Relighting

[prophecies]

Hi there,

I've picked up pipe smoking for the first time about 2-3 months ago, and I've been really enjoying it. At first, I wasn't too worried about the amount of times I had to relight. But now that I'm getting the hang of it, the number of relights I need to do just doesn't seem to diminish at all. I'm averaging around 6-8 relights per bowl. Sometimes I can go 10-15 minutes without needing to relight, sometimes it'll go out after 1-2. I'll get some minor gurgle, but it goes away quickly.
I can tell that I'm getting quite a bit of moisture, because I used 9mm filters, that end up having the cardboard being quite wet when I take it out.
It's not packed too tight, I can draw freely, and yet it's not packed too lightly either. It *feels* just right, but clearly something is up.
One thing I have noticed that I thought was odd (though maybe it's totally normal and it's my inexperience talking), is that sometimes when the smoke is nice and thick, tastes wonderful, and within a second, the pipe completely goes out. It rarely gradually goes out.
No, I don't clench, that was the first thing I stopped doing when I noticed there was a problem, and this happens no matter what kind of tobacco I use.
Also, I've noticed when emptying my bowl after a smoke, that there is still some unburnt tobacco left at the bottom. I've tried to get it burned all the way to the bottom, but for some reason, it will go out 20 seconds after relighting it.

 

[mso489]

One possibility is that the tobacco is too damp. You don't mention what you are smoking, but

that is one thing that puts a pipe out. An easy solution is to put a few pipe bowls of tobacco out in

a ceramic bowl and let them dry out a day or two, and use this tobacco when you smoke. Also, though

it seems like it is packed "just right," I'd try packing just a little fuller. See what happens. Before

you relight, tamp it down, first dumping off any appreciable ash. All these aspects vary a little

from pipe to pipe, but when you start out, it all seems complicated. Then things come together,

until you have to learn a new pipe. Don't be put off by relighting. Even experienced pipe smokers

let a pipe go out if they get distracted, or pause too long in thought or conversation, etc. You'll

get it down. Just buy a good supply of matches (or lighter fluid/gas) and take it easy.

 

[allan]

Prophecies
Welcome to the forum!
Mso has answered your question quite thoroughly, and I would follow his advice. Moist tobacco has given me some challenges in the past, and now thanks to one of our members, Roth, I use a hairdryer to dry out moist tobacco when I'm in a hurry to get out (always in hurry!).
Moist tobacco screws everything up, and if you do a search on the forum, there is quite a bit written already.
As far as relights, I just don't care. I re-light whenever it goes out. So what? There is no rule about that. As long as your enjoying the smoke, its all good.
Good luck!

 

[bryanf]

Sometimes I'm smoking and doing other things and have to relight many times. 6-8 times in a big bowl is no big deal. I almost always have to relight at least once. I doubt clenching has anything to do with it. I almost always clench.
I say just keep smoking your pipe, and build up some cake. New pipes without much cake tend to go out a lot. After you get 20-50 bowls through your pipe, it should stay lit better.
If you still have problems, pack with smaller pinches and tamp lightly between packing pinches as you're probably not packing evenly- probably getting too much air pockets. Also, try to tamp as you smoke, lightly with your finger (as I do), or with a tamper. Eventually, you'll get the feel and pack your pipe without even thinking about it.
If you are smoking flakes, that's another story- you really need to have some technique...

 

[prophecies]

Thank you for all your help, I'll be sure to give all your suggestions a try tomorrow during my next smoke! I only have one pipe, so I give it a full days rest between smokes. I almost exclusively smoke Aromatics, and the result has been the same with every blend I've tried. Without fail.

I just got a tin of Peterson Sunset Breeze, and once again, same problems, even after letting my filled pipe sit for about 2-3 hours before smoking. I currently have a small amount sitting in a bowl drying out right now, I'll give that a shot in 1-2 days or so!
I'm thinking it might be the uneven packing. I'm using the 2 or 3-step method to fill my pipe, so maybe if I use smaller pinches, it will help out a little.
Thanks again, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!

 

[4dotsasieni]

The only advice I can add to the wisdom already given is to try smoking a bowl WITHOUT the filter. The fact that it is getting so wet and gunky may be causing some of your problems.

 

[rmason]

I agree with 4dotsasieni about the filter they aren't necessary and they cause you to lose flavor (as far as I'm concerned).

~Ron

 

[cigrmaster]

Definitely loose the filter and grab some more pipes. Since you are smoking aromatics, one day of rest is not nearly enough. Grab some cobs or a few 50 dollar pipes. You might want to try some different blends also. Try a tin of Dunhill Flake, it is a real tasty, sweet blend. You also need to dump ash before re lighting. Gently stir the ash with the pick end of your tamper, tilt the bowl carefully to get rid of the ash, then tamp down and re light. I always dump ash before re lighting.

 

[prophecies]

Would removing the filter really make a difference in terms of moisture build-up? The reason I enjoy filters is because it prevents the nasty smoky taste that gets stuck in my mouth after a smoke.

I've been using various other blends (3 others), and I have the very same issue with all of them.
Is it normal that the beautiful cherry-like embers don't stay lit all the time? It seems like the lovely glow only lasts about 30-60 seconds and then fades beneath the ash. I'm also reading conflicting opinions whether or not to dump the ash. Some say it keeps it nicely lit, others say you should dump.
I've had the tendency to just grab the tobacco straight from the tin, load up the pipe, and light. It certainly doesn't feel very moist, but this may just be me speaking from lack of experience. I've tried letting the pipe sit for 2-3 hours before lighting up, that changed nothing.

 

[waxmojo]

Is it normal that the beautiful cherry-like embers don't stay lit all the time?[/quote]
Yes it is. You don't want the tobacco to light on fire, it should just smolder. As far as keeping the pipe lit. I suggest you try and change the way you load the pipe and go a little looser and tamp as you smoke.

 

[bryanf]

The only thing I'd add is that if you smoke a Peterson system pipe, like I do, don't dump the ash- but rather scoop it out with a pipe tool. Or, if you're going to dump it, make sure and empty the reservoir first, by removing stem and using the right angle to dump it out without getting it into your pipe bowl. If you try and dump it without doing this, you could very well (and most likely), dump all the liquid moisture from the reservoir into the pipe bowl, which will give you terrible lighting problems and taste!