My Tangiers Hole Poker!

[DrSmokes]

So we all know we need bigger holes in our foil for Tangiers tobacco.  And we all know that the holes have to be bigger than the toothpick.  So...one of my thermometers broke and was about to throw it out and looked at it and thought "Now that would make a perfect poker".  Sure enough, it's effin' amazing!  Here's a link to the one I use.

 

I can post pictures later of how it looks, just thought I would share this since I kept forgetting for 2 months now.

 

 

 

 

[Chreees]

Recycling at its finest. :)

[Satou]

Yay for upcycling~

[Skoozle]

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_16048.jpg

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-pick-and-hook-set-66836.html

I use the straight one. Havent found a use for the other 3 but for $1 its great.

[Pavo21]

i just use a tooth pick, never had issues, but i dont like the sound the foil and metal make together when you poke the holes. it buggs my ears :(

[Fouda]

I use the straight one. Havent found a use for the other 3 but for $1 its great.

Open a dentistry and make money :P

[mushrat]

We know we need bigger holes? Did I miss the memo?

[Coyote]

Haha. I have used one of those. I use a bamboo skewer and its just about the same size. I always give a few away when I give packing lessons. They are the perfect size. 

[â€On]

We know we need bigger holes? Did I miss the memo?

 

We must have. I have been using holes smaller than a toothpick (or, at the largest, toothpick-sized) for pretty much as long as I can remember and I have not had issues.

[DrSmokes]

We know we need bigger holes? Did I miss the memo?

Coyote has said it many times, maybe she will restate it here for you.  Again, this is for Tangiers.

[mustang67n]

I use a 16ga. piercing needle. Much smaller than a toothpick. It works excellent for all tobacco's including tangiers. And it doesnt disturb the foil and make me have to re-tighten it.

[Chreees]

We know we need bigger holes? Did I miss the memo?

 

We must have. I have been using holes smaller than a toothpick (or, at the largest, toothpick-sized) for pretty much as long as I can remember and I have not had issues.

 

 

I use my oyster fork which gives holes about the same size as a toothpick... Guess I missed it, too? :unknown:

 

Works fine for me, so I will keep doing what I have been doing...

[Skoozle]

We know we need bigger holes? Did I miss the memo?

If smaller holes work for you then why change?  Do what feels good, man.

[Pavo21]

I use a 16ga. piercing needle. Much smaller than a toothpick. It works excellent for all tobacco's including tangiers. And it doesnt disturb the foil and make me have to re-tighten it.

 

THAT LITTLE THING HURT MY SENSITIVE EARS!! but it worked for poking holes.

[dzigner]

I use a steel tip dart from walmart $2-3 for 3 of them.

[Bawhee]

I use the pointy end of them small scissors you use for clipping your nails if you cant find a nail clipper.

[Coyote]

lots of big holes for tangiers. as many as you can fit. it prevents overheating, wild temperature variance, and drastically decreases the risk of scorching the top of the bowl. additionally it will relieve restriction. more importantly it is for the heat management and longevity.

 

if small holes work for you with whatever way you are packing it then continue. Though i often have the experience that once people try tried-and-true techniques their sessions are longer and more enjoyable.

[Bawhee]

I should add that I dont have any tangiers anywhere in the country and use the scissors for nak and AF :P

[mustang67n]

Luka, sometimes when I don't have anything else to poke holes, I use a pocket knife. I think the long, narrow holes work really well for heat management.. FACT..

also.. for tangiers, i've used big holes, small holes, center holes, no center holes, etc. I've found that as long as I have good airflow, my bowls length, nor satisfaction hardly deviate. I feel like the Tangiers BIg Hole Theory is a myth.

[Coyote]

You  can take that one up with Eric then lol. 

[Venger]

corn on the cob holder. pokes 2 holes at once.I am really lazy.

[â€On]

Luka, sometimes when I don't have anything else to poke holes, I use a pocket knife. I think the long, narrow holes work really well for heat management.. FACT..

also.. for tangiers, i've used big holes, small holes, center holes, no center holes, etc. I've found that as long as I have good airflow, my bowls length, nor satisfaction hardly deviate. I feel like the Tangiers BIg Hole Theory is a myth.

100% agree with you. The TBHT (lol) is a good guideline, but at the end of the day it has nothing to do with the size of the hole and EVERYTHING to do with airflow. If I poke smaller holes I'm doing more of them; if I poke bigger holes I poke less of them. It comes out exactly the same way. I have literally packed two identical bowls in pipes that smoke exactly the same with the same setup and everything, side by side, one with big holes, one with small, and they both smoked great, had great airflow and lasted 3-4 hours (when we stopped smoking). When you can compare two pipes side by side and the only real difference between them is how the holes are poked in the foil, and they both smoke identical (with our eyes closed, someone else holding the hose, we couldn't even tell the difference). I've been smoking long enough to know that with 90% of what people do to set up a pipe, it's just personal preference and is not the only way to do it. The entirety of it is the sum of all it's parts, and everything is in balance. As long as you maintain a balance, it works out. We all do what works for us, it's that simple. I'm sure watching each other set our pipes up in person we would all be thinking "I wouldn't do it like that" about at least one thing.
 

TL;DR: You put some stuff in your stuff and then your stuff smokes. It's not fucking rocket science.

[ChicagoRSX]

I've always used a tooth pick and never had an issue, but I think I'll grab a bamboo skewer and try that this coming weekend.