How to Pack a Bowl!

[Chasing Embers]

More moist, tighter; or the other way around?

The drier the tobacco is, the tighter you can pack it. Damp tobacco needs more air around it to burn easier.

 

[craiginthecorn]

There are a few YouTube videos covering Fred Hanna's technique, but this one by pipesmagazine (Kevin?) comes closest to the way Fred showed me.
Also, Mark Irwin's valuable yet free compendium of articles called "A Pipe man's Handbook of Really Useful Information by Chas. Mundungus" covers it well in print.
Regarding moisture level, moister and especially stickier tobaccos are easy to pack too tightly due to their tendency to clump. On the other end of the spectrum are the Tabac Manil Belgian Semois burleys, which are bone dry and are nearly impossible to pack too tightly. With the semois, the challenge is getting it tight enough.
Tamping is nearly as important as packing. Use a light touch and try not to tamp too frequently. If it's burning well, leave well enough alone, but on the other hand, don't wait until it's nearly out, either.

 

[bullet08]

i need to try that air pocket method. been trying to achieve the same thing with different method.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Using magnifiers and tweezers, I fill the pipe, ribbon by ribbon till all pieces of tobacco are horizontal and no pockets of air between the pieces. ::
In the beginning everyone seemed to think there was something magical about packing the pipe. Maybe there is. But, after a while... I don't even think (or remember) what I did to pack the pipe. I just try to keep it loose, and tamp lightly till I find the sweet spot. If I pack too tight, I just dump the bowl and start again. But, I don't even remember the last time I got it too tight.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Adjustments in packing pressure for moisture level in tobacco? Necessary if there's much variation. One solution is to dry all blends to a certain level. Better tasting smoke, etc., when moisture's right.

 

[judcasper]

One solution is to dry all blends to a certain level. Better tasting smoke, etc., when moisture's right.

The stuff I buy from the shop (ribbon, shag, whatever... I don't know the difference but I'm assuming it's one of these) is perfect for me, moisture wise. I need a pouch with a zip, though, because I like to keep the backy I'm smoking on a daily basis in one of these, but I'm not sure if it will dry out too much in my current zipless pouch.

 

[craiginthecorn]

Using magnifiers and tweezers, I fill the pipe, ribbon by ribbon till all pieces of tobacco are horizontal and no pockets of air between the pieces.

Hahahaha!That's why I like flakes -- they're already in a nice straight row. Saves me a lot of time and effort! :wink:
Cosmic's "method” works fine for me too for most ribbons and crosscut tobaccos, but with a little more care, I manage to relight less often.
Honestly, the airpocket method is less fussy than the standard 3-part gravity fill. Take a big honking pinch and twist her in tight, pull off the excess, then smooth it a bit. More effort than a codger scoop, but it's hardly fiddly.

 

[bnichols23]

I don't do anything fancy like the Frank method. No need to.

IBTL. -evyl grin-
Bill

 

[bnichols23]

ribbon by ribbon till all pieces of tobacco are horizontal and no pockets of air between the pieces

And then a nice neat little twist at the top, hold out at arm's length, & light with a Chinese-made quad-jet torch set on 11.....
B

 

[ernieq]

Ask 5 Pipe smokers how to pack a pipe, you'll likely get six different answers! I second the "Codger" pack adding only that if you cross-cut your flakes into cubes, take a small amount and really rub it out and put that on top. Really helps with initial combustion.

E.