New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart

[RevSmoke]

Anthony, however you fill the bowl is fine - as long as it works for you.

Also, you don't need to fill the pipe only partway, fill it to the top and smoke it to the bottom. That is key - smoke it completely to the bottom. The reason many don't fill completely is because some find it difficult to smoke to the bottom of the bowl, and when breaking in a new pipe, that is important. You need to build cake all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Something else that helps is this. After smoking completely to the bottom, while the pipe is still warm, stir up you ash/dottle, cover the top of you pipe with the palm of your hand, and shake is so that the ash coats the inside of the bowl, then set it down to rest for a couple days. This helps to develop a consistent cake.

Peace of the Lord be with you.