The Draw

[charf]

After about 10 months of part time pipe smoking I think you start to notice more of the details. The process of packing, lighting and puffing becomes pretty simple. In the last few weeks I have noticed a few bowls where they started off with a good draw and then in the last 1/3 of the bowl the draw really tightened up. I have used the spike of the Czech tool occasionally to probe down the side of the bowl to create more airways (heard about that on the radio show). However the last 2 times that happened I just decided to keep on going and after a few minutes of puffing the draw opens up again. I guess I am burning through a tight pack or tobacco that has expanded during the smoke.
Have others had this experience?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Sounds like you may be tamping a bit heavy and thermal expansion as the ember hits the tight spot is loosening it up again.

 

[charf]

Should have added it was ribbon cut..

 

[trubka2]

My tamping skills still suck - that, and I'm always distracted - so I get a tight draw after mid-bowl all the time, but the blockage is usually at the bottom of the chamber. Running a pipe cleaner up to clear the airway usually solves the problem for me. Don't know if that's the right way, but it works for me. No more pipes that don't pass a cleaner for me, that's for sure.