Questions - Staying Lit; Packing: Relighting; Ashy Taste

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BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
1,241
5,363
London UK
What I've learned so far is that I really enjoy English blends as the flavor seems to be right there, I like the limited Virginia's I have tried but nothing stands out, I have certainly experienced a "magic moment" with a virginia that appeared unmatched to anything else I had smoked previously; but it was short lived and the smoke needed a more careful attention. Moving forward, do you think I would wise to try a burley blend? It seems almost like a middle ground between the two. Or would a Va/Per add more interest to an ohterwuse nuanced straight Virginia?As a side note, most of the aromatics I've tried in the past haven't been very good or worthwhile. My favourites so far: Squadron Leader, Amphora original, EMP, Nightcap, Autumn Evening, Frogmorton, Special Virginia
Add Orlik Golden Sliced and Skiff Mixture to your list - the Orlik claims a touch of perique ha ha and Skiff is the Oriental-forward brother of Squadron Leader.

A good VaPer to sample would be St James Flake, which I think of as FVF with perique added. Of course, there's Cabbies, but you don't want to get into that, oh no; it might jeopardize my supply ;-)
 
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PipeIT

Lifer
Nov 14, 2020
5,053
30,219
Hawaii
I’m not of the thought process, that keeping a pipe lit matters for anything, other than something that seems to bother people, or we are all suppose to keep our pipes lit, and if not, we are doing something wrong.

Everyone’s palate is going to be different, so this is why it can really make a difference, meaning, as to why you might not want to concern yourself so much about it.

If someone is smoking a one dimensional non complex blend, then this is a blend where it’s not going to matter much if it’s always lit.

If someone is smoking a complex blend and wants to experience the full complexity, this is where it can matter, or, if you find at some point in your smoking life, you’re mouth is getting sensitive to the smoke, or tongue.

To much fire, heat, always lit, or a fast cadence can destroy complexity or irritate.

So, don’t worry about keeping a pipe lit, smoke it however you want, always lit, or not, depending on what you’re smoking, and want to get out of it.

I never keep my pipes lit, I typically smoke a lot of complex blends that are also extremely subtle with their complexity, that require minimal fire, gently, slowing sipping, only a few sips here and there, and that’s it, let the pipe go out, cool down and repeat.

Try next time with the Squadron, or other blends, barely lighting, a few gentle sips, let it go out and cool down, and repeat. Think of it like being a wine taster with a complex blend, and see how that goes.

In time, you will experience more flavors and nuances... :)
 
Last edited:
Jan 28, 2018
13,858
154,294
67
Sarasota, FL
Doesn't sound like you're dying it enough. Keep experimenting with crying it more and more until you find it too dry. Forget all the false light crap. Light it with a deep draw. Initially, it will require a ramp. Light again. Do you really think "burning" the tobacco initially matters? That's funny. And draw long and slow on the light, not short, rapid puffs.

Until you get it dry enough, hard to understand packing. I thinking packing is trial and error until you get the feel. Then you have it forever. Tamp as needed,simple.

Don't over think this pipe smoking thing. It's not rocket surgery.
 

Maedhros

Lurker
Sep 9, 2024
49
209
South West Wales
Thanks for the advice guys, just a little update: I've started drying my tobaccos a lot more, it's still a bit of trial and error but going to start drying them until nearly bone dry now. Also started packing using the "frank" method but simplified, and having more consistent packs as a result. Need to work on the initial light and keeping it lit, tamping I find a bit of an art as sometimes I can only manage to smoke 3/4 of a bowl before the pipe goes out and its a bit of a pain to relight as I don't have a purpose built lighter or any matches.
 
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jdlander

Lurker
Jul 6, 2024
44
89
Salem, OR
- Repeating the last step with a little more resistance until the draw is equivalent to a McDonalds shake through a straw.
This bit of advice has always bothered me. Yet it's very common to read it on the internet. Even most of the popular YouTubers use it.

