I've been a several-cigar-a-day smoker for 5 or 6 years now, and I've tried to pick up the pipe a few times before only to give up in frustration every time. But I decided to try again around 6 months ago, and I was more determined than ever. I bought a few decent pipes, a lotta good tobacco, and started practicing. And after 6 months of frustration and tongue bite, I finally found my niche: Flakes.
I tried to fold & stuff a few months ago, but it didn't work for me. I'd since been rubbing out my flakes and not really having the greatest experiences with them, it seemed I'd get burned no matter how dry they were. But just last night I decided to give fold & stuff another try with some Carolina Red Flake, watched some how-to videos, and wow. It was perfect. I stuffed it in my Neerup Churchwarden and settled in, and it lit so easily and burned so slow, all the way down, with only one or two relights. One of the relights was even cold (something I've never had much luck with) and it lit right up. The burn was outrageously slow, too, lasting around an hour and a half.
I've been experimenting with different flakes today, and even broken flakes work perfectly for me. Rather than fold and stuff when the pieces aren't big enough, I line up pieces of broken flakes on a table, pick them up in one loose pinch, and try to push them all in my pipe at once going the same direction. I look at like making a mixed-filler cigar in my pipe. I just tried it with some McC's Bayou Slice, and it's the first time I've had a good experience with McC's with no drying time. I usually have to dry them overnight and still get gurgle.
Sorry to ramble, just very happy with my revelation. You all helped a lot, and I appreciate all the advice I found on this forum. Now to stock up on flakes!
I tried to fold & stuff a few months ago, but it didn't work for me. I'd since been rubbing out my flakes and not really having the greatest experiences with them, it seemed I'd get burned no matter how dry they were. But just last night I decided to give fold & stuff another try with some Carolina Red Flake, watched some how-to videos, and wow. It was perfect. I stuffed it in my Neerup Churchwarden and settled in, and it lit so easily and burned so slow, all the way down, with only one or two relights. One of the relights was even cold (something I've never had much luck with) and it lit right up. The burn was outrageously slow, too, lasting around an hour and a half.
I've been experimenting with different flakes today, and even broken flakes work perfectly for me. Rather than fold and stuff when the pieces aren't big enough, I line up pieces of broken flakes on a table, pick them up in one loose pinch, and try to push them all in my pipe at once going the same direction. I look at like making a mixed-filler cigar in my pipe. I just tried it with some McC's Bayou Slice, and it's the first time I've had a good experience with McC's with no drying time. I usually have to dry them overnight and still get gurgle.
Sorry to ramble, just very happy with my revelation. You all helped a lot, and I appreciate all the advice I found on this forum. Now to stock up on flakes!
