Like I mentioned, I am really enjoy Dark Bird's Eye but I haven't quite figured out how to pack shag. Since it tangles and clumps together, I can't quite tap and pack the way I would ribbon cut/flake tobacco. What I am doing now is gently balling it up and stuffing it into the pipe but I noticed it is becoming too dense as I smoke which doesn't hold an ember/flavor well towards the last half of the bowl. How do you pack shag?
Packing Shag Cut
- Thread starter fishmansf
- Start date
G&H shags I don’t dry and pack relatively lightly. Plenty of airflow when I go to light up.
I find shag cuts to be the easiest of all to deal with personally. GH Birdseye is a great Kentucky forward blend.
Well if you find it clumpy take it out on the paper and pull it apart until its airy enough to deal with. Stuff the pipe gently adding more and more testing for draw as you would any other blend. Once you get a proper draw light it up it should burn very well almost too well, don't tamp right away or compress the tobacco further. Once its really going you can tamp lightly but resist pushing that birds nest of goodness into the bowl. It will burn faster than heavier cuts but that's by design. I am sure you will get it. Main take away is pack the bowl in a gentle manner keep adding and adding until the draw is right minimal compression until the end.
Well if you find it clumpy take it out on the paper and pull it apart until its airy enough to deal with. Stuff the pipe gently adding more and more testing for draw as you would any other blend. Once you get a proper draw light it up it should burn very well almost too well, don't tamp right away or compress the tobacco further. Once its really going you can tamp lightly but resist pushing that birds nest of goodness into the bowl. It will burn faster than heavier cuts but that's by design. I am sure you will get it. Main take away is pack the bowl in a gentle manner keep adding and adding until the draw is right minimal compression until the end.
Put a pipe's worth of tobacco on a paper plate and chop it into 3/16" (ish) lengths with a chef's knife, and pinch fill---meaning aspirin-tablet-sized pinches---one at a time followed by a bowl tap between each to distribute/settle it, until the chamber is full.
Test the draw and add another pinch at a time with a draw check between each one. When the draw is barely on the loose side of perfect, you're ready to go. (Usually takes three, sometimes four)
Light thoroughly, flatten the ash dome that pops up---NOT compress the tobacco beneath it---and light again.
I had a 1" diameter 2.75" deep bowl go to the bottom the other day without a single re-light. That's 2 hrs and 20 minutes.
The secret is creating a uniform 3D matrix of tobacco and air space. The "pinch at a time while tapping" thing is the only way I've found to reliably create it.
PS --- When off-loading ash during the smoke, just pour it out, and gently re-flatten. Do not knock on an ashtray cork or similar. The tobacco will expand from burning enough to keep it in place during normal pipe handling, but a whack CAN break it loose.
Test the draw and add another pinch at a time with a draw check between each one. When the draw is barely on the loose side of perfect, you're ready to go. (Usually takes three, sometimes four)
Light thoroughly, flatten the ash dome that pops up---NOT compress the tobacco beneath it---and light again.
I had a 1" diameter 2.75" deep bowl go to the bottom the other day without a single re-light. That's 2 hrs and 20 minutes.
The secret is creating a uniform 3D matrix of tobacco and air space. The "pinch at a time while tapping" thing is the only way I've found to reliably create it.
PS --- When off-loading ash during the smoke, just pour it out, and gently re-flatten. Do not knock on an ashtray cork or similar. The tobacco will expand from burning enough to keep it in place during normal pipe handling, but a whack CAN break it loose.
Basically you couldn't ask for an easier cut to deal with. It burns like hell.
I've realized that shag cut is my favorite after 2.5 yrs of pipe smoking. Pack it until its very firm, light, and that's it. I have a lot less relights (although, I've come to not care about relights unless it becomes excessive).
I would almost say it would be the best cut for beginners.
I would almost say it would be the best cut for beginners.
I’ve found that dryness level and cut of the shag affects how tightly it needs to be packed. Something as dry and finely cut as Three Sails needs to be packed very tightly, or it will burn too fast and hot. Something like G&H Kendal Mixed needs to be packed looser, because it’s a thicker cut shag and it’s much more wet.
This is just what works for me personally. Everyone has their own deal with this pipe smoking stuff.
+1 All about the moisture. If it's damp, like G&H, one needs to use a lighter hand. If dry, like Semois, bust out the hydraulic compactor cuz there's no such thing as too tight (unless you want a flash fire 5 minute bowl).
