The Tamp is my new re-light saviour!

[Robster]

Blasphemy I know

BUT!

I finally got my tamp. A $1.50 number from ebay. Tried it today and I've been gently tamping as I notice the pipe going out. Instantly it come back to live in a roar of smoke. I didn't realise it would do this, it actually keeps the pipe alive. I can see the science in it now, bringing the coal closer together, giving it more strength to keep the burn going. Makes sense.

Am very excited and it's going to make all the difference in regard to constant re-lights. So far, since I figured it out I've had no re-lights, but at the start of the bowl of course, there was the first re-light.

Happy

 

[blindmouse]

Agreed! I got a Czech tool last week and have seen the same results.

 

[Bk124tt]

My roofing nail and golf tee are my best friends too!

 

[oc_in_fw]

You are golden once you get the tamp down. More relights mean more heat, at least in my experience.

 

[Robster]

Yeah, too much heat's the killer. I find a sweet spot, and it's usually about a third of the way into the bowl, where the flavour of the baccy just flows so sweet and smooth into my mouth. It only lasts a few draws, maybe 5... then it's gone. Same every time. The end I rarely finish now as I find it a bit rough. The start is fine actually, but that sweet spot a third of the way in. Just perfect. My goal is to prolong that area with time and am hoping the tamp will be a big contributor.

 

[Rattlesnake Jake]

Remember, you should only tamp enough to reduce the layer of ash on top. Almost no pressure should be used as is simply further compacts the tobacco in the chamber and make it harder and harder to smoke the bowl to the end.

 

[simon1]

A light tamp and fingers over the bowl have really helped me keep the pipe lit and to bring it back when it's about to go out.

I saw this link in another thread to a great video on keeping the bowl lit. It's helped me a lot.

http://youtu.be/v4uf5HfK0zU

 

[Hunter]

I have found that when tamping if I take a puff at the same time I can bring in new oxygen for the ember and have a bit of a test on how much I'm pushing so I don't get too much resistance.

Happy Smoking!

 

[the_edski]

Remember, you should only tamp enough to reduce the layer of ash on top. Almost no pressure should be used as is simply further compacts the tobacco in the chamber and make it harder and harder to smoke the bowl to the end.

+1. Just like in shaving, very little pressure is the key here. I've just started to do the "thumb mostly over the bowl and inhale" trick when the ember gets low, the venturi effect really gets things going again.