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Need some advice on Flakes

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 02:37 — Eric_in_Texas

I'm really trying to get into smoking flake tobacco. At the moment I have 6 different unopened tins of various blends that I want to try. Problem is I'm really not clear on what size/shape of pipe would best suit a flake tobacco.

I know there are quite a few of you here who smoke a lot of flake tobacco, so please feel free to chime in and offer up some advice to a flake newb.

Comments

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 02:54 — Tim
Tim's picture

Flakes

Try the flake in a smaller bowl to begin with; the pressing makes the more intense. i like flakes in a smaller Ferndown quarter bent and a Dublin.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 03:13 — Mouse
Mouse's picture

Some smokers

fold 'em in half and load 'em vertically into the pipe, maybe giving the flake a twist--or not, fuzzing the top or adding some rubbed out to get it all going. It will expand a little so don't pack it too tight. Others rub them out a little or a lot. Some like a small bowl, others a large bowl, others a straight sided bowl, or conical, or a stack. I guess what I am saying is you got to find what works best for you. I find that MacBaren flakes are more crumbly and need little handling while more dense ones like some of the Gawiths work better for me if I rough them up a little. I like a tall narrow bowl myself.
Mouse

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 06:38 — Captain Bob
Captain Bob's picture

I have two favorites...

... Orlik Golden Slices and C&D Sunday Picnic. I Don't smoke Flakes often, but I always keep those two on hand and enjoy them both very much.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 07:14 — muddler
muddler's picture

My staple diet is FVF in a

My staple diet is FVF in a size 3 GBD billiard. I use a tear & stuff method. I prefer smaller bowls with any flake & find billiards - with their taller bowls - work best for me. For a Va flake starter pack I'd recommend OGS, FVF, SG BBF & GLP Union Square. McBaren Navy Flake is also pretty good. And perhaps it's best to rub the flakes out fully to start with - at least until you've found which method of filling suits you best.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:17 — Aristokles
Aristokles's picture

Experiment

I've found a profound difference in smoking qualities between rolled flake versus fully rubbed. McClelland's Dark Star is two entirely different smoking experiences depending on which method I use with it. Ditto with Penzance (but not quite to the same degree in taste change).
One needs also to consider flake versus just plain pressed. I prefer my C&D Night Train and Pirate Kake fairly well rubbed out.
Put it your pipe and smoke it...experiment and have fun.

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 15:08 — Krawdad13
Krawdad13's picture

Every pipe, every flake and every smoker is individual

There ar lots of instructional videos on U-tube and at the MacBaren site to assist you.
My favorite way is the fold and stuff method. Fold a 3-4 inch flake (this may vary with the size of the bowl you are trying to fill, maybe one and a half flakes, two or even three will fill the bowl best) once with the grain and again against the grain. grab packet on either end and twist back and forth to fray the open end. Stuff the packet , closed end down into bowl. The frayed ends should ignite well and you have a long liesurely smoke ahead of you.
Some tobaccos react better to being fully rubbed out before being packed into the bowl.
I've heard of people rolling the flake into a semi-solid ball or two and dropping it/them into the bowl and tamping, never tried that, myself.
Lately I have been folding a larger quantity of flake so it needs forcing into the bowl leaving an airpocket underneath. This is working QUITE well for me. The Ennerdale I smoked last night using that method was WONDERFUL!!!
I love Penzance but find it falls apart before I can manipulate it very much. (They call it krumble cake for a reason.)
I've found some flakes have been sliced too thick to fold well. Others sliced too thin to hold together very well.
I'm having a wonderful time learning as much as I can about every flake I can put my grubby mitts on.
Best of luck to you on your journey of personal knowledge.

Fri, 01/29/2010 - 16:36 — Eric_in_Texas
Eric_in_Texas's picture

Thank you all for the input,

Thank you all for the input, I knew I could count on you. Ive got several different flake blends to try and I think I'm going to dedicate a tall, narrow billiard and a small bent apple exclusively to flake and see what happens.
I'm going to dive into a tin of OGS first and foremost, in a salute to Lars.