Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

BADS197 · 09-29-2008, 05:08 PM

Is there a difference?

I packed with flake today and smoked on it for a good 20 minutes and barely used 1/4 of the bowl.

Did I pack too tight?

How many "flakes" should I use to pack? or is that the wrong way to think of it? I used a 50g of University Flake (smoked nice while it was lit)

I did have to re-light several times during my smoking.

Confused,
jake

Rolando · 09-29-2008, 05:12 PM

Uh Oh. Did you say pack?

Countdown until Moo arrives in 10...9...8...

Rolando · 09-29-2008, 05:14 PM

Oh I guess I should have answered your question too...

Filling (aka Mooing) a pipe with flake takes a little getting used to. You probably did pack too tight or you may not have let it dry out enough which is common with flake problems.

BADS197 · 09-29-2008, 05:25 PM

Should I open the lid of the tin for a few hours and let it dry out a little?

BADS197 · 09-29-2008, 05:29 PM

The FAQ clearly states

;

[SIZE=6]Packing your pipe

[/SIZE]Although differing qualities of pipes and tobaccos will make a difference, you can take any pipe and smoke any tobacco in that pipe if you pack it right. It is true that better pipes and tobaccos smoke better, but if you have a pipe that is not varnished but has a carnuba wax on the finish and a tobacco that has no chemicals added then you are ready to go!

One thing about pipe smoking is to remember that a pipe is basically a filter! The pipe absorbs the moisture and disperses the heat; it affects the flavor and clarity of the tobacco. The tobacco is best enjoyed when moist and chemical free. That means no drug store tobacco! But the pipe is most important to enjoyment and a good or better smoke.

Having said all that, lets get to it! Pipe packing is basically a three step process.Step #1: Sprinkle the tobacco loosely into the pipe until it fills up to the brim. Note that I said sprinkle loosely and not pinch and put! This is one of the biggest problems with even guys who know how to pack their pipes! Sprinkle loosely until full and then poke it down until the bowl is half full. If you have a tapered bowl then you may wish to make it more like two-thirds. If you were to draw on the pipe there would be little if any resistance.

Step #2: Sprinkle loosely again until the bowl is full. Poke it down evenly until the bowl is three-fourths full. If you were to draw on the pipe there would be a little resistence; say less than a cigarette.

Step #3: Sprinkle loosely until the bowl is full and then round up the top so that a little mound of tobacco rests over the bowl. The mound should be less than a half inch tall and nicely rounded. Then poke it down flat and even with the brim of the bowl. If you were to draw though the pipe it would seem slightly less resistence than a cigarette. The pipe should be ready for the lighting!

Danielson · 09-29-2008, 05:51 PM

hope this helps http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=164482 there is a youtube video on this but cant remember the link

Mister Moo · 09-29-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolando

Uh Oh. Did you say pack?

Countdown until Moo arrives in 10...9...8...

(What can I say, Ro'lo? The man "packed" his pipe and now it won't stay lighted. The same thing happened when I packed my pipes with Escudo flake, too. Ta-DA. I rest my case.)

Sort of a stupid distinction I make, fill vs pack, Jake. But still, think, "Fill." Pack a lunch or a punch. Fill a pipe.

First few rounds with flake included a learning curve for me. It reminded me of suck-starting a Harley Davidson for a while. Flake may poof and badly plug up the works if it is too compacted. Try to rub flake out a bit then fill the pipe to the point where there is only the micro-nano-smallest bit of backpressure.

Light, char, polish gently, relight. Tamp gently as required - don't "pack" the stuff down.

Enjoy?

Jeepers, I hope so.

If not, I'll, uh, pack a bag. Heh heh.

RJpuffs · 09-29-2008, 06:41 PM

[SIZE=3]Incoming ... cattle![/SIZE]

With flakes, one has two choices for "moo-ing".

You can rub out the flake (essentially turning it into loose cut) and then moo your pipe the normal way (if such a thing exists).

Flakes are compressed, kinda the whole point of having a flake cut. When compressed thusly, the application of heat will result in each bit of baccy to puff back up to its original size. Therefore when moo-ing your pipe, don't moo it too tight when it comes to flakes - or else it will clog the bowl and be no fun. Flake cuts will burn considerably slower, and cooler, than a loose cut - although rubbing it out may negate that benefit.

The alternative is to fold-n-stuff the flake. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Depending on the size of the flake, and your pipe bowl, fold the flake in half lengthwise. If you have a narrow bowl (or a fat flake) then crease it into three equal segments. Don't allow the flake to separate. Then fold over twice or three times (even parts) so it will fit within the bowl (not stick out). Ideally, you want the "plug" that results to be a perfect fit in the bowl, it should be thick enough to slide into the bowl without any pressure, and not fall out (easily) if you invert the bowl. And it should NOT stick outta the top, even if it appears to be a half bowl its OK. No need to tamp, just push the plug in - there will be a pocket of air below and that is a good thing. Sprinkle some loose baccy (which falls off when folding) over the top - scorch and light the normal way. Once mastered, stuff-n-fold will give a (ridiculously) slow and (absurdly) cool burn. Careful when tamping, you don't want to push the whole plug down and clog the airhole - just move the ash around.

Fold-n-stuff takes practice and patience. I usually do this for flakes, unless a particular baccy tastes better rubbed out (FVF) or I'm too lazy to bother with it.