How Much do you Adjust as you Smoke?

[Honkytonk Man]

@TheIronMonkey
Me too actually, although were I differ is that I'll pinch the excess off, so that I don't have the chamber too full, which as we all know, will char/burn the rim.
And secondly, I know I'll have a helluva time trying to draw the pipe.

Of course sometimes, I'll just say screw it and jam that sucker up and end up doing what TheIronMonkey does...

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I char light, tamp a little, then go for a gentle and even flame across the whole bowl. This usually creates a uniform burn. If the outter tobacco isn't burning at the rate of the center, I use my tamp to kind of fold that stuff in on the ember. If that ember is still going, I won't take a lighter to it. It usually can be solved with a tamper and a little patience.
Like anything, practice is key. Also, pay attention where your flame is going. Of course avoid the rim, but aim for an even light without pulling the flame deep into the tobacco. If your drawing too hard when your lighting, that can suck the flame beneath the surface and ignite tobacco below, creating that "center ember". I kind of tap my flame to the tobacco, gently in a circular motion

You may know this already, just my .02

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I have about a dozen tampers, but I found one that has a slightly concave base seems to help with this.

I tamp lightly from a slight angle around the ember and form a small rise in the center of the tobacco.

This seems to help in keeping all of the tobacco lit.

Ever since I stuck this in the little table on the deck I haven’t used a “proper” tamper out here all spring and into summer.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Someone always shows the golf tee when this comes up, for good reason. Tobacco naturally burns more towards the middle and requires a gentle tamp at some point to bring the edges of tobacco toward the middle. The concave shape of a golf tee works well to do this. I prefer a concave tamper (8deco is my go to) to do this task. IMO you cannot perform a perfect pack or light to do this for you, every bowl requires a tamp to redirect the tobacco out of the center unless you are puffing and burning fast enough to burn all the tobacco which leads to an inferior burn for taste. Just sayin....

 

[jpmcwjr]

As little as possible, but even that's a fair amount,

Tampers? I have many different types and they all do the job.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Ever since I stuck this in the little table on the deck I haven’t used a “proper” tamper out here all spring and into summer. View attachment 232640

That's a very proper tamper, but I'd burn the paint off first.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I probably adjust my nuts more while smoking a pipe than I do the pipe and tobacco. I push here and a little twist there with the tamper and you should be good to go. Like adjusting your nuts, don't overthink it, can be painful.

 

[OverMountain]

I usually look down the chamber and sternly instruct my tobacco to burn evenly. It works. But as the master of my pipes and tobacco, I do my part. I pack my tobacco with plenty of air space, and I light it evenly across the top. If they refuse to cooperate, they will be facing further dress down with a multiple fire torture.

Burn properly damn you! Now you get the fire again!

 

[jpmcwjr]

I probably adjust my nuts more while smoking a pipe than I do the pipe and tobacco. I push here and a little twist there with the tamper and you should be good to go. Like adjusting your nuts, don't overthink it, can be painful.

Good grief! Most of my tampers are metal, and I cannot fathom adjusting nuts with one. You have an iron constitution!

 

[bullet08]

Been away from the thread a moment, and now we are talking adjusting nuts with tampers? That's why they do butt implants at a parking lot down the border!

 

[Lucashly]

All of the above, salient points, I would also add correct tamping will help your dilemma.

Try to bring the ash/tobacco in from the chamber walls, so it forms a dome shape. Using an 8 Deco tamper helps with this technique.

Nice. Going to find one.

 

[jpmcwjr]

@TheIronMonkey
Me too actually, although were I differ is that I'll pinch the excess off, so that I don't have the chamber too full, which as we all know, will char/burn the rim.
And secondly, I know I'll have a helluva time trying to draw the pipe.

No, we don't all know that, because it's not true. Now, it will help avoid rim char, but the key is directing the flame properly.

 

[Lucashly]

All of the above, salient points, I would also add correct tamping will help your dilemma.

Try to bring the ash/tobacco in from the chamber walls, so it forms a dome shape. Using an 8 Deco tamper helps with this technique.

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[bullet08]

Other than moving the pipe from starboard to port side and back?

 

[Honkytonk Man]

No, we don't all know that, because it's not true. Now, it will help avoid rim char, but the key is directing the flame properly.

I have a couple of older pipes, from when I started pipe-smoking, that would disagree with you.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Outliers!

 

[Sobrbiker]

I probably adjust my nuts more while smoking a pipe than I do the pipe and tobacco. I push here and a little twist there with the tamper and you should be good to go. Like adjusting your nuts, don't overthink it, can be painful.

Glad I read the comments, or I’d have redundantly posted

 

[RookieGuy80]

I adjust as needed. I couldn't tell you how often or what I do, it's not something I think about as soon as I stop. That's why I don't smoke a pipe competitively, so I can smoke it how I want in the moment.

 

[AJL67]

 

[winton]

I enjoy making and using tampers.