Before dipping and smoking, packing tobacco is a ritual.The benefits of packing are largely that of habit.In tins and cigarette papers, packing tobacco can help to keep loose tobacco in check.Whatever your method, we've got you covered.For more information, see Step 1.
Step 1: To check for freshness, open your can.
Most dipping tobacco comes in small, hockey puck-shaped tins that are designed to keep the tobacco nice and moist.For a variety of reasons, chewers and dippers will pack the tobacco to one side of the can, but mostly to make it easier to get a pinch, and because it looks cool.If you don't want to pack smokeless tobacco, it's perfectly fine.It's a ritual to pack the tin and it makes it easier to tell how much tobacco you have left.
Step 2: You can pinch the can between your fingers.
After closing the tin, put your thumb in the center of the bottom of it, and your middle finger on the top.Put the tin on the ground by rotating it.
Step 3: The tin needs to be snapped downward.
Hold the tin tightly, but not so tightly that it will fall.If you were going to skip it on the water, Wrap your pointer finger around the edge of the tin.Move the can quickly while you relax your pointer finger.Start by moving the can downward with a quick jerk.With each jerking movement, your pointer finger will make a loud noise on the side of the can.Get a good pack by repeating.Some dippers will do a slightly different version, snapping it backwards, toward the side of the head.Others will flick the tin away from them.You can experiment to see what works for you.
Step 4: The tin should be opened.
The tobacco should be packed densely to one side of the tin to make it easy to remove a pinch.You are ready to dip and enjoy.
Step 5: Before opening cigarettes, pack them.
When you buy a pack of cigarettes, whatever variety, the pack will have been sitting right-side-up on the shelf for quite a while, and the tobacco loosened up some in the paper.While the cigarettes are still tight in the package, smokers will pack the tobacco back down towards the filter, making it easier to light and draw from.It's true that cigarettes from packs that haven't been packed have a tendency to kick the cherry, or lose the lit-end when the ash is tapped off.It's also true that the tobacco will leave a small empty tab on the end of each cigarette, which is easier to light than a cigarette with tobacco flush with the ends.
Step 6: In your hand, turn the pack upside down.
The top of the pack pointed down toward the floor when you pinched between your thumb and middle finger.With your finger on top, hold the pack in place.Your palm pointed up as you held your other hand open.It's better if you don't remove the plastic wrap from the pack first.While you're doing it, you don't have to worry about the top of the box flapping open.It's a good idea to handle soft-packs a bit more gently since there is nothing to separate your finger from the cigarette but a thin piece of paper.
Step 7: Place the top of the pack in your hand.
To pack the cigarettes, hit the top of the pack with your open palm.Just let the swing carry the pack into your palm if you hold it loose enough.Depending on how packed your cigarettes are, you can repeat this process about 10 times.More packing will recess the tobacco farther into the paper, resulting in more empty space at the tip of the cigarette and denser tobacco, making the draw somewhat more snug.
Step 8: Remove the pack of cigarettes.
You can return the cigarette to the pack and pack it a few more times if you don't like how far you've packed the tobacco.If you pack too much, you can flip the pack over and pack it in the opposite direction.
Step 9: Pack a well-maintained tobacco pipe.
The stem of the tobacco pipe should be cleaned several times by running a pipe cleaner through it.If the bowl of the pipe is dark and ashy it's a good thing.The "cake" helps the tobacco burn in a uniform way.Repack a tobacco pipe if you empty it.You will get a hot and rattling smoke from the stem, which is likely to be full of wet condensation.
Step 10: Push the tobacco down by half by filling the bowl with it.
The best way to pack a pipe is to fill the bowl completely, then use the pipe tamper, a small metal rod with a flat end made for the purpose, to push the tobacco down until it's reduced by about half.It's perfectly fine to use your thumb, forefinger, or blunt end of a lighter if you don't have a tamper.It is nice, but not necessary.
Step 11: Add more pinches to the bowl.
The tobacco should be compressed by half after refilling the pipe.Depending on the tobacco and the springiness of it, the pipe should be 1/3 of the way full.You might want to add more if you have a larger bowl, but it's probably enough to start.
Step 12: Light the tobacco and draw.
You're ready to start smoking after packing it in.To avoid flustering the tobacco, draw gently and rhythmically.
Step 13: If your pipes go out frequently, ask a tobacconist to demonstrate.
The art of packing a pipe requires some practice, but it doesn't need to be very complicated.To pack a good pipe, you don't need fancy equipment.If your pipes go out frequently, you might have a problem with your pipe stem, or you could be packing the pipe too tightly.If you're struggling, ask for help from a tobacconist.