Drying pipe tobacco

[jrfoxx]

Anyone else not dry their tobacco at all, and still have good flavor and burn, with only maybe 2 relights is you smoke slow?

At first, I always dried mine before smoking, but a week or so ago I quit drying it at all and it tastes and burns just fine, even with my moistest tobaccos. Typically, I've only had to relight once or twice, and it's always either from getting distracted for a while and letting it go out, or from not packing the bowl tightly.

I have experimented with packing very loosely, to very tightly, and very tightly, it burns great and stays lit for a sufficient amount of time, like typing this post for example.

Didn't hit the bowl the entire time it took to type with 1 finger, and just now hit it, and got plenty of smoke volume.

Thoughts?

I friggin love tobacco!

[dj1340]

I always dry mine. To me it smokes cooler. I read an interesting article a long time ago about packing a pipe.
Guy said start out as if a small child was packing the pipe. Second time tamp harder and final time tamp firmly.
Never had a problem

[jrfoxx]

I always dry mine. To me it smokes cooler. I read an interesting article a long time ago about packing a pipe.
Guy said start out as if a small child was packing the pipe. Second time tamp harder and final time tamp firmly.
Never had a problem

Gave that a try, as I was packing the first pinch as firmly as any others, and I did seem to have fewer relights needed, even when neglecting to puff on it for a bit from doing something that distracted me (typing on or browsing my tablet). Draw and smoke volume seemed the same, but It also burned more tobacco to ash vs coals, and more of the total tobacco burned without getting skunky towards the bottom.

Could all be in my head, but will continue to do this and see how it goes in the long term. Thanks for the tip, Don. Much appreciated.

I friggin love tobacco!