Too Quiet Around Here... (open thread)

[DrDubzz]

we need some banter, somewhat pipe related would be nice.

but this place is dead. the crickets are telling ME to keep it down




as inspired by Slow T, I have self-blended my first experiment

~3 parts MB VA No1
~1 part black cavendish (not entirely sure who made it or anything, it was a gift from TOB9595)

they've been in a ziplock for 4 days now. at day 7 I'm gonna try a bowl and see how it is.

anyone else try any simple blending like this?

anyone else still check this forum?

I sure like the churchwarden my brother got me for Christmas, it screams "intelligent... crime solver... genius pimp" and some other things

[Mister Moo]

This pipe forum needs some juice to get it going. Yee haw.

(I was going to post a nude-carved meerschaum but I was too embarrassed.)

Originally Posted by RX2010

anyone else still check this forum?

Yep. I just got my first pipe a few days ago - a Savinelli. Good times.

[DrDubzz]

I recently got my first Savinelli, a churchwarden from my brother (ridmaster). smokes like a dream, and it makes me look considerably smarter while puffing

Moo, I can't figure out why this place isn't any more active, we should recruit some folks perhaps

I would think that there aren't too many pipers in general, and this place is relatively new. So what can we do?

Naked women usually do the trick.

But I guess we'd have to bait and switch them, because not too many of that around here.

[schnell987]

Maybe change the forum name to something like "XXX Naked Supermodels & Pipers Forum".

[Da Klugs]

I smoke an occasional pipe. Problem is, for me, one bowl and I don't feel like smoking anymore. Tend to have one when I know I only have that much time.

[schnell987]

Originally Posted by RX2010

as inspired by Slow T, I have self-blended my first experiment

~3 parts MB VA No1
~1 part black cavendish (not entirely sure who made it or anything, it was a gift from TOB9595)

they've been in a ziplock for 4 days now. at day 7 I'm gonna try a bowl and see how it is.

anyone else try any simple blending like this?

I was going to try blending the two "aromatic" blends that I currently have - "very cherry" and "vanilla" into cherry vanilla (seems to make sense).

You noted that you will keep the new blend of tobaccos in the ziplock for 7 days...Would it work to just take some of each tobacco, mix them together and fill the pipe? Or is it recommended that to truly "blend" the flavors, the tobaccos should have time to rest together?

[FrequenC]

Originally Posted by schnell987

I was going to try blending the two "aromatic" blends that I currently have - "very cherry" and "vanilla" into cherry vanilla (seems to make sense).

You noted that you will keep the new blend of tobaccos in the ziplock for 7 days...Would it work to just take some of each tobacco, mix them together and fill the pipe? Or is it recommended that to truly "blend" the flavors, the tobaccos should have time to rest together?

You can simply mix 2 blends into one bowl and smoke it and you will get a combination of the flavors, but you will get a much better marriage of flavors by making a mix and allowing it to sit together for a while, the longer the better!

I've done this with blends before and noticed a huge difference from day one to day 8 and an even bigger difference on day 28. Part of the fun of the hobby is making your own blends and seeing which work well together!

[DrDubzz]

Originally Posted by schnell987

I was going to try blending the two "aromatic" blends that I currently have - "very cherry" and "vanilla" into cherry vanilla (seems to make sense).

You noted that you will keep the new blend of tobaccos in the ziplock for 7 days...Would it work to just take some of each tobacco, mix them together and fill the pipe? Or is it recommended that to truly "blend" the flavors, the tobaccos should have time to rest together?

Well, I should mention that I have zero prior experience with blending. But, my thinking was that giving them some time together in a somewhat closed system would help the flavors and essence to meld together some. I've got at least 7-10 bowls worth, so I'll try it at a week, and then hopefully at weekly intervals and see how it goes. I've got a sweet tasting natural tobacco, and then a sweet cased tobacco, I'm hoping for good results, but we'll see.

it may turn out to be better with a sweet and a not so sweet. But that's the whole point right? try something, and learn from the results. I'll put updates in this thread as the times come

[schnell987]

Cool. Sounds like your plan will work out well. Looking forward to reading about your results! Enjoy.

Alex,
Thanks for your input. Time to start thinking of some good blends to experiment with.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by schnell987

I was going to try blending the two "aromatic" blends that I currently have - "very cherry" and "vanilla" into cherry vanilla (seems to make sense).

You noted that you will keep the new blend of tobaccos in the ziplock for 7 days...Would it work to just take some of each tobacco, mix them together and fill the pipe? Or is it recommended that to truly "blend" the flavors, the tobaccos should have time to rest together?

I have tried my hand at blending a few times. What I like to do is to try the new blend immediately - then revisit it as it ages and mellows together (1 wk, 2 wks, 1 month, 3 mnths, etc...). I'd also say that a week is too short a time to get full idea of how they'll marry.

Just a couple blending tips, use portions that will convert into 16 (as 16 is 1 pound), and if you like it, you may want to repeat it. Write the recipe down. To blend, put constituent tobaccos in a large bowl and get your hands in to toss the mixture well - kind of like a salad.

