Moisture difference between different blends?

[EvanS]

hey all, I'm back again for another round of "Please answer the noob because he searched and did not find (or at least didn't understand)"

My question is on tobacco moisture content for immediate smoking. There are SO many different blends, cuts, types, ages and packagings of tobacco that it seems a little daunting to figure out how moist EACH one should be for the best smoke. Of course i don't have experience with more than a couple tobaccos...yet.

The question - for each person can there possibly be a level of moisture that will pretty much suit them for virtually ANY bowl they would smoke? If I find, by feel, what moisture seems to work for a couple of English blends would I be able to assume that this would be a good level of moisture to try and start with when I smoke my first VA, or my first oriental, or my first square cut, ribbon cut, cake, flake, etc?

I sure hope this makes sense. Of course i will figure it out eventually, and that's probably part of the fun, but a jump start would sure be nice.

BTW - with the 'baccy's I have I am really getting much better at my pack, light, staying lit and maintenance....thanks in large part to all of you. Rearin' ta go!!!!

thanks again

[Carbide357]

I think the moisture issue is personal preference and also depends on the pipe that you are going to smoke it in. I have a couple of pipes like my Peterson 999 that has a wider shallower bowl that i like a bit more moisture in my baccy with. It seems like it will dry as i smoke it but im a slow smoker.
If I want to smoke one with a deeper or conical shaped bowl I tend to let it dry out for 20-30 minutes prior to lighting it up. Moist tobacco in a deep bowl for me ends up being half a bowl of ash and the other half is tar pudding.

[livwire68]

Originally Posted by Carbide357

I think the moisture issue is personal preference and also depends on the pipe that you are going to smoke it in. I have a couple of pipes like my Peterson 999 that has a wider shallower bowl that i like a bit more moisture in my baccy with. It seems like it will dry as i smoke it but im a slow smoker.
If I want to smoke one with a deeper or conical shaped bowl I tend to let it dry out for 20-30 minutes prior to lighting it up. Moist tobacco in a deep bowl for me ends up being half a bowl of ash and the other half is tar pudding.

I think it a combo of what you like and how the pipe consumes it. I prefer mine on the drier side. Seems like I have to tend less often.

[EvanS]

great - so far this is what I have been finding. I also like mine a little on the dryer side. And Carbide, I also seemed to notice that a deep narrow bowl works better for me when somewhat more dry.
So there is no rule but still some things to pay attention to!!

Now given all that, if I find a moisture that I like for a pipe would I be pretty safe to run ALL tobaccos at that general moisture or are some better more moist just because that's the way they are meant to be (taking into account personal preference, of course)

thanks again