How say you on tamping if gravity packed? Does blend\pipe style make a difference?
Type Of Pipe Paired With Tobaccos
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Bilge! I say, Bilge!
Although you may be one of those blessed with a palate brighter than the dark side of the moon, in bloom, and in which case you will be able to discern flavors from different pipe mediums, and you will also be able to argue the fine points of which tobacco prospers most in which medium and in which pipe, since you are just starting out, why not simply load a pipe and smoking it with all your sense attuned to the smoke? These cogitations will not serve you until you've established a baseline of experience. You need to experience smoking to be able to discern its finer points.
Although you may be one of those blessed with a palate brighter than the dark side of the moon, in bloom, and in which case you will be able to discern flavors from different pipe mediums, and you will also be able to argue the fine points of which tobacco prospers most in which medium and in which pipe, since you are just starting out, why not simply load a pipe and smoking it with all your sense attuned to the smoke? These cogitations will not serve you until you've established a baseline of experience. You need to experience smoking to be able to discern its finer points.
If the pipe is tall and narrow, you'll probably need to tamp a few times, maybe halfway down the chamber to get it going.
If the pipe is shallow and wide, I'd pack it a little tighter.
You say blend, you probably mean cut. A ribbon cut or a broken flake is easy, just shove it lightly in. Tap the bowl as @chasingembers says. Other cuts like flakes or coins are different and there are multiple threads covering the subject.
I get your point and find no reason to disagree. I really was curious about others experience with various blends in various pipes.
I concede pipe style and cut of different blends.
Corn Cobb Pipe is my only cube cut, but I like it better than ribbon I think.
I haven't had those. They seem to be american specialties.
My bowl of Maltese Falcon is very pleasant in the Charlestowne Cobbler fwiw.
Absolutely. Why it's acceptable to offer any other advice for a struggling or newer smoker always baffled me. You can always tamper if too loose, you can always add moisture if too dry, and you can always relight.
I just wish someone told me that before I had to figure it out for myself lol.
IN the pond, really. The Faroe Islands, Norway on my right, Newfoundland on my left.
@chasingembers , any input on the meer lined Rattrays for me?
I have some things on my on line radar and hope to visit a BM tomorrow. Don't know where that might lead.
I have some things on my on line radar and hope to visit a BM tomorrow. Don't know where that might lead.
Awesome! Something I enjoy about the internet is conversation with folks who are far away from myself.
I buy pipes based on what tobacco I am going to smoke. Since I smoke flakes and plugs 99% of the time, I buy pipes that I know will make the tobacco taste great because of the technical criteria I stick to on my pipes. Almost all of my pipes are group 4-5 with a few 6's mixed in.
For example a basic group 5 pipe has dimensions like these. Bowl height 2.0", inside bowl depth 1.5", inside bowl width .75-..90. I like a pipe that is 5.0=6.5 in length and weights of around 40-60 grams. I fold and stuff all my flakes and these dimensions work great almost all the time. A few of my flakes they are wrap arounds and those can be a little tricky. Plugs I cube cut and pack them so there is some resistance and a bit of moisture. All of these criteria took years to figure out and yes I butchered plenty of bowls. I now never light a pipe until I check the draw. If it is too tight, I run a pipe cleaner through it and that usually opens it up just fine. If it is too loose I just tamp down some. Yes there have been times when it is way to tight and I have to start over again, but that is a rare occurrence .
All of my pipes except 2 are all classic shapes like Billiards, Apples, Dublins, Brandy's, Rhodesians, Bulldogs, Lovats and I think that is it. My collection could be called boring, but these pipes smoke my flakes great and I like the way they look as well. There are probably more shapes I dislike than there are that I do like. Here are a few of classic shapes I really like.
Here are is a Jack Howell Billiard
Here is a Rad Davis Rhodesian.
Here is a Larrysson Dublin.
