I average 2-4 tamps per bowl, (and observed others about the same) and I don't do charring lights, unless I have to. Sometimes initiated when draw is too open, or just before or after a relight.
"your are god !!!!"After the initial light, I only tamp if the pipe goes out and will not re-light. Then I will tamp and re-light. You should always try relighting without tamping first. Doing this will prevent a tightly packed smoke.
You shouldn't need to tamp much at all while smoking.
Ditto! I may tamp half way through the bowl if it needs it.When I begin to feel the draw getting too loose, I tamp.
+1I only tamp on relights and it's important to only use the weight of the tamper tool to push down the ash. Sometimes I'll remove some of the ash before relighting. A lot has to do with the cut of the blend I'm smoking.