The secret is not to tamp while the tobacco is alight :-D
I’m going to try this tomorrow but will use my thumb just in case
The secret is not to tamp while the tobacco is alight :-D
I struggle with smoking too fast/hot. Using my finger got me to slow down.Seriously lads, some of you have mentioned using their index finger as a tamper.
Quite honestly I wouldn’t mind not having to carry my tamper tool with me so how do you do it without getting burned? The less tools the better in my honest opinion and I’m one advocate for minimalism. Cheers!
Years ago, my summer job, while in college, was with the local Electric power company. I was on the Right-of-way crew which cut trees and cleared the pathway for new lines to be built and/or trimmed the trees back from existing lines. Of the six men on the crew, I was the only kid and three of them smoked pipes. I never saw a single one of them (nor my dad, back in the sixties) use anything but their index finger to tamp. Granted, they were used to heavy labor and their fingers were callused, but the key is speed. Just a quick tamp to lower that top layer of ash and you keep going. We get all detailed in how to pack and light and smoke and tamp, etc...... but back in the day, it was not labored over in such detail.Seriously lads, some of you have mentioned using their index finger as a tamper.
Quite honestly I wouldn’t mind not having to carry my tamper tool with me so how do you do it without getting burned? The less tools the better in my honest opinion and I’m one advocate for minimalism. Cheers!
Decades old calluses.so how do you do it without getting burned?
Nah, life's too complicated as it is. Just fill the thing and smoke it.We get all detailed in how to pack and light and smoke and tamp, etc..
Ahh ... smoking a pipe outdoors—the best. Invert the pipe to dump the excess ash, then use your pinky to tamp.Years ago, my summer job, while in college, was with the local Electric power company. I was on the Right-of-way crew which cut trees and cleared the pathway for new lines to be built and/or trimmed the trees back from existing lines. Of the six men on the crew, I was the only kid and three of them smoked pipes. I never saw a single one of them (nor my dad, back in the sixties) use anything but their index finger to tamp. Granted, they were used to heavy labor and their fingers were callused, but the key is speed. Just a quick tamp to lower that top layer of ash and you keep going. We get all detailed in how to pack and light and smoke and tamp, etc...... but back in the day, it was not labored over in such detail.
Just lightly touch your finger to the ash, quickly and move it away. Even with my tampers, I do it with my finger half of the time.
I always feel like smoking makes my coffee taste really weird. Do you find it alters the taste, but you just don't mind it?seriously without sarcasm..
1. Bic Lighter
2. Golf Tee (Tamper)
3. Soft and Rough Pipe Cleaners
4. Good Tobacco
5. Cup of Coffee
For me its the opposite. I find the coffee makes my pipe taste good. Kinda like a coffee and dessert or PB&J, or milk and cookie. I put cream and honey in my coffee although on occasion I drink it black. I always smoke in morning so coffee is a standard. Noting that I dont usually smoke VA or VaPer with coffee because the coffee interferes with me being able to taste what those offer. Bready, Grassy, Figgy, etc gets washed out with any drink for me. If anyone knows of a drink the accentuates VAs please share.I always feel like smoking makes my coffee taste really weird. Do you find it alters the taste, but you just don't mind it?
You may want to line it with wax paper. Brass can make the tobacco taste off.This showed up yesterday. I thought I’d spoil myself a bit. This is a nice brass box that has a real nice weight to it. Apparently the inside is going to tarnish because of the tobacco but I think I’ll just let go as is and see what happens. Some advice for the tin found in the product description is to line it with food grade carnauba wax , mineral oil, or simply keep the tobacco in a plastic bag. I’ve rubbed beeswax around the lid to improve the seal which doesn’t look great.View attachment 346531View attachment 346525
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Thanks I’ll take that advice.You may want to line it with wax paper. Brass can make the tobacco taste off.
You'd find a different story amongst symphony musicians, many of whom smoke pipes and/or cigars. They don't use their fingers to tamp, especially the string playersYears ago, my summer job, while in college, was with the local Electric power company. I was on the Right-of-way crew which cut trees and cleared the pathway for new lines to be built and/or trimmed the trees back from existing lines. Of the six men on the crew, I was the only kid and three of them smoked pipes. I never saw a single one of them (nor my dad, back in the sixties) use anything but their index finger to tamp. Granted, they were used to heavy labor and their fingers were callused, but the key is speed. Just a quick tamp to lower that top layer of ash and you keep going. We get all detailed in how to pack and light and smoke and tamp, etc...... but back in the day, it was not labored over in such detail.
Just lightly touch your finger to the ash, quickly and move it away. Even with my tampers, I do it with my finger half of the time.