A new technique for packing your pipe


Herr Achim Frank and Herr Jan Kropp have introduced a new way to pack your pipe, after researching how to best burn tobacco

Pipe smoking is one of my favorite pastimes. It encourages nearly every good habit I have - reading, relaxing, fellowship, patience, etc. As such it was inevitable that I would eventually find something that I need to post to the blog. Add to that the fact that most of my readers that I know about smoke pipes, and its a no brainer. Unfortunately, in our day and age, I must also state clearly that I only smoke tobacco in my pipe and I have never smoked, nor have any interest in smoking, anything else (especially illegal substances)

My friend Nat forwarded me this article on a new method of packing a pipe. For those not familiar with pipe smoking, there is a whole ritual and technique to smoking a pipe. One does not simply slam a chunk of baccy in there and torch it with a flame, puffing incessantly until it is reduced to ash. First of all, it would taste awful that way and you'd end up burning your pipe and your tongue. So the traditional technique has been what most call "the three step method".

First you sprinkle tobacco over the bowl of the pipe to fill it. You then tamp this down gently to about half of the bowl. Repeat the sprinkling and tamping and then tamp to about 3/4 bowl. Finally, repeat the sprinkling and tamp to a full bowl, leaving a slightly spongy loose layer on top. This has been the generally accepted best practice method for a long time now, and its the only technique I've ever used.

Consequently, today's new method is an exciting new development. I'm not sure I totally understand the new method, but I'm anxious to give it a try next time I smoke. If any of you other pipe smokers out there have tried this, feel free to share your thoughts via the comments link below.

Posted: Mon - June 28, 2004 at 12:19 PM | | | | | | |

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