If you want the tobaccos to marry more quickly, when you get it mixed, put it into something which you can compress. I like to put it in a zip-lock and I have devised a way I can press it with a couple C-clamps. This get the tobaccos as close together as possible, helping them to marry. I have done a couple blends where I press some and leave a portion in a zip-lock without pressing. It is amazing the difference after 1 wk, 1 mnth, etc...

Have fun with it!

If you go to this website http://www.cornellanddiehl.com/tinned_blends.htm
in the tinned blends, look for Back Porch - it is my recipe for a blend. They also used to have a blend called Orthodoxy, but they can no longer get any Syrian Latakia (one of the constituent tobaccos), so they cannot make it.

[DrDubzz]

Originally Posted by schnell987

Thanks for your input. Time to start thinking of some good blends to experiment with.

no problem, I know a few people like to use Prince Albert as a base tobacco for experimenting as it burns cool, has a pleasant taste and is cheap. So you may start there, or with carter hall or something of that nature

[RevSmoke]

With all this talk about blending, here are a few I have done - that I kept on hand as they are those which are very tasty. There are some blending experiments that have ended up in the circulatory file.

As you consider this, notice how every blend is able to be multiplied simply to make up 16 - so that it can be done in 1 pound lots. Remember that a "part" is an equal part - grams, ounces, etc... Just so they are equally measured out.

A VaPer
3 parts McClelland #5100
3 parts McClelland #5105
2 parts Perique


Another VaPer
6 parts McClelland #5100
2 parts Perique


Another VaPer
5 parts Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake (rubbed out)
3 parts Perique


An aromatic (am not normally a fan of aromatics)
1 part CAO/Dan Sweet Vanilla Honeydew
1 part McClelland #5100


Two English blend
5 parts Latakia
5 parts McClelland #5100 (or Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake - rubbed out)
3 parts unflavored black cavendish
3 parts Perique

[schnell987]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

I have tried my hand at blending a few times. What I like to do is to try the new blend immediately - then revisit it as it ages and mellows together (1 wk, 2 wks, 1 month, 3 mnths, etc...). I'd also say that a week is too short a time to get full idea of how they'll marry.

Just a couple blending tips, use portions that will convert into 16 (as 16 is 1 pound), and if you like it, you may want to repeat it. Write the recipe down. To blend, put constituent tobaccos in a large bowl and get your hands in to toss the mixture well - kind of like a salad.

If you want the tobaccos to marry more quickly, when you get it mixed, put it into something which you can compress. I like to put it in a zip-lock and I have devised a way I can press it with a couple C-clamps. This get the tobaccos as close together as possible, helping them to marry. I have done a couple blends where I press some and leave a portion in a zip-lock without pressing. It is amazing the difference after 1 wk, 1 mnth, etc...

Have fun with it!

If you go to this website http://www.cornellanddiehl.com/tinned_blends.htm
in the tinned blends, look for Back Porch - it is my recipe for a blend. They also used to have a blend called Orthodoxy, but they can no longer get any Syrian Latakia (one of the constituent tobaccos), so they cannot make it.

Todd,
Some terrific advice here! Thanks. For compression, I'll just place a bag under my wife's favorite chair ! (j/k, she's petite and very health concious...but just made me laugh thinking about it).

About the most "blending" I've done is to go to my BM and say "I want some berry vanilla tobacco". So he mixed a few things together and gave it to me.

[Slow Triathlete]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

A VaPer
3 parts McClelland #5100
3 parts McClelland #5105
2 parts Perique


Another VaPer
6 parts McClelland #5100
2 parts Perique


Another VaPer
5 parts Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake (rubbed out)
3 parts Perique

Another VaPer that I tried, it turned out great.

1 New 100g tin of Rattray's Marlin Flake

.5 - 1 ounce of Perique

If you only put .5 in the blend it is a good mild VaPer. The closer you get to a full ounce, the spicier it gets.

If you want it even milder, then mix it with Old Gowrie instead of Marlin Flake.

[Slow Triathlete]

Well I took one of Revsmoke's recipes and put it together last night. I did make a substitution however. I mixed 5 parts of Gawith's Best Brown Flake (fully rubbed out) to 3 parts of McClellands Blending Perique.

Wrapped it tightly in wax paper and then put it into a ziplock. Took it out to the garage and put it between two small 2 x 4s and then clamped it down in the vise. I'll let it sit for a week and then sample it, put it back in the vise and sample it again a week later, and so on.

[TheRealBonger]

Originally Posted by Slow Triathlete

Well I took one of Revsmoke's recipes and put it together last night. I did make a substitution however. I mixed 5 parts of Gawith's Best Brown Flake (fully rubbed out) to 3 parts of McClellands Blending Perique.

Wrapped it tightly in wax paper and then put it into a ziplock. Took it out to the garage and put it between two small 2 x 4s and then clamped it down in the vise. I'll let it sit for a week and then sample it, put it back in the vise and sample it again a week later, and so on.

That just sounds like it will turn out good. Let us know how it goes.

[DrDubzz]

Originally Posted by RX2010

~3 parts MB VA No1
~1 part black cavendish

ok, tomorrow is the day, I'm gonna try this out, it will have been 10 days. School's finally done for a couple weeks, so my tobacco consumption should rise by a few hundred percent

I'll let you guys know how it turned out (hopefully not overly sweet)