A couple of newb ?s

[nickajeglin]

I've been smoking aromatics in a corncob for a few weeks and have been having a hell of a time getting them to burn down to the bottom. First I was packing too loose, then too tight, now I'm starting to zero in on the proper packing, tamping, and smoking techniques. I recently acquired an estate briar and some petersen university flake and cleaned it (the pipe, not the tobacco), but still am having trouble. The center of the tobacco burns down to fine white ash but the edges just char a bit. Tonight I discovered that pushing them into the middle and relighting works, but I'm having trouble building cake.

First, The draft hole is situated towards the side of the bottom of the bowl. Is this part of my problem?

Second, there more nicotine in a natural virginia blend than in your standard cased aromatic? Cause that university flake sure puts a spring in my step.

Last, With the flakes I've heard of a folding technique, anyone care to elaborate? Do you just take a whole flake, fold it until it fits in the bowl and light 'er up?

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by nickajeglin

First, The draft hole is situated towards the side of the bottom of the bowl. Is this part of my problem?

Perhaps. But are you using matches and moving the flame over all the tobacco in the bowl?

Originally Posted by nickajeglin

Second, there more nicotine in a natural virginia blend than in your standard cased aromatic? Cause that university flake sure puts a spring in my step.

Oh yeah.

Originally Posted by nickajeglin

Last, With the flakes I've heard of a folding technique, anyone care to elaborate? Do you just take a whole flake, fold it until it fits in the bowl and light 'er up?

Mac Baren - How to fill a pipe

[nickajeglin]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

Perhaps. But are you using matches and moving the flame over all the tobacco in the bowl?

Yep, I can get the entire surface burning no problem, but after a moment, everything goes out except for the middle.

[Mitch]

Well, make sure your tobacco isn't wet. This makes a big difference.

[indigosmoke]

Dubinthedam has an excellent video on flakes you might want to check out.

YouTube - Flakes

[RJpuffs]

The "cone burn" is common with an unbroken-in pipe. The lack of cake contributes to this, as well as possibly drilling issues. In your case, as its an estate, it probably is due to the off-center airhole. A brave soul may try to repair it with a drill. Or not.

As for going out all the time, the fill is probably too tight or the baccy too wet. Try sprinkling REALLY dry baccy crumbs on top before lighting. These will char quickly on the false light - tamp around (never DOWN, always AROUND) to spread the ash. That should ignite the whole surface on the real light and should keep lit evenly.

[nickajeglin]

Excellent resources, thank you. Any ideas on how I could acquire a relatively inexpensive pipe with the hole in the proper place?

[nickajeglin]

Ahhhh. I just tried the method in the youtube video. Best smoke I've ever had. I let the flake dry out for a good half hour, and it burned almost straight down to the bottom. Just a little left over that was too soaked to burn. Thanks. I'm planning on trying the frank method with some of my aromatic burley later tonight.

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by indigosmoke

Dubinthedam has an excellent video on flakes you might want to check out.

YouTube - Flakes

That was inspiring! Where's that tin of Best Brown I was going to not open for a while...

[Griz]

Originally Posted by nickajeglin

Any ideas on how I could acquire a relatively inexpensive pipe with the hole in the proper place?

Well, isn't that the eternal quest?

I've had good luck with Savinelli seconds. They may not look pretty, but smoke very well.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by nickajeglin

I've been smoking aromatics in a corncob for a few weeks and have been having a hell of a time getting them to burn down to the bottom. First I was packing too loose, then too tight, now I'm starting to zero in on the proper packing, tamping, and smoking techniques. I recently acquired an estate briar and some petersen university flake and cleaned it (the pipe, not the tobacco), but still am having trouble. The center of the tobacco burns down to fine white ash but the edges just char a bit. Tonight I discovered that pushing them into the middle and relighting works, but I'm having trouble building cake.

To paraphrase my father:

"Good pipe filling technique comes from experience and experience comes from bad pipe filling technique."

As far as I can tell, anyone with the slightest interest in smoking a pipe will achieve, in less than 12-months, some degree of expertise. Fill evenly with properly moist tobak, compress evenly so the draw remains free before lighting, light the top fully and smoke the stuff. If only the edges burn, you mooshed the center too hard - if only the center burns you mooshed the edges too hard. In the end it all works out with a little thought, patience and a good forum to lean on.