Preferred method to smoke flakes

[Quick_nick]

I recently got a tin of penzance, Vanilla Cream Flake, and Rum Flake. I have read a few different methods but I was think if you all could post your favorite methods. That will help me alot as I have never smoked a flake before but really wanted to try it.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Quick_nick

I recently got a tin of penzance, Vanilla Cream Flake, and Rum Flake. I have read a few different methods but I was think if you all could post your favorite methods. That will help me alot as I have never smoked a flake before but really wanted to try it.

Personally, I usually like to rub my out fully. Just put a flake/chunck in the palm of one hand and act like you are making a ball out of silly putty. Do this over and open newspaper as some will fall out of your hands.

Otherwise, you can fold a flake and stuff it in your pipe (fold it in such a way as it will fit into your pipe) - not too tightly. And then, put a little rubbed out on top to help get the burn going - unless you have a bit sticking out on top that you can fluff up to get the burn started.

[SAjunidog]

I find penzance sized chunks (CC 07 is similar in a way) too small to simply stuff, so I always rub them out. Then again I usually rub all flakes out, but with penzance I really don't see how stuffing would even work. I'll only fold and stuff a flake if I've got time on my hands, since I find it requires more attention to get and keep going well. Then again, if you do it often you'd probably figure out ways to do it easier, so that might not be a problem for long.

[EvanS]

I prefer most of my flakes to end up fairly fully rubbed out.

Penzance on the other hand is not a true flake, but instead is a sliced crumble cake. When fairly moist you should be able to loosely fold and stuff. If you let it dry out first it will likely crumble into chunks if you try to fold it. I personally prefer Penzance in the in between state, dry enough to crumble some when folded but not so dry that it falls apart.
t's a great blend if you like Latakia...have fun trying the various ways.

[JAK]

I tend to alternate between the fold and stuff method and rubbing out my flakes. It just depends on the tobacco and my mood. Rubbing out the flakes is a little easyer for me, but I like the slow burn I get from the fold and stuff method.

[smokehouse]

Originally Posted by EvanS

I prefer most of my flakes to end up fairly fully rubbed out.

Penzance on the other hand is not a true flake, but instead is a sliced crumble cake. When fairly moist you should be able to loosely fold and stuff. If you let it dry out first it will likely crumble into chunks if you try to fold it. I personally prefer Penzance in the in between state, dry enough to crumble some when folded but not so dry that it falls apart.
t's a great blend if you like Latakia...have fun trying the various ways.

I like mine rubbed out.

I will agree with Evan on the Penzance. Its a whole different ball game when you fold and stuff it rather than break it up. Its tricky but worth it. Man now I got a taste for it. Its been awhile, I think I am going to have to get some soon.

[Davetopay]

9 out of 10 times I will rub mine out. Heck, I go through enough Bob's Chocolate that I will start the day by rubbing out 5 or 6 slices into its tin and just pull from that as if it were ready rubbed tobacco as i go through the day.

When I have time to just hang out at home, I sometimes like to fold slices as well.

[Mister Moo]

All these folder-rubbers above are giving you good advice. Mash it, rip it, crumble it, crunch it, shred it, fold it... whatever.

FINE POINT: I would add that many flakes, well rubbed, gnawed on or folded, tend to poof up when you smoke them. Beware to pack loosely and tamp gently until you learn the characteristic of the flake. A bit of a tight pack and expanding tobak can lead to a plugged up bowl. It is easier to tamp down gently on a lightly packed bowl than to unlock a plugged up pipe. That suggestion about a fine sprinkle on top will definitely make a flake-filled bowl easier to light, especially with a loose pack.

Having tried it both ways, I suggest starting with a light-ish pack and periodic gentle tamping instead of packing a rubbed flake like you might a normal ribbon.

[wharfrathoss]

i get different tastes depending on whether it's rubbed out or not, so i'd suggest trying all of the above to see what you like best-the happy medium for me has been to either slightly rub out or to use scissors to cut small pieces then gravity fill

[monsoon]

I tend to break apart a little bit of flake to sit in the bottom of the bowl vertically ... kinda like makeshift pillars ... & then stuff the rubbed out flake on top. This seems to privide a better burn for me & lets O2 get underneith the embers. This is how I've had the most luck with flakes & gives me less need to relight.

Or ... it may just all be in my head. Which is fine too ... there's lots of things in there so it shouldn't get lonely.

[JAK]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

All these folder-rubbers above are giving you good advice. Mash it, rip it, crumble it, crunch it, shred it, fold it... whatever.

FINE POINT: I would add that many flakes, well rubbed, gnawed on or folded, tend to poof up when you smoke them. Beware to pack loosely and tamp gently until you learn the characteristic of the flake. A bit of a tight pack and expanding tobak can lead to a plugged up bowl. It is easier to tamp down gently on a lightly packed bowl than to unlock a plugged up pipe. That suggestion about a fine sprinkle on top will definitely make a flake-filled bowl easier to light, especially with a loose pack.

Having tried it both ways, I suggest starting with a light-ish pack and periodic gentle tamping instead of packing a rubbed flake like you might a normal ribbon.

Good advice, when I first started with flakes I ended up with many plugged bowls

[RJpuffs]

Question, I just received my first flake (Mac B vanilla cream) - the flakes are really glued together. Will they come apart easier after drying a few days in the unsealed-but-closed tin? Or is it natural to have to hack shreds off it?


RJ

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by JAK

... I first started with flakes I ended up with many plugged bowls

Yes. I was once expert at plugging up bowls with flake then drawing hard enough to suck-start a Harley Davidson, as if... as if... as if a miracle would happen and the pipe would suddenly, somehow, burn magically and evenly and my cheeks would not implode and my tongue would not scorch. I had hard time right outta the chute with flakes but I got over it. Mercy.

Originally Posted by e'rat'

I tend to break apart a little bit of flake to sit in the bottom of the bowl vertically ... kinda like makeshift pillars ... & then stuff the rubbed out flake on top. This seems to privide a better burn for me & lets O2 get underneith the embers. This is how I've had the most luck with flakes & gives me less need to relight.

Another fine point. That little pillars thingie works well for me too - better burn and better airflow to the (never bitter) end.

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Question, I just received my first flake (Mac B vanilla cream) - the flakes are really glued together. Will they come apart easier after drying a few days in the unsealed-but-closed tin? Or is it natural to have to hack shreds off it?


RJ

Interesting question RJ. I have no experience with Vanilla Cream but with other flakes I have found that they can become more difficult to work with after they dry. Certainly feel free to experiment, as everyone is different and may be looking for a different result. But MY experience tells me to work the flake to the desired result while moist and then let it dry.

For certain tobacs some people will go as far as to rub out the entire tin upon opening.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by EvanS

Interesting question RJ. I have no experience with Vanilla Cream but with other flakes I have found that they can become more difficult to work with after they dry. Certainly feel free to experiment, as everyone is different and may be looking for a different result. But MY experience tells me to work the flake to the desired result while moist and then let it dry.

For certain tobacs some people will go as far as to rub out the entire tin upon opening.

Thanks, I'm going to try the first flake folded - if I can't make it work I may rub out some of it and try that out.



RJ