How to Use a Tobacco Pipe
- 1). Start with a clean pipe. If your pipe has been used previously, clean it out using a pipe cleaner. The pipe cleaner can be run through the pipe to remove any ash or tobacco left behind from previous uses.
- 2). Grab a small pinch of tobacco -- enough to fill the bowl to the top. The tobacco is moist and might stick together slightly, so use your fingers to pull apart any large clumps. Slowly sprinkle tobacco into the bowl of the pipe until it is filled to the top. Set aside any excess and grab more if necessary.
- 3). Press down firmly on the tobacco using a pipe tamper or any item with a small blunt edge. Continue to compress the tobacco until the bowl half full.
- 4). Suck gently on the mouthpiece of the pipe. Air should flow through the pipe freely. If you notice any blockage or difficulty drawing in air, repack the tobacco.
- 5). Sprinkle more tobacco into the bowl, until it reaches the top again. Press the tobacco down again -- this time it should reach about two-thirds of the way up the bowl. Test the airflow again.
- 6). Repeat the entire process once more. This time, the bowl should end up completely full of packed tobacco.
- 7). Hold a flame over the tobacco for a few seconds while puffing the pipe. This is called a "false light" and will simply burn the tobacco a bit, allowing it to support a flame. Use your tamper to gently flatten the tobacco.
- 8). Hold a flame over the tobacco a second time while puffing the pipe. This time, the tobacco will light and burn evenly.
- 9). Smoke the pipe by taking a short puff, holding the smoke in your mouth for a few seconds and letting the smoke slowly out of your mouth or nose.
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