Questions about the pack/light/maintaining the smoke

[dirksoccer]

Hello,

Brand new pipe smoker and i've really been enjoying it so far. I've got this one issue though. Seems like every bowl starts pretty well, but throughout the taste kind of fades in and out, if that makes sense. The smoke starts at what i would call a medium intensity, but then fluctuates between really weak and airy, and really nice and rich throughout the bowl. So i have a few questions

-Is this a problem with the pack? I have been trying to do the three step method, but i could definitely be doing it wrong.

-could i be lighting it wrong? how heavily/thoroughly should the bowl be lit? (1-10 scale, 1 being just light coal in the center, 10 being glowing coal to the edge)

-could i be tamping it wrong? (tamping to lightly/firmly, or maybe to frequently/sparingly throughout the bowl)
I am smoking a few different aromatics from a local tobacconist in a macqueen wizard churchwarden (medium/small bowl size) if that makes a difference.
Thanks for the help!

 

[pawpaw]

hello dirk there are some great helps here on site look on the main page :wink:

and there is a saying that keeps popping up

"pack it looser than ya think ya need to

smoke it slower that ya think ya need to

and tamp it lighter than ya think ya need to"

it all about pratice

Happy puffin and welcome the Pipe Mag forum

 

[tokerpipes]

Aeros can tend to be verry moist. Try letting it dry some first. Also its good to try a looser pack and then tamp it down . Remember the looser the pack the faster I and hotter it burns. If you want a slower smoke pack it tighter. When you draw it should be a little tighter than sucking on a straw. Also the more you tamp it the more you may taste the ash rather than the tobacco. Smoking a pipe is a little different for each person. It takes practice to know when to tamp, how tight to pack, how moist it can be for smoking.

 

[baronsamedi]

Here are some useful links that helped me! I typically use the Harry Method but that may nor may not work for a MacQueen warden.
http://pipesmagazine.com/python/pipe-smoking/tobacco-pipe-packing-methods/
http://pipesmagazine.com/python/pipe-smoking/tobacco-pipe-packing-methods-part-2-videos/
http://pipesmagazine.com/python/pipe-smoking/pipe-smoking-tips/

 

[dirksoccer]

thanks a ton for the replies! I was making what now seems like a super rookie mistake in thinking a tighter pack would somehow "concentrate" the smoke, if that makes sense. Next time i get to enjoy a bowl i'll remember the saying thanks again, all of you!

 

[olderthandirt]

there is a saying that keeps popping up

And it really is some of the best wisdom!
From John Patton (tiltjlp)
Dry your tobacco more than you think you need to.

Pack it looser than you think you need to.

Smoke it slower than you think you need to.

Tamp it less , and more lightly, than you think you need to.

Clean your pipes after every smoke, using pipe spirits of some sort.

Don’t worry if you have a few relights

 

[philip]

Welcome to the forum, dirksoccer.
You've got some good advice here. But it's a little like riding a bicycle. We could all describe the process to you, but you just have to do it till you get the feel for it. It gets easier as you learn what works for you.
Enjoy the learning process. It goes on and on...

 

[matchstickman]

Mr dubinthedam, who graces us with his presence on this fine forum, has a wildly popular youtube channel, and he made a video talking about this very thing. I found it very helpful, and I hope you will too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4uf5HfK0zU&feature=channel_video_title

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I think the biggest thing in maintaining the bowl is to remember to tamp periodically. Probably every five or so minutes usually if you're smoking slowly. After a while you'll learn the feel of when the tobacco requires tamping. Also I think a major thing is more so checking the draw before lighting up. That's the easiest way to tell if your packing is too tight. If it is too tight you'll be sucking air in like a Dyson vaccuum cleaner instead of sipping it through the stem like a straw in an ice cold root beer (or other favourite beverage of choice). Since you mentioned you're smoking aromatics it's also better to learn to sip on the pipe, because that greatly cuts down on the tonge bite/leather tongue. Tastes can fade especially with aromatics. If you're more interested in aromatics it's a good idea to give some of Mac Baren's 7 Seas line a try or some of Peterson's Limited Edition blends a try. Those deliver a taste a lot closer to the tin note more consistently than most aromatics I've had. Like mentioned before it's like riding a bike. The only way to learn and get enjoyment from it is to jump and do it. Enjoy.

 

[simnettpratt]

Wow pipering, that was beautiful dude; superbly put. Way to go.

 

[tiltjlp]

And it really is some of the best wisdom!
From John Patton (tiltjlp)
Dry your tobacco more than you think you need to.

Pack it looser than you think you need to.

Smoke it slower than you think you need to.

Tamp it less , and more lightly, than you think you need to.

Clean your pipes after every smoke, using pipe spirits of some sort.

Don’t worry if you have a few relights
Actually, while I did and do post that information, it's what my dad taught me back in 1959. I still use it, and still have never had tongue bite or a sour pipe.

 

[zanthal]

I like to spend a little time "rubbing out" a bowl of tobacco before I pack it.

 

[nsfisher]

read all the answers here that u can mate. try as many methods as possible. ask as many questions as u can,eventually, and with much practice, you will find what works best for u, diff baccy's = diff packing, diff puffin, diff flavours etc. after awhile, it'll become instinct an u wont even think about it. you will just do it . enjoy and welcome aboard!!!