Questions You Thought Were Too Dumb to Ask (Pipes Edition)

[Nachman]

The top picture is correct.

[Horseshoe]

How often should you tamp?
How much rest should a pipe get before re-use? (Does the same go for partial bowls?)

[JustTroItIn]

How often should you tamp?
How much rest should a pipe get before re-use? (Does the same go for partial bowls?)

I usually tamp either when I know for a fact I have a healthy stacking of loose ash or I detect the amber is starting to go out a bit. If it's starting to go out I puff while gently tamping. This usually brings it back to life.

As for resting, I think we pipers can stress a bit too much about it. My pipes usually get at the very least a few days rest just because I have quite a few, but I have smoked the same pipe though several bowls over a few days and didn't really notice any ill effects. Pipers back in the day often had one pipe they would smoke the crap out of and then just replace. I have seen pictures of estate pipes you would be lucky to be able to fit a pencil in. Luckily none I have purchased have been quite that bad.

[Cardinal]

Rope question(s): does anyone here smoke it? I've seen Tobias' DIY rope thread so I'm guessing so, but how popular is it compared to other forms and if you do (or don't) smoke it, why?

I think I've read that rope is usually stronger too. Is that true? And is it flavor, strength, or both?

Is rope more like smoking a cigar than say, flake or ribbon? Or is that just totally tobacco dependent?

[Nachman]

Rope question(s): does anyone here smoke it? I've seen Tobias' DIY rope thread so I'm guessing so, but how popular is it compared to other forms and if you do (or don't) smoke it, why?

I think I've read that rope is usually stronger too. Is that true? And is it flavor, strength, or both?

Is rope more like smoking a cigar than say, flake or ribbon? Or is that just totally tobacco dependent?

I smoke some rope as do several on the forum. It is the strongest pipe tobacco, especially the brown ropes. When I say strong, I mean NICOTINE! I have smoked for more than fifty five years, but ropes can make me feel the nic hit. The flavour is full, but smooth. They are more popular in the UK than in the US, as most ropes are made in Cumbria Northern England these days. They were more popular and pervasive in days past. They were a good way to transport tobacco and keep it fresh on long trips (think sailing ships). Ropes were also popular among the miners of Northern England. They would chew a piece while they worked in the mine because you couldn't smoke in the mine for fear of coal gas explosions. Then they would dry out the chaw and smoke it later as it would have enough strength left for the pipe. It is still a pipe tobacco experience, not a cigar like experience, but a brown rope is stronger than the strongest ligero laced cigar. A good rope to try for a first time is GH Sweet Rum Twist. It is not quite as strong as the Brown Bogie or the Brown Irish Twist, and does not have the burnt tyre flavour of the black twists.

[tmoran]

The only rope I have tried so far is G&H Sweet Rum Twist, and it's very good. I usually have to mix it with PA or something to cut down the strength, or smoke a really small bowl. Rope is extremely strong in both nicotine and flavor, beyond that of even the strongest cigars I have tried.

[Cardinal]

Thanks to both of you! I'll try to get some rope in my next tobacco order. Sounds like something to experience at least once anyway.

[Branzig]

How often should you tamp?
How much rest should a pipe get before re-use? (Does the same go for partial bowls?)

Tamp as often as you need to too keep the pipe lit. When the draw starts to become lose, it is time for a tamp. When the smoke production starts to get thin and you feel like the pipe is going to go out, time for a tamp.

The "how much rest does my pipe need" question is on par with the "what humidity should I keep my cigars at" ...ask 20 people and you may just get 20 different answers. I like to rest my briar pipes at least 24 hours regardless of how much I smoked out of it. Not so much because I am worried about ruining the pipe, but more so that I have had some bad expierences with smoking a pipe too soon while it was still a little wet. And smoking a wet pipe is gross. Plus I feel like if you smoke a pipe multiple times within a 24 hour period that you have to deep clean them more often.

It isn't odd for me to rest my briar pipes for 3 days in between smokes. None of this includes Cobs by the way. I abuse cobs.

Thanks to both of you! I'll try to get some rope in my next tobacco order. Sounds like something to experience at least once anyway.

I highly suggest you get some rope! It is indeed something that I believe every pipe smoker must experience in their life time. I like to use cigar cutters and chop them up into tasty medallions. SG Black XX Twist is one of my faves....as is their Brown No. 4 twist. mmmmmm

[Cardinal]

I highly suggest you get some rope! It is indeed something that I believe every pipe smoker must experience in their life time. I like to use cigar cutters and chop them up into tasty medallions. SG Black XX Twist is one of my faves....as is their Brown No. 4 twist. mmmmmm

One more question, sorry if this seems too obvious..but I guess you cut off medallions then rub them out like flake? I haven't smoked much flake either, so I'm not very familiar with that part of it.

[Nachman]

One more question, sorry if this seems too obvious..but I guess you cut off medallions then rub them out like flake? I haven't smoked much flake either, so I'm not very familiar with that part of it.

If you want to avoid the trouble of prepping the tobacco, buy sliced brown twist. The only drawback is that it is cut from one of the strongest ropes.