Tamps? What makes one better?

[masked1]

Alright, I have seen people make different tamps out of different things, some cost more and look different. Being to to smoking a pipe, what is the difference if any? I understand the necessity of tamping, but is one better than the other?
Thanks!

-Cody Maske

 

[ejames]

Just about anything you can get into the bowl can be used for a tamper. I continually misplace mine and grab anything handy,exacto knife,nail,screw,or if I can't find anything handy- a finger.

 

[daveinlax]

any tamp that doesn't pick up ash and dump it on my shirt works for me. 8O

 

[crpntr1]

My pocket knife works for me..

 

[jchaplick]

I use a wooden dowel. It all comes down to what your willing to pay, and your style

 

[ohin3]

I use pipe nails, Czech tools and a piece of a hard wood tree branch that I blunted on one end and carved into a pointed spoon on the other. All tampers serve the same utilitarian purpose in my eyes.

 

[unclearthur]

The thing that makes one better is what you like.

 

[pstlpkr]

Arthur is correct.

I think what makes a pipe tamper "your favorite" is your own requirements that compliments your smoking style.

I like ebony.

It polishes beautifully, doesn't burn/scorch, it's easy to clean and won't damage your pipe.

Here's a few that I have made for myself and some friends:

 

[baronsamedi]

I have several, including ones that use empty cartridge cases, rounded off bolt heads, a 16- penny nail ans a large machine screw. I like ones that have a bit of weight but aren't too wide. The .38 cal and .45 cal casings both work great. I prefer to use one that has a pick on the end for loosening and dumping dottle/ash.

 

[philip]

Make several. The best tamper is the one you can find.

 

[nsfisher]

depending on the bowl size determines what finger i should use

 

[mcarnevale]

I use my finger.

 

[ssjones]

A $2 Brebbia pipe nail has served me well. I've tried the Czech tools, but they aren't convenient to carry in my pipe hand when smoking and I never use the fold out tools. The Brebbia can be held between the fingers of my pipe hand and it is so light, you forget it is there.

 

[smokindawg]

There are as many types and brands of tampers as there are pipes and pipe makers, both past and present.
I've found that the cheap aluminum nails with the tamp on one end and the spoon on the other work great for me. I prefer cheap, because I'm always misplacing them. I actually purchased a big bag with a mix of both these and the type that Al posted above.
I've used everything to tamp with, Nails, Screws, sticks, my finger and even a rock I picked up when on the river and forgot my tamper.
That being said, I've made quite a few tampers and sold some as well as gifted quite a few. Handmade tampers can be much like pipes and even lighters. It's all in the eyes of the beholder. I've made them in every shape and form and from a long list of materials, sometimes mixing several materials all in one tamper.
Different makers use different materials for the tamp end as well, some going with flat ends, angled ends and some even dishing the tamp end. I've used stainless, aluminum, steel and even copper on a few.
What all this boils down too:
1) Find the tamper that appeals to you. Some can even compliment the pipe your smoking.
2) Find a tamper that works for you and your smoking/tamping situation.
3) Try making one of your own that fits you. It can be fun, easy to do and give you the pride of having a smoking instrument that you made yourself.
4) Anything can be used to tamp and get the job done in a pinch.

 

[pjm03fatboy]

I like those Lawrence, nice job!!

 

[nathaniel]

Everything said above is great, but most importantly it is the hand behind the tamper that determines how well it works. Other than that, I'd say it is just a good weight balance and a material that ashes won't stick to too readily. ::

 

[crpntr1]

Found out today a golf tee works pretty good...a ramset/hilti pin, and as I said before my pocket knife all work good for me.

 

[juni]

This is the best tamper (the one next to the Savinelli)

It must be the best one in the world, since it says "Dunhill" on it. :wink:

 

[matchstickman]

I just snagged about a half a ton of pipe nails at my B&M. They are flat on the one end for tamping and have something that resembles the spoon of a pipe tool on the other end. They feel nice and heavy and I feel would make great tampers. I also have a couple of wood tampers that I have gotten from pipe repair men and pipe makers, and I also have my czech tool and a fancier pipe tool that has the fold out pick and pipe knife. All of them work equally well, in my opinion. Im not brave enough to use my finger, however.

 

[judcole]

I keep a Czech tool in my pocket, and sitting beside me on the table while I smoke. I also keep pipe nails in just about any place I might smoke where it might be inconvenient to get in my pocket. They all work just fine.