Question on Packing a Bowl...

[setherd]

The more I smoke, the better I get!

I have discovered through trial and error that I was first packing the bowl too lightly.

Now I press my tobacco in pretty firmly.
I'm wondering if there is something I can do to improve my results.

My pipe smokes best in the middle. The first part of the bowl I seem to need 3 or 4 lights to get it going and have to puff rather frequently to keep it lit. Then I have the great middle part where I don't have to concentrate on keeping it lit all the time, I can take my time to enjoy it. And then the last bit in the bowl I seem to have a problem burning it all down to ash. I also seem to get a lot of bits of tobacco up through the stem when it's down to the bottom.

I'm using Old Dublin tobacco and a MM corncob with the filter removed if this helps.

I'm of the mind set that maybe I need to get all the tobacco tamped down pretty firmly before I do my first light. I htink the top layer is rather loose perhaps.

 

[cortezattic]

In the left hand column of this page there are two articles on packing listed.

With every different blend, and nearly every different pipe shape, techniques will vary.

So it's largely by experience and the cultivation of judgment, or feel, that you gain consistently good smokes.
If your pipe is too tightly packed, empty it out and start anew. Don't fight your way through an improperly packed bowl.

 

[phred]

I had the opposite problem when I started, though the end result sounds similar - my tendency has been to pack too firmly, which then chokes off the air supply to the smoldering ember. It's all down to finding the balance, and that will vary from pipe to pipe and from blend to blend. Sam and Cortez are both spot on - the moisture content of the tobacco will have an effect, as will packing technique. Relax, don't worry, and have another bowl.
Keep at it - this does seem to be another one of those things where practice pays off.

 

[werdna]

With every different blend, and nearly every different pipe shape, techniques will vary.

+1 on this. My MM Country Gent cob draws very fast, in other words it lets a lot of air through the stem. So, I tend to pact that pipe more tightly, with some tobaccos. Other pipes I have to pack more loosely for a better draw. Go with the flow, each one is an individual.

 

[fitzy]

Except for flakes I pretty much use the Frank method exclusively and it works awesome.
Give it a try. Here is the first of 3 video's on the Frank method.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJP0JaNRw6Q

 

[fitzy]

I've yet to try this guy's method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XHYPso7TXs

 

[dnietosi]

+1. I use half a filter in my cob too.

 

[rcstan]

+1 what they said and ....
.... while not very cost-effective, you can use Savinelli 6mm triangular balsa filters in your cob which do the job a thousand times better than the coffee-filter-paper-rolled-together-with-scotch-tape ones made by Dr Grabow et all.

 

[philip]

I'm wondering if there is something I can do to improve my results.

Keep experimenting.

 

[setherd]

thanks everyone!

I'll keep puffing away at it!

 

[jah76]

Setherd welcome!
If you decide to try the balsa filters, just pm me. I think I have some laying about.

 

[smeigs]

I use a modified frank method.. Its almost identical to the video above just a little bit different at the end. But this has been my go-to method for over a year now and it works great..

 

[jndyer]

The best thing about the questions people post on these forums is that I seem to always learn something. Thank you all to your answers.