Pembroke - Will Not Stay Lit. Very Frustrating.

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techie

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 20, 2018
589
10
8O
Bugs with cotton mouth in a likely 70's clip - I don't think it was from pipe tobacco!

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,191
51,318
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
I read somewhere that microwave drying is a poor method (don't remember why), so instead, I place enough tobacco for a bowl under an incandescent light, about 7 inched away, and check it every 10 minutes or so until it reaches the desired dryness.
That's what I have advised as well. I used to use the nuker, and when I'm being a bit lazy or impatient I still do. But I found that I didn't like how boiling the tobacco in the nuker changed the flavor. So I just let it air dry. Since I live in a dry climate it's not a problem, but placing the tobacco near a heat source, like an incandescent light, helps it gently dry in a more humid climate.

 

paulfg

Lifer
Feb 21, 2016
1,639
3,123
Corfu Greece
I know its not ribbon tobacco but I have had the same troubles for about 3 years with Gawith Hoggarth Flakes and ropes.I had tried leaving it out to dry for days,still wouldnt keep alight,

Recently someone told me to really rub it out very fine and then dry.

As if by magic it now smokes fine, so in my case the tobacco was definitely still to wet even though I thought it was bone dry.Now if only I could do this with fold & stuff flakes I would be really happy.
so I agree

dry your tobacco drier than you think you should, pack lighter than you think you should, smoke slower than you think you should.

 

3rdguy

Lifer
Aug 29, 2017
3,472
7,299
Iowa
If you have struggled since December I would focus on how you pack as well as the dryness. Have you watched some of muttnchop's videos on youtube? Some good basic demonstrations in his early ones to get you on your own.

 

scmkr

Lurker
Feb 22, 2018
17
0
If you have struggled since December I would focus on how you pack as well as the dryness. Have you watched some of muttnchop's videos on youtube? Some good basic demonstrations in his early ones to get you on your own.
I've watched lots of his, and many other videos. I feel like I was doing better earlier on, but somewhere along the way I learned something that has set me back. I don't know what it is, though. I just remember not having so much trouble back in January.
Then it sort of went downhill. I picked up something that is messing me up.
It's not the pipe, I have several of those. I'm not sure what it is.

 

warren

Lifer
Sep 13, 2013
12,378
18,692
Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK
If you are watching a bunch of videos, reading all of the above you should be thoroughly confused. Next pipe, dry if you wish, load carefully (any method that has worked), get a good light and enjoy. Forget the frustration of the relights if required and enjoy the bowl as much as possible. Do better with the next one. I think you are a victim of "over thinking".
Just sorta start over and don't worry so much about "getting it right." The pipe is neither a competition nor, is it all that complicated. You'll discover what works as you enjoy your pipe. Find your style while enjoying the journey.

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,191
51,318
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Next pipe, dry if you wish, load carefully (any method that has worked), get a good light and enjoy.
Warren, most of the time I am in agreement with you, but on the matter of moisture, particularly since English blenders tend to tin with a LOT more moisture than American blenders, I'm going to disagree based on my experience.
Esoterica blends benefit from drying. On the other hand, Hearth&Home blends, and most GL Pease blends are tinned at the optimal moisture for smoking and don't require drying. The guy is having issues with keeping his tobacco lit for more than a few seconds. Soggy tobacco won't help in this instance.

 

warren

Lifer
Sep 13, 2013
12,378
18,692
Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK
Okay! How about this: "It's a wet blend. So let it sit until you think it's too dry. Then try again." But, change only one thing each bowl. If he's successful loading with other blends than that's probably not a problem. I think he's confusing himself and needs to quit "shot gunning" a solution.
And you and others are most likely correct, the culprit is moisture. When you opine, I listen. And ... learn. Even at a rather advanced age.

 

3rdguy

Lifer
Aug 29, 2017
3,472
7,299
Iowa
If that is the case scmkr then I would go back to the basics. What blend did you start out smoking btw? Did you start with prince albert and now pembroke and full virginia flake are giving you fits?

 

python

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 8, 2009
3,756
7,291
Maryland
pipesmagazine.com
Welcome back, Bob!
Thanks guys! I am on the site nearly everyday, but I don't log in or post very much.
-----
Warren Said:

I think you are a victim of "over thinking".
Just sorta start over and don't worry so much about "getting it right." The pipe is neither a competition nor, is it all that complicated. You'll discover what works as you enjoy your pipe. Find your style while enjoying the journey.
+1 on this^^^
Learning different techniques and things are good. However in my experience, over thinking and trying to get the "perfect" smoke every time normally leads to the opposite. Stick with it, you'll get it. Just try to enjoy it more than you are trying to get it "right".

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,191
51,318
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Okay! How about this: "It's a wet blend. So let it sit until you think it's too dry. Then try again." But, change only one thing each bowl. If he's successful loading with other blends than that's probably not a problem. I think he's confusing himself and needs to quit "shot gunning" a solution.
Makes sense to me!

 

jeff540

Part of the Furniture Now
Jan 25, 2016
518
799
Southwest Virginia
Good advice in this thread. That said, I've been piping 20-years and Pembroke is one of those blends that gives me fits to smoke: it smells wonderful in the jar but I can't get an enjoyable smoke out of it. Canned moisture yields same results as OP. Dried it's mediocre at best and smokes way too fast to be worth the fuss (for me at least).

 

highwaycobbery

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 14, 2015
532
1,210
North cacallaky
A good rule of thumb for moisture content in your tobacco is take a good pinch and squeeze it together, and then let it drop. If it stays together it’s too moist. Wait until you can squeeze and let go and the tobacco falls apart from itself,then you are ready to go.

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,191
51,318
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
A good rule of thumb for moisture content in your tobacco is take a good pinch and squeeze it together, and then let it drop. If it stays together it’s too moist. Wait until you can squeeze and let go and the tobacco falls apart from itself,then you are ready to go.
Not really. Even by that measure, blends are too moist to get the most out of them.

 

cigrmaster

Lifer
May 26, 2012
20,248
57,310
67
Sarasota Florida
Lots of good info on this thread. I would add that pipe smoking is an art that takes time. One day everything will just click and you will no longer worry about cadence or how to fill your pipe or how dry your tobacco is. We all suffered in the beginning.

 
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