How to Light a Pipe
Choose your fire., Perform a "false light.", Keep charring and puffing., Relight the pipe, if necessary., Start with a clean and empty pipe., Pinch some tobacco., Pack the bowl., Tamp the bowl of the pipe down with a tamper., Check the tobacco...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose your fire.
Use a wooden match or pipe lighter.
Pipe lighters are made specifically for tobacco pipes, and should not alter the taste of the tobacco.
If using a match, strike it and let it burn for a few seconds to get the sulfur off.
Be wary of lighters that are not specifically designed for tobacco pipes.
Some pipe enthusiasts claim that the butane from the lighter subtly impacts the flavor of the tobacco itself.
Strike a wooden match against the emery strip along the package.
Allow the sulfur to burn off the tip before applying it to the pipe.
A wooden match will not impart a taste of lighter fluid. -
Step 2: Perform a "false light."
Char the top of the tobacco, but do not light it completely yet.
Hold the flame just above the tobacco at a skimming distance.
Draw your breath in using a half a dozen steady puffs.
Move the flame in a circle to reach all of the tobacco.This "charring light" aims to burn the tobacco slightly, but not to light it completely.
Don’t breathe the smoke into your lungs.
Puff steadily and slowly to avoid a sharp “tongue bite.” Pipe tobacco is generally stronger and more flavorful than the tobacco used in cigarettes., Once the pipe is evenly lit, this is the “true light.” You are now ready to settle into the smoking session.
Keep puffing periodically to make sure that the pipe stays lit.
The bowl should stay lit for at least 5-15 minutes once it is properly burning.
Keep air flowing through the tobacco.
If you don't want to inhale so often, try exhaling gently into the pipe.
The air should stoke the pipe fire from within and send a thin wisp of smoke trailing up out of the bowl., You may need to relight your pipe several times over the course of the smoking session.
Use the same steady, circular motion with your match.Tamp the tobacco down lightly to remove the charred top when the light goes out.
The removal of ash from tamping will allow the pipe to burn more evenly. , If it is dirty, then run a pipe cleaner through the stem.
Then, turn the pipe over and dump out the debris, or “dottle,” into an ashtray.
Finally, blow through the pipe to clear it out completely. , Spread it on a layer of clean paper.
Break up clumps and check that it isn’t moist.If it is moist, leave it spread across the paper to dry out for 10 minutes to an hour. , Dangle loose strands of tobacco into the bowl of your pipe.
Continue to do so, bit by bit, until it reaches the top of the bowl. , Buy a tamper from a tobacconist or an online retailer.
Press gently when you tamp the tobacco.
Avoid touching the tobacco with your hands.
The finger oils and force can clump the tobacco together. , If your pipe has straight sides, it should now fill half the bowl.
If it has graduated sides, it should be two-thirds full. , Draw your breath in.
If it is difficult to draw air through, the bowl is packed too tight.
The tobacco should be soft and springy, rather than clumpy, when it is packed. , Tamp down the tobacco slightly more than you did the first time.
Still use gentle pressure. , You may need to draw more breath than last time.
However, air should still come through the pipe.
If air doesn’t come through, then the bowl is packed too tight.
Start over. , Tamp down gently.
Your bowl should be full and ready to light. , If you're just getting started, consider buying a cheap corncob pipe.
Blown glass pipes are common for smoking marijuana and other non-tobacco plants. , Just like cigarettes, pipe tobacco can pollute indoor air and spread harmful secondhand smoke.
Light the pipe at least 30 feet (9m) from the entrance of a public space.
If you can .
If it is a windy day, then pack your pipe inside and bring it outdoors to smoke. , Enjoy the smoke.
Set aside 20 minutes to smoke your first pipe full of tobacco. -
Step 3: Keep charring and puffing.
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Step 4: Relight the pipe
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Step 5: if necessary.
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Step 6: Start with a clean and empty pipe.
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Step 7: Pinch some tobacco.
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Step 8: Pack the bowl.
