| Smoking a pipe requires more apparatus and | | | | the pipe to draw the flame into the tobacco. Most |
| techinique than cigarette or even cigar smoking. In | | | | smokers will tamp out this initial lighting after a few |
| addition to the pipe itself and matches or a lighter, | | | | seconds, pack the surface down more tightly, and |
| smokers usually require a pipe tool for packing, | | | | relight. If the tobacco catches fire during either light, it |
| adjusting, and emptying the tobacco in the bowl, and a | | | | can be put out; the goal is to have the surface |
| regular supply of pipe cleaners. | | | | smoldering in a uniform way. |
| Packing | | | | Prevent Burning |
| Pipe tobacco can be purchased in several forms, | | | | To prevent your wood pipe from burning make a 50 |
| which vary both in flavour (leading to many blends, or | | | | 50 mix of honey and water and use your finger to |
| the opportunity for the smoker to blend their own | | | | spread it around the inside of the bowl. Let this mixture |
| tobaccos) and in the physical shape and size to which | | | | dry. After a few bowls, the mix will create a barrier |
| the tobacco has been reduced. Most tobaccos | | | | that will be burn resistant. |
| resemble cigarrette tobacco, but substantially more | | | | This method is not considered extremely effective, |
| moist (so they must be kept in airtight packaging), and | | | | and can also add a flavor which may be undesirable |
| cut much more coarsely. This makes it rather difficult | | | | to smokers. Most Briar pipes are already pre-treated |
| to roll pipe tobacco into cigarette papers; but finely cut | | | | to resist burn, and if smoked correctly, the cake will |
| tobacco does not allow enough air to flow through the | | | | build up properly on its own. |
| pipe, and overly dry tobacco burns too quickly with little | | | | Smoking |
| flavour. Some kinds are cut into long narrow ribbons. | | | | Pipe smoke, like cigar smoke, is usually not inhaled. It is |
| Some are pressed into flat cakes which are cut up. | | | | merely brought into the mouth and then released. It is |
| Others are tightly wound into long ropes, then sliced | | | | normal to have to relight a pipe periodically. If it is |
| into discs. Flake tobacco (sliced cakes or ropes) may | | | | smoked too slowly, this will happen more often. If it is |
| be prepared in several ways. Generally it is rubbed out | | | | smoked too quickly, it can produce excess moisture, |
| with the fingers and palms until it is loose enough to | | | | producing a gurgling sound in the pipe. A pipe cleaner |
| pack. It can also be crumbled or simply folded and | | | | can be used to dry it out. The bowl of the pipe can |
| stuffed into a pipe. Some people also prefer to dice | | | | also become uncomfortably hot, depending on the |
| very coarse tobaccos up before using them, making | | | | material and the rate of smoking. For this reason clay |
| them easier to pack. | | | | pipes in particular are often held by the stem. |
| In the most common method of packing, tobacco is | | | | Meershaum pipes are held in a square of chamois |
| added to the bowl of the pipe in several batches, each | | | | leather, with gloves, or else by the stem in order to |
| one pressed down until the mixture has a uniform | | | | prevent uneven coloring of the material. |
| density that optimizes airflow (something that it is | | | | Cleaning |
| difficult to gauge without practice). This can be done | | | | The ash and the last bits of unburned tobacco (the |
| with a finger or thumb, but if the tobacco needs to be | | | | dottle) need to be emptied after smoking, and the pipe |
| repacked later, while it is burning, the tamper on a pipe | | | | should be cleaned with some regularity. A cake of ash |
| tool is sometimes used. If it needs to be loosened, the | | | | eventually develops inside the bowl. This is good for |
| reamer, or any similar long pin can be used. | | | | controlling overall heat, but if it becomes too thick it |
| Lighting | | | | needs to be scraped down. |
| Matches, or even separately lit slivers of wood, are | | | | Sweetening |
| usually considered preferable to lighters. Some people | | | | When tobacco is burned, oils are vaporized and |
| complain that lighters impart an inappropriate taste to | | | | condense on the walls of the bowl, in the existing cake, |
| the tobacco. Because a lighter must be held sideways, | | | | and in the shank. Over time, these oils can oxidize and |
| putting the fingers much closer to the flame, they can | | | | turn rancid, causing the pipe to give a sour or bitter |
| be harder to use with pipes than matches are. | | | | smoke. An effective measure called the Professor's |
| However, lighters especially made for pipes exist that | | | | Pipe-Sweetening Treatment involves filling the bowl |
| minimize or eliminate these issues. When matches are | | | | with salt and carefully wetting it with strong spirits. |
| used, they are normally allowed to burn for a couple of | | | | Some people find that regularly wiping out the bowl |
| seconds to remove the sulfur from the tip, and to | | | | with spirits is helpful in preventing souring. Commercial |
| produce a fuller flame. The flame is then moved in | | | | pipe-sweetening products are also available. |
| circles above the tobacco while the smoker puffs on | | | | |