Whenever I see it, I always want to ask the person, "Have you actually compared the two draws at the same time?"

As a new pipe smoker myself, I went out and actually bought a McDonald's shake and then packed a pipe until the draw on the pipe was similar to the draw on the straw. I had never put SO MUCH tobacco into the pipe. I had to use about 7 large pinches packed into the bowl as hard as I could to achieve a similar draw.

If you're using just two pinches, I don't see how you're getting anything near the "shake through a straw" draw. Or even soda through a straw... (I tried that too).

Unless ... maybe you're using filters? I don't use them, so I don't know how much resistance they cause.

For me, the draw on the pipe that seems best is one that has just a tiny bit more resistance than when the pipe is wide open.
 
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Maedhros

Lurker
Sep 9, 2024
49
209
South West Wales
Sorry if I bore anyone here: Just had the most FANTASTIC smoke out of my MM 5th Ave. Diplomat with Capstan blue! Nice steady burn and cadence throughout, excellent, solid taste (I can see why people say Virginia's are like hay now) and never a moment of an ashy taste. Smoked right down to the bottom with one relight, what a great smoking session. Miles Davis playing throughout!
 

LanfordB01

Lurker
Jun 3, 2024
13
98
Helotes, Texas area
Don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but at about the 2/3rds mark, sometimes I get a loose white ash on top of everything. I simply turn the pipe over and let it fall out and then tamp lightly before a relight…. Don’t knock it…. Just let it fall naturally….. then do a very light tamp and relight.
 

jpmcwjr

Moderate Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
26,157
30,040
Carmel Valley, CA
Sounds right to me!

Please put your location in your Profile!
Why: It will save time for others when you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos, wildfires, air quality, etc.
How: Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down.
 

MisterBadger

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 6, 2024
223
1,988
Ludlow, UK
... would a Va/Per add more interest to an ohterwuse nuanced straight Virginia?
- It would, though (depending on the sensitivity of your sinuses and your palate and personal tastes), you may find it more 'interesting' in the sense that the Chinese proverb speaks of 'interesting times'. Having said that, I'm a Va/Per fan myself - so if I were you, I'd give it a go.
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
3,862
50,328
Casa Grande, AZ
Get a good bulk blend you like, smoke through about 8oz of it.

Pay attention to what changes make things better, and which make things worse.

At that point you will have figured out your personal answer to the majority of your questions.
😉
 

antonine

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 18, 2024
104
552
San Diego, CA
Lots of great advice in here, so I’ll just echo two quick things:

1) A “McDonalds milkshake” draw sounds way too tight to me, so if your pipes are going out often even while you’re actively smoking them, then I’d suggest experimenting with a looser pack.

2) The internet and its various pipe smoking communities have been amazing for helping newbies get into the hobby, but I think it’s also served to generate and perpetuate a few unfortunate myths… the biggest one being that “you should aim for a perfect pack so your pipe never goes out”. I’ve been smoking for something like 15 years now and I still run through half a box of matches about 97% of the time. A two- or three-light bowl is fun when it happens but you shouldn’t stress if you have to relight 20+ times per smoke. Just enjoy the experience and have fun experimenting!
 

jpmcwjr

Moderate Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
26,157
30,040
Carmel Valley, CA
Lots of great advice in here, so I’ll just echo two quick things:

1) A “McDonalds milkshake” draw sounds way too tight to me, so if your pipes are going out often even while you’re actively smoking them, then I’d suggest experimenting with a looser pack.

<< Snipped bits out >>
I thought that was debunked long ago. May I ask where you saw that reference?

There should be very little resistance in the draw.
 

antonine

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 18, 2024
104
552
San Diego, CA
I thought that was debunked long ago. May I ask where you saw that reference?

There should be very little resistance in the draw.

It was in this thread on the first page (although I'm just now realizing this was originally posted last month and I'm very late to the party 🤦‍♂️). Aside from that, I do see it brought up occasionally on e.g. reddit or other social media.
 
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