I wonder why tamping helps.

[Wheels]

I mean, I know it makes the tobacco stay lit better, but I wonder why it does that. My guess is that compressing the ash restricts air flow or maybe acts as an insulator. I know that if I try to light pipe tobacco in a saucer it won't stay lit even though it's in open air. It will glow if you blow on it, but soon go out. I suppose I'm over thinking things, but that's how I am. I wonder if anyone has done a technical study of tobacco combustion or smoldering fires.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

The explanation I've heard is that the tobacco expands while it burns, and tamping keeps the burning leaf in contact with the rest of it so the flame spreads easier.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The explanation I've heard is that the tobacco expands while it burns, and tamping keeps the burning leaf in contact with the rest of it so the flame spreads easier.

^^^^
This

 

[Sigmund]

Make a campfire. If you dont add more wood or feed the fire in some fashion your fire stops. Proper tamping provides fuel.

 

[proteus]

Ash is an insulator. It keeps the heat evenly spread out and contained maintaining smouldering heat. After a fire has burned for several hours in my wood stove the next morning under the ash I can find coals which have been insulated and starved of air but then readily glow orange after exposure which starts the next day's fire from the char cloth.

 

[Wheels]

Make a campfire. If you dont add more wood or feed the fire in some fashion your fire stops. Proper tamping provides fuel.

It's been a long time since I made a campfire, but my recollection is that once you get them going you don't have to touch them and they will burn to ash.

 

[Snook]

It's been a long time since I made a campfire, but my recollection is that once you get them going you don't have to touch them and they will burn to ash.

My experience has been the opposite. You need to baby those suckers and keep a watchful eye to make sure that they stay nice and fed with the occasional rearranging of the embers.

 

[FLDRD]

When I taught my kids how to build a fire I told them it needed 3 things:
1. It needs to breathe
2. It needs to stay warm
3. It needs to grow

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

Don’t wonder. Just do.

 

[Pipke]

It pushes more fuel to the ember.

 

[Wheels]

It pushes more fuel to the ember.

But then I read that I should only use the weight of the tamper. And, it seems like that just crushes the soft ash on top.

 

[Philosophical Smoke]

Fire is the oxidation of material in the combustion process, so in essence tamping the ember/leaf provides more area for oxidation to occur. It's the same principle as stoking wood in a fireplace when the fire gets weaker.

As far as using only the weight of the tamper. I don't know...I've found over the years that you get to know the blend you're smoking and can tell how much "force" to use when tamping. I have definitely found some prefer to be tamped heavier and some can barely take it at all. Experiment with what you're smoking and you'll know how much to do it quickly enough.

That's my two cents.

 

[Pipke]

But then I read that I should only use the weight of the tamper. And, it seems like that just crushes the soft ash on top.

I sometimes ash the pipe and then tamp. Or I just tamp - sometimes with just the weight of the tamper, other times with a bit of crunch. Or with just my finger. You just have to mess with it over and over and you will do it without much thought.

 

[renfield]

It keeps the ember in contact with unburnt tobacco. It also redistributes the neutrino field in the bowl.

 

[Michigan_Bill]

It keeps the ember in contact with unburnt tobacco. It also redistributes the neutrino field in the bowl.

It also resets the density field of the flux capacitor.

 

[MisterBadger]

But then I read that I should only use the weight of the tamper. And, it seems like that just crushes the soft ash on top.

A light tamp breaks up that ash to dust, improving airflow. Tamp hard, and your tobacco won't stay lit when you relight. In the same way, you can put out a campfire by adding too much fuel too quickly - where the weight of large logs, for example, will restrict the airflow.

 

[Pipke]

... adding too much fuel too quickly - where the weight of large logs, for example, will restrict the airflow.

yes, so don't smoke logs.

 

[Woobijube]

In my limited experience, I was blown away with how well tamping helped reduce relights. If I am able to subconsciously pay attention to the need for tamping, my smoking sessions become much more successful. For me, I try to constantly remember- tamp early and tamp often.