Struggling with flake

[saltedplug]

Hi settersbrace. I'd give my eye teeth if you'd write a detailed account of the elusive fold and stuff technique. Exactly what did you do that didn't work, and did.

 

[mso489]

A few random comments. Flake is really worth "mastering." It gives you a long smoke, once you get it going, and it keeps well. The flavor seems to maintain integrity over time. When trying a flake blend for the first time, go ahead and try it moist. If need be, you can always let the tobacco dry in the pipe bowl overnight, then smoke it. But sometimes flake that is quite moist burns well. I found this true of Mac Baren's HH Latakia Flake when I popped a tin recently, and once it dried in a mixing bowl overnight, it fired up without even a charring light. I prefer to rub out most flake; I feel like I get more tobacco in the bowl and the smoke goes on longer, but I think other methods work just as well. I don't smoke flakes exclusively, but I really enjoy flakes and plugs. The extra "trouble" just seems part of the enjoyment, or I wouldn't bother, feeling and smelling the tobacco as I rub it out and pack it.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I am curious if you all adhere to the advice about smaller and conical bowls for flake? If so, in dimension or Dunhill sizing numbers, what is optimum?

Dublins and Zulus are really good for flakes since they tend to have a more conical bowl. The conical shape of the bowl chamber helps to leave a bit of an air pocket and makes it easier to draw as well as preventing the draft hole from clogging up. There are some carvers, and I think Briarworks does it as well, that taper all of their bowl chambers regardless of shape. As always with buying a pipe, it's good to do some homework before pulling the trigger.
As for size, flakes tend to last longer than ribbon cut, especially if you fold and stuff, so I'd say a smaller to medium bowl like a group 2 or 3 Dunhill size would be ideal. When you start getting up to the larger sizes you'll end up packing more and having a bowl last up to 2 hours or longer. That can make even some experienced nicotine heavyweights keel over.

Also, do you do the same fold and rub technique with the medallion or coin cut, like Escudo, or is that cut mostly rubbed out?

I've noticed that you really get two fairly different experiences when using the different methods. I'd suggest giving it a go for a couple of bowls rubbed out and a couple of bowls just folded to see which one you prefer. I just bunched up the edges of the coin to fold and stuff. Per Jensen from Mac Baren takes the coin and kind of rolls it into a ball in his hand.

 

[seacaptain]

Just bought a couple of tins of flake for the first time myself. I couldn't wait to try it out, so I just shoved it in there and lit it up. LOL. Now I need to learn to do it properly.

 

[phred]

I have done both methods without any issue but what will give the best smoke.

Seems to me the answer would be largely subjective, if you're comfortable with both methods. Which one do YOU think gives you the best smoke? Other people's experiences may not match your own.
For me personally, I have better luck with rubbing out than I do with fold-and-stuff. On the other hand, my last experiment with the latter was conducted while doing yardwork rather than just sitting down for a smoke, and the distraction of yardwork generally leads to an interrupted smoke, punctuated by multiple relights. Perhaps this Friday I'll repeat the experiment without the weeding and see what happens.

 

[newbroom]

As cobguy said, cube cut is surefire. I was lucky the first coin of Escudo I ever smoked. I opened the tin, drank its aroma, took out a coin, folded and stuffed it into some pipe or other, darned if I remember that, and enjoyed one of the most rewarding smokes I'd ever had. I enjoyed it like you would a fine single malt, sipping it slowly, and it didn't go out. I smoked that one coin for what seemed like an hour, and that one experience will forever be my standard...that's not always a good thing....we're all human, and, this is tobacco we're talking about.

 

[seadogontheland]

I like to rub out my flakes most of the time and find this is the best method to yield maximum flavor. Now, if I am in the mood to stuff a flake I try to roll it neatly and then turn it so the air can pass through the flake with the flake on its side and that way it is not blocking the flow of air. This seems to allow for a more even burn.

 

[jmill208]

+1 for the cube cut. ::

 

[voorhees]

I'm a huge proponent of fold and stuff. Flake is so easy for me to fold, stuff and go.

 

[settersbrace]

Hi settersbrace. I'd give my eye teeth if you'd write a detailed account of the elusive fold and stuff technique. Exactly what did you do that didn't work, and did.
Mostly everything I tried before what's demonstrated in the above video did not work well for me. Consistency is what I'm talking about here. One time things would burn just fine, taste great, burn to the bottom and another time my bowl would get these terrific hot spots, the draw would tighten up, needed too many relights. All the usual flake related crap. Cube cutting just didn't work out for me, I'm not saying it's no good or anything like that, it just doesn't do it for me.
What has been working is simply getting to know how much flake I can get in the pipes I choose to smoke them from, trim to size, layer and fold and then load the pipe exactly like the video. I like to loosen the strands up a bit while the plug is still cradled between my fingers and I save the shake for tinder. It's really so simple but in the beginning so frustrating. Just keep checking your draw as you pack the flake and accept nothing less than a full open draw.

I also agree with many here in drying time, most of the English born flakes that come over are a little too moist. FVF can be horrid if I don't let it sit for 30-60 minutes, you'll develop a knack for knowing when it's dry enough, flex it right out of the tin and then detect the changes as it dries. When it's not so floppy and pliable, it's ready.