Relighting a pipe means that one gets to enjoy their smoke at their own pace. Pipes burn for a long time and some smokers prefer to let them go out and relight them after a while. This does change the tobacco’s flavor a bit but many smokers like the sharper, bolder taste. The process of relighting a pipe is very similar to that required to achieve the first light. In fact, it is virtually identical save for the absence of a few steps.
Pipe smokers usually make use of a few different tools when packing their pipe. These will come into play when one relights their pipe. The most often-used three tools are a tamping tool, an aerator and a pipe cleaner. The aerator may have to be used to relight the pipe. The tamping tool may come into play, as well. One will find out whether the tobacco needs to be repacked as soon as they relight the pipe.
Relight the pipe in the same way as one lights it right after packing it. Hold the flame above the tobacco a bit and draw it into the tobacco in short puffs. Be sure not to get it burning too hot or one will be dealing with a sharp, bitter taste instead of a smooth smoke. Once the pipe is lit, the ember should burn evenly and smoothly without hot spots or parts of the tobacco going unlit.
Once the pipe is lit, it should burn at a fairly cool temperature but hot enough to stay lit on its own. Sometimes, one may be required to adjust the pack quite a bit. Burning changes the density of the tobacco and this may affect the burn in a significant regard. After a good deal of practice at this, one will quickly master the art of relighting their pipe just as they did the art of lighting a fresh bowl of tobacco.
Most pipe lighters come with the appropriate tools for aerating, tamping and cleaning the pipe. These tools usually fold back into the lighter when not in use. These tool-equipped lighters are available in fluid-filled types as well as in the more popular butane models. If one is serious about their pipe, they need to have one of these lighters on hand or a tool kit with the same implements. The lighter devices are, of course, more convenient.
Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty cigar lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including windproof lighters.