What do you Think about Mesh Balls?
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No..absolutely not. No, no, no.
Dottle is fine, its going to happen.
If dottle bothers you, use the Frank method of packing.
Dottle is fine, its going to happen.
If dottle bothers you, use the Frank method of packing.
Try drying the tobacco out a bit more &/or not clenching (it might be saliva running down the stem).
If the little mesh balls work for you - great, but I don't think you should need them.
If the little mesh balls work for you - great, but I don't think you should need them.
When dottle happens knock it out in the yard. Consider it a tobacco offering like Native Americans custome.
Having dottle might be better than smoking all the way down and potentially burning out the bottom of the chamber. If you can smoke all the way down, great, but, if not, don't sweat it
I'd say a good 75% of my smokes end with a bit of dottle. It's no big deal. I don't consider it a waste, since I figure any tobacco that ends up in a pipe is as good as gone, and if I'm done with a smoke and there's a bit left, it still served its purpose.
They cost pennies, so marginally more than opinions. Try one and see if it works for you.
Maybe you're packing too tight at the bottom of the bowl? When I started years ago I found a pamphlet from the 1940's that said the first third of the bowl should be packed like a baby, the middle third like a woman, and the top third like a man.
There are also Nørding Keystones, which I think are clay, which you put in the bottom of your pipe to soak up moisture. I've never used them, but here's info:
PS Those old pipe smoking pamphlets are fun. There is some site that has a bunch of them along with old catalogs. Wish I could list it here but can't find it readily.
There are also Nørding Keystones, which I think are clay, which you put in the bottom of your pipe to soak up moisture. I've never used them, but here's info:
PS Those old pipe smoking pamphlets are fun. There is some site that has a bunch of them along with old catalogs. Wish I could list it here but can't find it readily.
Ah yes, now I remember, dottle. and gurgling, pipe cleaners, filth, muck, gunge.
cursing and desperation.
Happy memories.
Seriously though, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stick at it, you'll get there.
cursing and desperation.
Happy memories.
Seriously though, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stick at it, you'll get there.
There is a Biblical reference for this, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
Ok. First there needs to be made the obligatory reference to the habits of Sherlock Holmes on this issue.
In one story, Watson noted that Holmes’ first bowl of the day consisted of the leftover bits of dottle he’d knocked out and left on his mantle from the day before.
Aye. But surely mustn’t emulate all of the good inspector’s bad habits. Otherwise we’d become (even more?) misogynistic, cocaine-abusing violin players. And the world has had enough of coke and violins.
Secondly, a personal anecdote.
You’ve heard of people quitting cigarettes by filling a mason jar or soda bottle with some water and a week’s worth of butts. Then they open it, purposefully apply their olfactory sense, and find themselves so repulsed they never smoke again.
A few months ago I thought to myself, “Self, you have a wife and two daughters. Thus, you are broke. And not just broke. But broke in the most frustrating sense. For, ere you even make the next bit of money, a whole trove of clothes, Barbie dolls, and very expensive haircuts (which, incidentally, result in absolutely no discernible difference to your wife’s hair) have already laid claim to those funds. You should save where you can, and collect your bits of dottle in an old unused tin, then enjoy a mystery blend when the tin is filled.”
I replied, “Self, you really are a genius. A gentleman and a scholar. Well-endowed and Adonis-like in appearance. I’ll do it.”
(All lies.)
After about a week of doing this, I unscrewed the lid on said tin to add another plug. Well, that was a mistake. Unless you’re looking something called “Booty Blend,” I’d not recommend saving and stashing your dottle.
The end.
In one story, Watson noted that Holmes’ first bowl of the day consisted of the leftover bits of dottle he’d knocked out and left on his mantle from the day before.
Aye. But surely mustn’t emulate all of the good inspector’s bad habits. Otherwise we’d become (even more?) misogynistic, cocaine-abusing violin players. And the world has had enough of coke and violins.
Secondly, a personal anecdote.
You’ve heard of people quitting cigarettes by filling a mason jar or soda bottle with some water and a week’s worth of butts. Then they open it, purposefully apply their olfactory sense, and find themselves so repulsed they never smoke again.
A few months ago I thought to myself, “Self, you have a wife and two daughters. Thus, you are broke. And not just broke. But broke in the most frustrating sense. For, ere you even make the next bit of money, a whole trove of clothes, Barbie dolls, and very expensive haircuts (which, incidentally, result in absolutely no discernible difference to your wife’s hair) have already laid claim to those funds. You should save where you can, and collect your bits of dottle in an old unused tin, then enjoy a mystery blend when the tin is filled.”
I replied, “Self, you really are a genius. A gentleman and a scholar. Well-endowed and Adonis-like in appearance. I’ll do it.”
(All lies.)
After about a week of doing this, I unscrewed the lid on said tin to add another plug. Well, that was a mistake. Unless you’re looking something called “Booty Blend,” I’d not recommend saving and stashing your dottle.
The end.
I've tried them a few times and they work great, but for the price there are better options: https://www.amazon.com/Acurel-LLC-Economy-Activated-Pellets/dp/B000YIWT0M/
I fill the bottom of every pipe with Activated Charcoal pellets. At one point I cared enough to wash them off but now I just blow into the pipe after loading the charcoal to get rid of whatever loose dust there might be.
I expect any tobacco left wet in a jar would spoil, dry it and then stove it in batches for good measure.
Not that I expect it to taste good when there's bound to be ash mixed in, but to at least make something smokable shouldn't be difficult.
Or you could pick up cigarette butts off the street and empty those out
Well quoted brother.
Paul was a good man. Fidelity and bravery such as he had, has never been repeated, I think.
or you can do what I do which has reduced my dottle tremendously. You gravity fill the pipe and only press the tobacco in the top third.
Basically how I do it. I fill the pipe to the top, push it down and fill it again… push it down and ready to go.
I've wondered how the drying process of putting it on the mantle would effect the dottle.
it's like the best packing technique is the most simple basic one.