I like to keep a flake as in tact as possible. I use a version of the fold and stuff method. A guy at my local shop showed me how he does it and I love the method. I tear or cut the flakes longways about 4 times and then fold and stuff those slimmer pieces. When the bowl is nearly full, I rub some out fully to put on top to get it going.

It works great. If anyone is interested, I demonstrate the method I use in a YouTube video. The link to my channel is in my sig line.

There are a couple of tobaccos that I use a slightly different method on. Dark Star is one. That tobacco is just so thick and moist that it doesn't work all that well. I rub it out a little bit more than my usual, but still not rubbed all the way out. If I'm smoking a flake, I want large in tact chunks of tobacco in my bowl. That's the idea that the blend was designed around.

Just my 0.02