The ship has sailed.....just finished my first bowl of Elizabethan Mixture (sans innertube) and it smoked just dandy. Loaded about 3/4 full and kept things cool and slow. One the guys in my pipe club is a big Dunhill guy and he mentioned that they really get sailing around the 20th bowl or so, I will take it nice and easy till then. Thanks again for all the advice and encouragment, Michael.