Pipe Smoking Myth #1

[seadogontheland]

Never been able to smoke one bowl, with one light, to the bottom of my pipe with simply fine white ash remaining. No biggie to me. I see this stated on pipe sites and cigar sites as well...many will claim the cigar ash was white and espoused how well said ash remained in one of only few pieces. When a cigar is rolled tightly it will have a tendency to stay together, but I have never found ash color on a stick or in a bowl to be indicative of having a good smoke.

 

[warren]

I smoke my evening pipes for the enjoyment of the pipe and blend. I certainly do not need to look into the bowl and assess the remains to know if the experience was worthwhile. I do not grade myself as to ash, number of relights, etc. Nor do I have a panel of "experts" sitting in the room grading me as I enjoy myself. If I have to reload because I was distracted the first time, failed to form a perfect ring when blowing smoke, dropped my book, spilled the port, burned tiny hole in shirt or, perish the thought, had dottle in the bottom of the bowl I do not give myself a 6.5 as opposed to a perfect 10. It's not a competition.

 

[oldredbeard]

I agree with you all. I smoke a bowl as long as it is enjoyable. When it doesn't want to keep burning, after a tamp and relight, it goes in the ashtray. I have made it to the bottom, and hot ash in the mouth is no fun, but never done that with no relights. I enjoy reading, and other things while I smoke a bowl, so relight are just a part of getting distracted by something else.

 

[coraxsnag]

The only tobacco I can do this with is Peterson Irish Whiskey. It's drier than my aros, obviously, so I assume that's the reason. Never in one light, though.

 

[styler]

Coming from the cigar world, I've always believed that ash color indicated burn temperature. The whiter the ash is, the more complete the combustion, hence a higher temperature. In both cigars and pipes you want to maximise flavour as much as possible by keeping the ember burning low so I've always looked at bright white ash as a bad thing, a sign that you are smoking too fast.
I can't recall where I got this notion from, so feel free to tell me that it's nonsense!

 

[yaddy306]

 

[tarak]

Ironically last night I smoke down to ash with Autumn Evening in a cob of all things!
Better get that review written!

 

[tarak]

Now that I think of it, "smoked down to a moist, disgusting clump of wasted leaf" doesn't sound all that great in a review.

 

[drfrankenstein56]

I think this myth alone is what ruins many a newbees tounge. mine included.

 

[danielplainview]

I've only smoked a bowl down to a subtle nuance of fine ash a few times in twenty years.

 

[Perique]

There are a number of blends that I find to smoke very dry, down to white or, more often, grey ash.
Zero relights is another story. With most tobaccos, it's seems impossible. With a few others it's a matter of a solid true light(s) and judicious use of one's index finger to keep the embers going just right. It does, however, produce a bit more heat than what most pipe men are looking for. In fact, I can't remember relighting this bowl of Scottish Cake that I'm currently smoking in a cob. But maybe I have. Who knows. Regardless, I'm not sure it's something to brag about. Nobody keeps relight score.
In general, I find English blends take more relights than Burley or Virginia blends. Unless that Virginia blend is made by Sammy G, in which case you need an oven and a blow torch.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I think the patched-together doctor hit the nail on the head.

 

[michail]

I belive that is a myth. Why would someone want to smoke his tobacco without have the pipe rest for a while anyway?

 

[captainprophesy]

Ive done it many times but usually with one or more relights.... the times I do it are usually when Im working and I'm really focused on the task at hand and before I know it... ASH!... BLEH!
Just in case this matters, its usually nightcap and its nice and dry.

and who wants a sudden influx of ashes getting sucked into one's mouth?

Just did this on Sunday 8O AGAIN!

 

[plugugly]

Every time for me.

Absolutely EVERY time.

No lie.
Plugugly

 

[drfrankenstein56]

you sir... have a tounge of cast iron.

 

[jiujitsubowl]

I believe this to be a bad marketing strategy. I think they are looking to convey a nice long, easy smoke with little to no dottle in the bottom. If I was to sell a tobacco I would word it "A good even smoke that will be sure to burn all the way to the bottom." No one really wants to suck ash into their mouth, so I dont think they were marketing that, just poor wording.
I do find my PS lux navy flake does ash up really well. I think because it burns so slow the heat is on it longer.

 

[phil67]

I believe this to be a bad marketing strategy. I think they are looking to convey a nice long, easy smoke with little to no dottle in the bottom. If I was to sell a tobacco I would word it "A good even smoke that will be sure to burn all the way to the bottom." No one really wants to suck ash into their mouth, so I dont think they were marketing that, just poor wording.

I would agree if tobaccos were marketed that way, but the OP was referring to how people review tobaccos such as on TobaccoReviews.com, etc.

 

[jiujitsubowl]

Ahh Got ya phil67. My mistake, gotta read better haha.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

This is Myth #1? I would have placed somewhere below taking hot pipes apart or people with dirty pipe beat their wives. Ha ha!!! But #1?