Packing even with top of the bowl?

[64alex]

When packing do you flatten the surface of the tobacco even with the top of the bowl or do you leave some free space at the top? Reason is because initially I was going to pack even at the top but now I realized that leaving some free space at the top of the bowl it is less likely charring the rim of the bowl

 

[ophiuchus]

Not necessarily a rule; I tend to fill to a little under a quarter inch below the rim, for no particular reason. ::

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

It just seemed natural to me, when I first packed a pipe, to leave a little room at the top for two reasons... to protect the rim, and to help prevent a hot ember falling out of the pipe.

 

[warren]

Yes indeedy anthony, embers in the ole crotch is a learning moment!

 

[ophiuchus]

Oh, yeah ... there was a reason, wasn't there? :lol:

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Yes indeedy anthony, embers in the ole crotch is a learning moment!

:rofl: Haha, I chose not to experience it.

 

[didimauw]

I like to over fill my pipes. Makes me feel better about myself. :puffpipe: I don't mind the lava over flow. One light tamp and your even with the bowl.

 

[madox07]

I don't have a rule of thumb - just depends on the moment. Sometimes I fill it all the way up, sometimes I leave some space. I never experienced amber falling out of the pipe, but then again I never overfill. With some shapes I find that filling all the way to the rim makes an easier lighting experience ..

 

[tschiraldi]

I leave a small bit of room. Most tobaccos expand when lit.

 

[aimlesswanderer]

I usually pack to within around 3-5mm of the top. I still manage to char the rim of the bowl and lose a few glowing fragments over the rim as the tobacco expands, but then those aspects of the pipe don't phase me as much as they do others.

 

[toobfreak]

Depends on the pipe and the tobacco. If I don't want to char the edge, I fill a little below. It is all going to expand back up anyway, but then I usually use my box of matches to press it down flat again with the top. When I tamp with my finger, I tend to press it down a little lower along the wall on the first tamp leaving it up higher in the middle.

 

[prairiedruid]

Some blends expand more than others when lit so I pack accordingly.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Everyone is different. I like to pile the tobacco about an inch over the rim. Sounds impossible, but the trick is to just push it really hard. ::

 

[jvnshr]

Yes indeedy anthony, embers in the ole crotch is a learning moment!

Especially, when you are smoking naked.

 

[crashthegrey]

Some great responses. I leave room for the tobacco expansion and tamp back to the top of the bowl, severely reducing rim char.

 

[jackswilling]

I leave some room, for the resasons stated herein. Not anal about exactitude of the depth.

 

[prndl]

I leave a bit of room.
The less I cram, the better it tastes.

 

[jabo]

I'm with Cosmic on this one. If you are a true pipe smoker,pile it ovèr the top. Works for me ! ;-)

 

[mawnansmiff]

Cube cut and coarsely rubbed out flakes are notorious for trying to climb out of the bowl once lit so I tend to leave a few mm space to allow for this.
This happens less with ribbon or shag cut blends in my experience.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[mso489]

+1 "Most tobaccos expand when lit."