How the hell do I do this?

[badwhale]

Ok, newbie alert.

I've recently got into smoking a pipe...a little....anyway, what's everyone's procedure for loading up a bowl and smoking it?

This is what I do, sofar:

I start by getting the tobacco into a broken up state. Some is already in that condition, others require some work in the palms, razor blades, etc. Then, I just start stuffing it in there with my thumb until it's about full.

Next, I fire it up with a torch lighter, while giving it a few drags to draw the flame down in. I usually get some billowing smoke at this point, and some strong shots of flavor.

Next, I go do whatever I'm going to do, like a walk with the dog. Very early on, I would puff the thing like it was going out of style, get a lot of smoke, and a lot of tongue bite and go till it's gone. Now, I try to puff sparingly trying to just keep it lit. This usually ends up with lots of relights during the course of the bowl. It tastes alright, but I'd like some pointers on keeping it going so I don't have to relight so much.

Lastly, when I get down to a "gurgling" point, I figure it's finished. However, I almost always have maybe a 1/4" of "good" tobacco left in the bottom of the bowl when I dig it out with a chec tool.

Does this sound remotely correct? Am I totally fucking up?

Will

[Eville]

After you light it, tamp it down while drawing on it. After that she should go until she's done.

[bigwhiteash]

My ritual is kinda like this:

Fill the bowl with prepared tobacco VERY LOOSELY, then gently press it down to about the half way point. Fill again and press a little harder until it's about 2/3 full, then top off and pack it down gently. You should have an easy draw.

I've used torch lighters, but they can easily scorch your pipe if you aren't very careful. I use a bic mostly. Light while taking small quick puffs until the entire top is glowing, take a few puffs, and let it go out.(called a false light, or charring light) Now use your tamper with just enough pressure to level the ashes in the bowl. The next light should keep it going with gentle regular puffs.

About half way through, tamp gently then dump the ashes out. don't tap them, just let them fall out. tamp again and relight if needed.

If at any time you start getting gurgling or excess resistance, run a pipe cleaner down the stem all the way to the bowl and soak up the goop.

I can usually get through a bowl with only two or three re-lights, but don't worry if you have to light more often.. You'll develop your own technique over time, this just works for me.

[Smoked!]

The way it was explained to me was to fill the bowl and tamp it down very lightly, as a child would. Next, fill the bowl again and tamp it down with slightly more pressure, as a mother would. Finally, fill the bowl again and tamp it as a father would. The double charring method BWA described works for me also. Check your draw as you fill and tamp the bowl, then light and enjoy.

As a note, I use aromatics that are loose in the tin, rather than twists or other tobaccos that require preparation. I'm a bit of a noob myself. I think I have a few questions to ask down the road.

[EdgeMan]

Anytime you puff away hard at the first and get tons of smoke you should probably be taking long slow puffs instead of quick hard puffs. Then it will not burn so hot. When it starts to get too hot( the test for this is putting the bowl against your cheek it should be luke warm or at least where it is not too hot to put against your cheek ) ... tamp it lightly. Also I use the three pack child - mother - father load method.

Just my two cents. Don't let your brair's burn too hot even if you have to relight many times. Best to slow down. The char is important and tamping is important.

Blow into the pipe ( lightly ) after running the pipe cleaner to get rid of gurgle.

[TravPSU]

I bought a pipe yesterday and could not keep the thing lit. I'll have to try the tips in this thread.