A gentle pack forgoes a relight, but...

[afiaowo]

In my very short time (less than a week) I've found that if I collapse the ash when the burn seems to be going out I don't need to relight. I do not press hard enough to repack of the unburnt tobacco.

Could my first pack be improved to forego the collapsing of the ash? If so, how?

Thanks.

[tedski]

Collapse the ash = tamping.

This is part of the normal routine of pipe smoking. As long as you are getting a good draw and not overheating the pipe then you are doing fine.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by tedski

Collapse the ash = tamping.

This is part of the normal routine of pipe smoking. As long as you are getting a good draw and not overheating the pipe then you are doing fine.

Tamping, is an important key, to properly smoking a bowl of tobacco.

Johnny

[Hoplophile]

If you have figured out how to tamp lightly enough to push the embers down without compressing the tobacco, you are way ahead of the curve... this is exactly what you should be doing.

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by afiaowo

In my very short time (less than a week) I've found that if I collapse the ash when the burn seems to be going out I don't need to relight. I do not press hard enough to repack of the unburnt tobacco.

Could my first pack be improved to forego the collapsing of the ash? If so, how?

Thanks.

I find the term "collapsing the ash" to be very appropriate. On my best packed bowls I don't need to do any more than set the tamper in the bowl and let the weight of the tamper do the work