What do you use for a tamper?

a $1.99 tamper, poker and scraper combo tool from my local b&m.

Do a search for "pipe nail". They go for about a buck and that's what I primarily use. Has a tamper and scooper end. I'm not into high dollar accessories, I'd rather spend that money on good tobacco...and since I like SG so much, that tobacco doesn't come cheap.

I use my finger because I lose my tamper, then if I ever find it again, I lose it again

If I lose mine I find a AA battery does the job quite well.

Bumping this one up since we are having another influx of new pipers.

I use the cheapest pipe nail I can find. Single piece of aluminum. Tamper on one end. Spoon/scraper on the other. 
75 cents and I think have about 12 on hand at any given time

I have used a piece of 223 rifle brass to pretty good effect before. Larger head stamps would probably work fine provided your bowl is large enough. Pistol cases didn't work for me. They were too short and didn't reach by the time I got to the bottom of the bowl.

When I spent a few days straight outdoors like on a weekend camp and fish trip, I'll make a point to search for an appropriate sized piece of good hardwood like hickory, walnut, maple, or oak, although cherry and Apple both work well too. Using my scavenged materials I will carve a fresh tamper/spoon. It's entertaining around the fire at night to make it more ornate than it was the day before

Nice bump, I like the wood tamper idea just for fun.  New pipers sometimes think the tamper is for packing.  NOT!  It is for while you're smoking, and it's importance is paramount.

silvermouse said:

Czech pipe tool

Not knowing anything about smoking a pipe, but interested, I had to google what this is.

Looking at the picture:  Tamper is for tamping tobacco after lit for a better draw?

Skinny pokey part for keeping your draw opening clear?

The part I don't get is the little shovel.  Back when I wore a certain uniform, I know the coke heads used one to get enough for a line out of their bottle or baggie.

Don't imagine you guys use the shovel part for that, but it sure isn't big enough to measure tobacco for a bowl.

Sorry if this seems really dumb, but I know nothing about pipes except that most smell good.

Diver43 said:

silvermouse said:

Czech pipe tool

: 1. Tamper is for tamping tobacco after lit for a better draw?

2.Skinny pokey part for keeping your draw opening clear?

3.The part I don't get is the little shovel. 

1.  Sort of.  Think about "smoke signals" in the old Westerns, the fire is burning, no smoke, apply the blanket then lift: voila!  Smoke.  You'll often see new pipers take a puff, look puzzled at the lack of smoke, then re-light.  Wrong!  Always take a puff with the tamper before relighting.  9 times out of 10, the tobacco was just burning too efficiently to produce smoke.

2.  Yes.  And stirring, then re-tamp before relighting.

3.  What @Wylaff said.  

Thank You Gentlemen, that little shovel had me puzzled.

Guess if I decide that I like this pipe smoking thing, I will need something similar.

Tonight for my first bowl supplied by @Captain_Call, it is a simple spike i got from the garage. I have a tool and a bit better pipe ordered, but amazon hasnt shipped it yet.

I just use my finger most of the time.  Cover of a book of paper matches, sometimes.  Tamper or pipe nail, on occasion.

finger or Czech tool.

I don't think I've ever seen a Chicago screw used as a pipe tool before.

Here's some of mine, I don't use the Czech tool or the nail much.