Quote Originally Posted by cbr310 View Post
so you dont actually put the fire to it for the charring light?
I do indeed. I make sure I go along the edges, draw hard and pull the superheated air through the pack. This is probably the hardest part of pipe smoking for me, as it requires two or three long, steady pulls rather than the typical "puffs." If the tobacco plumps up over the rim, you're either doing it right or smoking it too moist. The final tamp while it's still warm prior to the final ignition settles the warm tobacco back in place and evens up the irregular top after it swells. The char and occasionally dropping the tamper are the two breakthroughs I've had. I just smoked a bowl of Stonehaven in a MM Great Dane (thanks Pugsley!) with nary a relight.