Some thoughts and tips on tamping – Video
I think a lot of problems people encounter with pipe smoking could be mitigated by improving their use of the tamper. While a lot of care needs to go into the proper filling and lighting of your pipe, that's not where the attention stops. Keeping the tobacco properly tamped will lead to a more pleasant smoke and a lot less relights, but doing it wrong will make things worse.
What are your thoughts on tamping? How often would you say you tamp during the average smoke? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Interesting take on tamping! I’ve been told by many of the greybeards around me that over-tamping (implied: tamping too hard *or* too frequently) was a problem, so I’ve been a light and infrequent tamper, with the result that while my pipe packing doesn’t suffer, I have to relight a lot more frequently than I like, especially once I’m through about a third of the bowl.
I’ll bet your point about waiting too long to tamp is the root of my too-many-relights problems. I’ll give the more-frequent tamp a try this evening: thanks!
-Rich Miller
Tamping too hard is definitely a problem, and its easy to get carried away. Let me know how it works out after you’ve given it a try…
Eric thanks for the video on tamping i myself like to tamp the tobacco after i get a good white ash over the tobacco and i just let the weight of the tamper touch the top of the ash as well as smokeing slow it comes out to about ten times i tap on it thank you-Felix Cappuccio.
Right on! much better smoke- seemed fuller/richer also. great info!
Very good video on tamping. Do you have any comments on the use of a “nail” to stur the embers?
It isn’t something I find the need to do, but I can’t think of a reason not to if it helps. I don’t know if there is a method to my madness, but I’ve always tried to avoid disturbing the lay of the tobacco once I’ve lit it whether by mashing too hard with a tamper or stirring it.
best smoking tip i ever got… tried it and didn’t need to relight at all!!!