Tips on Packing Bone-Dry Tobacco?
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I can't offer comparative advice as such - I just gravity feed and avoid getting it "powdery" when I handle it if it's ribbon cut, for example. May compress it a hair as I feed, depending, but not much. And I am careful getting the pipe lit because it seems like the really dry has those bits that want to go straight through the stem when I draw the first time, lol.
I think it depends on the tobacco. Most will tell you to gravity feed or pack very lightly, and with most tobaccos that is probably best even if it's very dry. But I smoke mainly straight dark burley--C&D's or 5 Bro's--and these types of tobacco, which come quite dry, smoke much better for me with a fairly tight pack. I prefer the tight pack with most shags.
Current indoor humidity here is 35%. I set some Winchester out to dry last night and by the time I got back it was extra crispy. I put some meer chips in the bottom half of my pipe and then drizzled in the tobacco, followed by a very firm press. It smoked beautifully in the 20° freeze. Keeping a hygrometer on the shelf is really handy for smoking pipe tobacco, it gives me feedback every time I smoke.
if i'm worried about it being dusty and 'running up the stem" I put some Three Sails in the bottom of the bowl, then load the crispy/dry tobacco. If I have a goodly amount of the totally dry tobacco, i have used some to mix with too wet tobacco and depending on the choices made, the mix can be a rewarding improvement.
If it is easy to get more of the same tobacco, can get another tin, open it up and combine the dry and the new in a jar and let the hydration balance out... lots of opportunities. if your bone dry dust was a virginia, consider mixing with a burley-based codger pouch for a custom blended VaBur...etc.
If it is easy to get more of the same tobacco, can get another tin, open it up and combine the dry and the new in a jar and let the hydration balance out... lots of opportunities. if your bone dry dust was a virginia, consider mixing with a burley-based codger pouch for a custom blended VaBur...etc.
Semois is bone dry, and it's recommended to pack it very, very tight. That works for me. I think the dryness of the leaf allows air flow. But that's a pretty stout leaf. If it's so dry that it's turning to dust, that's a different story, and I would try to rehydrate before smoking.
Thanks all. I generally like smoking dry tobacco. I just wanted to get some ideas and everyone has provided nice ones. It’s not the same as smoking tobacco the way it’s advised so I think the advice here has helped.
The only advice I have, is you will get bits of tobacco in your mouth when you test the initial draw. It's ok. Let it happen. Better than gurgle from too wet tobacco half way through.
I am one of those who can't smoke a tobacco that is too dry. Sorry.
Relatively moist, also smoking dry tobacco, but I try not to make it crunchy. As for the packing, if it is very dry, maybe the packing you can tighten a little more, if only by gravity, I prefer dry, relatively moist, but of course, not crunchy. Very dry and gravity packed, maybe slow smoking would be better. I mean, if it's tight, it's more difficult for oxygen to get in, by gravity there's more oxygen getting in, you know, more oxygen, more temperature. But this is just a personal opinion. Just a novice's opinion.
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Well, bone dry as a term is misleading. If tobacco were really bone dry, it would turn to dust on handling and loading.
Too dry - yes, same as "too wet"- both unpleasant smokes.
Too dry - yes, same as "too wet"- both unpleasant smokes.
Load with light pressure. Once it is lit, the heat will soften it up a bit. Use tamper to pack a bit tighter.
I do notice that it softens. I guess I mean that I let my tobacco get drier than is generally recommended. But once lit, it does soften.
Loose fill, tap pipe to settle. Repeat til full.
Fingers across top while exhaling a few times through pipe. Press pad of thumb across but not into bowl a few times.
Light, enjoy and tamp very lightly as you go.
It’s worked for me.
Fingers across top while exhaling a few times through pipe. Press pad of thumb across but not into bowl a few times.
Light, enjoy and tamp very lightly as you go.
It’s worked for me.
Dry the tobacco on a plate to eliminate excess moisture but not until it's bone dry. It should still be pliable. Fill the pipe the way you normally would and let it sit for a few hours or over night. The tobacco will equilibrate to the ambient humidity, which as dry as you're going to get it, but not be reduced to powder.