[BloodyCactus]

So.. I picked up a few cobs and a tin of McConnells Scottish Flake and a tin of Red Rapparee.. And foolishly popped the seal on the flake (have not touched the RR tin yet).

the scottish flake is so fragile. Do I crumble it up? Its like very thin super fragile paper rectangles. Not quite sure how I get this into my pipe for best bowl package..

 

[Old_Salt]

With flakes there is no right or wrong. fold it, roll it in a tube, crumble, try them all. what ever works for you. There are a couple of things to remember!
1. Loose is good. Flakes need good air-flow.
2 Dry is also good, let it air out 20-30 min before loading up. Some blends
need more air time, Full Virginia Flake may take an hour or more.
3. Smoke slow & easy. No Puffing & chugging like a 2-8-4 Berkshire going up
a 4% grade.

 

[Sam_Wheat]

I have tried rubbing out and folding. I like the fold and pack method myself.

 

[Mister Moo]

It is a fragile, thin-cut flake - you are 100% correct, sir! (And once it's dried out it'll crumble near to dust in your hands. Keep it slightly humidifed after the lid is popped if it hangs around long enough to get uber-crumbly. A wet postage-stamp sized piece of paper towel closed up in the tin will bring it back in a day. If you're not going to snarf it all down soon, jar it.)

 

[laloin]

I tend to roll my flake up into a ciminon stick, fold in half, and fold again. Then twist and press in till I have a tight ball. then I stuff into my pipe, leaving a air pocket at the bottem of the bowl.
that air pocket will shrink as you tamp your flake down. best to smoke your flakes in a bent dublin shape pipe, but everyone has their favorite pipe to smoke a flake
troy

 

[Jessefive]

Flakes are tricky, I can't say I've mastered them yet. But there is something about tobacco in that form that seems, just, right. I love opening a tin of perfectly cut and intact flakes.

 

[laloin]

smoking flakes are wonderful smokes, you get soo many different tastes when you sip on a nice bowl of your favorite flake. Not saying that loose is better, just different
have a look at dublinthedam flake video on youtube, or someone here will hotlink it hehe
troy

 

[Mister Moo]

Flakes are tricky, I can't say I've mastered them yet. But there is something about tobacco in that form that seems, just, right. I love opening a tin of perfectly cut and intact flakes.

Seriously.... they're works of art.