Tamping Practices

[Jahman7]

I've learned on my own the ideal time to tamp. I base it on the quality of the smoke. Often I have to tamp regularly. Rarely, like tonight, do I find I don't need to tamp at all for most of the bowl. These are often the best smokes I have. It's based on the quality of the pack.

I'm wondering if everyone tamps based on the same criteria or if it's just a habitual thing done for no other reason than to keep things burning smoothly.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Like smoking it's just something I mindlessly do. I'll occasionally tap the ashes with my fingertip and proceed to smoke.

 

[bullet08]

Idea of tamping is to bring the ember closer to tobacco. I don't think about it much, like driving. Scary, if you think about it.

 

[warren]

Put in the "mindlessly" camp.

 

[kcghost]

I'll join all the others in the "mindless" tamping school.

 

[Pipke]

I pack the bowl using my finger. Usually the first pinch gets a light pack down in the bowl, then a larger pinch gets a stronger pack so it's not springing up out of the bowl. I like to smoke from pots, so a third pinch gets a solid pack over that. Works well if the tobacco isn't too moist.

 

[telescopes]

I agree that the ember is being pushed toward the tobacco through tamping, but I also tamp to keep the tobacco packed at a correct pressure while smoking. I use a modified Frank method to load the pipe - this tends to create a bit of space between the bottom of the bowl and the tobacco. Tamping helps me maintain packing pressure as needed.

 

[khiddy]

I tamp as-needed. When I feel the resistance on my draws lessening or the smoke decreasing as I sip/puff, a tamp or two and we're usually back in business. Sometimes I tap the collected ash out gently after a tamp (without knocking against anything), and always de-ash before a relight.

 

[Pipke]

I'll add that I use a tamper during the smoke, and just use the weight of the tamper. Sometimes I poke the white ash and let that fall out of the pipe before tamping.

 

[bpinkstaff]

Well interesting opinions!

 

[WirelessSmoke]

I tamp whenever I just feel like it might be needed, less often now I've gained a little experience. It usually is around the same time that I might need to relight.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Who is Frank?

 

[PaulRVA]

Mindlessly but in general probably
Twice during each bowl.
Once after the char and again about midway.

 

[Sig]

I'm mindless too!!
Most pipes I don't tamp until the very bottom to see if there is anything left.
And I also use my finger.

 

[AroEnglish]

Who is Frank?

Frank the Tank.

 

[renfield]

As required. I have no idea how often that is because it’s something that I do without thinking about it. Another vote for mindless.

 

[Sparcdude]

Never thought about it before. I usually just use my thumb (it’s got quite the callous!) or a golf tee or even a pipe tamper.

Just a mindless action for me, and I’m good at mindless. Just ask my wife...