Perhaps A Dumb Question: Packing Aromatics

[anotherbob]

Though blends vary in size of the pieces, density, moisture, etc., I think the posts above cover the ground pretty well. I would add that with any blend you pack partly by feel. There has to be air flow through the bowl to create an ember, so even if you were packing your pipe blindfolded, or just not paying much attention, you could probably get it correct by feel. You never want the leaf jammed down tight, and you don't want the bowl skimpy and altogether loose, so experience will teach you to know when the pressure is correct.

most useful packing tip I've gotten is check the draw. Make sure it's not restricted by the pack job. It's amazing how far that one piece of info goes. I've also found that all the tricks and tips like the frank method seem to be cheats to get an acceptable pack job but not a great pack job. In other words an o.k. place to start.

 

[olkofri]

I have a pair of Savinellis that can take balsa filters. I've experimented with them a bit, but haven't noticed a lot of difference. That said, I've always looked at filters (and please let me know if I'm wrong) as a way of mitigating tongue bite. My question here is more around how I can best maximize flavor, than avoid tongue bite. Cheers.

Yes, reducing tongue burn is one of the chief purposes of filters. Moisture being one of the main factors of tongue burn, reducing it via some contraption (filter, running a pipe cleaner through, &c.) looks like a good idea. Reducing moisture should also help with reducing the number of relights. Now, in terms of flavour some claim that filters minimise it, whereas others claim it makes no difference. I've yet to hear someone say that filters increase flavour, though. Your experience might be different.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Unlike other tobaccos varieties, I rarely dry out aromatics, and I almost always gravity fill them for an easy burn.

 

[olkofri]

Unlike other tobaccos varieties, I rarely dry out aromatics, and I almost always gravity fill them for an easy burn.

Tamp much? Relight much? ?

 

[alaskanpiper]

Tamp much? Relight much? ?

Usually tamp 2 or 3 times per bowl, almost never need to relight with aros. Sometimes once.

 

[olkofri]

Usually tamp 2 or 3 times per bowl, almost never need to relight with aros. Sometimes once.

K. I'll give your method a try.

 

[alaskanpiper]

K. I'll give your method a try.

To be clear, when I say gravity fill, I do it in very small amounts with each pinch. Big fat pinches of leaf will get stuck with big air gaps in the chamber when gravity filling.

Don’t you smoke exclusively aros? You gotta have a good method that works for you down by now, eh?

 

[olkofri]

You gotta have a good method that works for you down by now, eh?

No, not really. Have to be relighting like mad. Sometimes it's puff-relight, puff-puff-relight. I've been doing the 3-layer method for some time, but still must relight several times and puff constantly to keep it from going out. A PITA when you're driving long stretches of road without a red light.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

You smoke it like a weed pipe..

 

[alaskanpiper]

No, not really. Have to be relighting like mad. Sometimes it's puff-relight, puff-puff-relight. I've been doing the 3-layer method for some time, but still must relight several times and puff constantly to keep it from going out. A PITA when you're driving long stretches of road without a red light.

I bet! Yeah, when I pack aromatics its more like the 6 pinch gravity fill method with the occasional very light tamp when gravity needs a little help with tobacco that sticks to the chamber walls. Then a good 2 or 3 charring lights with light tamps and it works for me.

Everybody has their way though, and I’m sure many others work just fine.

 

[lawdawg]

I Just barely pack it in, with the goopy stuff. Almost just let gravity fill the pipe, then tamp very lightly once its lit.

Unlike other tobaccos varieties, I rarely dry out aromatics, and I almost always gravity fill them for an easy burn.

Agreed w/ these guys. Just barely sprinkle tiny pinches of tobacco into the pipe until your bowl is a bit overfilled, then press down just a tiny bit to make the tobacco even with the top of the bowl.

I’ll also side against drying aros, at least the ones that come wet and goopy. IMO drying these blends out does bad things for the flavor. Tends to flatten them out. They’ll burn just fine wet if you pack super loose, so no need to dry from that perspective either.

 

[olkofri]

You smoke it like a weed pipe..

Is that how they do it?

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Is that how they do it?

That's what I've heard.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

When it comes to Erinmore,St Bruno or Amphora Full are there folks here who prefer these as they come without drying,? Decidedly I tend to dry every tobacco I smoke(except for Condor perhaps)otherwise I'm noticing increased possibility to get bitten, but yes, I suspect those aforementioned ones might taste even better with no drying

 

[BROBS]

When it comes to Erinmore,St Bruno or Amphora Full are there folks here who prefer these as they come without drying,? Decidedly I tend to dry every tobacco I smoke(except for Condor perhaps)otherwise I'm noticing increased possibility to get bitten, but yes, I suspect those aforementioned ones might taste even better with no drying

Or more like a wet dog....

 

[EvertonFC]

Unlike other tobaccos varieties, I rarely dry out aromatics, and I almost always gravity fill them for an easy burn.

When you say "gravity fill", is there really no tamping involved? That would seem to lead to a very rapid smoke. Thanks.

 

[alaskanpiper]

When you say "gravity fill", is there really no tamping involved? That would seem to lead to a very rapid smoke. Thanks.

Very little, just to keep the tobacco from sticking to the chamber walls on the way down. It does smoke a little faster than a typical 3 pinch method packing, but is much less hassle, and if you smoke slowly and sip small you still get plenty of time out of a bowl.

I’d say with aros I usually get 30 min- 1 hour depending on bowl size.

 

[EvertonFC]

Very little, just to keep the tobacco from sticking to the chamber walls on the way down. It does smoke a little faster than a typical 3 pinch method packing, but is much less hassle, and if you smoke slowly and sip small you still get plenty of time out of a bowl.

I’d say with aros I usually get 30 min- 1 hour depending on bowl size.

Thank you Sir. Cheers.

 

[Chasing Embers]

When you say "gravity fill", is there really no tamping involved? That would seem to lead to a very rapid smoke. Thanks.

With gravity filling, I only tap the bowl against my knuckle as I'm filling the chamber to settle the tobacco and only tamp when smoke volume decreases to return the ember to the tobacco.

 

[EvertonFC]

With gravity filling, I only tap the bowl against my knuckle as I'm filling the chamber to settle the tobacco and only tamp when smoke volume decreases to return the ember to the tobacco.

As always, thanks for the guidance. It's appreciated. Cheers.