For example a basic group 5 pipe has dimensions like these. Bowl height 2.0", inside bowl depth 1.5", inside bowl width .75-..90. I like a pipe that is 5.0=6.5 in length and weights of around 40-60 grams. I fold and stuff all my flakes and these dimensions work great almost all the time. A few of my flakes they are wrap arounds and those can be a little tricky. Plugs I cube cut and pack them so there is some resistance and a bit of moisture. All of these criteria took years to figure out and yes I butchered plenty of bowls. I now never light a pipe until I check the draw. If it is too tight, I run a pipe cleaner through it and that usually opens it up just fine. If it is too loose I just tamp down some. Yes there have been times when it is way to tight and I have to start over again, but that is a rare occurrence .
All of my pipes except 2 are all classic shapes like Billiards, Apples, Dublins, Brandy's, Rhodesians, Bulldogs, Lovats and I think that is it. My collection could be called boring, but these pipes smoke my flakes great and I like the way they look as well. There are probably more shapes I dislike than there are that I do like. Here are a few of classic shapes I really like.
Here are is a Jack Howell Billiard
Here is a Rad Davis Rhodesian.
Here is a Larrysson Dublin.
Excellent post! Highly regarded, thanks!I buy pipes based on what tobacco I am going to smoke. Since I smoke flakes and plugs 99% of the time, I buy pipes that I know will make the tobacco taste great because of the technical criteria I stick to on my pipes. Almost all of my pipes are group 4-5 with a few 6's mixed in.
For example a basic group 5 pipe has dimensions like these. Bowl height 2.0", inside bowl depth 1.5", inside bowl width .75-..90. I like a pipe that is 5.0=6.5 in length and weights of around 40-60 grams. I fold and stuff all my flakes and these dimensions work great almost all the time. A few of my flakes they are wrap arounds and those can be a little tricky. Plugs I cube cut and pack them so there is some resistance and a bit of moisture. All of these criteria took years to figure out and yes I butchered plenty of bowls. I now never light a pipe until I check the draw. If it is too tight, I run a pipe cleaner through it and that usually opens it up just fine. If it is too loose I just tamp down some. Yes there have been times when it is way to tight and I have to start over again, but that is a rare occurrence .
All of my pipes except 2 are all classic shapes like Billiards, Apples, Dublins, Brandy's, Rhodesians, Bulldogs, Lovats and I think that is it. My collection could be called boring, but these pipes smoke my flakes great and I like the way they look as well. There are probably more shapes I dislike than there are that I do like. Here are a few of classic shapes I really like.
Here are is a Jack Howell Billiard
Here is a Rad Davis Rhodesian.
Here is a Larrysson Dublin.
Edit: love the looks of the Howell. I like the pitch or Kant(?) of it's bowl.. something else of interest to me. I think the Bings Sav should be tilted a bit more.
Ok. Here’s my take. From someone who smokes mainly one blend through a dozen pipes. My best smoking pipe is a basket. Now hold on
Before the mob forms, hear me out.
The only reason the basket is my best smoker, is because I know this pipe so well and I know my tobacco so well. That’s it.
In other words, when you constantly change pipes and you constantly change tobaccos you are introducing variables.
Any pipe can smoke beautifully, even a pipe with a “known” flaw, if you will spend some time to learn just how it smokes.
In other words, no surprises.
Therefore, I don’t believe one type of pipe smokes a particular type of tobacco “better” than another. Spend enough time with either or both and you’re there.
Before the mob forms, hear me out. The only reason the basket is my best smoker, is because I know this pipe so well and I know my tobacco so well. That’s it.
In other words, when you constantly change pipes and you constantly change tobaccos you are introducing variables.
Any pipe can smoke beautifully, even a pipe with a “known” flaw, if you will spend some time to learn just how it smokes.
In other words, no surprises.
Therefore, I don’t believe one type of pipe smokes a particular type of tobacco “better” than another. Spend enough time with either or both and you’re there.