So I checked out the different approaches to packing. 3 pinch made sense but when I pack the pipe too tight for the 3rd pinch it seems hard to light and stay lit. I find if I loosen the tobacco in the pipe it seems to burn better. Are there any downsides to have the tobacco packed loosely?
Packing a Pipe...
- Thread starter tzinc
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That's how I always pack mine.
I have adopted this process and it works for me. Pipe prep and testing the draw are two steps that have insured a good result.
How To Pack & Light Your Pipe (smokingpipes.com)
How To Pack & Light Your Pipe (smokingpipes.com)
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It’s truly trial and error, but I do credit the old 3 pinch adage— once like a child, once like a lady and once like a gentleman with helping me when I started. It’s sensible and results in a near perfectly packed bowl.
After a while, you’ll be able to load without giving it much thought and produce your desired draw.
One immense variable that I don’t have to overcome is that 90 percent of the time, I smoke one favorite blend. Knowing it’s moisture and burn characteristics so well removes all guesswork.
You’ll find as you change blends that each presents a different set of characteristics. But… that’s the fun of a hobby. I’m content to stuff, puff and enjoy.
After a while, you’ll be able to load without giving it much thought and produce your desired draw.
One immense variable that I don’t have to overcome is that 90 percent of the time, I smoke one favorite blend. Knowing it’s moisture and burn characteristics so well removes all guesswork.
You’ll find as you change blends that each presents a different set of characteristics. But… that’s the fun of a hobby. I’m content to stuff, puff and enjoy.
I’m not sure I’m understanding you correctly...
I translated some of the contents on my blog into English.
(I've wrote it in Korean, and It may be difficult to understand using a translator.
I ask for your understanding in advance.)
I hope these 3 solutions below will help you.
1) Pack the first and second steps more loosely.
2) Tamping with as little pressure as possible.
- Just the weight of the tamper. Put the tampers on top and lift them up again.
3) Pack the flakes with less density than ribbon cut.
Ribbon Cut - Crumpled Newspaper
Flakes - Flat Newspaper
It would be easy to understand if you think that.
For ribbon cuts, they can be filled with higher density compared to rubbed flakes.
This is because the ribbon cut is "BULKY" and has the property to swell up like a spring that is pressed for a while.
However, flakes are "FLAT", so even if they are rubbed,
they become smaller if they contain the same amount (weight) as ribbon cuts.
It becomes more "DENSE"
Compared to the ribbon cut, there is less space between them,
so it gets tight easily when tamping. So when you draw, it feels tighter.
Cheer up! Experience is the best teacher.
If you do this and that, your skills will definitely improve.
I translated some of the contents on my blog into English.
(I've wrote it in Korean, and It may be difficult to understand using a translator.
I ask for your understanding in advance.)
I hope these 3 solutions below will help you.
1) Pack the first and second steps more loosely.
2) Tamping with as little pressure as possible.
- Just the weight of the tamper. Put the tampers on top and lift them up again.
3) Pack the flakes with less density than ribbon cut.
Ribbon Cut - Crumpled Newspaper
Flakes - Flat Newspaper
It would be easy to understand if you think that.
For ribbon cuts, they can be filled with higher density compared to rubbed flakes.
This is because the ribbon cut is "BULKY" and has the property to swell up like a spring that is pressed for a while.
However, flakes are "FLAT", so even if they are rubbed,
they become smaller if they contain the same amount (weight) as ribbon cuts.
It becomes more "DENSE"
Compared to the ribbon cut, there is less space between them,
so it gets tight easily when tamping. So when you draw, it feels tighter.
Cheer up! Experience is the best teacher.
If you do this and that, your skills will definitely improve.
Idea is to leave as much air space at the bottom of chamber when you are packing. That will give easy draw and less issue as you smoke towards the bottom.
I’ve noticed, since I pack all my pipes the same, that a couple them have a superior draw. Anyone have a similar experience?
I tend to pack different cuts slightly differently. In other words, I pack a flake differently than a ribbon. No matter the cut or pack, looser with proper tamping is the way to go.
This skill is just like that of my "learning how to bake bread" story. First, you should go by the "rules", and then you learn how to break the rules. Now, I pretty much cram the pipe with tobacco and off I go. Seems to work fine for me. Having said that, I love the fill 3X method and will use that for new tobacco to ensure some measure of a successful experience.
That's the way to start. You can always tamp later.
Tobacco that's dried down just right is way easier to manage regardless of how a bowl is loaded, 'technique' or not.
Too loose. Perhaps. There are exercises for that. Try the Frank method.
Loose means a better drawl, cooler smoke, and you can always tamp to increase the levels of tightness in the pack. Difficult to go the other way.
I've managed to come up with something in between gravity fill and codger scoop. Combined with proper tamping it works perfectly for me. And if I need to have another pipe because this one wasn't filled up enough, well darn it!
Smacking the open end of the chamber against your palm loosens everything up.
Pack looser than you think necessary and correct with the tamp. As you gain experience and with it feel, you'll find getting it right is fairly automatic. Dryer is better as well.
That’s a good way to get smacked back by the wife.
Prob not the right way but if I don’t know the blend I gravity fill and pack loose. I figure if it’s to loose I can always tamp it down to the right draw.
Codger scoop, fold and stuff, and gravity fill have never let me down.
Those three methods conquer all types of blends.
Those three methods conquer all types of blends.