Filling your bowl; the "Frank" method.

[Scott M]

Not OUR Frank, mind you...


An ongoing thread at Pipes.org discusses the "Frank Method" of filling a pipe bowl, and of course being a pipe newb, it's a big sticking point for me.

Link to videos auf Deutsch. (Sprechen Sie?)


Anyone tried this? Comments? Opinions?


I'm planning on some MacBarren vanilla cream this afternoon with this method, as I've tried the "3 layer" method with some spotty results. I'll post what happens. Just wanted to throw this out there for discussion.


S.

[galaga]

It's been years since I smoked a pipe, but looking around in the mind's cob webs, they way they were packing it wasn't my prefered method. When he picked up the tobacco with three finger and slightly compressed it, that is how I used to do it. Pre-form it before you get it into the bowl, not to much, not too little. Then to push it into the bowl, I used to actually crook my ring or middle finger to pack it into the bowl and finish the loading. Have the bowl resting in one palm and with the other hand bend one of those fingers into an upside down u and push the "plug" into the pipe. When we wanted to be "cool" we would do that with only one hand. The trick is to get the plug uniform and of the right density to draw air at the right rate. Leave a little space at the top of the bowl b/c the tobacco will expand a little. Think about how tight a cigar is packed and try to get the pack about that tight. Hey, pipe tobacco is fairly cheap so practice makes perfect. If it doesn't burn right, dump the bowl and try again. Hoipe that helps Bro.

[Scott M]

Well...can't say it was any better, (in a newish pipe) than the 3 layer method, but I contribute it to user error, (although I'll admit that I've been wrestling with the MacBaren since day one... well, more than the others).




Scott"pluggin'away"M

[IHT]

that's solid tobacco, i'm about half done with my tin.... just wish this POS Nording i have been using to smoke it would work better (that's why my buddy gave it to me - it smokes like crap).

i read that topic somewhere a month ago.... i believe. i don't have time to read it now, but i think it may be similar to an old article i read in pipe and tobacco magazine from 2001???

can't check, i'm out of town right now.

[Da Klugs]

Watched the video. Used the gravity then three finger and side pressure fill. From a newbs perspective it smoked much better than the past 4-5 nights experiences.

Honestly, I was just grabbing and packing the bowl tight. Smoked ok but was always too hot and tongue twangy.

This made the smoke much cooler and the experience much more enjoyable.

GL Peace Ravens wing. Pretty darn good.

Thanks Madurofan.

[madurofan]

I've used the "Method". Found it takes too much time and dosen't seem to add any extra enjoyment to my smoke . Whatever method you use to pack your pipe a little practice and feel will go long way.

[cameroncouch02]

I think we should get IHT to make an instructional video in English IMO.

[Scott M]

In the pipes.org thread, there's a video in English, (well, it sounds a bit Welsh actually). I needed to download DivX to play it, but it was easier to understand as mein Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut. Can't hook ya'll up with the link while I'm at work.... flippin' IT gestapo.

[croatan]

Originally Posted by Scott M

In the pipes.org thread, there's a video in English, (well, it sounds a bit Welsh actually). I needed to download DivX to play it, but it was easier to understand as mein Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut. Can't hook ya'll up with the link while I'm at work.... flippin' IT gestapo.

Is this it?
http://oege.ie.hva.nl/~berg6p/franck.avi

[Scott M]

I think so...can't view that here at work either. So it's either the video mentioned above or some kind of foreign ****.

[floydp]

I don't know about the Frank method but I did stay at a flea bag motel last night.

[galaga]

Originally Posted by floydp

I don't know about the Frank method but I did stay at a flea bag motel last night.

Did you use the Frank method.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

What a magilla!

[Neuromancer]

OMG...I just smoked two bowlfuls of the most perfectly packed pipes I've ever had...I saw a post on another board mentioning the Frank method of packing and found the threads on it...also found a Danish(?) video showing how it's done and watched it a few times...it's not that difficult to master, really...the first time I attempted it I was able to do it twice (2 smokes) with no problem whatsoever...it was fantastic...both bowlfuls smoked dry and cool with no bite, stayed lit the entire way down with only occasional tamping and smoked completely to the bottom of the bowl with no trouble at all...I doubt if I will ever go back to the old way of packing with the exception of maybe flake tobacco...it probably also helped that I was smoking a new tobacco for the first time that I found to be absolutely fantastic, C&D Pennington Gap...what a great evening with my meerschaum! This is what pipe smoking is all about...here are links to the threads regarding this...also a link to the Gary Pease post about breath smoking which I've know about for a while, and a link to an article in English with photos and an explanation of this method...

Thread 1: http://forum.pipes.org/cgi-bin/discu...6642#POST16642

Thread 2: http://forum.pipes.org/cgi-bin/discu...2199#POST52199

Thread 3: http://forum.pipes.org/cgi-bin/discu...4415#POST44415

Rethinking Pipe Packing Post: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze43wza/franck.html

Pease Post: http://www.glpease.com/Articles/BreathSmoking.html

[Alpedhuez55]

I tried the Frank Method last night. I think I got it right. THe bowl seemed to have an easier draw than usual, but it burned nice and even. I will try it again soon.

[LSU Tiger]

I tried it today, and I must say it was a better smoke. Not something you could easily do anywhere, but definately worth the extra trouble!