Pipe Smokers

[Monk]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but to the pipe smokers-What is the trick to packing the bowl? I asked pipe smokers at local B&M and they say practice practice practice, but I think I am going backwards.

Well not to be an ass, but they are right . I owned my first pipe at 17 and it took me a hell of a time to get it to be tamped down so that it held a good ember in the bowl. Now, I'll try to tell you the way I do it, but who knows if its right... works for me

First off, you need to get the right amount of tobacco. Too little and you'll be through it in no time, too much and it will be too compressed to smoke. I take about 2 or 3 pinches of tobacco. Then I press slightly down with my thumb to tamp it, or use a tamping tool from a pipe tool. If the pipe is too compressed you can always use the long thin needle-like tool to loosen it up and get some airflow. At the end of the day though, practice will help you get a feel for it. Good Luck

-W.