As was requested, I'll throw out a few tips on smoking flake tobacco in a pipe.
There are two main ways of prepping your flake tobacco. Smoking flake tobacco isnt too much different from smoking regular tobacco depending on how you prep it. However, I usually have to relight flake tobacco a few times while smoking it, it is much more difficult to get a consistent pack than with the shredded tobacco that is usually sold in bulk.
Preparation technique number 1: with this technique you end up with a product that is fairly similar to the regular shredded tobacco.
Step one: Lay down a sheet of paper on a countertop, this will be used to catch errant pieces of tobacco, so you don't waste as much and clean up goes easier. (not necessary, but I don't like wasting my flake tobacco)
Two: Get a flake of your tobacco, you may need to break it in half depending on the size (you will need to do this technique once to see if you can do a whole flake)
Three: Put the heel of your other hand (should be empty) on the flake of tobacco
Four: start grinding the flake like you are using a mortar and pestle. You are looking to get a consistency similar to regular cut tobacco. This is called, "Rubbing Out" all jokes aside, it is much easier for me to get a consistent smoke than technique number two.
Five: once you have enough that you are spilling off the side of your hand, dump the loose pieces in your pipe bowl, don't pack yet. You shouldnt have too much in the bowl yet.
Six: continue the process until your bowl is about half full, pack the bowl as usual. Do not over pack, it's easy especially if you grind your flake finely. When I'm testing for draw I almost always suck a few small pieces of tobacco into my mouth. It's normal, you are making some of the tobacco very fine with the grinding.
Seven: continue the process until you have a full bowl that is properly packed.
Eight: If you used a sheet of paper under your hands while grinding you can now pour the bits that landed there into the bowl and pack them down.
Nine: perform your charring light and tamp the tobacco back down.
Ten: Relight and enjoy. Like I said, I usually have to relight a few times because the density of the tobacco is less consistent in the bowl than the regular cut stuff.
Technique 2 in next post
There are two main ways of prepping your flake tobacco. Smoking flake tobacco isnt too much different from smoking regular tobacco depending on how you prep it. However, I usually have to relight flake tobacco a few times while smoking it, it is much more difficult to get a consistent pack than with the shredded tobacco that is usually sold in bulk.
Preparation technique number 1: with this technique you end up with a product that is fairly similar to the regular shredded tobacco.
Step one: Lay down a sheet of paper on a countertop, this will be used to catch errant pieces of tobacco, so you don't waste as much and clean up goes easier. (not necessary, but I don't like wasting my flake tobacco)
Two: Get a flake of your tobacco, you may need to break it in half depending on the size (you will need to do this technique once to see if you can do a whole flake)
Three: Put the heel of your other hand (should be empty) on the flake of tobacco
Four: start grinding the flake like you are using a mortar and pestle. You are looking to get a consistency similar to regular cut tobacco. This is called, "Rubbing Out" all jokes aside, it is much easier for me to get a consistent smoke than technique number two.
Five: once you have enough that you are spilling off the side of your hand, dump the loose pieces in your pipe bowl, don't pack yet. You shouldnt have too much in the bowl yet.
Six: continue the process until your bowl is about half full, pack the bowl as usual. Do not over pack, it's easy especially if you grind your flake finely. When I'm testing for draw I almost always suck a few small pieces of tobacco into my mouth. It's normal, you are making some of the tobacco very fine with the grinding.
Seven: continue the process until you have a full bowl that is properly packed.
Eight: If you used a sheet of paper under your hands while grinding you can now pour the bits that landed there into the bowl and pack them down.
Nine: perform your charring light and tamp the tobacco back down.
Ten: Relight and enjoy. Like I said, I usually have to relight a few times because the density of the tobacco is less consistent in the bowl than the regular cut stuff.
Technique 2 in next post