Who uses "Frank Method" to pack thier pipe??

[pipemike]

Just finished a smoke using the "Frank method" to fill the bowl. Worked out really well the number of relights was cut in half. Anyone else use this method?

Just wondering

[SidRox7]

Interesting... just watched the vid and I will give it a try tomorrow.

[KevinV]

I do when I have the space to work with. If I'm just digging down into a jar I tend to do the gravity fill then a modified Frank. I too find it to burn better and require less relights.

[blackop555]

i do the original frank method. massaging the tobacco down and i also use the one i belive on youtube where you make it just right and push it down. to color my meerschaums i do the air-pocket method. I however only use the gravity method when im out and about unless i have those pouches that some tobacco comes in that wraps around itself because that makes a little table for me to do the frank method. I do not do frank method on my meerschaum because you will get tobacco on your pipe and the juices from it on your hands and i dont want it to color meerschaum uneasily so it takes awhile to clean off. the frank method is an amazing method.

[RJpuffs]

I use it often, but some blends are a pain to "massage" in (or flakes, that I prefer to fold 'n stuff). It does fill the bowl perfectly, giving a consistent and great burn all the way down to the bottom.

[dup]

I use it and it works great. a little tough when you smoke outside without a place to prepare it...

[Mad Hatter]

Not me. The few times I tried it didn't work so well. Usually I use the gravity fill, tamp, top off and light method.

[commonsenseman]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Not me. The few times I tried it didn't work so well. Usually I use the gravity fill, tamp, top off and light method.

Same here. I have used other methods, fold-n-stuff, frank, etc, but the good ol' gravity fill seems to work best.

[Pipe Organist]

I gave it a try when I was running into the age-old problem of bowls burning a cone down the middle leaving unburned tobacco all around the sides of the bowl and being unable to smoke bowls all the way to the bottom.

The result was not very satisfying. It was a lot of fussing and fooling about, and turned a pleasure into a chore. And the pipes didn't smoke any better for all the work.

The problem was I was over-thinking the packing and lighting routine. I broke the cycle by just packing and lighting with the gravity fill and finger-tamp method I've used for years, without thinking about it too much.

There is a series of videos on the Frank method that advocates using a torch-style lighter, aimed directly down on the top of the tobacco. I've read recently on a pipe-maker's site a warning that these lighters are not intended for pipe smoking, and you can permanently damage a pipe with one if you're not careful.

Just my 2 cents.

[blackop555]

to light my pipe i char the tobbaco to what i think is 75% charred. i then tamp and light just around the edges. tamp light again and light around edges again tamp then a quick hit again. i dont focus lighting middle because no matter what.. the middle always burns. frank method takes more to get lit but usually stays lit better and you need less lights. its a little more tricky to tamp tho.

[RJpuffs]

Frank "fill" yer pipe - don't Frank "char" it!

Just use a normal butane, zippo, or even matches (my preferred ignition medium, wind permitting).

Torches are for use along with pitchforks at election time.

[Hendu3270]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Not me. The few times I tried it didn't work so well. Usually I use the gravity fill, tamp, top off and light method.

Same here.

[Hot Stuff x]

Originally Posted by Pipe Organist

There is a series of videos on the Frank method that advocates using a torch-style lighter, aimed directly down on the top of the tobacco. ...you can permanently damage a pipe with one if you're not careful.

That's why in the Frank Method video on youtube he makes a big deal about not using your torch lighter (called a "burner" in the video) for more than one second at a time, and also ensuring the lighter goes straight down to the tobacco, not aimed at the edges.

I've found the tobacco catches fire much quicker using the torch. Afterwords I use a zippo to maintain the light. The torch is also good for deep bowls (like my calabash) when you get towards the bottom...the zippo just can't reach down that far unless you really draw hard, and risk getting dottle up into the stem.

[blackop555]

got to have good coordination with a torch lighter. my older brother is no good with taht so he burnt the bowl on his

[RJpuffs]

One important factor for the Frank-nay-sayers is ... the trick is to create a "plug"; i.e. all insertion pressure must get toward the MIDDLE of the bowl - NOT DOWN. The massaging is to push the tobacco strands into the MIDDLE, where they knot together and get moved down as part of the process. Never push DOWN in Frank-filling. This leaves air space around the sides, and when massaged properly, the entire bowl is of exactly the same consistency. The burn (and flavor) will be perfect top to bottom, no tamping is required (unless it goes out, or you reach excessive moisture at the bottom, etc). The air space coupled with a good cake, will draw the burn evenly around the entire bowl surface - it will not do the "cone" burn that most noobies encounter. You will even notice the ash tends to form toward the middle, leaving a visible gap around the circle (and cake), and wisps of smoke with trickle out wickedly.

You can get similar results by taking a handful of baccy and rolling it into a ball between your palms. Then flatten it a bit to the bowl size/shape, cut/trim of excess, and simply insert the "plug" into the bowl. This is harder than Frank-filling, but the same logic applies. Try it, you will be surprised at the difference in burn when the entire plug is evenly pressure-formed.

The above being said, some blends burn/taste better when filled the "traditional" way. Try it all ways, run with what tastes the best!