Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Robert, you may want to peruse the following thread I created a while back, asking for suggestions on cleaning a newly found pipe:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24452

It has some constructive criticism by some of our Inmates here...:tu

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks again you guys are full of win

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Full of wind? Moi?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Yeah, I think thats what he ment Dan;)

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Can't be sure who he was talking about...

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Where do you store your pipe tobacco? I've recently been on the hurtin' end of a NST pipe tobacco trade and have 16 baggies with tobacco in them. It'll take me a while to smoke all of this, even while sharing with friends. I'm thinking of buying a one of those airtight containers used to store flour in. Should I keep a humidification device in the jar? At what humidity? Thanks!

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Hello Andrew,

I saw the damage that Marc sent you. I'm sure you'll find something decent to smoke in that mess;) Regarding your storage question, you may want to try a small cooler with some sort of humidification device (beads, etc.) inside to store the baggies. You can also use this cooler for future purchases too.

If there's a tobaccy that you're gonna smoke on a regular basis, and you're gonna buy 5 or more oz to keep on hand, you may want to look into mason jars or something like this:

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/libbey-70996-22-oz-storage-jar-with-lid-12-cs/55170996.html

You can usually find the Libby storage type jars at Goodwill shop, 99 cent stores, etc. for around, well, 99 cents to $4.00 each. Wash them out and they are as good as new.

Hope this helps you out...

So where is that old fart anyways?:D;)

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Last I checked he was full of wind

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I pick them up by the case for under 10 bucks. New. Ball Mason Jars.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

What humidity do you keep the tobacco at? Should I use beads or just a sponge? Thanks.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

If you're gonna keep the tobacco's in those baggies and in a cooler, I'd use beads to keep the RH in the 68-70 range.

For me, I have the Libby type jars which I simply keep in a drawer, mid-level in the highboy...

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I just toss the tobacco into the jar as soon as I get it.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Occasionally as I'm smoking a bowl, as I get to the bottom half to third it sometimes becomes bland, or even worse sours. What am I doing wrong?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

And hard to keep lighted? That would probably be the result of accumulating moisture. Your pipe needs to dry out. Discover soggy dottle or look for a swampy pipe heel to confirm.

Briar pipe? Meer? Cob? How many smokes per day - per week?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Briar mostly, I do have a couple corn cobs as well.

I was thinking I may be smoking too fast (hot,) but I'm not really sure. I've noticed it with different blends and in different pipes. I've been pretty good at keeping them clean (to my knowledge) and haven't ever really noticed much moisture buildup when I finish up.

Oh, and It depends, I usually smoke a bowl, than clean, put back up, and smoke again in a day or two.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

If the briar is wet you can tell by looking into the bowl. Wet down in the heel of the pipe (at the airway) looks... wet. A couple of smokes/day and a few days rest shouldn't be a problem for a briar - but it might be. Inspect. It's hard to get a cob wet - if they get damp or stale smelling - a day out in the sun makes things smell/smoke better.

So if your pipes are dry enough, try smoking half-filled bowls for a while to improve filling, tamping and smoking technique; try not to over compress on the fill or the tamp. Allow a draw with slight restriction but not tight-tight. And, it's easy to say but hard to do when you start out, smoke slower. :) There is a balance you achieve between tobacco selection, tobacco moisture level, filling/tamping compression and speed of smoking that makes it all work out. Best way to find the balance is to practice and know perfection is just around the corner.

What are you smoking, by the way? Something from a tin, a can or a B&M glass jar? What brand9s) and where from?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I've noticed it with some McB Virgina1, CD bayou morning flake, and mostly some store bulk stuff. Pipes look dry for the most part, I think its more a technique thing to be honest. I was all excited my re-lights had dropped significantly, but that may be to smoking too fast. I'll try the half bowl thing for a bit, thanks for the advice Moo, you are a cow amongst men.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Pipe smoking takes a bit of time to unwrinkle - it'll all come together but, until then, there is plenty of good smoke along the way.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

So I was just on the receiving end of a great deal of pipe tobacco due to the NST. :) Is there any reason I shouldn't store this tobacco in my Edgestar with my cigars? i'm not right now, wanted to check if it was cool first.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Hello Jack, unless you want your cigars smelling like GLP Robusto or Charring Cross, I would probably store your newly gathered tobaccy and place them in another type of container (maybe a small Coleman type cooler, Tupperware, etc...).

Others will have further constructive criticism for you...:)

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Certainly?

Poly-bag 'em, stick them in a clean jar, screw on the lid and they'll stay ready-to-smoke for a long time. Pipe smokers generally suffocate their tobacco to good effect.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

thanks Mark and MisterMoo, I'll grab some more bags and a jar! this pipe tobacco smells wonderful but not so wonderful I want all my sticks to smell like it.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I would just pick a case (12) of Ball mason jars. I've tried just about every route one can take and as far as storage issues and price goes, the mason jars cannot be beat. The Wal-Mart near me has a "roll back on half pint (8ounce) jars for 6 bucks. I find that the half pint jars hold about 1 ounce and change of a ribbon cut tobacco ( more if you mash it down ) and over 2 ounces of a flake style tobacco. I just toss the tobacco in, close the lid tight and label the jar.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

On average, how many bowls can you get out of a 50g tin?

I know its determined with bowl size, but just a general idea will do.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Here's a thread to peruse that may help answer your question Shawn:

http://pipesmokersforum.com/forum/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&section=printto pic&client=printer&f=8&t=3593

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Pipes and cigars has some nice samplers. Any other websites that offer a variety of samplers to try?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

You can try the following:

http://www.ljperetti.com/tobacco.html

You can choose from their burley, english, cavendish, or flake blends, and then choose an ounce of a particular blend and build your own sampler.

