Just sharing a tip:

[settersbrace]

I'm in no way a pipe smoking or tobacco expert but have a few years under my belt and have learned much from forums like this as well as from mentors I've met in my B&M and thought I could share this little tip/trick which I happened to use just this evening while prepping a bowl (a small one before heading indoors). I smoke mainly English and Balkan blends and I like to have it fairly dry, not crunchy or crisp but not so moist that it clumps when you pick up a pinch. My current, open tin of Dan Tobaccos Bill Baileys Balkan Blend is about finished with maybe 1-2 small bowls left and it got pretty dry since the last smoke so following the advice I got from an older gentleman years back at my favorite pipe shop, I packed the bowl somewhat on the tight side, making sure I a proper draw as I did. Once packed I simply brought the bowl up to my lips after taking a deep breath and gently exhailed back through the bowl and out the stem. The result is immediate and perfect. The ideal springyness returned to the tobacco and upon lighting it was as sweet and creamy as I would expect it to be when I popped the tin weeks back.
I post this here because I've read more than once on here where someone has thrown out quantities of good pipe weed because they thought it was ruined due to dehydration. There are many ways to rehydrate even the crunchiest of tobaccos that can be found on these pages and elsewhere and I'd suggest that any noobs reading here should check it out. My little trick listed above will jump start a single bowl of tobacco enough to allow for some instant gratification while a larger quantity is being rehydrated to its proper state.
Hope this helps!

 

[dottiewarden]

Great tip settersbrace.
As I get down to the last few bowls of a pouch, the leaf starts to seem a little on the dry side. The suggestion your giving never would've occurred to me, but makes perfect sense. As a matter of fact I'm actually down to 1 or 2 small bowls in the bag I'm currently smoking so I'll give it a try first thing tomorrow morning.

 

[allan]

Settersbrace
Thanks for posting this tip, but for me it just didn't work.
In almost every case, if I know that I won't be smoking the tin straight through, I stuff it into a mason jar and label it.

 

[settersbrace]

Sorry it didn't pan out for you Allen. I know that it works best in a smaller bowl and it's meant to be a quick fix for the enjoyment of a single bowl or 2 while the remainder is getting hydrated. I usually don't have tins around long enough to dry out but recently I've just had too many going at once. Which BTW, is not really a bad thing! ;-)

 

[dottiewarden]

I had the opportunity to try out your technique a couple of times today. First bowl I used it, second I didn't, third I did, and low and behold it made a difference. However slight, it did in fact take the dry sour edge of the two bowls. Now the bag is all smoked so I won't need to do it again for a while.
In my case the condithions were exactly as you mentioned: small bowl,only slightly too dry tobacco and too little to bother rehydrating.

 

[soggycitybob]

Huh, clever trick. Thanks for sharing. I'm gonna try that.

 

[olewaylon]

I always do that when I smoke 5 brothers mixed with anything. If I don't the bowls is gone in 3 puffs.

 

[mso489]

Never heard of it; I'll give it a try.

 

[settersbrace]

Don't be afraid to apply the technique more than once on a bowlful. The important thing to remember is that you want enough re-hydration to return the springy feel to the tobacco and when you light up it should expand and rise up like a fresher tobacco would react. Just one of those little things that can save the day once in a while.

 

[davidintexas]

Thanks for the tip settersbrace. Another one of those good tips to store away in the ole noggin for future use.

 

[foggymountain]

Good idea, thanks.

 

[dottiewarden]

Just used again today as I smoke a small chunk of Perique that had dried out a little too much. I rubbed it out. packed it into the bowl and exhaled several times to moisten it up a bit. On the charring light the tobacco expanded and on the second light it smoked beautifully all the way down.

 

[settersbrace]

Dottie, you really smoking straight Perique?!! You must have an asbestos tongue! Lol. Glad the tip was helpful.

 

[dottiewarden]

The straight Perique was just a one off! Yeah, it's pretty harsh but but the doping effect was definately worth it.

 

[hawke]

Neat tip, Ill try it too.

 

[monty55]

Great tip for the knowledge bank. Thanks!

 

[anglesey]

I'll confirm this does work! I was smoking some flake yesterday (a medium which I'm unused to) and found I couldn't get a proper draw, so I did this. Thanks!

 

[kanaka95]

Great tip settersbrace.Will give it a try next time round when the baccy gets dry.