ge ting frustraded

[cbr310]

Aafter about 3-4 months of piping still cant get it to stay lite. I pack with the 3rds method and have tried swirl and frank method. The draw is fine and not over packed, nor do I think its to loose. I tamp every now and again. Seems like in relighting about every 5 mins at most. The bacy is pretty dry. If you smoke to fast will it go out? Im still enjoying it but going through lighters like crazy. Jealous of hearing everyone smoking through with just a light or two. Ok rants over back to it and watch the pens game!

[bluenoser]

I'm still quite new at this too but haven't had a lot of issues, somethings I've noticed that have caused issues for me have been tamping too hard, or not often enough. Alot of times I notice too late that I need to tamp and it goes out on me. Hopefully someone more experienced can chime in and help

[Horseshoe]

When you feel the pipe going out l, do you place two fingers over the bowl? I do this about every 7 puffs. Short sips then I will take a couple sips with two fingers over the bowl to get it re-started. Be careful and don't over do it and get the bowl hot. This works for me don't know if it is right, but it works.

[Lostmason]

I myself rarely tamp until the ember does go out then it's tighten up my packing a bit,very light on the tamp.I have found that packing my bowl a day ahead of time has helped tremendously.I still have to relight a full bowl 2 to 3 times,but with a light tamp it lights pretty easily.I use the Frank method to pack and try to load half to 2 thirds of a bowl.Smoking too fast will burn hotter and more likely to cause toung bite.Also cold burn out your bowl.

[Bruck]

What kind of tobacco are you using? Kakes and flakes are a little tough to get lit sometimes. Regular ribbon cut shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If you're a cigar smoker, maybe tempo is the issue. With a cigar you take a few puffs every minute or so, but with a pipe you keep a more regular rhythm. For me it's about one very light pull every 5 or 10 seconds.

Keep trying, you'll get the hang of it!

[NeverBend]

Aafter about 3-4 months of piping still cant get it to stay lite. I pack with the 3rds method and have tried swirl and frank method. The draw is fine and not over packed, nor do I think its to loose. I tamp every now and again. Seems like in relighting about every 5 mins at most. The bacy is pretty dry. If you smoke to fast will it go out? Im still enjoying it but going through lighters like crazy. Jealous of hearing everyone smoking through with just a light or two. Ok rants over back to it and watch the pens game!

Hi Matt,

You're asking the right question and getting good advice because we all do what works and there's not really a right or wrong. We all have to relight from time to time and I've been smoking a pipe 49 years.

When you pack, make sure that you can feel or hear your draw through the pipe. You don't want the tobacco to be too tight and better to be a little loose (you can tamp it to suit). It's more important to press the tobacco down around the edges than in the center.

I'd suggest that you try matches, paper or wooden (comment below)at least for the time being. Lighters can be difficult to light across the entire surface of the bowl and you have more control with matches. Don't worry if it takes you a few matches to get a solid charring light and make sure that you well lit and then work on your rhythm so that you're getting sufficient smoke but not creating heat (where the bowl is hot). Technique has a way of suddenly being apparent, it will happen, be patient.
@Bruck makes a good point that the cadence is very different from cigars.

I like the smaller stick matches. Dollar Tree sells Diamond Matches, 10 boxes of 32 for $1.00. That's 320 matches for a buck.

[BryGuySC]

Hang in there. Don't give up.

What kind of pipe are you using?

[cbr310]

I have 2 dr gabraw. And 4 mm cobs. Thx for the advice all. No way I'm giving up. I'm loving some of the flavors, and enjoying talking to all you bums!

[Branzig]

I find that the less you think about it or worry about it staying lit, the longer it will actually stay lit.

When you think about it too much, you aren't smoking, you're working. The less you fuss with it the better I find as well.

Just smoke it. And if it goes out, oh well. We all relight my friend. It is apart of pipe smoking

[Zeede]

It doesn't alter the flavor? I know with cigars sometimes the flavor is forever altered if you let it go out on you and have to relight.