How Long to Dry Tobacco Before Packing the Bowl?

[cosmicfolklore]

Douglas Adams on the set of the series, was listening to the workers around the set guffawing and punching each other in the arm, and everything was 42 this and 42 that. In the book, it was the answer to the question of life and everything, but the punchline is that everyone forgot what the question was. Adams revealed to his friend Cleese that 42 was the wildcard, asterisk in ascii based programming. If you asked those old computers a stupid question, you would get 42 or asterisk.
But, having a logical answer to the question isn't nearly as much fun. And, my favorite explanation is that Mungo Jerry's 1970 hit "In the Summertime", written by Ray Dorset, has a tempo of 42 beats per minute. ::

 

[crashthegrey]

don't dry out your tobacco just because someone else says you should...do what you think tastes best, and to me, that means not air drying it

But the OP is asking because he specified he found better flavor by drying. I am happy that you like wet tobacco, but this guy is looking for flavor town. 8)

 

[sablebrush52]

To me, the pipe world is a lot like the wine world, a lot of people out there that think they know what's right for everyone else, when many times it's the $7 bottle of wine that tastes the best; in other words, don't dry out your tobacco just because someone else says you should...do what you think tastes best, and to me, that means not air drying it.

Fair enough, but I don't do anything with regard to pipes just because someone else says their way is the only way. I experiment with each blend to find out what works best for me with that blend. I'll try out suggestions. Why not? It's not going to kill me to have a less than stellar bowl, and sometimes that suggestion yields gold. Wet tobacco works for you. I've found that excess moisture masks flavors and produces a bland and one dimensional smoke.

But, I'm an outdoor only smoker,so the flavors I get are limited to what I'm tasting on the sip, and what I'm tasting when I snork. So I don't have the benefit of sitting in a room full of smoke inhaling and smelling it. If I don't get the moisture, prep, and pack right, the bowl isn't going to be as good as it could be. Getting those flavors outdoors takes more care than getting them indoors.

 

[npod]

Getting those flavors outdoors takes more care than getting them indoors.

:worship:

Words to live by

 

[cosmicfolklore]

To me, the pipe world is a lot like the wine world, a lot of people out there that think they know what's right for everyone else, when many times it's the $7 bottle of wine that tastes the best; in other words, don't dry out your tobacco just because someone else says you should...do what you think tastes best, and to me, that means not air drying it.

+1 Sable, and not only that, but this guy is being a hypocrite. Ha ha. The OP asked us... and then this guy comes long and says don't be a sheep, follow me. Ha ha! ::

 

[economistandfisherman]

You must have missed this quote of mine "...do what you think tastes best,"

 

[economistandfisherman]

But, I'm an outdoor only smoker,so the flavors I get are limited to what I'm tasting on the sip, and what I'm tasting when I snork. So I don't have the benefit of sitting in a room full of smoke inhaling and smelling it. If I don't get the moisture, prep, and pack right, the bowl isn't going to be as good as it could be. Getting those flavors outdoors takes more care than getting them indoors.

I agree, I'm an outdoor smoker as well.

 

[crashthegrey]

You must have missed this quote of mine "...do what you think tastes best,"

You must have missed the part where the OP said

i try leaving the tobacco out for 30 min before packing and smoking. smoke was little light, but i could pick out different taste

(sic) Clearly he wants drying advice. So your advice was unsolicited. Like I said, I am happy you like it that way but you are trying to sell an idea he is already against.

 

[economistandfisherman]

But the OP is asking because he specified he found better flavor by drying. I am happy that you like wet tobacco, but this guy is looking for flavor town.

I actually don't think I said anything about liking wet tobacco, if you read my post, I said it's all in the prelight...i.e., I use the prelight to dry it out the way I want it, I just don't leave it out to dry before packing like others do, to me it's a lot of effort with only marginal benefit...but everyone has their own preferences.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Crash, I don't think he "gets it." Anyways, he is new to the fold. We should probably let him slide by, and if we catch him trying to convince anyone else into thinking that drying is a waste of time after a few months of drinking our Kool Aid, then we will deal with him them. ::

 

[aldecaker]

Cosmic, if you know a guy who knows a guy, you can always hire the Cob Mob. I hear they're into that sort of shit.

 

[economistandfisherman]

he is new to the fold.

I may be new to this fold, but I've been smoking a pipe going on three decades now...cigars too :D And I prefer beer to Kool Aid :rofl:
Enjoyed the debate guys!

 

[timt]

And I prefer beer to Kool Aid

There's plenty of that flowing around here. Wait, next someone will try to convince you to wash out your pipes with water. :crazy:

 

[economistandfisherman]

Wait, next someone will try to convince you to wash out your pipes with water.

:rofl:

 

[npod]

Enjoyed the debate guys!

@econo. Welcome aboard. I'm sure you know this already, but pipe dudes get down and dirty with the debates.
And even though we all think pipers are bad ass, just remember that the pocket square gang is truly hard core. Try telling one of them a proper way to fold a square. They will tear you up and insult your Mother.

 

[aldecaker]

Npod, I'm an aircraft mechanic, and that's exactly how I fold my pocket squares. Of course, it goes in a different pocket. And also, we call it a "grease rag", not a "pocket square", but other than that, samey-same!

 

[crashthegrey]

Enjoyed the debate guys!

I am glad you are not scared off easily or offended. I can guarantee that any time I use the term "flavor town" in my response, it need not be taken too awfully seriously. :wink:

 

[sablebrush52]

I may be new to this fold, but I've been smoking a pipe going on three decades now...cigars too :D And I prefer beer to Kool Aid :rofl:

Okay, I didn't realize that you were still new at this. ::

 

[economistandfisherman]

@econo. Welcome aboard. I'm sure you know this already, but pipe dudes get down and dirty with the debates.

Thanks! I'm an economist by trade, so I'm used to it. In fact, send 10 of us into a room to decide policy and we'll come out with 35 different suggestions...all of them probably wrong :?: In fact, the only ones that forecast more poorly than an economist is a meteorologist...and that's debatable!

 

[bullet08]

42 beers is the answer. anyway. left the coin out for 5hrs. picked it up and try to rub. it's all dust now. i remember leaving this in the tin for about a month before moving to a jar. check the remaining coins and they are fine. so with this blend, i'll try fully rubbed, dried then pack. hopefully that would be more uniformly dried smoke. smoked another coin today after 30min. i think it's too dry. outter edge was crumbling. towards the center was fine. but smoked great.