Tobacco Sticking to the Walls

[ziv]

More often than not, I notice that tobacco pieces stick to the bowl walls, as if the center is burning faster than the perimeter.
Is this a packing error? lighting error? pipe error? all of the above? none of the above?
Thanks!

 

[Hillcrest]

Packing error easily corrected with the tamper and slowing down your cadence. Sip the pipe don't stoke it. just 2 cents.

 

[OzPiper]

More often than not, I notice that tobacco pieces stick to the bowl walls, as if the center is burning faster than the perimeter.
Is this a packing error? lighting error? pipe error? all of the above? none of the above?
Thanks!

That's where a tamper comes in
Tamp down the sides of the bowl to form a central "mound"
Use gentle pressure and take care NOT to compact the tobacco too much

 

[BingBong]

If you fold and stuff flake, it happens. I get my poker and run it round the outer, tamp all that down and relight, the late show.

 

[ziv]

Packing error easily corrected with the tamper and slowing down your cadence. Sip the pipe don't stoke it. just 2 cents.

Thanks! I'm trying to take it slowly but still need to improve my cadence, probably.

 

[ziv]

That's where a tamper comes in
Tamp down the sides of the bowl to form a central "mound"
Use gentle pressure and take care NOT to compact the tobacco too much

But that would mean scraping the walls with the tool - is that ok for the cake?

 

[ziv]

If you fold and stuff flake, it happens. I get my poker and run it round the outer, tamp all that down and relight, the late show.

I've only smoked ribbons so far.

 

[OzPiper]

But that would mean scraping the walls with the tool - is that ok for the cake?

I'm with those who don't like a thick cake.

Tobacco bits form a "loose" cake which may "look impressive", but do little for the pipe except clog up the chamber.

I clean out the chamber after each smoke with folded over cleaners or a scrunched paper towel. This leaves a very thin layer of hard cake, which is far more protective.
My preference is for a layer of @1mm

 

[didimauw]

I'm with those who don't like a thick cake.

Tobacco bits form a "loose" cake which may "look impressive", but do little for the pipe except clog up the chamber.

I clean out the chamber after each smoke with folded over cleaners or a scrunched paper towel. This leaves a very thin layer of hard cake, which is far more protective.
My preference is for a layer of @1mm

I've had cake pieces break off in huge chunks before. Leaving behind a wet/oily substance underneath.

Looked like cake, but not so much.

 

[bullet08]

It's normal. You just have to pay attention and tend the ember. Fire management is important. Only you can prevent pipe fire!

 

[Briarcutter]

That's where a tamper comes in

Spot on. Tiz the key my friend! Your tamper, never leave home without it.

 

[OzPiper]

I've had cake pieces break off in huge chunks before.

Looked like cake, but not so much.

Sponge cake

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

Sponge cake

I completely agree. When I first started smoking a pipe I remember reading somewhere to stir up the ashes at the bottom of the pipe after a bowl then cover the top with your fingers or palm and shake so that the ashes coat the bowl to speed the creation of the cake.

I followed that advice and it was fast cake formation and impressive looking. Later on the cake broke off in huge chunks like @didimauw said and I thought the wood was burnt underneath. Thankfully, it was only weak cake. It was awful to look at when it was lumpy and uneven like a black scab coating the inside the bowl.

What I do now is what @OzPiper said in his cleaning technique. There is only a very thin layer of cake in my pipes and I ream it with a pipe knife when necessary to keep it very thin and smooth.

 

[kcghost]

Yes, slow down you pace of puffing and use your tamper lightly to gently push down the tobacco on the outer edge.

 

[Sigmund]

There is no rule against lightly scraping it. Like BrightDarkEyes, I just take a kinfe and zip over it lightly. No worries.

 

[Sigmund]

It's normal. You just have to pay attention and tend the ember. Fire management is important. Only you can prevent pipe fire!

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Sounds like it's burning like it should.

 

[OzPiper]

If you fold and stuff flake, it happens. I get my poker and run it round the outer, tamp all that down and relight, the late show.

Folding and stuffing flakes is one of the more difficult techniques to master - one which I have NOT succeeded often enough.

I have better success rubbing out fully or cube cutting and gravity feeding

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Oh, I thought by the title that this was going to be a new tobacco moisture level test for newbies.

 

[crashthegrey]

If it is only burning the center chances are you are still smoking too fast, creating a heat center. Tamp those pieces in but slow your cadence and see what happens.