How To Fold and Stuff Flakes: Don't Bother (Yet)

[MrMotoyoshi]

Not to throw a monkey wrench in the works, but what about coins? I just got some Flake Medallions and they have that core of black cavendish. Not quite sure what to do with it..... rub out like flake? Are the different tobaccos in the coin supposed to be integrated while smoking, or left separate so you get some changes?

For the smaller coins like Dark Twist Roll Cake and Three Nuns, I like to just lather them on top of one of another and they usually fit nicely in a 3/4 inch bore or more. Escudo and Luxury Bullseye Flake I just fold them in half and maybe tear off an outer ring to leave on the top as kindling.

With both sizes you can do the ole lead ball approach and just roll them up and stuff em in musket style.

[Madbricky]

Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye flake is my staple. Made by Orlik from very thin sheets of their VaPer blend and then a core of sweet black cavendish inserted.
I've tried a dozen ways and for me the best complexity and efficiency in burning comes from dried coins crumbled. The pieces are lightly stuffed in 3-4 lifts. Once the hot light is complete they tamp very easily with a light touch. A 24oz box at $45 earns it high marks as a good investment.

[mooster]

Mark, to each his own. I smoke broken pieces at the end of the tin and like it less, burns faster, with more edge and less nuance.

When it comes to any pressed tobacco, whatever way you pack that smokes best is a good method but my preference is to break it out as little as possible.

Well, I'll plead "excessive hyperbole" on that one (is there any other kind?)-I have nothing against folding and stuffing even if I don't do it anymore (though if I opened a tin of ABF I would; that's the only way I've ever smoked it.) My personal preference is what I would call "partially rubbed out". My favorite tobacco, HOTW, is (in my opinion) too rubbed out; I wish it came as a flake so I could do it myself. I like chunks rather than ribbon or entire flakes.

[El Whedo]

I like chunks rather than ribbon or entire flakes.

That's why I like Homborger Veermaster so much. It's a broken flake.

[Madbricky]

Flake like HH Old Dark Fired (smoke cured burley) is not very flammable thanks to smoking. I like to cut the flake into 4 lengths and peel half of them into strands. In between cut peices go strands in three lifts. It's kind of like fuses between flake to keep the ember going without too many relights or tamping. I also like to load the pipe 2/3 up with some cut flake like PS Lux Twist or Navy and then top it off with a Tinder pile of shredded flake to start a healthy ember. Never did well with flat stacking or all vertical flake. Just too much work to keep burning without scorching the unburnt portion.

[Basment_Shaman]

For years I been useing a 3 inch wide Herb grinder.20150716_133114.jpg It's like an Iron maiden for pipe weed has sharp teeth in two directions. It makes short work on SG & GH flakes. a little tougher with plugs I tend to cube cut those. I store my flakes in Kilner Jars, rather than opening up the jars every time. I will get 5 flakes out cut them with scissors about an inch an a quarter and put them in a tin.I do the same with plugs except they are cut 1/4 inch wide to fill a tin,Twists I just hack off about 3 - 2.5inch pieces to fill a tin. I have a few dozen I rotate through, The tins allow for some pre drying time so I don't have to wait an hour to fill a bowl. And lets my kilner jars age
I like the rate flakes ,twists and plug burn. When I smoke ribbon ,shag and other cuts I end up smoking more bowls.

[LandonColby]

For years I been useing a 3 inch wide Herb grinder.20150716_133114.jpg It's like an Iron maiden for pipe weed has sharp teeth in two directions. It makes short work on SG & GH flakes. a little tougher with plugs I tend to cube cut those. I store my flakes in Kilner Jars, rather than opening up the jars every time. I will get 5 flakes out cut them with scissors about an inch an a quarter and put them in a tin.I do the same with plugs except they are cut 1/4 inch wide to fill a tin,Twists I just hack off about 3 - 2.5inch pieces to fill a tin. I have a few dozen I rotate through, The tins allow for some pre drying time so I don't have to wait an hour to fill a bowl. And lets my kilner jars age
I like the rate flakes ,twists and plug burn. When I smoke ribbon ,shag and other cuts I end up smoking more bowls.

Interesting...I'm familiar with the grinder but have never used it on pipe tobacco. Would it be too much to ask for a picture of a flake that has been processed? I'm curious as to how it holds up in one of those things.

[Basment_Shaman]

Interesting...I'm familiar with the grinder but have never used it on pipe tobacco. Would it be too much to ask for a picture of a flake that has been processed? I'm curious as to how it holds up in one of those things.

20150717_112816.jpgThis is 3 inch and a quarter cuts of SG St James Flake. I will let this air for about 15 minutes. under the screen in this grinder is another compartment for catching keef for the pot head; For me these fine particles of tobacco become Snuff.

[LandonColby]

20150717_112816.jpgThis is 3 inch and a quarter cuts of SG St James Flake. I will let this air for about 15 minutes. under the screen in this grinder is another compartment for catching keef for the pot head; For me these fine particles of tobacco become Snuff.

Very cool! Seems a bit too fine a texture for me, personally. How many twists did that get? Would just a few turns yield a longer/chunkier ribbon?

Also I'd love trying the snuff versions of my favorite pipe blends. An unconventional method, but useful to the open minded person!

[Basment_Shaman]

Very cool! Seems a bit too fine a texture for me, personally. How many twists did that get? Would just a few turns yield a longer/chunkier ribbon?

Also I'd love trying the snuff versions of my favorite pipe blends. An unconventional method, but useful to the open minded person!

Twist wouldn't make a difference and there are easier methods of grinding snuff. a ball mill gives the best results. I assure you the texture has little to do with how it burns I could had rub the flakes out and they would taste and burn at the same rate, But it would take me 5X longer to rub them.