Basically, you can do this from a number of online retailers that offer bulk and the opportunity to purchase in one ounce increments of that particular blend.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

So I picked up a yello bole from a cigar store that was clearing out their rather small pipe collection. Its brand new, but looks like it had been sitting there for a couple years. Cleaned the briar, and rubbed the inside of the bowl with a paper towel, but I'm having a problem with the stem, its all discolored. Any suggestions on how to remedy this?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Start by cleaning it with a Mr. Clean magic eraser. If that doesn't work you may have to go to some very fine grit sandpaper to clean the oxidized Vulcanite.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Call Cornell and Dehl and they'll put together a sampler for you.
"We offer a Trial Pack, (5 blends, 2 ounces each, you pick'em, including premium blends - pressed, too, if it's available) for $31.00, or 8 blends for $40.00 plus S&H. The trial pack may include C&D tinned tobaccos, GL Pease tins, Two Friends blends, and Hermit Capt. Earle blends but the sample will be 1 ounce. "

http://www.cornellanddiehl.com/oldindex.html

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

A soak in Clorox does wonders but it will also fur up the finish so it'll need subsequent buffing and polishing - it may also remove inked imprints or, at least, make them VERY white.

Woodworking supply joints sell a very cloth-like fabric backed polishing cloth called Micro Mesh. Wet sanding consecutively with 1500/2400/3600/6000/8000/12000 grits will take the worst looking vulcanite to wet-glass finish. It is pretty quick - maybe 20-30 minutes to hand sand crap into perfection.

If you don't have a LOW (I mean, low) speed buffer with small soft flannel wheels don't bother with a benchgrinder cause they will, sooner or later, tear up a nice pipe - trust me on that; if you have a lathe they can be made into great pipe buffers. After fine wet sanding, buff with Tripoli and finish with White Diamond compound.

Absent powered equipment, you cannot beat a little bleach and Micro Mesh in my opinion. So far.

Latest Micro Mesh job with a little wax to finish (last night):

http://i56.tinypic.com/2daj6sy.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/ddm22t.jpg

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Nice looking restore there M'Mo'...Need to do a restore job myself on an old pipe I've got.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Damn Moo....that pipe turned out nice

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Well... it did! Nobody was more surprised than I was!

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Hey M'Mo', how long does one of those Micro Mesh kits last. If you just plan on polishing pipe stems?? Also is pipe stem polish worth picking up?

Also, I've got an old nasty stem. I've soaked her in Oxy Clean and scrub her to high hell with a magic eraser, but looks flat and dull. I read somewhere you can polish with Olive Oil. After I put the olive oil on the stem it looks fine, but once I rub it away it goes back to dull town. Need some guidance here.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Is Squadron Leader still available? It seems to be out of stock everywhere I look?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Short of making/buying a proper low speed buffing wheel Micro Mesh is unbeatable to take any stem from scars to stars. I bought a sample set (6"x6" approx pieces from 1200-12,000) a couple of years ago. It lasts a long time big guy. Absent a sub-1000rpm wheel (and Tripoli, White Diamond and carnauba) MMesh, a sink and a little patience is the real deal. IMO.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Bulk is coming and going - here's 450g http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/dept...h=DF&tier2=68;

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I ran out of matches.... so grabbed my ST Dupont torch lighter....

ummm.... any suggestions on how to get the black off the rim of my pipe or is it burned beyond repair??

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Just take a q - tip and wet it with saliva and use it to wipe down the rim of the pipe. This is what I do. I usually do it when I clean my pipes. If the rim charring is bad, you may need a few q-tips...

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

http://micro-surface.com/index.php?m...products_id=87

Micro-Mesh™ Regular, 1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, 12000 - 9 sheets total, 1 per grade. Primary Use: Softer wood, plastics, paint

something like above - $21 and change depending on where you buy it - does it all and lasts a long time. The abrasive is on a cloth/foam backing and is quite flexible when working in tight spots; wet sand and rinse often and, when done, leave clean paper out to dry for later use.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Not sure if this has been asked before, but I'll give it another shot:

What qualifies an aromatic blend as an aromatic? For example, Butternut Burley is burley tobacco, with a topping. Is it an aromatic? Is it a Burley? Is it and aromatic burley?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Here is a good read if ya get some time MJ. http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Pipe_Tobaccos

I might have to pop a tin of of BB tonight and revisit it.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks!

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

So anything with out a plain black stem kind of gets my attention these days. I almost picked up an estate pipe with a clear acrylic stem. Has anyone seen any odd things happen using the salt/alcohol treatments with acrylic or lucite? Lucite I figure is no big deal but it would kind of suck to melt or cloud a clear acrylic stem.

On a side note how do you guys get rid of the burnt rubber vulcanite skank smell? Seems no matter what I do it keeps a funk.

Oh and howdy it has been awhile =D

Chris

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Not sure how salt and alcohol figures in with stems, B'oo; I only treat briar with salt and booze.

To destinkify a vulcanite stem (my fave) I use bristle pipe cleaners dipped in Everclear for the inside and clean the exterior back to shiny black with MicroMesh; if you have a for real low speed buffer, buff with Tripoli, White Diamond and polish with carnauba).

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

So a usual alch swabbing should remove the burnt rubber funk?

Ok TY Moo

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Well, maybe. It depends on how funky the outside is. When vulcanite oxidizes it does get funky.

Stem in post #481 above was funky inside and out....

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I have a Boswell pipe with a acrylic stem that is anything but black. As others said, no salt treatment on the stem. I just take a bristled pipe cleaner, soak it in some rum and scrub that SOB till theres no gunk. I run a pipe cleaner through it, let it dry then give it a practice sip and if there is still a funky taste I just run a few more booze soaked cleaners through the stem...