Flake, right or wrong

mk05 · 08-08-2012, 02:24 AM

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.

Commander Quan · 08-08-2012, 06:36 AM

It sounds like you are filling the pipe with too much tobacco, and it could possibly be too wet. The tobacco should be a loosely folded and twisted if you decide to use that method. It does take some extra time to get the tobacco lit when you fold it but once it's going it shouldn't be going out every puff.

This is a good video for demonstrating the fold method
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9tzmB0JInY

However it's your tobacco, so if you like what your doing stick with it

md4958 · 08-08-2012, 07:52 AM

dude, why are you still up at 430?

08-08-2012, 08:00 AM

Yeah, uh Marc you ok

MajorCaptSilly · 08-08-2012, 08:40 AM

They way your doing it allows for some pretty big air pockets that could cause a loose draw. However, it seems to be working for you. The traditional method to pack a flake is to rub it out and load in a more traditional fashion. I've always loaded flakes in a manner that is somewhere between yours and the traditional method. I take the flake and bend it vertically so as to fit into the bottom of the bowl. I then just push it into the bowl so it is folding onto itself until the bowl is filled. I then give it a light tamp before lighting and away I go. This method was always perfect for Best Brown which was pretty much the only flake I smoked.

MCS

RevSmoke · 08-08-2012, 11:30 AM

That is a great video hightlighted above. Great technique. Do not overpack or overfill.

mk05 · 08-09-2012, 01:49 AM

Going to Vegas for the weekend, so I'm getting myself conditioned.

Thanks for the video. The tobacco is wet. I was thinking maybe letting it sit for an hour before packing it next time. Some of the juicy flake tobacco tastes like old vintage cigars!

Mister Moo · 08-10-2012, 06:00 AM

flake maybe too dry - bend in half and it breaks
flake probably too wet - bend in half like rubber
flake about right - bend in half and it partly fractures, partly bends

After drying, bust the flake up into shreds and shards and crumbled stuff and put it, more or less evenly, in a pipe. Do not overcompress when filling or tamping because it WILL SWELL UP as it warms; keep a slightly open draw all the time. If th pipe gets plugged and won't burn, dump it and start over. Easiest way to master flake rubbing, filling and smoking is beginning with half-bowls.

If hard to start with a thoroughly even light across the top of the bowl, add some fine crumbles atop to get things going; tamp lightly - relight. You oughta be good as gold following this advice with 80% of flake tobacco. Each has its own burning character but these general rules apply.

Puff on my brother. Puff on.

08-08-2012, 02:24 AM	#1
mk05 Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,331 Trading: (2)	Flake, right or wrong 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.

08-08-2012, 06:36 AM	#2
Commander Quan Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Derrick Location: Canton, OH Posts: 966 Trading: (4)	Re: Flake, right or wrong It sounds like you are filling the pipe with too much tobacco, and it could possibly be too wet. The tobacco should be a loosely folded and twisted if you decide to use that method. It does take some extra time to get the tobacco lit when you fold it but once it's going it shouldn't be going out every puff. This is a good video for demonstrating the fold method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9tzmB0JInY However it's your tobacco, so if you like what your doing stick with it

08-08-2012, 07:52 AM	#3
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: Flake, right or wrong dude, why are you still up at 430? __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.

08-08-2012, 08:00 AM	#4
ChicagoWhiteSox Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Flake, right or wrong Yeah, uh Marc you ok

08-08-2012, 08:40 AM	#5
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Re: Flake, right or wrong They way your doing it allows for some pretty big air pockets that could cause a loose draw. However, it seems to be working for you. The traditional method to pack a flake is to rub it out and load in a more traditional fashion. I've always loaded flakes in a manner that is somewhere between yours and the traditional method. I take the flake and bend it vertically so as to fit into the bottom of the bowl. I then just push it into the bowl so it is folding onto itself until the bowl is filled. I then give it a light tamp before lighting and away I go. This method was always perfect for Best Brown which was pretty much the only flake I smoked. MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?

08-08-2012, 11:30 AM	#6
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,807 Trading: (51)	Re: Flake, right or wrong That is a great video hightlighted above. Great technique. Do not overpack or overfill. __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"

08-09-2012, 01:49 AM	#7
mk05 Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,331 Trading: (2)	Re: Flake, right or wrong Going to Vegas for the weekend, so I'm getting myself conditioned. Thanks for the video. The tobacco is wet. I was thinking maybe letting it sit for an hour before packing it next time. Some of the juicy flake tobacco tastes like old vintage cigars!

08-10-2012, 06:00 AM	#8
Mister Moo I barely grok the obvious Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Lizard Lick, NC Posts: 1,417 Trading: (3)	Re: Flake, right or wrong flake maybe too dry - bend in half and it breaks flake probably too wet - bend in half like rubber flake about right - bend in half and it partly fractures, partly bends After drying, bust the flake up into shreds and shards and crumbled stuff and put it, more or less evenly, in a pipe. Do not overcompress when filling or tamping because it WILL SWELL UP as it warms; keep a slightly open draw all the time. If th pipe gets plugged and won't burn, dump it and start over. Easiest way to master flake rubbing, filling and smoking is beginning with half-bowls. If hard to start with a thoroughly even light across the top of the bowl, add some fine crumbles atop to get things going; tamp lightly - relight. You oughta be good as gold following this advice with 80% of flake tobacco. Each has its own burning character but these general rules apply. Puff on my brother. Puff on. __________________ "I hope you had the time of your life."