how often to puff?

[wharfrathoss]

noob question, i know-seems like if i puff often enough to get a good draw, the pipe burns hot-i know that the moisture level of the tobac affects the frequency, but is there a rule of thumb like w/cigars?-i'm smoking out of cobs if that makes a difference w/tobacs like rattrey's red raparee & black mallory, altadis' fox & hound, macbaren golden xtra mixed w/perique (different cobs for different varieties)-same thing happens if i 3step pack or frank pack

other than the pipe getting hot or going out, i'm really enjoying this pipe thing-it's finally made it possible to quit smoking cigs-thanks for the help guys

[American Psycho-Analyst]

I used to worry about this when I first began, but, of course, pipe smoking is meant to be a purely enjoyable thing, consequently: puff as often as you want. That is, sometimes you will be in a mood to puff frequently, at other times you will certainly, intrinsically, feel like slackening the pace. The worse thing that you could possibly do as a pipe or cigar smoker is to put yourself on some contrived puffing schedule.

[DubintheDam]

I still puff too much and too hot. But a couple of rules I have read are:

1. A few puffs every 5 to 15 seconds (very difficult to keep the bowl lit).

2. Puff on the pipe just as its about to go out.

3. Puff gently, small little puffs.

Although sound, I still find these rules difficult to apply, but instead use all of them when the bowl/smoke is getting too hot.

Hope that helps.

[Arizona]

There's a variety of factors that make it difficult to suggest a certain "pace" at which to puff your pipe...

The pipe itself - it's bowl size/depth, the tobacco and it's cut/moisture level, how the tobacco is packed in the pipe, etc

Each pipe may vary slightly and tobacco may vary a bit, just experiment with what "works" for you and ENJOY the smoking experience is all that really matters.

A long, smooth "sip" is how I generally smoke my pipes - with an occasional blowing "out" thru the pipe to move any moisture back down the stem. This also it seems to give some extra oxygen to the burning process. I may also give a half dozen or so puffs that are slightly more quickly paced also if I want to get the "coal" inside the pipe hotter.

Relax and ENJOY is the key to it all...

[caskwith]

Every smoke will be different, the worst advice that can be given is to puff often to keep the tobacco lit. While in a cigar it isnt a problem as a cigar will never burn your tobacco, a pipe will. If the pipe goes out, just relight, the important thing is to puff slowly so that you can fully enjoy the flavours and not scorch your tongue. I have had some smokes that smoke all the way down with one match, and others that have required 30-40 re-lights, the important thing was that i enjoyed boths bowls equally!

[DubintheDam]

Originally Posted by caskwith

Every smoke will be different, the worst advice that can be given is to puff often to keep the tobacco lit. While in a cigar it isnt a problem as a cigar will never burn your tobacco, a pipe will. If the pipe goes out, just relight, the important thing is to puff slowly so that you can fully enjoy the flavours and not scorch your tongue. I have had some smokes that smoke all the way down with one match, and others that have required 30-40 re-lights, the important thing was that i enjoyed boths bowls equally!

Reassuring advice Caskwith, as previously stated, I still tend to puff too hot. I find one of the easiest solutions is just to let her cool off for a while. I have read that too many re-lights can scorch the tongue and give a charcoal taste to the smoke. I have found this somewhat true. But I couldn't agree more, don't be afraid to let her go out.

The only fellow pipe smoker I knew here in the Dam advised me once commencing the hobby, "Always pack very tight and never let the pipe go out", this was advice from his grandfather, and he was in his fifties himself. Absolute balderdash!

[mr.c]

have you tried the air pocket method? http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...pocket+packing

also if you can afford to, invest in a better pipe. The addage you get what you pay for holds true. Getting a good pipe thats broken in and has a thin layer of cake in the bowl makes for an easier cooler smoke. You should be able to find a good estate SAVINELLI for under $30.00 to your door. A new one is only around 50 bucks a Iwan riess, so dont overspend at ebay.

http://search.ebay.com/Savinelli_W0Q...mZR40QQfrtsZ50

[EvanS]

great advice, all the above. Most important is the enjoyment, however you get there.

One thing that I seem to have fallen into is dong slight purge every so often. Just barely exhale thru the pipe. It seems to help keep a tough bowl lit without heating it as much as stoking by sucking.
I need to go read to make sure what I am talking about but I think I may have reinvented "breathe smoking".