One of the nice things about pipes is that they provide a long-lasting smoke. In fact, sometimes this smoke lasts long enough that the smoker would prefer to put it out and to finish it at a later time. Pipes can oftentimes be left to go out on their own and, when they are, one must go through the lighting process again when they wish to finish it. The process is largely the same as the first light with a few steps removed.
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.
To light the pipe, repeat the initial lighting process. Simply hold the flame above the pipe and draw it into the tobacco by puffing. The idea is to get the tobacco hot enough to continuously combust without getting it so hot that the taste becomes overly-sharp. Once it is burning freely, the pipe can be smoked in the normal fashion. The tobacco may take on a slightly different flavor, even when it is burning correctly.
If the tobacco fails to light properly, one can aerate the bowl to make it burn more smoothly. Simply take the aerating tool and poke a few holes in the tobacco. Don’t poke too many or the tobacco will overheat. Generally, only a few holes need to be poked into the tobacco to set it to burning correctly. If the tobacco is very shaggy before being relit, one can simply tamp it down a few times to restore the correct packing job.
Relighting the pipe can make a bowl last a very long time. Because pipes do burn for so long, it’s natural to let them go out once and a while and to relight them later. Some smokers even keep the pipe in their mouth while it’s burnt out. If the tobacco proves to have an objectionable taste, it may be better to just repack a fresh bowl. Enjoyment, after all, is the entire point of smoking a pipe.