New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart

[Emjaysmash]

Originally Posted by smokepuff

I've notice since embarking down this pipe smoking slope. That often times I have to relight the tobacco four or five times to keep it going. It is just me or is the tobacco?

Or is it common to have to relight the pipe? It seems to me that it should be lit once, then smoked to the bowl is finished maybe I'm just to optimist.

Basically, how do I keep it lit?

4 or 5 times is good when you're starting out!

Yes relights when first beginning is commonplace. Here are a few tips to help out minimizing relights:

1. make sure your tobacco isn't too wet. Naturally, wet tobacco likes to stop burning.

2. It is important to have a toasting/charring light to start a bowl burning evenly.

3. make sure your bowl is filled/packed well. too loose and it will burn hot and go out, and too tight and it wont have enough space to breathe (making it go out).

4. practice, practice, practice. I'm 3 years into pipe smoking and I'm only now perfecting a method that works for me. Be patient and go with the flow.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by smokepuff

I've notice since embarking down this pipe smoking slope. That often times I have to relight the tobacco four or five times to keep it going. It is just me or is the tobacco?

Or is it common to have to relight the pipe? It seems to me that it should be lit once, then smoked to the bowl is finished maybe I'm just to optimist.

Basically, how do I keep it lit?

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

4 or 5 times is good when you're starting out!

Yes relights when first beginning is commonplace. Here are a few tips to help out minimizing relights:

1. make sure your tobacco isn't too wet. Naturally, wet tobacco likes to stop burning.

2. It is important to have a toasting/charring light to start a bowl burning evenly.

3. make sure your bowl is filled/packed well. too loose and it will burn hot and go out, and too tight and it wont have enough space to breathe (making it go out).

4. practice, practice, practice. I'm 3 years into pipe smoking and I'm only now perfecting a method that works for me. Be patient and go with the flow.

It isn't unusual. The most likely problem isn't the tobacco, but how you have packed your bowl and your initial light. 1 or 2 relights to get to the bottom of the bowl is normal - after your initial light. And your initial lighting method should probably take 3 or 4 lights in this sort of a manner; light to char then tamp (tobacco will puff up when lighting), then you tamp it even and light again (tobacco may puff up again when lighting), and you may have to repeat that tamp and light a few times, maybe up to 5 times, before you get an even light. Do not short-change that charring, tamping, and getting an even light to begin.

Be patient, it will get better.

Peace of the Lord be with you.