Rub Out the Flakes?

schnell987 · 12-08-2008, 07:37 PM

Gents,
Thanks for the very helpful information (and thanks for that link, Dan).

To answer your questions, I had read the posts here so was warned about using a torch flame in a pipe. So I used matches and an Old Boy. And you can ban me now, because the flake I carefully chose was a MacBaren Virginia flake. I went into the local B&M with a list of tobaccos that I wanted to try, based on the posts I've read here. Well, they didn't stock any of the ones on my list. When I saw the name MacBaren, I was happy to find a name that I recognized! I didn't realize 'till later Why I recognized the name. Maybe it was just my inexperienced packing style, but I now know what tongue bite is.

Note to self: Carbonated beverages (e.g. beer) does NOT relieve tongue bite! Yow!

Well, on to try the very cherry mix from the B&M.

Kevin

alfredo_buscatti · 03-07-2011, 03:39 AM

I've been smoking flake for some time, and over time my packing method has changed.

I started by rubbing out flake. Then I tore off chunks about 1/4" X 3/8" and gravity dropped them into the bowl. But I kept reading that others simply folded a flake into 3 parts, assuming a 3" to 4" long flake, and stuffed that folded flake into the bowl, with tinder on top. When I tried this I found that it was hard to light and hard to keep lit, but it did burn very slowly, which was what I sought.

I asked for advice and was told that I needed to "worry" the flake before inserting it into the bowl; that is to rub out the folded flake, but just to the point of loosening the strands. This is easy with fragile flakes like GH Dark Flake but quite a bit more time-consuming with dense flakes such as Irish Flake. The key, at least for my hands, is to worry about an 8th" piece of Irish Flake at a time.

This last method retains the slow burn while normalizing relights.

You stuff the worried flake into the bowl vertically so that ends of the flake strands stand up in the bowl. Having done so, often tinder isn't needed, and relights are facilitated.

cp478 · 03-07-2011, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schnell987

Gents,
Thanks for the very helpful information (and thanks for that link, Dan).

To answer your questions, I had read the posts here so was warned about using a torch flame in a pipe. So I used matches and an Old Boy. And you can ban me now, because the flake I carefully chose was a MacBaren Virginia flake. I went into the local B&M with a list of tobaccos that I wanted to try, based on the posts I've read here. Well, they didn't stock any of the ones on my list. When I saw the name MacBaren, I was happy to find a name that I recognized! I didn't realize 'till later Why I recognized the name. Maybe it was just my inexperienced packing style, but I now know what tongue bite is.

Note to self: Carbonated beverages (e.g. beer) does NOT relieve tongue bite! Yow!

Well, on to try the very cherry mix from the B&M.

Kevin

maybe I am warped but I enjoy the sting of the tongue bite!

Emjaysmash · 03-07-2011, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cp478

maybe I am warped but I enjoy the sting of the tongue bite!

12-08-2008, 07:37 PM	#1
schnell987 Grateful to the 11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kevin Location: Atlanta Posts: 154 Trading: (2)	Re: Rub Out the Flakes? Gents, Thanks for the very helpful information (and thanks for that link, Dan). To answer your questions, I had read the posts here so was warned about using a torch flame in a pipe. So I used matches and an Old Boy. And you can ban me now, because the flake I carefully chose was a MacBaren Virginia flake. I went into the local B&M with a list of tobaccos that I wanted to try, based on the posts I've read here. Well, they didn't stock any of the ones on my list. When I saw the name MacBaren, I was happy to find a name that I recognized! I didn't realize 'till later Why I recognized the name. Maybe it was just my inexperienced packing style, but I now know what tongue bite is. Note to self: Carbonated beverages (e.g. beer) does NOT relieve tongue bite! Yow! Well, on to try the very cherry mix from the B&M. Kevin __________________

03-07-2011, 03:39 AM	#2
alfredo_buscatti Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Mike Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 277 Trading: (9)	Re: Rub Out the Flakes? I've been smoking flake for some time, and over time my packing method has changed. I started by rubbing out flake. Then I tore off chunks about 1/4" X 3/8" and gravity dropped them into the bowl. But I kept reading that others simply folded a flake into 3 parts, assuming a 3" to 4" long flake, and stuffed that folded flake into the bowl, with tinder on top. When I tried this I found that it was hard to light and hard to keep lit, but it did burn very slowly, which was what I sought. I asked for advice and was told that I needed to "worry" the flake before inserting it into the bowl; that is to rub out the folded flake, but just to the point of loosening the strands. This is easy with fragile flakes like GH Dark Flake but quite a bit more time-consuming with dense flakes such as Irish Flake. The key, at least for my hands, is to worry about an 8th" piece of Irish Flake at a time. This last method retains the slow burn while normalizing relights. You stuff the worried flake into the bowl vertically so that ends of the flake strands stand up in the bowl. Having done so, often tinder isn't needed, and relights are facilitated. Last edited by alfredo_buscatti; 03-07-2011 at 03:45 AM.