I know this has been hashed and rehashed but would like to put in my 2 cents worth, For a long time when i first began pipe smoking I was basically smoking matches. Finally a very wise old smoker took me under his wing and corrected my mistakes. He had me smoke a bowl in his presents and explain what I was doing wrong. Fill your pipe fairly loosely and light evenly. That is the false light. Let it go out and then tamp lightly and light again. As the tobacco burns down very lightly tamp. Continue this now and then to the bottom of the bowl. Always smoke to the bottom in order to form a good cake in the heel. I'm sure many of you already know this but thought I would pass it on for some of the newer smokers. Forgive me for noy making paragraphs.
The Art of Tamping
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Well, newbies, you saw how the tobacco and ash "domed up" during the false light? That also occurs all the way down the bowl, and the occasional mid-bowl tamping keeps the hot coals in contact with the unburned tobacco just below it, enough to pass the fire downwards.
The Fine Art of Tamping. One of the many rituals of pipe smoking.
M
MARC52
Guest
Good advice, sounds old school to me and the way I learned back in the 70's?
I find you can tell it's time to tamp when the pipe starts getting weak. I don't know if that makes sense. But tamping went from what I did on relights through probably over doing it and missing the mark and having to think it out unto where now it is reflexive.
It's like a finger painting. Done right, it's cute. Done bad and it's like Picasso.
when you say like Picasso do you mean his art or do you mean it's a like a shitty person who got away with it cause he was famous?
I tamp lightly enough that if I'm clenching it doesn't pull down hard on my teeth.
He got away with his paintings. I don't know how, but people actually felt for it.
I am often not paying enough attention and do let the pipe go out but it works if you catch it in time. If not, there is no harm in a relight. You are right on the mark, pack lightly and don’t tamp or light too aggressively and you will enjoy your tobacco more.