Preference: Rubbed or Doubled?

[Skippy B. Coyote]

I usually fully rub out my flakes into a fine ribbon cut consistency and let it dry for a bit in the open air until it's almost but not quite crispy before smoking, though I always like to try just folding and stuffing flakes too since that often brings out different flavors in the blend than if it's rubbed out and dried. With some blends I actually prefer the flavors of a fresh flake folded and stuffed, so when experimenting with a new blend it's worth trying both ways to see which produces the flavors most to my liking.

 

[Christos D. Tsatsaronis]

Absolutely rubbed.

 

[sardonicus87]

I've tried fold-n-stuff for flakes and for me, they don't smoke any better or worse as far as taste is concerned. Sometimes I have to relight too much though, and loading fold and stuff is more a pita to me than just rubbing it out, which sounds counter-intuitive. But if it's rubbed out, just scoop it in... if you're folding, you gotta figure out which flakes fold which way for each pipe such that they don't later become a pain while smoking, like expanding sideways into the walls and making a plug you have to break up as opposed to expanding upward to tamp down, having to figure out how much of a flake to break off for it to fit, etc.

So I always rub out. Gives more flexibility in packing tightness and what not, more consistent behavior bowl to bowl, and rubbing out doesn't take that much work, no more than fold and stuff.

Though, I smoke my tobaccos with no dry time, so that may be affecting the fold and stuff inconsistency for me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Neither, cube cut.

 

[DesertDan]

I have never had the best of luck with folding, so I most often rub them out or cube cut them.

 

[burleybreath]

Fold and stuff, for me, is the better experience. Tastes richer, lasts longer. But I don't do it very often because of the fiddle factor. But for some flakes, it's mandatory.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

Fold and stuff, for me, is the better experience. Tastes richer, lasts longer. But I don't do it very often because of the fiddle factor. But for some flakes, it's mandatory.

Which flakes do you consider mandatory fold-and-stuffers?

 

[FLDRD]

I've had challenges with fold-n-stuff so I will break them up / rub them out. But the few times I've had a little success I did notice a difference in flavor. But I've not been consistently successful enough to even know if I like it better or not.

 

[Sig]

Most flakes I fold and stuff.
The secret I've learned to get folded flake to light and smoke consistently is to use a wide bowl, and keep the tobacco loose in the pipe. As the tobacco burns, it will swell to the bowl size. Start with 1/2 flake in smaller pipes. Fold it small enough that the tobacco barely touches the bowl walls.
With enough practice, even G&H flakes will smoke right from the tin.
And I agree, folded flake tastes better than rubbed flake.....in my opinion.

 

[bullet08]

Much prefer fold and stuff. It has better.. Not sure what to call it. It's more interesting smoke. When I rub out the tobacco, the taste becomes more boring and more uniform. Fold and stuff gives better dimension to the smoke.

 

[Jacob74]

Most flakes I fold and stuff.
The secret I've learned to get folded flake to light and smoke consistently is to use a wide bowl, and keep the tobacco loose in the pipe. As the tobacco burns, it will swell to the bowl size. Start with 1/2 flake in smaller pipes. Fold it small enough that the tobacco barely touches the bowl walls.
With enough practice, even G&H flakes will smoke right from the tin.
And I agree, folded flake tastes better than rubbed flake.....in my opinion.

I like to smoke flakes this way. I usually go for a folded flake that is about 1/2 a bowl worth, and it works really well. With ready rubbed or other processed cuts, I fill to the top.

 

[JOHN72]

I am writing with the translator, so it may not be clearer, or maybe it is. I wanted to add, and I speak as a novice. That the tobacco as you already know very well, are the mixtures of some pressed leaves with another type of leaves, pressed. As for example, buelry, with virginia, with a bit of cavendish. When you rub it, you undo that flake, which was compacted. Then when you smoke it rubbed, you burn it in a disorderly way, you can pick up a different aroma, according to those layers of fracking, loose. I don't know if I make myself clear. When you smoke folded, everything burns more homogeneous, complete, so the aroma is more authentic, more in line with what the advertisement of the tobacco can, wants to make you understand or describe. However, what is the mystery of smoking bent, why it was smoked and was smoked in the past with this technique? For comfort, ignorance, tradition?

 

[FLDRD]

Most flakes I fold and stuff.
The secret I've learned to get folded flake to light and smoke consistently is to use a wide bowl, and keep the tobacco loose in the pipe. As the tobacco burns, it will swell to the bowl size. Start with 1/2 flake in smaller pipes. Fold it small enough that the tobacco barely touches the bowl walls.
With enough practice, even G&H flakes will smoke right from the tin.
And I agree, folded flake tastes better than rubbed flake.....in my opinion.

Ok. Makes me want to try to improve to the point that it works properly for me...

 

[FLDRD]

I am writing with the translator, so it may not be clearer, or maybe it is. I wanted to add, and I speak as a novice. That the tobacco as you already know very well, are the mixtures of some pressed leaves with another type of leaves, pressed. As for example, buelry, with virginia, with a bit of cavendish. When you rub it, you undo that flake, which was compacted. Then when you smoke it rubbed, you burn it in a disorderly way, you can pick up a different aroma, according to those layers of fracking, loose. I don't know if I make myself clear. When you smoke folded, everything burns more homogeneous, complete, so the aroma is more authentic, more in line with what the advertisement of the tobacco can, wants to make you understand or describe. However, what is the mystery of smoking bent, why it was smoked and was smoked in the past with this technique? For comfort, ignorance, tradition?

I understand and think that's a pretty good explanation. I'll likely find myself trying the technique again in the future. I'd like to be able to master it.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I like folding thin uniform flakes,especially Virgina flakes , but in most cases I prefer flake tobacco in partially rubbed out form

 

[jbfrady]

I agree with the OP. I'm smoking stuffed Peterson de Luxe at this moment and in my mind, rubbing it out would be a cardinal sin if done in my presence. I'm at the end of the bowl, never had to re-light. Never do.

 

[Danimal92sport]

I’ve had mixed success with fold-n-stuff for flakes and coins. However, I’m also reading here that I may be over-packing the bowl. I’ll try a half-ish flake in a wider bowl and see how that goes.

 

[Pipeoff]

I am not flakey over flakes, even when cut into cubes they are hard to keep lit. When rubbed out I get more in my lap or on the floor. Will stick to wide ribbon cut. Folding an stuff of coin cuts has worked but must be dry.

 

[thomasw]

Folded flakes but not too tightly -- I allow for a bit of flake swelling as it smokes. I find it is less messy and more tasty to fold

 

[jpmcwjr]

Generally, rubbed out and dried a bit.

The benefit of flakes is in the making and aging. How they are smoked makes little difference in the taste, but there's some psychology at play.