My First Flake Experience. I Have a Question

[easterntraveler]

After loading the bowl using the fold and stuff method I went to take a test draw and heard the air whistle as it traveled through the pipe. Someone told me the draw should have very minor resistance like using a straw which works for me. So I went ahead and stuffed it a little tighter. Should I have left it be? My bowl is fairly large so not sure.

 

[dragonslayer]

I tried the fold and stuff way and had the same result. I took it out and gave it a rub. Now I use the cube method only. Cut those beauties into 1/4" squares let them dry, then sprinly them in and tap, tap, tap. Then add more and repeat. When I get to the top I take the left over breakage and put it on top and give it a push, check the pull, if it needs a little more I push it until the pull is right. You are going to get expansion, so not to tight. Just my way of doing it, everyone has a differnt way.
Craig

 

[peckinpahhombre]

cube cut is the best way to go, at least for me. When I open a tin, a cube the whole tin at once, mason jar it (or leave it in the tin if it needs drying time), and dip into that as necessary

 

[rmbittner]

I prefer to rub out my flakes, in most cases. In those situations where I do leave a good bit of flake intact, I fill the bottom and the top of the pipe with fully rubbed out tobacco. It's especially helpful to have rubbed out leaf on the top of the bowl as an aid to getting a good initial light.

 

[dnietosi]

I usually do cube cut too. But yesterday felt like trying fold and stuff method again with some St. James and had a wonderful smoke. The problem is that flakes expand so is hard to figure out the draw resistance when they are not lighted. They would probably expand differently from one flake to another... so. IMO I would say that better a little too loose than tight. Keep trying an experiencing different methods, with different pipes and flakes!