Twist Help!

[BasketCase]

Hi all, having a nightmare getting twist lit! I've done a search of the forums, watched videos, and tried different methods and still can't get the pipe going. The main method I've tried involves cutting into coins, then cube cutting, rubbing out, and gravity filling then letting the pipe sit for a couple of hours until the top gets crispy. Tried it twice today and each time got so frustrated with relights after a couple of draws that I dumped and re-loaded. Finally I gave up with twist, loaded with Charatan First Bowl and happily puffed away.

FWIW my 'technique' for other cuts seems pretty good (ribbon, flake etc.), just this twist is escaping me! The twist is Gawith Hoggarth Black Bogie Twist.

Any secret methods known only to cognoscenti very gratefully received! Maybe I should leave the tobacco out to dry after cube cutting?

 

[mikefu]

Sounds like you’re not drying it enough. I’ve had the most success with cutting into coins and then rubbing out some into ribbons that I let dry (out spread thin, not in a pipe) then pack and smoke. It should smoke like any other tobacco if dried enough.

 

[karam]

Sounds like you’re not drying it enough. I’ve had the most success with cutting into coins and then rubbing out some into ribbons that I let dry (out spread thin, not in a pipe) then pack and smoke. It should smoke like any other tobacco if dried enough.

That. Try to cut it as fine a ribbon as possible, rub out and dry to a crisp.

 

[verporchting]

What they said.

I have good luck cutting thin coins then grinding it up with an herb grinder and drying it thoroughly before lighting with a stick match.

 

[ashdigger]

I use a cigar cutter. I dry the coins overnight.

 

[edger]

Dry,dry, and dry again. It will stay lit and if you sip, your tongue will thank you. Good luck!

 

[canucklehead]

Cut coins as thin as you can with a sharper blade, and fully rub out, like shag cut if possible. Dry thoroughly, not for a few minutes, but for up to a day depending on local climate. Pack it lightly, no three step BS. Good charring light over the whole surface, and last but not least, don't pack it down when tamping. Also, much easier to smoke and keep lit in a pipe with an open draw, like a cob with no filter.

 

[edger]

I tend to cut any pressed tobacco into chunks like tiny briquettes and don't pack down too much. This takes a few more matches, but maintains a good draw for sipping. Smokes cool too. 50 years of experience helps as well!

 

[F4RM3R]

Ya just dry it more, I usually set my flakes or cut up twist out before bed and in morning it's good to go. It will dry a little less if you put it in an open jar or cup and a little more if it's spread out thinly on flat surface.

 

[FurCoat]

View attachment 71725
I use a cigar cutter. I dry the coins overnight.

This ^^

 

[kcghost]

It sounds like the tobacco is still too wet. Just let it set out a little while longer.

 

[BasketCase]

Thanks all for your replies - will give the extra drying a go. Makes you wonder how they would have smoked this on ships, not sure tobacco left lying out would have stayed there for long.

Thanks again!

 

[karam]

Thanks all for your replies - will give the extra drying a go. Makes you wonder how they would have smoked this on ships, not sure tobacco left lying out would have stayed there for long.

Thanks again!

Gawith Hoggarth's 60s or 70s factory video shows the production of their twists, they mention they were popular with miners for chewing as smoking was prohibited and extremely dangerous in a coal mine.

 

[Chasing Embers]

were popular for chewing

And they are today as well. I regularly chew Black Twist XX.

 

[danimalia]

This ^^

Same. I use a cigar cutter on plugs, too.

Also feel it's important to mention that, in my experience at least, you're just going to have some relights with these tobaccos. Something about those Gawith dark air and fire cured tobacco makes them a bit less flammable than many other tobaccos. I just accept I'll have to relight every once in a while and smoke them when I'm ok with that (almost always).

 

[saltedplug]

I broke the tobacco down by hand , partially rubbed it out and then lit. No problems. Since pressed you would have thought this would have entailed extra lights, but it didn't. Puzzled.

 

[saltedplug]

Who cares about the number of relights anyway when these tobaccos will reliably light you up? Have you smoked black rope? A strange but dazzling array of flavors. Yo mama says: smoke that sh*t up!

 

[FurCoat]

Same. I use a cigar cutter on plugs, too.

Also feel it's important to mention that, in my experience at least, you're just going to have some relights with these tobaccos. Something about those Gawith dark air and fire cured tobacco makes them a bit less flammable than many other tobaccos. I just accept I'll have to relight every once in a while and smoke them when I'm ok with that (almost always).

I got an 80 ring to cut plugs. I agree Gawith can be hard to smoke at times. I took @BROBS advice and dry it until it's crispy...then I dry it some more. Flakes I dry for twelve hours, rub out and dry for twelve more. basically the same for plugs. Golden Glow is a different beast altogether. I swear you could throw a box of this stuff into the center of the sun and it won't burn. The shit must be coated in asbestos.

 

[BROBS]

And they are today as well. I regularly chew Black Twist XX.

Define “popular”

 

[anotherbob]

I find with hard to light compressed tobacco to really get it going on the initial light. Over light it. That's about all I found that seems to work.