pipe without YouTube throughout history.
Also don’t think too hard about packing. Trial and learning from errors works fine. Many people have learned to smoke a pipe without YouTube throughout history.
That's the long and short of it. "Just enjoy it" is the only rule to follow.Having relights is perfectly normal. Just enjoy your pipe.
Found it...I had a formula for this tucked away somewhere, but I can't find it... suffice it to say, a bowl should last until it's done.
This is the formula passed to me by Albert Einstein's ghost for figuring out how long a bowl of tobacco should last:
Begin by determining the volume of your chamber...
V=πr2h
Then continue by determining the moisture content of your tobacco...
MC=[(w-d)/d]x100
After that, calculate the heat release rate (HRR), that being the burning surface area plus the stacked area (volume of chamber)
Q=q0(Am+As)
Fortunately, ignition source variable is not a large concern.
Finally, calculate the air flow between the two cylinders.
A1 x v1 = A2 x v2
This is factoring an average breathing rate of 18 breaths per minute.
This formula does not however take into account meteorlogic factors such as ambient air temperature, dewpoint or windspeed.
YMMV
Almost as groundbreaking as E=mc^2Found it...
This is the formula passed to me by Albert Einstein's ghost for figuring out how long a bowl of tobacco should last:
Begin by determining the volume of your chamber...
V=πr2h
Then continue by determining the moisture content of your tobacco...
MC=[(w-d)/d]x100
After that, calculate the heat release rate (HRR), that being the burning surface area plus the stacked area (volume of chamber)
Q=q0(Am+As)
Fortunately, ignition source variable is not a large concern.
Finally, calculate the air flow between the two cylinders.
A1 x v1 = A2 x v2
This is factoring an average breathing rate of 18 breaths per minute.
This formula does not however take into account meteorlogic factors such as ambient air temperature, dewpoint or windspeed.
YMMV
Found it...
This is the formula passed to me by Albert Einstein's ghost for figuring out how long a bowl of tobacco should last:
Begin by determining the volume of your chamber...
V=πr2h
Then continue by determining the moisture content of your tobacco...
MC=[(w-d)/d]x100
After that, calculate the heat release rate (HRR), that being the burning surface area plus the stacked area (volume of chamber)
Q=q0(Am+As)
Fortunately, ignition source variable is not a large concern.
Finally, calculate the air flow between the two cylinders.
A1 x v1 = A2 x v2
This is factoring an average breathing rate of 18 breaths per minute.
This formula does not however take into account meteorlogic factors such as ambient air temperature, dewpoint or windspeed.
YMMV
It's all relative.
Size of the bowl, state of humidity of the tobacco, shape or cut of the tobacco, rubbed or not, and pressure, packaging, time of year, climate of your area where you live. Besides, pipe tobacco, a good cigar, or a good distillate, is to be enjoyed slowly. Even the state of mind, or stress, can give you negative or unpleasant sensations.
If you are worried about how long it takes to smoke a bowl then you are missing the reason to smoke a pipe. Just fill your pipe, press gently, light it and set back and slowly sip it. Many believe that you have to have volumes of smoke raising from the pipe and your mouth. It is just the opposite. Slowly sip and enjoy what flavors you can find. If you have to relight no one will come and beat the shit out of you and take your pipe smokers license. Just set back , relax and enjoy.
I usually get a half hour out of my pipes. Well, no, that's not entirely true. I usually get a half hour from the kids to enjoy my pipe. There is no set time a pipe is supposed to last. As long as you're enjoying the experience, though, you're doing it right. The rest will come with time and experience.
