Is this Normal with Flake; If Not, What am I Doing Wrong?

[Charlie718]

Smoking Peterson Navy Flake and wondering if it is normal for the tobacco on the side of the bowl not to burn? Every time I smoke flake I have to push what is on the sides of the bowl in and lightly tamp. I’m using the fold method and wondering if it’s my packing, lighting, or the wrong tobacco for this style bowl.

 

[sablebrush52]

Smoking Peterson Navy Flake and wondering if it is normal for the tobacco on the side of the bowl not to burn? Every time I smoke flake I have to push what is on the sides of the bowl in and lightly tamp. I’m using the fold method and wondering if it’s my packing, lighting, or the wrong tobacco for this style bowl.

Do you reserve a bit of the flake to crumble up, spread over the top and use as kindling?. It seems that you're not getting an even light over the top of the tobacco. The kindling may help. If you have matches, try them instead of a lighter. I get good coverage with a match (though I'm too damned lazy to give up a lighter).

 

[Ahi Ka]

I rarely smoke flake tobacco, and when I do, it is generally rubbed out before I load the bowl. Someone else will definitely be able to chime in here.

My initial thought would be the flake is too moist causing you to sip a bit heavy and create a tunnel down the middle. Could be way off though bro

 

[Charlie718]

Do you reserva a bit of the flake to crumble up, spread over the top and use as kindling?. It seems that you're not getting an even light over the to of the tobacco. The kindling may help. If you have matches, try them instead of a lighter. I get good coverage with a match (though I'm too damned lazy to give up a lighter).

No I haven’t yet, still a new tin and haven’t built up any excess yet. I’ll bring a little ribbon cut to work on Monday so I can try that. Thank you

 

[Charlie718]

I rarely smoke flake tobacco, and when I do, it is generally rubbed out before I load the bowl. Someone else will definitely be able to chime in here.

My initial thought would be the flake is too moist causing you to sip a bit heavy and create a tunnel down the middle. Could be way off though bro

Good possibility, I let the flake sit out for 45 min but it was still kinda moist to the touch

 

[Charlie718]

Good possibility, I let the flake sit out for 45 min but it was still kinda moist to the touch

I will try Leto g it sit for longer next time as well as add some excess as kindling

 

[Ahi Ka]

I will try Leto g it sit for longer next time as well as add some excess as kindling

I’m not familiar with their navy flake and whether it would need more than 45mins or not. In terms of kindling, just rip a bit off one of the flakes and keep rubbing it with your fingers and it will slowly break up to the consistency you need

 

[wolflarsen]

Try resting your tamper on the center of the ember and drawing on the pipe a few times. It creates fresh air flow down the sides of the chamber and helps to get that side stuff burning.

 

[didimauw]

Atleast u can get some of it lit. The last time I tried the fold and stuff, I couldn't get it to light at all! Though that was years ago, and now I just smash it all up.

 

[shanez]

In addition to the kindling and more even lighting suggestions I'll add:

I like to gently twist my folded flakes just a bit to break loosen them up.

Also don't over pack them. They expand like a mfer which can cause all kinds of issues.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The chamber is too small for the volume of flake used. A lot of space needs to be reserved for the flake's expansion as it is heated.

 

[Ahi Ka]

The chamber is too small for the volume of flake used. A lot of space needs to be reserved for the flake's expansion as it is heated.

If you were to provide a rough percentage of amount of flake to total chamber space what would you say?

 

[Chasing Embers]

If you were to provide a rough percentage of amount of flake to total chamber space what would you say?

75-85%


I like to be able to freely spin the folded flake in the chamber. Aligning the fold with the draft hole helps the burn as well.

 

[charf]

I rarely smoke flake tobacco, and when I do, it is generally rubbed out before I load the bowl. Someone else will definitely be able to chime in here.

My initial thought would be the flake is too moist causing you to sip a bit heavy and create a tunnel down the middle. Could be way off though bro

I’m with you. I’ve had the most success with rubbing them out.

 

[anotherbob]

first it's not a big deal second put it in a bigger pipe. and one of the charms of flakes is they're not really going to burn evenly unless you rub them out which why do that anyways.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Not unusual and not a big deal. I do twist my flake slightly, before packing, to break it up a little. I agree with packing it looser than you probably think it's right.

 

[mingc]

Atleast u can get some of it lit. The last time I tried the fold and stuff, I couldn't get it to light at all! Though that was years ago, and now I just smash it all up.

You had some of that fire proof Dark Star eh? ?

 

[bullet08]

Not unusual at all. Even with rubbed blends the ember some times stay in the center. You can play with it, or smoke, dump ashes, even out the tobacco and light again.

 

[rushx9]

It's normal and good. I pack ribbons to the sides so I get the same burn even without a flake. An ember in the middle is cooking the flavor out of all the unburned tobacco on the sides. The trick is to relight once you get a 3rd of the way in, whether you need to or not. You'll see the ember turn into a "ring of fire" that quickly catches up to the first light cherry.
I always try to keep this illustration in mind:

 

[cigrmaster]

When my pipe goes out around halfway I will gently stir the ash and dump. I then use my tamper to scrape the sides of the inside of the bowl, tamped down gently and relight. I might have to do that one more time, it depends if I was paying attention. I pretty much strictly smoke flakes and fold and stuff everything. That hit after scraping the sides is really very tasty.