Thread: Newbie Pipe Smoker

While still new to using a SR I've been enjoying pipes and good tobacco for almost 10 years on and off. 1st I cannot begin to state that starting out a MM cob is great. They require almost no break in, smoke dry, and won't put a dent in your wallet. I would reccomend some of the old codger blends for starting out at they tend to burn well and will help you "learn" to smoke properly (i.e. Prince Albert and Carter Hall). From there I would look at tobaccoreviews.com to read reviews about just about every blend out there. As far as pipes go, its going to come down to what you want to spend and what shapes appeal to you. Reasonable brands include Peterson, Stanwell, Comoys, Savinelli, etc... PM me if you'd like links to reputable e-tailers or any other pipe related questions

Andrew

+1 on the Squadron Leader--good solid English, but not overly strong (some people don't like secondhand latakia smoke. I love it, but I'm not everybody).

Not a knock on drugstore tobacos either, but I'd stay away from the aromatics unless you really want to try them--many places will steer you towards them without you ever getting a chance to try the natural (no topping) blends.

Many of the aromatics contain a lot of propylene glycol as a moisture stabilizer--this gives off lots of steam (which can burn you & really make the pipe smoke wet) & various tongue-biting acids. The artificial sugar syrups (toppings) will do the same thing & for me, give a very bitter aftertaste that does not come out for over 24 hours.

The Virginia blends can be tricky too, but if you smoke slowly you should be able to avoid bite. I wouldn't try any pure Virginias until you've been smoking for a bit, though. They can be a bit tempermental.

Petersons are great pipes.

I have a Missouri Meerschaum and a few briars, and I really like the Meerschaum - for some reason, it seems more resistant to going out while I smoke (that old curse of pipe smokers). Being a corn-cob pipe, it also doesn't have as long a smoke-in period as briar, nor does it need to be rested between smokes like a briar. I'd definitely recommend adding one to your pipe collection, myself.

On a related note, can anyone confirm that regularly smoking a new briar with a full bowl every time can result in excessive burning and wear on the bowl? Have heard that you should alternate full and half bowls with a couple of days between to get it properly carbonised inside and broken in.

Again, +1 on what PA23-250 is saying. I found the sugars in the aromatics and Viginias to provide a good deal of tounge bite, especially when I first started and was puffing like a maniac. I thought it was some sort of damn race or something.

As you slow down, you can tame most tobaccos. But understand that tounge bite is not merely caused by hot smoke, it is also caused by the chemical composition of that smoke, specifically it's PH. Tounge bit is a chemical burn reaction between the PH of your mouth and the PH of tobacco. This can be affected by many things. So a tobacco that does not bite today, may tomorrow.

I have to say this. I have NEVER had tounge bite from a good English blend. I can smoke them all day and puff like a dragon and not get tounge bite. The latakia has this wonderful smell of pine and camphor from being smoked over pine boughs. So, to this I say hats off to PA23-250's advice. Care to join me in a smoke?

Smack Smack Smack - Ok, where's my pipe!

Thank you for this post. I just got my first pipe a couple of weeks ago. The pipe was just a cheap one from a cigar shop. Needless to say am still trying to figure out the method for packing and proper lighting.

Thanks for the site names, will check those out.

Lu

Originally Posted by mosley59

On a related note, can anyone confirm that regularly smoking a new briar with a full bowl every time can result in excessive burning and wear on the bowl? Have heard that you should alternate full and half bowls with a couple of days between to get it properly carbonised inside and broken in.

I've heard of starting with half bowls and gradually increasing to full bowls, but I don't bother. It seems to me it is hard to get an even layer of cake when staring with half-bowls.

To break in a new pipe, I go with a full bowl right from the start but I make sure to smoke slowly, with gentle puffs, so the tobacco doesn't get too hot. Then, after the smoke, once the ashes have cooled, I put my thumb over the bore and gently shake before dumping the ashes. That coats the pipe with ash and aids in formation of cake.

It probably is a good idea to rest a new pipe at least a day between smokes so it has time to dry. Wet smokes are harder to keep going, and,as a result, tend to burn hotter. I don't think it's as important once the pipe is broken in, since the cake will absorb some of the moisture, but I still let them rest.

Patience is the key. I've had some pipes which seemed to take forever to break in and some which smoked great from the first bowl.

AZrider.

Very good advice. That is what I do and it has worked well so far. Especially shaking the ashes in the bowl. That really helps build the cake in the fast.

I have heard some people say that Peterson's take a long time to break in, but I have to say I have not had that experience except with my very first Peterson System XL02. I bought 6 more and all of them broke in pretty easily.

I have a Savinelli bruyere series and I love it. Can't go wrong there. I'm a big fan of virginias and virginia/burleys. My favorite right now is macbaren's navy flake. It's awesome, and easy to smoke.

First and foremost, sorry for the hijack, but figured would be easier just to hop on.

A buddy of mine picked up pipe smoking and loves it as he can have a full or half bowl depending on the time frame he has to enjoy it. I am in a similar situation as it is harder for me to find the time for a full cigar.

I prefer much earthier cigars (CAO Brazilia Gol , Gurkha black dragon, etc.) and want to know if there is pipe tobacco more along those lines?
Thanks guys

I also smoke a pipe, and I generally smoke Half & Half .