Pipe Relights...Don't Worry About It!

[JoeW]

I was uptight about relights when I got started, probably because I had previously smoked cigars, and frequent relights and touch-ups were annoying in an expensive tobacco stick. Once I realized that there's no One True Way Of Pipe Smoking, and that relights are a normal part of the experience, I started enjoying it a lot more.

"Fussy little fire" may be the best phrase I've heard all week.

 

[Scrapyard Ape]

"There is no shame in relighting a pipe. No matter how many times."

~a wise person who happens to look like me

 

[zanxion]

The holly grail for me is to enjoy the smoke as cool possible. I smoke just above the threshold of my pipe going out. Added bonus, this way I can smoke most mixtures down to a fine ash. Even the last quarter of the bowl does not taste too bad to enjoy it.
I believe one must care more about proper tamping than relighting.

 

[bersekero]

With enough practice, I managed to do exactly what you’re saying. That way I get a cool smoke and good flavor, no tongue bite, and the bowl lasts much longer. Yes, tamping is the key, as well as cadence. If the pipe goes out I don’t mind, but now it goes out less and less often.

 

[kevino]

As soon as I stopped worrying about relights, I began to enjoy pipe smoking. Light the pipe, take a few puffs, read, talk, enjoy a view, or whatever you like doing while smoking. Then light the pipe again and repeat.
Not only I enjoy smoking my pipes more than ever, my damn burned tongue began to heal too.

This!!

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

The ONLY time I WORRY about relights….. is when my lighter is pretty darn close to being out of fuel….. and I do not have another flame source handy.

Other than that….. relight when necessary for enjoyment.

 

[RexHiemis]

A piece of advice to new pipe smokers from someone who lives a hard, turbulent, intense, busy, and stressful life.
At night, take your favorite pipe, fill it with your favorite tobacco, pour yourself a whiskey, and sit alone—without your wife, your girlfriend, your friends, without anyone—only with your dog if you have one—and enjoy this hour. It is the best tranquilizer. Burn as many matches as you need without caring about anything. It’s not a competition; it’s your time. Thank me later.

Great advice! I tend to do the same, only with my cats.

 

[Eireprof]

For me, the tinkering is all part of the pleasure. Relights never bothered me.

 

[zercules]

As soon as I stopped worrying about relights, I began to enjoy pipe smoking. Light the pipe, take a few puffs, read, talk, enjoy a view, or whatever you like doing while smoking. Then light the pipe again and repeat.
Not only I enjoy smoking my pipes more than ever, my damn burned tongue began to heal too.

I’m sometimes about this as well. Especially nice for me when I’m busy with chores. It’s not problem relighting a pipe for me, especially with a lighter, it’s so effortless.

 

[HeadMisfit]

The more you smoke, the more you will learn the following truths.

If you dislike a specific blend:

it will light so easily you dont even need to use a flame or burning match.

It will never need a relight

It will last at least an hour, no matter if you use a group 1 or group 6 size pipe.

If you LIKE a blend, it will tend to want lots of relights, lots of tamping, lots of burnt fingers.

I did not enjoy my test of jocks mixture today, but it did not need any relightings, and it burned with that whitish grey ash pile. And after i dumped it out, i saw that the delightful tobacco had been burning very well below the ash. Best I have seen in months to be honest have been english blends or made by rattrays

 

[bullet08]

I would worry if you have to relight every other puff. I mean either your tobacco is packed wrong, or too wet, or you are not understanding what needs to be done. Don't worry if you are taking the pipe out of your mouth to yap at some kids, or some old lady, or lost dogs and forgot you were smoking pipe.