X-Large Bowl Pipes - Tobacco Hardening?

Oddjob27 · October 2018

Though I may have the "Master" status here... I pose my question to the group and to our TPL MASTERS...

I have a Rossi 8320 which has the Savinelli "EX" sized bowl. The bowl is massive. To give you the run down, I've smoked only about 5 bowls through it. In order to break it in, I have only been loading half bowls; however, after about 10 minutes in and a few tamps the tobacco starts to "harden". When I get down to what I think is the "end" of the bowl it's basically a lump of coal. And then assuming I've finished it, I let it cool, and then when i clean out the bowl, a lump of unsmoked tobacco falls out.

I've had other owners of the same pipe tell me it's taken them a LONG time to break in this pipe, but I'm not sure if its because of the size that I should be packing it differently. I've tried tamping lighter and lighter and it seems to yield the same or slightly more favorable results.

I've only put in burley blends such as Lane Ready-Rubbed and today Drexel II. Nothing overly aromatic.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

For reference:

mfresa · October 2018

@Oddjob27, how hard are you packing it? Try packing the bottom very lightly, then pack slighly tighter the rest of the way up. That will leave plenty of air space in the pack, so you should get fire and oxygen to the whole stack. I find that if I pack too hard on the bottom, I get similar results to what you are seeing.

RockyMountainBriar · October 2018

You might try the “air pocket” method. Basically it leaves a large empty space at the bottom. There should be Youtube videos that can show you how. I will try to find one.

RockyMountainBriar · October 2018

Youtube video demonstration:
“Tobacco pipe packing methods-The air pocket method”

Originally from Pipes Magazine

Oddjob27 · October 2018

Much appreciated for your recommendations, honestly I thought I was packing too light because the draw was SUPER light, with literally zero resistance. And I was always taught to mimic "drinking out of a straw". I'll look into the air pocket method. Thanks again!

Oddjob27 · October 2018

@RockyMountainBriar Just tried the Air Pocket Method, worked out great! Almost didn't even need to tamp. But big thank you for the suggestion. My only concern is if this method still continues to "break in" or build up cake at the bottom of the bowl to create that layer. In a sense its almost like a psuedo calabash!

@mfresa I think determining how to pack such a large bowl is what I was challenged with, what I thought was normal was too light and I think as I was tamping it basically "tightened" up the remaining tobacco causing it to "coal" up. Big thank you for chiming in.

motie2 · October 2018

Tobacco Pipe Packing Methods - The Air Pocket Method

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6M1KXnd73w

(The URL didn't show up in message from @RockyMountainBriar, so here it is......)

RockyMountainBriar · October 2018

@motie2
Thanks for posting that video, I was having technical issues.

RockyMountainBriar · October 2018

@Oddjob27
Yes, I agree pseudo-calabash. I also believe the bottom of the bowl may not cake up with this method, but maybe after a few “air-pocket” bowls, give a “regular” parking a try again?

KA9FFJ · November 2018

Interesting brothers... Very interesting...

jfreedy · November 2018

@Oddjob27 — I wouldn’t worry too much about building up cake at the bottom. I’ve been told if you don’t have a dime-width of cake you are in danger of hurting the briar. After 30+ years of pipe smoking... I now believe that’s baloney (with a quality pipe... which you have). I’ve always tried to “break in” my new briars, but I’ve never very successfully built cake at the bottom of the bowl. Unless you’re a hard core, smoke-all-day-long-in-the-same-pipe kind of guy then I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Just fill up that bad boy and enjoy!

Oddjob27 · November 2018

@jfreedy Much appreciated for the words of encouragement! I kept reading and hearing about "breaking in" and I kept having issues where I'm not smoking to the bottom of the bowl. So I guess i'll just go with the flow, smoke a bowl and let what's going to happen... happen! haha

RockyMountainBriar · November 2018

The only issue I foresee with not breaking in the bottom of the bowl and getting some cake built up would be the possibility of moisture soaking the briar in the bottom. The bare wood could act more “sponge like” and might turn sour.....sour pipe....nasty. With a bit of carbon, it might possibly help soak up some of the moisture before it made its’ way into the wood and the heated carbon might dissipate it some as well. It might keep the bottom of the chambers wood drier? Drier means no moisture to “spoil” and sour. Just my two-cents.
I always try to smoke to mostly ash at the bottom of the bowl. Yes, I have sucked embers.....and it sucked.
When I am done with a bowl, I strive to leave no unsmoked dottle. It does not always happen this way however, because some tobaccos just leave too much moisture in the bottom layer and I have to dump out soaking wet tobacco. What can I say, I hate waiting for tobacco to dry to perfect smoking level, and probably tamp too much......and I pay for it with bite and soggy dottle. Dumb huh, you would think I would learn?

motie2 · March 2021

KA9FFJ · March 2021

@motie2
I'd hate to deal with the dottle left in THAT pipe!

RockyMountainBriar · March 2021

@KA9FFJ
If the dottle was smokeable😖 I could probably smoke for a year on it.

motie2 · March 2021

@RockyMountainBriar

The Master Detective would approve, sir!

ich4759 · March 2021

Sherlock def approves.

X-Large Bowl Pipes - Tobacco Hardening?

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Tobacco Pipe Packing Methods - The Air Pocket Method