Samuel Gawith Flakes are Hard to Smoke

[sablebrush52]

The first time I had smoked FVF was HUGELY disappointing. It tasted like stall hay after the horse had used it. I hadn't appreciated just how much water was in this flake, but after some helpful advice from a member here, I let the flake dry out for about 5 hours and voila! Nirvana! Point is, Sam Gawith flakes need drying out to get their flavors. What you're getting when they're wet ain't what you'll get when they're dried down.
Fold and stuff, cube cut, rub out, it all works. Take your pick. If you're going to fold and stuff, pack your pipe the day before you actually smoke it.
Sam Gawith flakes aren't hard to smoke. They may be hard for some individuals to smoke until those individuals learn how to smoke them.

 

[didimauw]

You got it.

That's how I do it too.

 

[condorlover1]

I've never had trouble with flakes cut off plugs strangely. I like my tobacco on the moist side, maybe it is the gurgle of the nicotine smoothy in that last third of the bowl. If you pack your pipe and let it sit for a bit it should fire up without any issues.

 

[gubbyduffer]

I am not a fan of SG flakes for the same reason. I have som Full Virginia Flake tha I rubbed out. Its not wet but I still can't get a good light. Absolutely no problem with their ribbon cut offering. I stayed away from SG Balkan Flake and specifically went for Gawith Hoggarth Balkan Mixture as its a ribbon.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I stayed away from SG Balkan Flake

My problem with their Balkan Flake is that it isn't even a Balkan. I know that these terms and genres are all made up, but one would expect something called Balkan to at least have some Orientals besides just a buttload of latakia with Virginias. It overwhelms my palate.

 

[gervais]

I don't have luck with cube cutting. For an SG flake (or any flake for that matter) rub it out like crazy when it's MOIST, this will help shag it up a bit instead of crumble in big chunks. You gotta really go to town on their thick jerky like flakes. I'm talking mortar and pestle that shit, weed grinder even. Then dry it out to your liking.

That's the way I do it, and it's still a bitch to keep lit. Lmao

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I open SG tins 3 to 4 weeks in advance of smoking and let them dry out. They take a bit more to get going but stay out really well after that.

 

[karam]

My first run with StJames flake was an exercise in extreme frustration, until I dried it to dust. Been smoking SG flakes ever since with no issue.

Critical point is to avoid drying the aromatics from SG/GH. They appear sopping wet and sticky yet smoke just fine, they even lose their magic if allowed to dry.

 

[simong]

I've never had trouble with flakes cut off plugs strangely. I like my tobacco on the moist side, maybe it is the gurgle of the nicotine smoothy in that last third of the bowl. If you pack your pipe and let it sit for a bit it should fire up without any issues.

Me too. In Britain & Ireland, juicy flakes & plugs are what we’re used to & what we’ve been brought up on. If a bunch of lily livered millennials can’t work out how to light pipe, then that’s not my concern.

 

[BlueRidge]

I dry and cube cut them. anything else is just wasted tobacco and frustrating to me. mmm 1792

 

[UB 40]

I don't have luck with cube cutting. For an SG flake (or any flake for that matter) rub it out like crazy when it's MOIST, this will help shag it up a bit instead of crumble in big chunks. You gotta really go to town on their thick jerky like flakes. I'm talking mortar and pestle that shit, weed grinder even. Then dry it out to your liking.

That's the way I do it, and it's still a bitch to keep lit. Lmao

That might work.

 

[Chasing Embers]

2015 1792 Flake pulverized for work tonight. It'll burn just fine.

 

[mortonbriar]

My problem with their Balkan Flake is that it isn't even a Balkan. I know that these terms and genres are all made up, but one would expect something called Balkan to at least have some Orientals besides just a buttload of latakia with Virginias. It overwhelms my palate.

I found the balkan flake too much as well, then I left a tin for a decade. It was sealed for most of that time, but the seal got compromised on the last house move, so for 1 year it was drying out. It was JUST short of turning to dust, and the latakia had backed right off providing a very nice smoke. I intend to purposefully do the same trick with my last tin.

 

[mortonbriar]

@Chasing Embers that is a nice owl.

 

[Chasing Embers]

@Chasing Embers that is a nice owl.

One of my favorites.


Photo from many smokes ago.

 

[anotherbob]

I don't know if this will work for them. But it works for other troublesome flakes. Get some really dry fine stuff. Like five brothers is great and you can also take and break up a little bit of a flake into tiny little pieces that you let dry out. Put that on the tippy toppest layer as kindling.

 

[anotherbob]

@Chasing Embers that is a nice owl.

only problem with a owl pipe is that in my mind I pronounce the owl part of bowl as owl.

 

[georged]

Obviously if they’re wet, they won’t burn. What’s the secret?

 

[condorlover1]

@georged : Very nice. Did you get that from P&C or is that a new thing from BIC?

 

[gervais]

Me too. In Britain & Ireland, juicy flakes & plugs are what we’re used to & what we’ve been brought up on. If a bunch of lily livered millennials can’t work out how to light pipe, then that’s not my concern.