I wonder why tamping helps.

[VoodooChum]

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.

It can be only the weight of the tamper. I can require some force. The easiest way to convince yourself of that is to answer this question: What is "the weight of a tamper"? Well... my Brebbia Pipe Nail tamper weighs in at a whopping 5g while my Peterson: PEWTER "THINKING MAN" PIPE TAMPER is 73g. One is almost 15 times the weight of the other. It's a decent starting point but it's more or less get the feel of what works for you.

 

[Living Luggage]

Depending on the pace of your puffing, the ember can sit stationary if not nudged down into the unburned tobacco. Not only will it go out if not tended, you can cause a burn in the chamber at that spot if it's hot enough. Before tamping, I typically tap the bowl on my palm to loosen the white ash and dump it into the ashtray to increase air flow. Then I lightly pack the ember down till I'm satisfied with the draw.

 

[Brad H]

I have 10 tamps, and I have burnt all of them except my two thumbs.

 

[bullet08]

Basically you are moving ember closer to the tobacco. Do it gently. Too much pressure and you kill the ember or cut off the air circulation in the chamber

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Simple. It's you try sticking fluid through a straw and the straw is cracked above the fluid line. All you'll get is air. With a bowl of tobacco, it's m not 100% the same but very similar. If the tobacco and ash gets too loose, you'll mostly be drawing air. That's why packing too loose e makes the pipe burn hot. You have to puff too hard to draw smoke with all the air you're getting.

 

[telescopes]

Use the force, Luke. Seriously, keeping the tobacco at a consistent pressure that allows for a proper draw does wonders.

 

[dd57chevy]

Tamping is necessary partly because smoking a pipe is the opposite of of a camp fire . When starting a campfire , wood stove , etc , the kindling is ignited at the bottom of the pile . When smoking tobacco in a pipe , you are pulling the fire/ember down .
The expansion of the ember also tends to pull away from the fuel/tobacco .

 

[anotherbob]

why do fireplaces have pokers?