I have a small issue

[pipedisciple]

After being away from pipe smoking for several years, I am having to learn things all over again. Packing, smoking slow, etc. One thing I was never good at was smoking the tobacco to the bottom of the bowl. I don't know why I have this problem and I am sure it is common among new smokers as well as returning smokers. Any ideas?

 

[riptide]

wish I had some advice it seems I rarely smoke to the bottom of the bowl. But when it happens it is in a loose packed bowl.

 

[ace57]

Slow and slow, You will get it back. If baccy is wet dry till You get it to burn for Yourself.

 

[brewshooter]

I often dump a bowl near the end when it seems like it just won't quit, but sometimes I am surprised to realize that I've actually burned all the tobacco and I'm just trying to light ash. So, it's kind of hit or miss for me.

 

[puffy]

For me..Sometimes it happens.Most times it doesn't.I don't sweat it either way.I keep an ash tray handy for when it doesn't.

 

[strave19]

I wouldn't worry too much. Although I'm fairly new to pipe smoking too (relatively, on and off for 6 yrs or so... off more than on though) I probably only smoke to the bottom about 40% of the time. Sometimes it gets monotonous toward the end and its not as tasty and enjoyable so I'll stop, or the room is spinning (kajun Kake!), or I just run out of time... either way, just keep at it. As long as you're enjoying it that's all that matters. Puff on. :puffpipe:

 

[loborx]

Perhaps the tobacco is too moist? That moisture collects at the bottom of the bowl, leaving damp tobacco that punks out. You may want to let your moist tobaccos "air out" for an hour or so before loading your pipe. Just lay out a portion on a paper plate and let it sit for a spell. If it's really moist or you live in a humid area, maybe leave it out for a day.
Slow down on your draw - kind of just sip the smoke rather than puffing hard. You will get a cooler smoke and a better shot at the tobacco burning all the way down if you slow the whole process down.
I learned a packing rule of thumb many years ago: Load the pipe in three stages. Pack the first stage with the pressure of a child, second stage with the pressure of a woman, third stage with the pressure of a man. I still use this method and almost always get a complete burn to the end. Good luck!

 

[rigmedic1]

For my experience, drier tobacco burns down quickly, wet aromatics leave a moist dottle. Some make a nice fine ash too. I got some last week seems to burn through quick, and some that never seem to end. I started using the gravity feed method, and only letting the weight of the tamper set on the tobacco ever few minutes when I think it's about to go out. One thing you might learn on the forum: there are many ways to skin a cat.

 

[baronsamedi]

I'm a wet smoker, so I usually need a relight toward the end anyway. I just give it a tamp every few minutes to keep the smoke rolling the way I like.

 

[eaglerico]

I thought this a concern when I first started, but as with everything in this hobby, it is meant to relax not to stress. I wouldn't worry about it. A little unsmoked (dottle) at the bottom isn't a bad thing. I think with some blend / pipes combos it will never happen. Just not the right chemistry.
I would be more concerned with what you are going to smoke next.
If it still bothers you, dryer baccy and packed firmer usually get me a better burn but also causes to burn a bit hotter.

 

[marmal4de]

I don't think there is anybody on this forum that can say every bowl they smoke is smoked all the way down to ash.

I'll throw my lot in too, Probably 70% of bowls I smoke aren't all the way to the bottom, either because i put it out early or just because my loading technique isn't great.

 

[tiltjlp]

I'd guesstimate that 95% of the time I smoke to the bottom of a bowl, and I credit the advice my dad gave me when I started smoking back in 1959. I still use his pointers to this day.
Dry your tobacco more than you think you need to.

Pack it looser than you think you need to.

Smoke it slower than you think you need to.

Tamp it less , and more lightly, than you think you need to.

Clean your pipes after every smoke, using pipe spirits of some sort.

Don’t worry if you have a few relights.
Another thing that helps is using the spike of my pipe tool to bank the tobacco at the front of the bowl if there seems to be a problem.

 

[salewis]

Smoking the bowl down to the botton can be based on three things. One, if you are smoking an aromatic they smoke whetter than and English blend and therefore it is hard to smoke to the botton because of the collection of moisture. Two, it all depends how you smoke, as mentioned, a harder puffer rather than slow mini draws usually collects moisture at the bottom of bowl because of your saliva and the burning qualities of tobacco which when burned creates a little moisture. Finally, tobacco packing a tamping is important since generally the tighter the tobbaco is loaded the more moisture will be created at the bowl's bottom. Try packing you tobacco looser which should help.
The most important thing, however, is don't sweat the issue of moisture at the bottom since the very premise of pipe smoking is ENJOYMENT and there is nothing that is going to happen to your pipes if you don't smoke all the way down to the bottom of the bowl.