Packing a Calabash Pipe...

Aspiring Calamologist

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Oct 31, 2007, 4:21:34 PM10/31/07

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Hi All! My name is Mike and I am new to the feed.

I am currently on a Meerschaum kick. I am bidding on a two Meerschaum-
lined briars on ebay.com (wish me luck!), I have just purchased a Butz-
Choquin Cappadoce Bent Rhodesian, and I am in the process of
purchasing a Strambach Calabash from synjeco.ch (a Swedish company).
I also ordered a Charatan Trafalgar for good measure. I had one big
question:

What is the best procedure for packing a meerschaum calabash gourd
pipe? I have tried the Frank method (devised by Achim Frank) with
limited success. Does anyone know of a way that keeps the pipe lit
and drawing easy? I need a little help.

Thanks,

Mike

terr...@suddenlink.net

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Oct 31, 2007, 4:33:32 PM10/31/07

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On Oct 31, 1:21 pm, Aspiring Calamologist <mpnmatth...@gmail.com>
wrote:

I have tried both the Frank method and the three pack method and have
never had a problem with a calabash. My calabash provides a really
cool smoke, but I have never had a Va in it. For me, the biggest
disadvantage of a calabash is just the sheer size of the thing. I also
have a couple meer lined pipes. One is so-so, the other is a Hilson
Canadian and it simply has too much weight concentrated at the end of
the stem. Wish I could offer some suggestion...

TerryJ

buck12ga

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Oct 31, 2007, 5:09:10 PM10/31/07

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Welcome to ASP, Mike. I fill my calabash like all my other pipes.

Buck

Bill Burney

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Oct 31, 2007, 5:36:54 PM10/31/07

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Hi Mike! Welcome to the group. Don't forget to check out
www.aspipes.org. Read the faq, it's got lots of good advice and info.

A gourd calabash has a true conical-shaped bowl, but it's usually not
very deep. Although the overall size of the pipe is huge, the bowl is
kinda small and very wide for the depth. The problem I have with them
is trying to get the top evenly lit, then keeping it burning while the
ember gains some depth in the bowl. Once you get it burning, it smokes
very well. Unfortunately, since the bowl is relatively shallow, the
smoke doesn't last very long.

I wish someone made replacement bowls that are deep for calabashes.
About 1-1/2" to 2" would be great. As for how to deal with the problem,
I can only suggest trying different tobaccos in it until you find one
that lights well and burns slowly. That's a hard combination to find.

Bill "but the search should be fun" Burney

Robert

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Oct 31, 2007, 5:49:59 PM10/31/07

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On Oct 31, 1:21 pm, Aspiring Calamologist <mpnmatth...@gmail.com>
wrote:

I use a combination of packing methods; gravity feed and the 1/3
method. I first fill the pipe to the top using gravity feed then push
it down to 1/3rd, then I repeat the process until I have 2/3rds and
then 3/3rds and theres a slight resistance when drawing on the pipe.
To keep a pipe lit, I suggest lighting your pipe, then let it go out
completely. Then re-light your pipe, this ensures that you catch the
edges which will promote caking. Otherwise you'll be smoking the
center, you won't be creating a good cake and might create steam,
gurling, and an unpleasant smoking experience.
Robert

Donnie

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Oct 31, 2007, 6:29:19 PM10/31/07

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> Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Just rememeber that too much cake in a meer could crack the bowl due
to the cake epanding faster than the bowl.

~Donnie

tom clemons

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Oct 31, 2007, 9:53:40 PM10/31/07

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Welcome to the fellowship, Mike! Looking forward to your posts on
pipes, tobaccos and pipe smoking. As for packing a gourd calabash, I
would be surprised if there was some unique method, but then I
continue to learn much from this newsgroup. Cheers,

Tom Clemons
ASP Fall 1998