What is the best way to pack a tobacco pipe?

Question

Do I pack it tight or loose? How do I get it to burn longer then 15 seconds? Do I fill it to the brim?

Answer 1

Here is the method I use.

Pipe packing is basically a three step process.Step #1: Sprinkle the tobacco loosely into the pipe until it fills up to the brim. Note that I said sprinkle loosely and not pinch and put! This is one of the biggest problems with even guys who know how to pack their pipes! Sprinkle loosely until full and then poke it down until the bowl is half full. If you have a tapered bowl then you may wish to make it more like two-thirds. If you were to draw on the pipe there would be little if any resistance.

Step #2: Sprinkle loosely again until the bowl is full. Poke it down evenly until the bowl is three-fourths full. If you were to draw on the pipe there would be a little resistance; say less than a cigarette.

Step #3: Sprinkle loosely until the bowl is full and then round up the top so that a little mound of tobacco rests over the bowl. The mound should be less than a half inch tall and nicely rounded. Then poke it down flat and even with the brim of the bowl. If you were to draw though the pipe it would seem slightly less resistance than a cigarette. The pipe should be ready for the lighting!

Answer 2

Fill it to about 3/4th and tamp it moderately.

You may have to experiment to get that right consistancy.

Too loose and it burns fast. Too tight and it goes out often