Getting an even burn...

[Sovereign]

For the life of me I can't get an even burn going. It always ends with a little bit going straight down the middle or around the edges, and I have to relight constantly. I pack using the Frank method and have tried using the torch, soft flame lighter, and matches. I've searched the forum and tried everything suggested, but the same thing always happens. What am I doing wrong?

[Waynegro1]

Does it happen to cigars you've purchased from a B&M and smoked right away? If not, it may be the climate of your humidor. Do you light and puff or toast and rotate? Are you lighting with the flame too close to the cigar?

[Dailong]

My suggestion would be to get a pipe with a small bowl, practice on that for a bit. It helped me.

Pham

[Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Waynegro1

Does it happen to cigars you've purchased from a B&M and smoked right away? If not, it may be the climate of your humidor. Do you light and puff or toast and rotate? Are you lighting with the flame too close to the cigar?

Wrong forum...lol

[Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Dailong

My suggestion would be to get a pipe with a small bowl, practice on that for a bit. It helped me.

Pham

I'll give it a shot

[Spongy]

It could be many factors: the tobacco is too moist, you have a bad smoking pipe, your packing isn't the best yet, etc.

What tobacco is it? Is it moist? What form is it (flake, ribbon, coin, shag, rope)?
Some tobaccos are way too moist to smoke immediately after opening the tin/baggie/pouch. Try leaving it sit spread out on a paper plate for 2 hours prior to packing the bowl.

What kind of pipe is it?
Some pipes suck, not literally, but they just don't smoke very well mainly due to poor drilling.

How are you packing it?
Frank method is fine, but if the tobacco is too moist, it won't matter how you pack it. If you're using the 3-tier method (child, mother, father), then it takes some practice to get the right feel. I've never done the "air pocket" style.

Are you tamping the tobacco gently after your first too lights (charring light and re-light)?
Tamping is overlooked by newer smokers (and takes practice). How else can the tobacco under what is currently smoking start to burn if it never comes in contact with the hotter embers to keep the first going? Gently tamp the expanded (tobacco will expand when you light it and it heats up) tobacco back down into the chamber - don't press too hard or you extinguish the embers.

[Senator]

Sounds like you may need to "tamp" a little more. And by "tamp" I don't necessarily mean tamping the ashes down (which you also should do by that way).

What I do when I want the surface to maintain an even heat/fire distribution is to very gently move the tamper around the surface (barely touching the ashes) while slowly puffing. This focuses the draft air on the unlit surface areas which draws the fire/heat. Essentially, you're directing the fire this way.

Best way I know of keeping an even light.

PS: If you're finding the fire only wants to go down the middle...place the tamper on the ashes in the middle of the bowl and lightly puff. By not allowing the fire in the middle of the bowl any air, it will force the outside of the bowl to light.

[Spongy]

That is a great way to do that, and what most people in smoking competitions do.

Also, what type of tamper are you using? I have been pondering the idea of buying my own dowel rods and cutting them to about 3.5 inches, with one end being at a slight angle to get the edges better.

[Sovereign]

Thanks for the input! The tobacco I've been using is stuff I got from the newbie swap thread, so it's fairly dry. Also, I tamp frequently, but usually when it goes out since it happens rather often. I will be sure to try the trick with moving the tamper around to spread the fire.

[Mad Hatter]

If you breath back through the pipe while smoking it will get and keep an even burn going even in a pipe that is not yet broken in.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Sovereign

For the life of me I can't get an even burn going. It always ends with a little bit going straight down the middle or around the edges, and I have to relight constantly. I pack using the Frank method and have tried using the torch, soft flame lighter, and matches. I've searched the forum and tried everything suggested, but the same thing always happens. What am I doing wrong?

The other guys posts cover everything (except the cigar tip!) but one more thing to consider is that you may be puffing too hard. Try sipping. If you draw too hard (especially if your pipe airhole is narrow/whacky) it will pull the burn straight down. You want it to simmer across the whole surface, try sipping small puffs - with a little blow-back, that helps keep the fire smouldering.

[DSturg369]

A good trick also is to lightly cover the bowl opening with your thumb while puffing. As you puff lightly but smooth and steady, move your thumb on and off the bowl, as to act like a bellows. This works good when the pipe is almost out and should save on a few relights.

[Waynegro1]

Sorry, fella's. Got in late last night, didn't pay attention.

[Ormonster]

Getting an even burn has been my major drawback so far but I'm getting better at it.. sometimes. hehe

I basically try a combination of what has been posted.. sometimes they work and other times not so much but it's been fun trying.

[RevZeek]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

A good trick also is to lightly cover the bowl opening with your thumb while puffing. As you puff lightly but smooth and steady, move your thumb on and off the bowl, as to act like a bellows. This works good when the pipe is almost out and should save on a few relights.

More than anything this (along with tamping) is what has helped me get consistent, even burns.