No relight?

[justinm91]

Well, I know this comes up often and I just wanted to add my two cents to it. So far I've found a packing method that generally is kinda adapted from what I've been hearing and reading, and so far, it doesn't require more than one relight since I began trying it, so, if anyone wants to try it, give their two cents?
Involves quite literally sprinkling the bowl full first, then gently pushing down that first pinch. A second one after should get you to 1/2 a bowl. I don't pack this tight at all, generally, as loose as can be while still being pushed down to make room. I grab another punch then, and pack light, before pressing hard with my tamp and even giving a twist at the top. Should feel spongy, but not move. I let it sit afterwards for a minimum of thirty minutes, and it seems to do the trick!

 

[lordnoble]

Sounds like the tried-and-true, "Three-Step Method". At least that's your excellent description is EXACTLY how I do my Three-Step Method, except for the sitting 30 minutes part. That's intriguing... What's the reasoning behind it?
-Jason

 

[justinm91]

I just happen to kinda prep it before I go on breaks etc from work to save time and noticed that it works better than just pack-n-go. Noticed it and tested it a bit with the time thing, after noticing how well it worked with about 30 min of sit.

 

[alexnorth]

I'd venture to guess that 30 minutes extra drying time help making it more prone to burn

 

[tarak]

Yes justinm91, I believe you've perfected your version of the most traditional method of packing, and the way I do most often. I don't screw around with a lot of other methods like the Frank method.
I'm guessing the 30 minutes dries the top out nicely which helps you get a nice ember started on top.
I gave up long ago on chasing a packing that results in no relights. I prefer pursuing a packing that results in great flavor and a good burn temp- if it stays perfectly lit than hooray (which has happened once, maybe twice).
I was really concerned with relights when I started, took the joy out of it. When I stopped caring- I enjoyed it more. Now, a bowl that needs lighting every 2 seconds is very annoying. I'd say I average 4-5 relights in a large bowl that gets smoked over an hour +.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

As long as I get a good ember going in the middle of my bowl I generally don't have to re-light (regardless of the pack).

Of course, sometimes you're best off re-lighting several times through the bowl because you're not doing much smoking if it's burning so well that you can't puff on it at all without overheating.

 

[brass]

I sometimes pack the pipe and let is set for half an hour so, just to dry it out a bit. Faster is putting the tobacco on a plate for 15 minutes. Advantage of packing pipe is you don't have to guess the quantity needed to pack the pipe.
Pax

 

[newbroom]

I think, too, that allowing the packed bowl to 'rest' for awhile, allows the tobacco to spring back just a little thereby opening the draw. It's not something I do a lot, but sometimes you sense that it will be beneficial.

 

[rcstan]

The only time I worry about relights is if I actually have the time ( 45 minutes to an hour ) to sit there and nurse a bowl from beginning to end.

 

[lostandfound]

Sometimes I need a relight or two (*cough cough* Old Dark Fired), but sometimes I do not.
I still don't know what leads to a relight-less smoke- but I can usually tell right away if it will be one.
Disclaimer: If I smoke through 3/4 of a bowl, and am satiated by that point, and my pipe starts going out, I'm done. I find the first few puffs of a pipe that has gone out, and been re-lit, to be rather off-putting.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I've had to dry a number of tobaccos for almost 24 hours, but the humidity in the house was around 50%. If it were a lot drier, a half hour might do it. I believe relighting excessively has more to do with moisture level than packing, but I've been wrong a couple of times in my life before.....