This Newb Figured Out How to Pack a Bowl!

[thegrimpeeper]

I'm a new smoker and wanted to share an epiphany. For all of us who have been smoking under a year I'm sure like me have had some issues with packing and keeping lit and generally just getting good smoking. It has been very frustrating for me at time and I've had night where I burnt my toungue and just wanted to give up. Sometimes when I would get a good burn in I would some how be not tasting it or would be getting a lot of flavor and roasting my toungue, or the pipe would gargle, or it would burn half way down the bowl and croak on me refusing to light again.
Anyway lately I have been experimenting with a new drying system in which I dry my next to smoke blend in a perforated tin with hole up top like a cinnamon shaker and this slowly and controlled dries my tobacco enough for an easier smoke and I think this is a great idea I have 3 such tin on rotation each with a diff blend this has really made the moisture issue a thing of the past. Also and most important in the last two weeks I have using a packing method known as franks method (newbies look up on you tube) you won't regret. Before using this method I would all to frequently waste a lot of tobacco because I would only burn a pit down the center of my bowl and leave unburnt Baccy on the sides. Now with this franks method I burn a wide ring of ash strait down the bowl leavening white ash at the bottom when I'm done. If it weren't for adoring this method I may have quit. Good luck new smokers I hope this helps.

 

[bigvan]

I'm glad you're enjoying the hobby, Grim, but if you need to dry out your tobacco in perforated cinnamon shaker tins, then I'd say you should probably keep practicing your pack.

 

[thegrimpeeper]

Do you think that will kill my flavor in the long run it seems to make them taste and burn better? What's your reasoning behind that? I was under the impression that most tobacco needs to air out a little first.

 

[bigvan]

It's all a matter of personal taste, and different blends react differently, but assuming we're talking about good-quality tobacco, the more it dries the easier it burns. But drying also loses flavors. It's a balancing act.
I've been smoking pipes for 25 years and I've never needed to dry tobacco. Not once. Ever. If you pack it well and take your time, you shouldn't need to dry out your leaf.
Personally, I think drying tobacco overnight (as some have claimed they do regularly) is not smoking. It's standing near a bowl of burning leaves waiting for it to burn out.

 

[bryanf]

I never, ever dry out tobacco. Never have a problem keeping my bowl lit either. I pack most tobacco so it is spongy feeling in the bowl. I tend to just dip my pipe into my pouch and use one finger to scoop it in. Flakes, I pack tight, but still with a free draw. Usually break up flakes a little and fold and stuff them, or rub out completely. Totally different tastes depending on what I feel like. Tried cubing them, and works great, but I have only done it a couple times.. Tamp as I smoke with my finger.
Whatever works for you is great, but for me there is no question that dried tobacco smokes hot and therefore tastes bad. Straight out the pouch or tin for me.

 

[hodirty]

Glad to hear you are enjoying your pipe journey more! I'm almost at a year of smoking pipes, an It just takes time and patience to learn how to pack, puff, etc. I almost gave up many times, but stick with it and all will become clear to you. You get better every smoke, or so I believe. Thanks for sharing!

 

[wilson]

I rarely dry tobacco, but there are plenty here who do. They set some out under a desk lamp, or pack a bowl the night before (and sometimes do the charring light the night before), etc. It is good that you are finding something that works for you. Short of setting yourself on fire, there's not a lot of right or wrong: if it works for you and you are enjoying your pipe, that's what counts. I'd suggest that you not store too much at a time like this -- I'd be concerned that it would be bone dry and lose flavor if stored like this for more than a week?

 

[flyguy]

Grimreaper, if it works for you carry on! I always dry my tobacco if it is too wet. Smoking wet tobacco will steam your tongue big-time. Each and every one of us has developed a system. Most of us are still learning and tweaking our systems. I think it is great you have found a technique that works and you are enjoying this great hobby more!

 

[bryanf]

It's easy Roth. I never buy any tobacco from Samuel Gawith!!! Personally, I don't like paying for 50 percent water weight!
I find that all the gawith hoggarth, OTC pouch blends from any country, peterson, and dunhill blends that I prefer are always at perfect moisture levels from the get go. I have not tried any other blends in 5 years smoking, but soaking wet SG which I won't buy anymore because they are indeed to wet to smoke without drying.
Learning to smoke from an older Englishman might also have some influence on me...

 

[captainsousie]

Look, Grim, no matter what anyone else tells you, there is no "wrong way" and the only "right way" is what works for you. All the rest is "advice," which you can consider, apply or toss out as being of no use to you.

Well said. I'm in the dry it out camp as well. Why? Because too much moisture creates steam which not only hurts but destroys flavor compounds as well. Do what works for you and enjoy.

 

[thegrimpeeper]

Well thanks for the encouragement as well as the constructive criticism. I just take it that it is important to not let tobacco over dry in the tins ill have figure out a way I can seal them up if need to and that's actually good thinking. I just figured I'd smoke it sooner than later. But none the less I have notice that moist does mean more taste very often with PT. Maybe just the tin made the tobacco more excessable as well. I think I'll just keep them in closed tins and be patient but I still do think some air exposure does enhance my VAs like anni kake. Maybe it just in my head.

 

[irishjedi]

Well, I don't know how the only three PM Forums members who never dry their tobacco happened to convene in this one thread :nana:

Look, Grim, no matter what anyone else tells you, there is no "wrong way" and the only "right way" is what works for you. All the rest is "advice," which you can consider, apply or toss out as being of no use to you.

As a noob myself I'm gonna agree with rothnh, on this one...good words.
Mike

 

[cigrmaster]

I have 27 blends( all flakes) in my cellar and only 4 need significant drying time every time. Three are SG flakes and the other is Stonehaven. Once in a while I might get a tin of something that needs minimal drying but that is rare. I have found that if a flake gets too dry, it will burn hot and lose flavor. I used to dry about 5 other flakes in my cellar for maybe 30 minutes before smoking but tried them without drying and liked the flavors better. Even if a flake is a little too moist, slow smoking will cure any concerns of bite, better a tad moist than too dry in my opinion.

 

[moses]

However I think most of us do indeed smoke blends at times that need drying time.

Dark Star leaps to mind, lol

 

[pstlpkr]

Congratulations on the epiphany! :clap:
It seems to me that your "epiphany" is that moment when you begin to formulate and set your own ritual.

For me; when I'm looking to have a great smoke, I'll consider what tobacco I want to smoke, then select the perfect pipe for the tobacco and my mood.

Then comes my tobacco prep, then proper method of packing for that special blend, then.... the pizza-resistance!

The char and true....

Makes for a great smoke.

You are well on your way. :clap:

::

 

[moses]

Oh man, Lawrence... I really do think you're the punniest member of this forum. You would get along famously with an aunt of mine. :clap:

 

[pchitti]

Grim, after watching those videos I have to say thank you. I am enjoying my best bowl yet.