Thread: Newbie Pipe Smoker

Anyone here smoke pipes at all? I just picked up a cheap one and some nice tobacco and im in love. Any advice? Suggestions?

I think it's worth the money to make sure you get a pipe that will smoke well. I've heard those Missouri Meerschaums are good, but I'd never trust cheap briar; a poor build will have seriously negative effects on the smoke. You don't have to go nuts, but maybe around $60 I'd guess. For tobacco, it's all about finding what you like. I'd suggest trying lots of different stuff so you can get an idea of what's out there.

Also, take the time to learn to pack a bowl, light your pipe well, work on smoking cadence, and clean your pipe. It'll all make things much more enjoyable.

Good luck, and happy puffing.

Hi Zee,

I have been smoking and making pipes for about a year now, so I am still faily new myself.

Your two best friends will be tobaccoreviews.com and smokingpipes.com. You can get a lot of experience, pipes and tobaccos there.

Also go to youtube and look up dubinthedam. The gentleman has posted many videos that you will learn a lot from.

When you go to smokingpipes.com, I would suggest looking at the Peterson Aran series in the fishtail stems. You get a lot of briar for the money. There is a salesperson there named Joyce that is just fantastic to work with.

I have smoked plenty of aromatics, like MacBaren's Vanilla Cream, but have found a love for English blends. Sam Gawith's Squadron Leader and GL Pease's Westminster being two of my favorites. There is a lot to know about tobacco and the book The Pipe Smoker's Tobacco Book by Rober Winans is a good text on it. Then there are the flakes, plugs, ribbon's etc. Like I said - lots to know.

Generally, this is like SRS - do it slow, take your time, treat your tools right and it will reward you with hours of pleasure. Cheat and it will let you know!

Don't forget to go to your local brick an mortar pipe shop and buy stuff, even if you can find it cheaper on the web. They are on the endangered species list and once they are gone they are never coming back.

You can PM me if you want to chat some more about it.

Enjoy your new hobby and a new place to direct all of your disposable income.

Cheers!
David

Straight Razors and pipes? hmm, sounds like a hazardous combo. j/k.

I have smoked pipes for several years...not exactly sure what kind of "advice" to give

What kinda pipe and tobacco did you pick up? Pics are always nice

I'm guessing you picked up an aromatic tobacco. I think most pipe smokers start out with aromatics, and then move on to non-aromatics.

I smoked them for a little while, but quickly moved on to Virginia's, and English blend tobacco's. A nice Virginia will have a slight "sweet" taste to it. Heck, sweet may not even be the right word, but it's the only way I can describe it

Anyway, if you have questions, or just wanna talk, shoot me a PM. Glad to help anyway I can

Another pipe smoker here. Those 2 websites are excellent. For tobacco, I strongly recommend Seattle Pipe Club blends, not least because I'm a member. I would actually just try the non-aromatics first crack out of the box & see what you like.

I just got a fairly cheap Calabrisi pipe. The problem is the cheap tobacco I bought at the same time. It looks, and tastes like someone unrolled a bunch of cigarettes, and put the tobacco in my bag. I just found a tobacco place near me that sells what looks like good bulk tobacco by the 1/2 ounce. I'm hoping to get some better tobacco soon.

I think everyone remembers their Uncle, or Grandfather who smoked a pipe. I have a grandson now, and I am hoping he has the same great childhood memories as me. He will be stuck with my original straight razor in about a decade or so. Hopefully he will end up with a nice pipe or two from me too, eventually.

+1 for Peterson pipes. They are always a good choice when buying reasonable priced quality pipe. Of course there are other good brands as well.
If you haven't smoked pipes before, it might be better to start with some mild aroma pipe tobacco, and leave strong aromas for future.
I have two Petersons and one cheap French Chacom and i think there is a big difference between those brands.

Wow thats a lot of help guys. I have an S.W.R. Colonial, if thats anything anyone knows. I saw a bunch of Dr. Grabow's at an antique shop if that would be any better. The tobbacco i got was an aromatic indeed. Butter rum. Im going to see about investing in a Peterson and maybe some nice tobacco. I learned how to pack the bowl from youtube and the store owner of the tobacco shop i go my first oz from.

I'm not dissing Dr. Grabow. That has been a starter and a permanent pipe for many gentlemen I knew. I don't even take pot shots at drugstore tobaccos like Prince Albert and Captain Black. Why? Because pipe smoking is supposed to be pleasurable. And I mean YOUR pleasure. Not anybody elses.

When I give you suggestions, it is only an opinion. I have a lot of tobaccos that were right for somebody else and not for me. But that is the fun of it. Explore and try. Pipe smoking is an experience. You will be a better person for it.

The pipes I suggest are to help you get the most value out of the money you spend. I hate to buy things twice.

I can also suggest Savinelli rusticated Baronet Bruyere series. Nice pipe and not a lot of money.

I do have to say I am with PA23-250. Try a sample of English blends. The Sam Gawith Squadron Leader will set you back about $7.00. The tin art is cool as hell and you'll have the experience of smoking a near turn-of-the-century blend. I think I'm going to have a bowl right now.