Never Put Your Finger in the Bowl...

[Seeker81]

While watching random pipe smoking videos, I have heard it said never put your finger in the bowl of your pipe.
Can anyone say why not?
Beside the obvious reason that you might forget to take it out and smoke your finger. Thanks.

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title - Bob

 

[Chasing Embers]

While watching random pipe smoking videos,

Mostly misinformation. I've not seen many pipe smoking videos where they actually looked like they knew what they were doing. Bet they don't even know that the bowl is the part of the stummel the chamber is drilled into and not the chamber itself.


I use my finger as a tamper all of the time.

 

[Seeker81]

You use your finger to tamp? ... OK haha I'm trying that right now...

 

[Chasing Embers]

You use your finger to tamp?

That I do.?

 

[mortonbriar]

tamp statistics for me:
finger: 96%
commercial tamping tool: 2%
something random: 2%

Isaac

 

[mikethompson]

Aside from burning the end of your finger if you aren't careful, I don't see a valid reason why not.

 

[seldom]

I also sometimes use my finger as a tamper. I prefer a tool but don't always remember to bring it with me or leave it somewhere by accident.

 

[blues4goose]

People usually give the advice not to put your finger in the bowl when they're teaching the frank or swirl method of packing, ime. The thinking is that you don't want to 'pack' the tobacco, just 'work' it into the chamber without actually pressing with your finger. Ive heard people claim that when you put your finger in the bowl you're creating 'pinch points' that will cause your pipe to go out. But Chasingembers is right, it's really just misinformation, and you pack your pipe however works best for you, finger in the chamber or not

 

[luigi]

I often tamp with fingers too and usually it's ok, as long as there's some ashes. Sometimes it's painful, touching a red-hot embers burns really badly, that's why it's not recommended. I guess. :D

 

[jpmcwjr]

When loading a pipe, it's always digits, never a tool. When tamping after the light, 72% tamper, 28% finger.

 

[hobie1dog]

When loading a pipe, it's always digits, never a tool. When tamping after the light, 72% tamper, 28% finger.

+1

 

[supperthyme]

they don't even know that the bowl is the part of the stummel the chamber is drilled into and not the chamber itself.

Man, this is a pet peeve of mine. A lot of self-proclaimed pipe 'experts' can't even correctly label the anatomy of a pipe.

 

[kurtbob]

Same here, use the ole finger tamp method. The only time I use a tamper is when the chamber is too narrow to get my fat finger in it!

 

[saintpeter]

I have heard it said never put your finger in the bowl of your pipe.

That ship sailed with me about 40 years ago. We have opposable thumbs to hold pipes and fingers to tamp them.

 

[mso489]

Most pipe smokers use their finger(s) to tamp from time to time, and anyone with experience knows how to tentatively sample the heat at the top of the bowl to see if it is cool enough to do this. My dad was a one-pipe Granger smoker and used his fingers or thumbs most often as tampers. No, you don't just stick your finger in the ember and hope for the best. Only a few guys with asbestos hands do this; do not try this at home. If you do not have asbestos hands, also consider using a golf tee (even if like me you don't golf), a twig, or some other improvised item. Or, of course, use your finger, with care.

 

[Mr.Mike]

I pretty much always tamp with my finger. After 10 years of smoking my packing method is basically "absent mindedly stuff tobacco into the bowl until it's full". Seems to work for me.

 

[BROBS]

So if these guys say not to put the tobacco in your pipe with your fingers how in the hell are you supposed to do it?

 

[saintpeter]

Now I will admit there is ONE time that you should NEVER put fingers or thumbs inside your pipe. That is when you are buffing a pipe. The experience can escalate to anywhere from, "hold my beer" to "major medical" in a heartbeat.

 

[jpmcwjr]

So if these guys say not to put the tobacco in your pipe with your fingers how in the hell are you supposed to do it?

Awkwardly. Tongs and tamper? Surgeons gloves and tampers? Tweezers? Scoop with the bowl, tamp, and repeat a dozen times?

 

[Mr.Mike]

Use the force