I just started smoking some pipes seriously after dabbling several times. I purchased some pipes and some variety of Virginia flakes - I liked the juicy feel and powerful aroma of flakes. I will preface this question with the statement that I am a very slow cigar smoker.
So here is my question...I fold the flake on itself until it balls up, throw it in the chamber, and smoke away. However, I relight eveytime I hit it, like a crackpipe.
I don't know how to tamper it, nor do I care, because I find the flavors on every relight is soooooo rich and smooth. It's like pure flavor. Is this a bad method?
I can see how unorthodox it is, but I just have a hard time keeping the thing lit without the smoke getting noticeably hotter, and not as enjoyable. Plus it's a pain to keep puffing on it.