Packing your pipe

[dillonmcmurphy]

Still looking for the best packing method. I know that's kind of an odd thing to say since there's technically no "best" way, it's just what works best for you. But I'm fairly new to pipe smoking so do you guys have any suggestions and techniques for me? Thanks

[FrequenC]

Originally Posted by dillonmcmurphy

Still looking for the best packing method. I know that's kind of an odd thing to say since there's technically no "best" way, it's just what works best for you. But I'm fairly new to pipe smoking so do you guys have any suggestions and techniques for me? Thanks

Hey McMurphy,

I've found that the Frank Method works best for me, I'm sure others will agree as well.

Follow this instructional video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJP0JaNRw6Q and you should be well on your way. (Watch video's 1-3).

Cheers!

[dillonmcmurphy]

Thanks for the suggestion FrequenC. I have tried the Frank Method and it worked pretty dang well. Ill try it a few more times and hopefully get better at it. Practice makes perfect!

[wharfrathoss]

i just gravity feed the tobac into the bowl till it's full, tap the sides a bit to settle, & push down w/my finger just enough to keep the tobac from falling out if the pipe was upsidedown-if there's room left i do it again-it gives a nice loose pack

[Nutiket_32]

I use the frank method almost exclusively except for with some flakes.

[EDKsurly]

Thanks for the Frank videos

I just started smoking a pipe and Ive been packing it to tight. I'll try this method tonight and see how I do. I have a small bowl in my no-name pipe and thats why I might be over packing it but I cant wait to get my Big Ben (Presidential) I ordered from Frenchy.

[Arizona]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

i just gravity feed the tobac into the bowl till it's full, tap the sides a bit to settle, & push down w/my finger just enough to keep the tobac from falling out if the pipe was upsidedown-if there's room left i do it again-it gives a nice loose pack

This is just about exactly how I pack my pipes and they smoke great every time... loosely fill the pipe by gravity and shaking the pipe so it settles to the bottom and until you have a little heap of tobacco bulging at the top. Use your finger and GENTLY press this down til it's level with the top. (DO NOT smash it down - too tight of a pack is almost always the mistake new people make with a pipe).

Light the pipe and puff for a minute or so then tamp and relight and you've got a great smoke... Let us know how it goes.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by EDKsurly

...I just started smoking a pipe and Ive been packing it to tight...

Originally Posted by Arizona

GENTLY press this down til it's level with the top. (DO NOT smash it down - too tight of a pack is almost always the mistake new people make with a pipe).

And why do we all insist on doing this?

I know why. I was thinking about it in the car today. It's because we call the process of installing tobacco in a pipe "packing." Well, it's the wrong word and that's all there is to it. We should drop the word "packing" from the pipe lexicon. Packing is what you do with grease & bearings. You pack a suitcase which, as we all know, can be very hard to close because there is always too much smooshed in it. Packing cries out "stuffing" which is a nosehair away from clogging, jamming or cramming.

Don't pack your pipes anymore. Prime them. Nourish, prepare, initiate, fortify, steel, gather, gear up, boot, arrange, set, arm, equip, furnish, outfit, supply, draw or frame them. Do anything but pack them. Once your thinking is more correct so to will be the fit of the tobak in the bowl.

[Arizona]

Excellent point Mister Moo!

I'd suggest "load" or "fill" might be more accurate than "pack"...

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Arizona

Excellent point Mister Moo!

I'd suggest "load" or "fill" might be more accurate than "pack"...

Load and fill promote correct thinking.

You pack a mule.

[uncballzer]

Here's a link to one i posted about when I got started. There's a lot of variations on it that others have written about that work very well.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=132572

PS, Listen to Mr Moo, he's always got great advice.

[EDKsurly]

Good advice Mr Moo

I was pressing down on the tobacco fairly hard. Hard enough that the draw was tough and it barely stayed lit. I also burnt my pipe from constantly relighting it. Atleast Im learning my leasons on a cheap starter pipe.

[dillonmcmurphy]

Thanks alot for all of your suggestions guys. I'll try them out tonight!

[Arizona]

The pipe should draw with only a slight resistance when properly filled. When you apply a match to it the flame should dip down towards the tobacco easily as you draw on the pipe.

When smoking you "sip" the pipe gently in a long, slow draw.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by EDKsurly

I was pressing down on the tobacco fairly hard. Hard enough that the draw was tough and it barely stayed lit. I also burnt my pipe from constantly relighting it. Atleast Im learning my leasons on a cheap starter pipe.

OK. Cut that out. ALL of you. You all have just got to stop trying to cram 10# of tobacco in a 5# pipe.

Fillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the pipe.
Loooooooooooooooooad the pipe.

Like the man said, sip against (VERY) light resistance - practically no resistance at all. And all will be well.