Pack It To The Brim, Or Not?

[cosmicfolklore]

I think a lot of folks don't know that the hottest part of the flame is at the tip. I see people pulling the whole flame onto the tobacco so that the tip has no where to go but to the side: scorch!!

Yep! Someone like a wielder or anyone who works with torches will tell you that you never have to get the flame into the bowl. By doing so, you are most likely using the coolest part of the flame, whereas if you just hover the flame about a half inch above the bowl and just draw the heat down, not the flame, you are actually using the hottest part of the flame. With using a torch, one never touches the actual colored part of the flame to the part they want to heat, but keeps it back off the work. If you actually touch the work with the flame, you are cooling the metal off faster than it can heat.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

It depends on the cut of the tobacco. Flakes and crumbles I will fill about 90 - 95% full. Standard ribbon cuts I will fill just a little over the rim, but not much.

 

[Scottishgaucho]

Most of my pipe bowls are on the small side so I tend to just pack it to the top.
I have read one should never do that as it can increase the chances of rim char.....I don't give a stuff to be honest. I buy my pipes to smoke not to enter pipe beauty competitions.

 

[crawdad]

How I pack usually depends on my level of patience.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I see people pulling the whole flame onto the tobacco so that the tip has no where to go but to the side: scorch!!

I do, but I pull the lighter away while still drawing. The flame never touches the rim.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Nor does my flame touch the rim, but not sure what you're saying in the above.

 

[Scottishgaucho]

It depends on the cut of the tobacco. Flakes and crumbles I will fill about 90 - 95% full. Standard ribbon cuts I will fill just a little over the rim, but not much.

I agree...really depends on what you're smoking.

 

[samuelgawith01]

Even with the rim.So there.?

 

[archerdarkpint]

Same as many, different from others. About level to the rim.

 

[Pipenwheels]

For me depends on the pipe. I smoke every shape and size. Smaller ones pack just below the top, raises a little on char, then tamp below top of rim for true light. Same with bigger pipes but I also pack 3/4 or less depending on circumstances. Here are a few different shapes and sizes.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

This is where the tobacco level usually is relative to the rim once I put it to true light. A bowl of Picayune I’m about to have.

 

[Peter - CCB]

I leave it just under the brim. To prevent charring. Unless it’s a massive pipe and don’t want to smoke for 2 hours.

 

[Magpiety]

I've gotten to where I pack so light that it tampa down below the rim after the char, so I don't try to go below the rim anymore.

 

[FurCoat]

I usually end up with 1/8" below the rim.

 

[Road To Pines]

Wow, good question, with a lot of interesting responses.

As a relative newcomer, I'm still experimenting, in part just to prove that there's no set way and I can change on a whim or adapt to varying circumstances.

I like the freedom to sometimes do it one way and sometimes another. I like discovering what else changes when I fill the bowl more densely, or when I only smoke half a bowl, or when bits of flake stick out the top.

My most recent delight was discovering that I could dump the entire bowl and start again with the same tobacco if it's not packed well the first time.

I'm now curious how y'all know how much to pack in a particular pipe. I mean, do you get to the point where you can grab a pinch that fits perfectly for the size of chamber you're using that day; or do you stuff it until it feels right and then gather the remainder back in the tin?

 

[brut666]

I'm now curious how y'all know how much to pack in a particular pipe. I mean, do you get to the point where you can grab a pinch that fits perfectly for the size of chamber you're using that day; or do you stuff it until it feels right and then gather the remainder back in the tin?

Pretty much botho

I'm now curious how y'all know how much to pack in a particular pipe. I mean, do you get to the point where you can grab a pinch that fits perfectly for the size of chamber you're using that day; or do you stuff it until it feels right and then gather the remainder back in the tin?

Pretty much both. Grab a bowls worth out, leave it the dry, then smoke ?

 

[bullet08]

It's not the scorching the rim that I mind so much. I just don't care for expanding tobacco that turns to ash and blowing all over me. Ashes aren't so bad, but had few embers dropping on my old shirts making holes.

 

[Mr.Pink]

I pack just below the rim. if I go higher, I will get flying embers on my shirt!

 

[kola]

Cobs yes, briars no.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

pack loosely at the base - get a bit tighter as I go up - tightest at the brim, and the brim for me typically resides nicely inside the bowl