New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart

[hscmit]

thanks
great info

[Sancho Fuente]

I have had a pipe for a few years. I smoke it maybe once a week but enjoy it hardly ever. I am having a real problem with keeping bowls lit, and the bowls get fairly hot. As far as I know I am filling the bowl correctly using the gravity/3 push/roll up way that everyone says is best. I am using estate Savinelli briars, which are in excellent shape and very well taken care of since I am very anal about cleaning. I have been smoking a mostly flavored Boswells sampler that I was given with the pipes when I bought them, with the occasional sopping wet store brand thrown in. It seems they all taste very bland to the point where it becomes a chore to make it past a quarter of the bowl.

Now for the questions after my life story.
1. Being a cigar smoker, is it best to get some heavy blends now (like GL Pease Odyssey/Abingdon) that I can really taste the flavors in? I am guessing that some of my problem is user error puffing entirely too fast to try to keep these bowls lit and actually experience some sort of flavor.
2. I think I am going to order a MM Country Gentleman to try new tobaccos in until I find the right blends/styles that I like. Thoughts?
3. What other brands would you recommend for someone who is used to a cigar type taste and not mildness for starting out to really get a feel for pipe flavors?

Thanks in advance old farts.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Sancho Fuente

I have had a pipe for a few years. I smoke it maybe once a week but enjoy it hardly ever. I am having a real problem with keeping bowls lit, and the bowls get fairly hot.
Thanks in advance old farts.

After filling the pipe (before lighting) is the draw resistance anything more than verrrrrrrrry slight? I mean, if you put a match to it and draw, does the flame go straight down or is it packed too tight for that to happen? Whattaya think?

[Sancho Fuente]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

After filling the pipe (before lighting) is the draw resistance anything more than verrrrrrrrry slight? I mean, if you put a match to it and draw, does the flame go straight down or is it packed too tight for that to happen? Whattaya think?

The resistance is less than a cigerette I would say. The flame also goes down into the tobacco. That could also be from the cigerette smoking I guess, drawing too hard maybe?

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Sancho Fuente

The resistance is less than a cigerette I would say. The flame also goes down into the tobacco. That could also be from the cigerette smoking I guess, drawing too hard maybe?

No - that's good. Filling too tightly is a common culprit for pipes needing constant relights.

Tobacco squished between thumb and index crumbles, springs back a good bit or stays smooshed?

[BigFrank]

Now for the questions after my life story.
1. Being a cigar smoker, is it best to get some heavy blends now (like GL Pease Odyssey/Abingdon) that I can really taste the flavors in? I am guessing that some of my problem is user error puffing entirely too fast to try to keep these bowls lit and actually experience some sort of flavor.
You can start off with some heavier blends, but what I would recommend would be to go at least a week without smoking anything. Allow your palate to get some rest. Then get a few different blends and go from there. FWIW I went from smoking 2-3 cigars a day to the pipe and I tried to rush the transition. Just grab a few blends that look good. There's a ton of pipe tobacco out there. We also have a newbie sampler trade for tobacco here http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9168 Also, when smoking start by smoking VERY slowly. A pipe is better served by having relights than puffing too hard. In time, you will get the hang of it...I still to this day do not light a bowl once and finish it without a relight. One trick I have learned is when lighting for the first time. Take a few puffs, then let it go out then tamp the ash down some and relight. This is often called a charring light. After that, I put the flame to my tobacco and puff away like a powerhouse a half dozen times or so to get the tobacco going. From that point on I puff slowly. Every so often I blow slowly back into the bowl to keep the ember going and try to not tamp too often while smoking...But like I said I still need relights while smoking. If the tobacco goes out I do not try to force it back. I just let it go out, put the pipe down and go grab a refill on my drink or whatever. Come back and relight.
2. I think I am going to order a MM Country Gentleman to try new tobaccos in until I find the right blends/styles that I like. Thoughts?
Go for it, I have a few cobs that still get smoked regularly. Great pipes, and great to learn how to smoke in.
3. What other brands would you recommend for someone who is used to a cigar type taste and not mildness for starting out to really get a feel for pipe flavors?
There are many blends with actual cigar leaf in them. Key Largo, Robustio, Dominican Maduro & Glory are a few that come to mind. I would start with getting a few straight blends. Get a blend that is just Virginia, One heavy with Latakia ( odyssey is good here ) and maybe a straight Burley blend to learn how the tobaccos taste as a stand alone smoke. From there when you go to smoke blended tobaccos it makes it easier, well it did for me, to identify the tobaccos in the blend. Also, it helped me learn and pick up on what the blender is trying to accomplish.

Alright, as some may have seen, I got a pipe

I have some questions about smoking technique
When I fill it, I just lightly fill the bowl, then push the tobacco all the way down as far as it will go while still being mildly springy, then another loose fill and push down until mildly springy. It usually fills 3/4 of the bowl, and the draw is exactly how I like it, like drinking a thick milkshake when tested pre light if that makes sense. Am I doing it right?