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Step 9: Tamp the bowl of the pipe down with a tamper.
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Step 10: Check the tobacco level.
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Step 11: Put the pipe to your mouth.
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Step 12: Add more tobacco in small strands until the bowl is slightly overfull.
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Step 13: Draw on the pipe again.
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Step 14: Drop a few more strands into the bowl.
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Step 15: Buy a pipe.
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Step 16: Smoke respectfully.
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Step 17: Take your time.
Detailed Guide
Use a wooden match or pipe lighter.
Pipe lighters are made specifically for tobacco pipes, and should not alter the taste of the tobacco.
If using a match, strike it and let it burn for a few seconds to get the sulfur off.
Be wary of lighters that are not specifically designed for tobacco pipes.
Some pipe enthusiasts claim that the butane from the lighter subtly impacts the flavor of the tobacco itself.
Strike a wooden match against the emery strip along the package.
Allow the sulfur to burn off the tip before applying it to the pipe.
A wooden match will not impart a taste of lighter fluid.
Char the top of the tobacco, but do not light it completely yet.
Hold the flame just above the tobacco at a skimming distance.
Draw your breath in using a half a dozen steady puffs.
Move the flame in a circle to reach all of the tobacco.This "charring light" aims to burn the tobacco slightly, but not to light it completely.
Don’t breathe the smoke into your lungs.
Puff steadily and slowly to avoid a sharp “tongue bite.” Pipe tobacco is generally stronger and more flavorful than the tobacco used in cigarettes., Once the pipe is evenly lit, this is the “true light.” You are now ready to settle into the smoking session.
Keep puffing periodically to make sure that the pipe stays lit.
The bowl should stay lit for at least 5-15 minutes once it is properly burning.
Keep air flowing through the tobacco.
If you don't want to inhale so often, try exhaling gently into the pipe.
The air should stoke the pipe fire from within and send a thin wisp of smoke trailing up out of the bowl., You may need to relight your pipe several times over the course of the smoking session.
Use the same steady, circular motion with your match.Tamp the tobacco down lightly to remove the charred top when the light goes out.
The removal of ash from tamping will allow the pipe to burn more evenly. , If it is dirty, then run a pipe cleaner through the stem.
Then, turn the pipe over and dump out the debris, or “dottle,” into an ashtray.
Finally, blow through the pipe to clear it out completely. , Spread it on a layer of clean paper.
Break up clumps and check that it isn’t moist.If it is moist, leave it spread across the paper to dry out for 10 minutes to an hour. , Dangle loose strands of tobacco into the bowl of your pipe.
Continue to do so, bit by bit, until it reaches the top of the bowl. , Buy a tamper from a tobacconist or an online retailer.
Press gently when you tamp the tobacco.
Avoid touching the tobacco with your hands.
The finger oils and force can clump the tobacco together. , If your pipe has straight sides, it should now fill half the bowl.
If it has graduated sides, it should be two-thirds full. , Draw your breath in.
If it is difficult to draw air through, the bowl is packed too tight.
The tobacco should be soft and springy, rather than clumpy, when it is packed. , Tamp down the tobacco slightly more than you did the first time.
Still use gentle pressure. , You may need to draw more breath than last time.
However, air should still come through the pipe.
If air doesn’t come through, then the bowl is packed too tight.
Start over. , Tamp down gently.
Your bowl should be full and ready to light. , If you're just getting started, consider buying a cheap corncob pipe.
Blown glass pipes are common for smoking marijuana and other non-tobacco plants. , Just like cigarettes, pipe tobacco can pollute indoor air and spread harmful secondhand smoke.
Light the pipe at least 30 feet (9m) from the entrance of a public space.
If you can .
If it is a windy day, then pack your pipe inside and bring it outdoors to smoke. , Enjoy the smoke.
Set aside 20 minutes to smoke your first pipe full of tobacco.
About the Author
Claire Reyes
Creates helpful guides on practical skills to inspire and educate readers.
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