How to Enjoy your Pipe

Filling the Pipe

The process of filling a pipe is simple, yet important to smoking pleasure. If the chamber is packed too tightly with too few air spaces the pipe will go out easily and have to be relit often.

A pipe packed too loosely will burn hot and fast.

The proper way to fill your pipe is in pinches. The first pinch at the bottom should be tamped down with your fingers ever so lightly to leave a maximum of air between tobacco leaves at the bottom of the bowl. Tamp the second tamp down a little more firmly, the third tamp more firmly still, and so on till the pipe is filled. However, when you “break in” a new pipe, the pipe is only partially filled with tobacco – this is covered in more details in one of the following paragraphs.

The way you fill your pipe will depend on the tobacco you are using. Ribbon cut tobacco holds more air and should be tamped a little firmer. A coarse or plug tobacco may leave too little air and smoke slower, requiring relighting if not filled with care.

Good fresh tobacco will pack tightly and may also form blockages and areas in the chamber with too little air for proper combustion. Dry tobacco will fill easier, but will smoke hotter and less enjoyably. As you fill the pipe, draw through the mouthpiece to check on the air flow. If it draws too easily, tamp down a little more firmly. If it is difficult to draw, empty your bowl and start again or you will find yourself constantly relighting your pipe.

Filling one’s pipe is an art in itself. As your expertise grows you will find your skill a source of great satisfaction.