I think the topping can break down over time, but I recommend some level of stockpiling as the tax hikes will almost certainly keep coming. 30% ish increase in pipe tobacco prices in michigan this year.
i like that plan with parchment paper. I was going to get a c-clamp and a couple boards to put it back into place. i already started denting it a little by pounding it. I want to try going a little slower. I did not leave room to get the screws back on. didn't realize what had happened until it...
i pressed so hard that I expanded the metal tube lining. When pushing the tobacco out I had backed off the screw and it ended up partially moving the inner tube and getting it stuck out an inch or so. enough that I couldn't get the cap threaded to try forcing it back.
Not new to pipe smoking but very limited on and off smoking until the past year when I decided this was the cheapest and safest vice I could get into while stuck at home. Oriented mostly towards straight VA and Burleys that have a bit of a chocolate note to them.