Preference: Rubbed or Doubled?

[dottlejockey]

Straight from the tin or jar; roll them longwise, fold them in half, give a little twist back and forth and stuff. Remove anything sticking up from the bowl and, if necessary, adjust diameter of the roll if it's too tight and remove a little from the side before stuffing. You don't want them too tight. Just a nice ez fit, then a press on top to fill out the bowl and top with any of the smaller bits that fell off during the folding and twisting for lighting fodder. Works for me, with very few relights, if any.

 

[abecox]

I often struggle to keep flakes lit when I try the fold and stuff method, so I'll usually just rub it out.

 

[PApiper63]

I smoke A LOT of Golden Slice and I have developed a technique that optimizes the flavor. I pull out two of the large flakes a couple hours before I smoke and let them sit out to dry. I also have a small amount of golden slice(approximately 2 flakes) that I have rubbed out and allowed to dry when I first opened the tin. I folded stuff the flakes into my pipe and top off with the tobacco that I have already rubbed out and dried. It lights wonderfully and I usually have very few lights.

 

[LeafErikson]

I almost exclusively rub out. I generally don’t dry the tobacco much, if at all. The wetter it is, the looser I pack. The drier and finer the cut is, the firmer I pack. Three sails gets packed much more firmly than undried Marlin Flake for example.

 

[RookieGuy80]

The only flakes I've had any kind of success folding has been Stokkebye and Capstans. Otherwise I'm cube cutting. I'll try new flakes folding and stuffing, but odds are good they'll get the scissor treatment. Which is too bad. I like the flavors I get from flakes more.

 

[JOHN72]

This afternoon, I repeated the test again, this time with mac baren virginia flake, with a MM Cobbler. First I smoked it rubbed, and the aroma was more herbaceous, less complex, simpler. In the second test, I did it bent. Slightly tighter than usual, well loaded, relatively dry flake, a slight damp spot. My feeling is that bent, it gives me a more complete aroma, more solid, more authentic and faithful aroma more homogeneous. With more personality and character.

 

[telescopes]

I am lazy. Whatever is easiest at the time is my chosen path.

 

[JOHN72]

I have a tendency to smoke very quietly, the pipe barely warms up, I let it rest, come back to it. Contemplative smoking gives me good results. It's the only way I can enjoy tobacco. Peace and contemplation. A novice's word.

 

[shanez]

I like to fold and stuff flakes but I also twist and roll the flake a bit after folding to help break it up. I kinda really roughly handle the tobacco to loosen it up but it still holds its "cylinder" shape and then pack it in the pipe. I also make sure this bit is somewhat loose in the chamber before adding a bit of fully rubbed out tobacco to the top to help get things lit and going.