Pack Like Drinking Through a Straw?

[jdlander]

I have seen it mentioned many times on this forum (and elsewhere) that after a proper pipe pack, the draw resistance should be like drinking water through a straw.

Since I'm such a beginner pipe smoker, and to learn how to pack my pipe, I got a glass of water and a straw and then packed my pipe until the draw resistance was the same.

Here are my questions:

1. Seriously?!?! That much tobacco!?!?

I was really having to PACK it in there! I was pressing down HARD at the end of my pack to get the resistance right. This didn't seem right! It was 5 pinches! I see people saying to pack loosely, but this gives almost zero draw resistance.

What's going on?

2. Maybe this comparison is when a pipe includes a filter?

On a second pipe, I tried using a filter and saw that I could pack much more loosely to get the right resistance. The filter created a lot of resistance by itself. Maybe the straw comparison only applies when using a filter?

3. Have you actually done the straw comparison to see how much resistance that actually is?

I'm wondering if this is just something people say because everyone always says it, but few have actually tried it.

4. Maybe I need a bigger straw?

I used straws I bought at the grocery store. They have a smaller diameter than straws from McDonald's or Burger King... maybe I should try one of those straws instead?

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the "drinking through a straw" comparison?

 

[jackattack]

My draw is looser than liquid through a straw. I started with the "3 pinch method" and just adjusted from there. Trial and error is your friend.

 

[warren]

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the "drinking through a straw" comparison?

I stuff and light. I keep my smoking simple. I don't use straws so, no comparing. I started smoking and, over time, found a draw I was comfortable with. I'd strongly suggest you do the same, find a draw you like which gives you a good smoke. You are doing this for you after all.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I stuff and light. I keep my smoking simple. I don't use straws so, no comparing. I started smoking and, over time, found a draw I was comfortable with. I'd strongly suggest you do the same, find a draw you like which gives you a good smoke. You are doing this for you after all.

This. Don't over think it.

 

[kcghost]

I would more likely say that a properly pack pipe should draw like a good cigar. That is the firmest I would pack a pipe.

 

[dottlejockey]

4. Maybe I need a bigger straw?

Or a stiffer drink.

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

Pack a pipe until the resistance is like one of those bubble tea straws. After you suck out the globules of tapioca starch it gets easier and the flavour starts to come through.

Kidding aside, warren has some good advice.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I heard someone say that the draw should be like a milkshake... I always wondered how melted the milkshake used as reference was.

People have different preferences on this, play around with it and find your own.

My advice would be to try to err on the side of too loose, rather than too tight. You can always push the tobacco down if the draw is too loose.

 

[Sigmund]

So many variables! Wetness and cut of tobacco makes a difference as does every pipe. I dont use the 3 pinch method. I use a 2 pinch. I grab a bunch of tobacco (I dont squish it). Shove it in the chamber gently, without any real compression. Then I top it off and gently compress on the sides leaving the middle springy. I like a little room at the top to cut back on rim darkening but thats up to you. Char light and tamp gently. Mostly I smoke broken flake and that seems to do the trick. I tend to use meer chips in the bottom of the bowl. It gives a little more air flow and less dottle (tobacco is expensive in the EU). I cant say for a fact but I think the chips also give a little wiggle room to packing error.

 

[proteus]

The straw analogy is not quite accurate as I see it. For me I use a continuous pack method using my finger to pull tobacco into the chamber in one long continuous stream. I don't press hard. I move my finger like I am writing a number 1 in the sand until the pipe is full and then I tap the tobacco like I am patting a child on the head. Works for me for all types of tobacco and dryness levels. The draw is absolutely no different from an empty pipe. My draw holes are all reamed out to about 11/64 which is 4.5 mm and the stem framed 9/64 which is about 3.5 mm. So I can draw with just inhaling through my nose. It nearly effortless.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yeah, a colorful analogy that doesn't hold water.... (pun intended).

Similar to "Bone dry". No one smokes tobacco with a moisture content nearing zero. 50% RH is pretty much as dry as you want. Some tobaccos come in tins at over 80% RH, for comparison.

 

[proteus]

As for humidity using a moisture meter with prongs I find non aro burn best between about 12 to 18 percent and aros well some never go below 30 on my meter. Incidentally Ive seen pictures of tobacco makers using the same kind of meter. I'm not sure if there is a specific tobacco purpose made meter. To me as long as the same meter and technique are used the number is just a reference to be used only in the given context.

 

[jpmcwjr]

As for humidity using a moisture meter with prongs I find non aro burn best between about 12 to 18 percent and aros well some never go below 30 on my meter. Incidentally Ive seen pictures of tobacco makers using the same kind of meter. I'm not sure if there is a specific tobacco purpose made meter. To me as long as the same meter and technique are used the number is just a reference to be used only in the given context.

You're one of the few who have a moisture meter!

Most of us- for the few who care- have to get by with hygrometers, though they are a lot more accurate than guesswork, even with experience.

 

[briarblues]

And here lays the problem with Internet" information. What some have offered as a "beginning" point gets taken as "set in stone".

I've probably said this far too many times. There is NO one way fit each different pipe enjoyer. There are far too many variables for a "one size fits all".

Take whatever information, techniques, suggestions you can find, and then adjust it to suit what works best for YOU.

If water through a straw feels too tight or loose, then adjust till it feels right. If crispy crumbly dry smokes well, for you, then dry it out. If more moist works better, then more moist it is, for you.

If you like chocolate ice cream then eat chocolate ice cream. If you prefer vanilla, you'd have bad taste, but still select vanilla....... .....

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’ve had much better smokes since I just learned to not poke my fingers into the chamber whilst packing.
Trying to learn from the yahoos trying to make a living making YouTube videos only got my tongue fried.
Play around with what you’ve got, pack looser than you’d think (easier to tamp than to dump and start over).
By the way-tamping with your fingertip will teach you how little force tamping should take.

 

[bullet08]

Here is the right answer: The resistance should be where you can smoke comfortably. I like no resistance at all.

Trick is a ton of space for the air to circulate in the chamber. You can do this by making sure there's good size air pocket at the bottom and/or gravity feed the chamber so there's good air space between tobacco strands.

 

[anotherbob]

here is the simple way to put it..
test the pipe with nothing in it. After packing the pipe the draw should be just barely noticeably tighter then the empty pipe. Basically there should be some resistance but only compared to an empty pipe. Of course like has been said that's just a beginning point a good place to find what is comfortable to you.
You should feel something resistancewise but it should be a struggle to draw the smoke.

 

[jdlander]

Sooo much help here in this thread for me. Thank you all!

I'm learning my own way, but I get impatient. I need to sit back and just enjoy the learning process.

 

[huntertrw]

I would more likely say that a properly pack pipe should draw like a good cigar.

+1 to that.

 

[TakeThisCobAndStuffIt]

Yep, cigar or filtered cigarette...I think the straw analogy is more to say you want to be more like water than a milkshake. Actually packing to water pressure may be too much, but if your eyes are bugging out when you try to draw then it's way too tight and may result in tongue bite.