Are You A "Stirrer"?

[justinhb]

Good Morning,

As my pipe smoking has really started to ramp up over the past year or so, I have noticed that I might have some tendencies that others might not, and I was curious to know if anyone else does some of the things I do when smoking. One of these things is that just before I tamp my bowl, I stir the the tobacco using the pick on my pipe tool. In my mind, this is to spread the embers around to the outside of the bowl so more of the tobacco burns. I also routinely stir even when I don't tamp, just to make sure the entire bowl is lit.

As a side note, I stir a LOT when smoking straight Virginia's, since I normally pack using the fold and stuff method...

Would love to get everyone's thoughts...

 

[Plinsc]

I stir it up sometimes, just depends on how it’s burning

 

[Struck _ Match]

If stirring works for you go with it! I have stirred surely, but not as a method. Nothing wrong there.

 

[Whip Dooley]

I've heard of doing this, but don't quite understand what it does. When I've tried it, I just get a mess, often plugging the draft hole. Does it require a wide bowl, like a pot?

 

[justinhb]

I've heard of doing this, but don't quite understand what it does. When I've tried it, I just get a mess, often plugging the draft hole. Does it require a wide bowl, like a pot?

I primarily do it to make sure all of the tobacco is burning, and I do it in every pipe regardless of bowl diameter...I have never had it plug a draft hole, but that may be because I am only stirring the top 1/8 or 1/16 of the bowl...YMMV... Thanks all for the replies...

 

[Chicken Man]

Can't say I have ever heard of such a method. I'd assume it'd mix the ash in with the tobacco making it taste off, but if you haven't had any issues then more power to ye.

 

[Cap]

often plugging the draft hole.

This

 

[Adeptus_Minor]

I'll stir and dump sometimes...like 2/3 of the way through the bowl. Depending on how my bottom tobacco is packed it may or may not be followed by a successful relight, but it's how I deal with too much ash in the bowl or if I've overly/unevenly tamped, and to see how much unburned tobacco I have left.
As I'm still very young in the hobby and working on my methods, I would not represent this as good technique. It's just something I've been doing.

 

[Chicken Man]

I'll stir and dump sometimes...like 2/3 of the way through the bowl. Depending on how my bottom tobacco is packed it may or may not be followed by a successful relight, but it's how I deal with too much ash in the bowl or if I've overly/unevenly tamped, and to see how much unburned tobacco I have left.
As I'm still very young in the hobby and working on my methods, I would not represent this as good technique. It's just something I've been doing.

That's something I did as well when I started out. My advice would be if you're not sure how much leaf you have left: Scrape off the ash, dump that out, loosen up the tobacco and relight.

 

[CharringLight]

The only time I stir is when I am finished with the bowl to help aid in the removal of ashes and any left over dottle. Stirring for me while smoking only increases the chance of drawing ashes into my mouth while smoking.

 

[Yakster]

No, not a stirrer. I've tried a few times and either plugged the draft hole or sucked on some ash. Sometimes I'll scoop some ash out, but I don't really stir.

 

[AndyNJ]

mix the ash in with the tobacco making it taste off

this

 

[xrundog]

No. I don’t think that would taste good. I do dump ash off the top though.

 

[TimBuck]

Seldom. Sometimes I have a problematic smoke and stirring occasionally helps, but often it just creates its’ own issues as others have noted.

 

[MikeInMaine]

I don’t stir. I can’t imagine a need to.

 

[Tom G Warrior]

I'll kind of stir, but only if I pack poorly.

 

[Yakster]

I've used the probe tip to open up a poorly packed bowl, and to unblock the airway on occasion, but haven't found stirring all that helpful.

 

[Bach6032]

I don't stir, per se, but occasionally I'll use the pick on the Czech tool to coax the less-burned tobacco around the wall of the bowl to the center where the combustion is a little more intense.

 

[BlueMaxx]

I don't stir, per se, but occasionally I'll use the pick on the Czech tool to coax the less-burned tobacco around the wall of the bowl to the center where the combustion is a little more intense.

Same here...but I like to fiddle with things.
I am more of a poker.
Sometimes depending on what I am smoking I may have to ream the bore with a pipe cleaner.

 

[Spearheadbill]

Nothing good has ever happened after stirring for me.