When I light it, I do the false light thing by lighting it, tamping it down, and lighting again. I find that after I light it fully, I have to tamp it every puff to get a decent amount of smoke (remember, my frame of reference is cigars) is there something wrong or do pipes not produce mouthfulls of smoke? I also haven't had problems with the pipe going out, but that's because I've been tamping it every puff

How often should I puff? I wait 15-30 seconds a puff

Do I remove the ashes and stuff with the pipe tool when I'm done? I'm careful not to hit the edges with the scoop on the czech tool, but I am mainly after ashes and un burned tobacco

How much tobacco do you guys think I'll need for 2 weeks? I'm a pretty heavy smoker I guess, I've smoked 5 bowls all day, but I didn't touch a single cigar, so it was a little more heavy than I'd normally smoke. I have an Missouri Meerschaum uhh... Diplomat I think, the store just had them in a bin, and they were all the same, but i'd guess its a pretty average sized bowl

Thanks again, this thread has been so helpful its incredible

[Wolfgang]

Looking for a simple inexpensive billiard pipe (no cobbies). I smoke on long car rides to and from work so often hold the pipe in my mouth/teeth Is there something or a way to do this without destroying the stem?

Thanks in advance farters.

[Emjaysmash]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

Looking for a simple inexpensive billiard pipe (no cobbies). I smoke on long car rides to and from work so often hold the pipe in my mouth/teeth Is there something or a way to do this without destroying the stem?

Thanks in advance farters.

You could try Softee Rubber pipe bits. Most people either love them or hate them, however.

[scoot]

An English blend for my first foray into pipe tobacco? Is this a good idea?

Originally Posted by scoot

An English blend for my first foray into pipe tobacco? Is this a good idea?

Sure. Try several of varying strength and latakia content.

I have never been a believer in the school of thought that says beginners should start with aromatics.

Cheers,
G

[BigFrank]

Originally Posted by scoot

An English blend for my first foray into pipe tobacco? Is this a good idea?

Here is a good quote from G.L.Pease regarding the matter. Which my own experience entering the pipe word has led me to agree.

“I generally recommend a full flavored, but not strong tobacco to the beginner. They'll be much more likely to get some flavor from their early experiences, and it will be much easier, then, for them to apprehend the idea of 'slowing down,' which is crucial to a great smoke. Once they've learned some of the mechanics of pipe smoking, and their senses have become accustomed to some of the myriad flavors tobaccos can present, they are better armed to move into more subtle, or 'mild' blends. For the beginner, 'mild' tobaccos are generally far from mild!”

Originally Posted by BigFrank

Here is a good quote from G.L.Pease regarding the matter. Which my own experience entering the pipe word has led me to agree.

“I generally recommend a full flavored, but not strong tobacco to the beginner. They'll be much more likely to get some flavor from their early experiences, and it will be much easier, then, for them to apprehend the idea of 'slowing down,' which is crucial to a great smoke. Once they've learned some of the mechanics of pipe smoking, and their senses have become accustomed to some of the myriad flavors tobaccos can present, they are better armed to move into more subtle, or 'mild' blends. For the beginner, 'mild' tobaccos are generally far from mild!”

Yup.

Cheers,
G

[Cornrow_Wallis]

I've got a question for you old guys.

I'm not going to bother with any thing technical like how fast should I smoke or how to fill (not pack) my pipe, since I've read the whole thread and a couple more like it. I realize I'll figure it out on my own with some time.

But I would like to know, were any of you happy with the way your first time smoking a pipe turned out? Maybe satisfied would be a better way to phrase it, I don't know.

I know it stems from not knowing what I'm doing, but I couldn't help being a little disappointed.

[Mister Moo]

My first Middleton Cherry Blend, untutored 1973, smoke(s) sucked. Escudo, 30-years later, was magnifico. Worth the wait.

[Cornrow_Wallis]

It was C&D habana daydream in a ebay briar. Wouldn't stay lit worth a flip, but I'm gonna let it dry out a little more tomorrow.

[Pat1075]

its never works out the first time this is an art even in the consumption process.
now if you want something that is much easier to master I suggest cigars (which I love equally) 1)cut 2)light 3)puff its virtually a science

[Cornrow_Wallis]

I've been smoking cigars for a couple years now, just thought I'd broaden my horizons a bit. The problem is I can't live up to my own expectations. Not just yet anyway.

Originally Posted by Pat1075

now if you want something that is much easier to master I suggest cigars (which I love equally) 1)cut 2)light 3)puff its virtually a science

I didn't mean to sound whiny earlier, just curious if everyone found getting started a little frustrating. I'm not planning on giving it up.

[Wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Cornrow_Wallis

...just curious if everyone found getting started a little frustrating.

Yes. Stick with it. You will get your rhythm down and all will be right in the world.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Cornrow_Wallis

... just curious if everyone found getting started a little frustrating. I'm not planning on giving it up.

Some do and so do (less so). Pipes require a little sensitivity to the physics of what is going on (compression, expansion, condensation) and the learned coordination of things you must do (fill, rub out, tamp, light, char, relight, swab with pipecleaner mid-smoke, relight, poke, pick, tamp some more, relight) to bring it all together into the good, easy experience.

It is a little busy at first but, in the end, the rewards out exceed the efforts in. Usually.