Generally speaking I mean straight out of the tin or cellared jar, which judging by comments on the forum would be too moist for most people. SG tobaccos are over moist even for me, and I do dry those for 10 or 15 minutes. I have a broad wooden tamper by my side, and I suppose by a mixture of ignorance and serendipity things pan out well, and I rarely need a relight.Folks' definition of what's moist and what's dry vary widely.
Can you in some way pin down what's what?
Damage to the pipe isn't due to smoking to the bottom. It's unwise use of lighter to torch the heel of the chamber that cause the damage. Relight, towards the bottom of the bowl, should just take quick pass of light above the charred tobacco. If the tobacco doesn't take the ember after second try, smoke is done. Whatever left is either too wet or whatever to go further. I should know, I cracked enough Morgan Bones when I was starting out.Smoking to the bottom isn't something I seek to do, because it's not good for the pipe, so I usually stop before the absolute bottom. Also I'm not fond of getting ash in my mouth. Smoking to the bottom isn't difficult, it would be typical for me if I didn't pull the plug.
Just another of those BS pipe myth aspirations to grow out of.
Partly correct. It's also the amount of heat being generated as a constant at the bottom, along with the steam, to burn every last strand. That according to every pipe restorer I've corresponded with or spoken to over the passing years. They're the guys who try to fix our fuck ups, so I expect that they might know something about it.Damage to the pipe isn't due to smoking to the bottom. It's unwise use of lighter to torch the heel of the chamber that cause the damage.