Filling your bowl; the "Frank" method.

[12stones]

I'll have to try this just to say that I have. I haven't had much luck with the APM method either though. Anyone got a video on that one?

[IHT]

we should call you two either "Bruce.C" or "Mr.Bruce"... ppl thought that coppertop and I were bad at posting back to back...
lol.

[Demented]

I've tried this with a couple blends in different pipes, the pipe breaths better, the tobacco seems to burn better and somewhat cooler.

It seems the flavor of the tobacco is different when the pipe is filled by this method as well.

[kjd2121]

I think that was Arnold Schwarznegger in the video. Sounded kind of like him.

Thanks for posting the vid - It helps to see what's going on.

I'll be BACK -

[12stones]

I tried this yesterday and had a lot of success with it. The bowl burned more evenly, stayed lit better (I only had one relight) and tasted great. I can't say that I noticed it burn any cooler than usual, but I'll definitely be trying this method again.

[gvarsity]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought the Frank method was primarily for competitive endurance smokers trying to get the longest possible smoke out of certain amount of tobacco. I'm sure it works for general purposes as well but may be more trouble than it's worth for a causual smoke. I pack like my dad did. Insert pipe into tobbacco container use index finger to curl in the tobacco into the bowl. Found a little "touch" is all that is needed to pack a cool smokable bowl.

[12stones]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought the Frank method was primarily for competitive endurance smokers trying to get the longest possible smoke out of certain amount of tobacco. I'm sure it works for general purposes as well but may be more trouble than it's worth for a causual smoke. I pack like my dad did. Insert pipe into tobbacco container use index finger to curl in the tobacco into the bowl. Found a little "touch" is all that is needed to pack a cool smokable bowl.

Don't know if that's the case but didn't find it to be all that much more trouble. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to do it.

[gvarsity]

I haven't tried it yet myself. Just when I was reading about the method I kept running into competitive pipe smoking pages.

[stig]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought the Frank method was primarily for competitive endurance smokers.......

There is a such thing as competitive endurance smoking?

[F. Prefect]

Well I spent probably 45 min downloading the 3 videos on dialup and it does without doubt have it's advantages. I wasn't about to use a torch but after I got it lit (on the first attempt) it was the only time the lighter was needed. A little dottle left, but I was smoking an aromatic, (Habana's Trout Stream) so it was a very consistant burn.

The only downsides I can think of is that it's not the best method if you only wanted a 15-30 min. half bowl smoke. I don't see anyway around fully filling the pipe. But I guess there's always DGT. Another very minor drawback, depending on what type of container you have the tobacco in, it can be a little messy. But a good deal of that could be attributed to the smoker.

I was skeptical from the beginning, but by golly it seems to work very well.

F. Prefect

[IHT]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

I haven't tried it yet myself. Just when I was reading about the method I kept running into competitive pipe smoking pages.

you probably kept getting "competitive pipe smoking" because that's how most ppl pack their pipes in those... it works.
2 grams of pipe tobacco lasts them over 2 hours.

i mildly attempted my own version of packing a pipe like that, and i can easily see why ppl do it that way. it was easy, smoked better, better flavor, lasted noticeable longer lasting, etc, etc.

stig, yes, there's competitive pipe smoking tournies. a lot of pipe shows have contests as well, but in europe, they are serious about it, have rules, and have a judge sit at your table and watch your every move.

[F. Prefect]

Am I miscalculating or does 2 grams equate to approx. .07 oz Rather amazing. If that's the case, we pipe smokers shouldn't EVER be complaining about the cost of an ounce of tobacco.

F. Prefect

[Bruce]

Thought the amount is 3 grams.
I was talking to Larry Roush today, and he brought up the fact that guys burn bowls out during smoking contest. Says this is very common, and that guys who enter never use a good pipe because of the frequency of burn outs. He also said if you ever attend one of these events, you can always smell burning briar, something that apparently not too pleasant!

[IHT]

how do they burn them out if they barely keep them going the entire time?
is it because they burn them all the way down to the bottom?

at the KC pipe show, you get a brand new pipe, everyone gets the same style, and they also furnish you with the tobacco.

i always thought it was 2 grams, but it may be 3... i'll have to look it up.
found the article.

http://www.pt-magazine.com/backissue...001/story1.asp
ah, it states 3 grams

[SUOrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by IHT

how do they burn them out if they barely keep them going the entire time?
is it because they burn them all the way down to the bottom?

at the KC pipe show, you get a brand new pipe, everyone gets the same style, and they also furnish you with the tobacco.

i always thought it was 2 grams, but it may be 3... i'll have to look it up.
found the article.

http://www.pt-magazine.com/backissue...001/story1.asp
ah, it states 3 grams

That was a great read. Thanks!

Now I just need 2-3 hours of free time to give it a try. I started pipe smoking because I could put the thing down and come back to it later for goodness sake!