Thread: Pipe of the Day

Been a cigar smoker more than 25 years. Thought I would enjoy a pipe. 5 years ago I decided to try it. Local tobacconist has a good selection. Picked one up and launched in. The experiment lasted about a half dozen bowls. Horrible. Constant sour taste after 5 or 10 minutes among other issues. Multiple conversations with tobacconist solves nothing. In the drawer it went. Never to see the light of day again.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Trolling SRP I find this thread. No idea why but I opened it up. Nothing of interest at first but 40 to 50 pages later I realize 2 things. First, never getting through all 300+ pages, second I've got to try again.

Out of the drawer it came. Found the air tight jar of tobacco. This can't still be usable? Opened it up and the tobacco still had a great aroma and slight moist feel. Prepared for the worst but hoping for the best I packed it, fired it up, and proceeded to enjoy a 4 hour smoke. WOW!!!!

As I write this I'm on my 5th bowl in 2 weeks. Every one a joy. Not sure why but one tip I read may have been the secret.

"You need to sip a pipe"
Excuse me now while I relight and drift off. Ahhhhhh ....... (I'll be back)

For those who may be interested the pipe is a Nording natural freehand signature smooth similar to this pic.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Been a cigar smoker more than 25 years. Thought I would enjoy a pipe. 5 years ago I decided to try it. Local tobacconist has a good selection. Picked one up and launched in. The experiment lasted about a half dozen bowls. Horrible. Constant sour taste after 5 or 10 minutes among other issues. Multiple conversations with tobacconist solves nothing. In the drawer it went. Never to see the light of day again.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Trolling SRP I find this thread. No idea why but I opened it up. Nothing of interest at first but 40 to 50 pages later I realize 2 things. First, never getting through all 300+ pages, second I've got to try again.

Out of the drawer it came. Found the air tight jar of tobacco. This can't still be usable? Opened it up and the tobacco still had a great aroma and slight moist feel. Prepared for the worst but hoping for the best I packed it, fired it up, and proceeded to enjoy a 4 hour smoke. WOW!!!!

As I write this I'm on my 5th bowl in 2 weeks. Every one a joy. Not sure why but one tip I read may have been the secret.

"You need to sip a pipe"
Excuse me now while I relight and drift off. Ahhhhhh ....... (I'll be back)

For those who may be interested the pipe is a Nording natural freehand signature smooth similar to this pic.

Glad you're back in the game and hope you enjoy for along time... Oh, welcome to the thread!

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Been a cigar smoker more than 25 years. Thought I would enjoy a pipe. 5 years ago I decided to try it. Local tobacconist has a good selection. Picked one up and launched in. The experiment lasted about a half dozen bowls. Horrible. Constant sour taste after 5 or 10 minutes among other issues. Multiple conversations with tobacconist solves nothing. In the drawer it went. Never to see the light of day again.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Trolling SRP I find this thread. No idea why but I opened it up. Nothing of interest at first but 40 to 50 pages later I realize 2 things. First, never getting through all 300+ pages, second I've got to try again.

Out of the drawer it came. Found the air tight jar of tobacco. This can't still be usable? Opened it up and the tobacco still had a great aroma and slight moist feel. Prepared for the worst but hoping for the best I packed it, fired it up, and proceeded to enjoy a 4 hour smoke. WOW!!!!

As I write this I'm on my 5th bowl in 2 weeks. Every one a joy. Not sure why but one tip I read may have been the secret.

"You need to sip a pipe"
Excuse me now while I relight and drift off. Ahhhhhh ....... (I'll be back)

For those who may be interested the pipe is a Nording natural freehand signature smooth similar to this pic.

Sour pipe....coupla points then.

1)Get more than one pipe so that one has time to dry out while the other is being used.Assuming you only have one pipe of course.
2)Store your last smoked pipe with a pipe cleaner in the stem so's to soak up excess moisture and make sure the pipe cleaner goes all the way through the stem to the bowl opening .
3) Dedicate your pipes to certain tobacco's to avoid ghosting of flavors. Aromatics for example taste awful smoked through a Latakia pipe.
4) Not my fault your're having enjoyment being a pipe smoker......I don't think anyway lol !
5)Welcome Back !!

I apologize in advance for throwing (what I assume to be...) a metaphorical metric ton of napalm onto this fire.

Dear pipe smokers, collectors, aficionado's: eat your heart out...


That, my dear sirs, is among the items up for grabs at an estate sale within 10 miles of my zip code. I, however, have never been a fan of willingly funneling hot, oxygen depriving toxins down my airways. I'm not judging . Just not my cup of tea. That would be Red Rose with about 8-10 oz. H2O, nuked for 1:45 minutes in our weak microwave, steeped for >10 minutes, finished off with roughly three (3) tablespoons of sugar thoroughly stirred in. Sipped.

Holly tangent, Batman!!! Sorry about that, it's past my bedtime.

Anyway. The aforementioned estate sale starts this Thursday. My finder's fee is any usable shaving accoutrement that may also be there ! I have no need for spent aftershave bottles & the likes... the wife would just pour shiny paints from the peacock color palette going on in the living room to further round-out the decor!

Wow! More tangent! Want the link to the listing??

G'night!

Matures from Stanwell Royal Prince!

Strongish tobacco with most fascinating name and taste like no other from McConnell. Bought this tin from Sopot Poland few years ago. Opened the tin today.

starting the day off with some haunted bookshop in a laroca.

Originally Posted by NoseWarmer

Glad you're back in the game and hope you enjoy for along time... Oh, welcome to the thread!

Thanks. If the last 2 weeks are any indication I'm sure it'll stick this time.

Originally Posted by Nightblade

Sour pipe....coupla points then.

1)Get more than one pipe so that one has time to dry out while the other is being used.Assuming you only have one pipe of course.
2)Store your last smoked pipe with a pipe cleaner in the stem so's to soak up excess moisture and make sure the pipe cleaner goes all the way through the stem to the bowl opening .
3) Dedicate your pipes to certain tobacco's to avoid ghosting of flavors. Aromatics for example taste awful smoked through a Latakia pipe.
4) Not my fault your're having enjoyment being a pipe smoker......I don't think anyway lol !
5)Welcome Back !!

Thanks for the tips. Always welcome. Many questions as I learn. Good news is the sour taste has not appeared during this revival. If it does I'll try the pipe cleaner tip. Now I'm definitely looking to add pipes. Here's where the questions begin.

If dedicating pipes to specific tobacco varieties (aromatics, naturals, latakias) would 3 be the ideal minimum?
There's so many different pipe styles how do I know which would be the right for me?
Is it just a style/handling thing or does the style have a specific purpose?
Are any styles best suited to tobacco varieties?
Any thoughts on Meercshaum pipes?

All opinions welcome please. I'm fully loaded up and ready to pull triggers.

Shot out of a cannon!!! Need to calm down.

Very impatient at this point so come on help me NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by spacemonkeyjon

starting the day off with some haunted bookshop in a laroca.

Nice pipe holder.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Thanks. If the last 2 weeks are any indication I'm sure it'll stick this time.




Thanks for the tips. Always welcome. Many questions as I learn. Good news is the sour taste has not appeared during this revival. If it does I'll try the pipe cleaner tip. Now I'm definitely looking to add pipes. Here's where the questions begin.

If dedicating pipes to specific tobacco varieties (aromatics, naturals, latakias) would 3 be the ideal minimum?
There's so many different pipe styles how do I know which would be the right for me?
Is it just a style/handling thing or does the style have a specific purpose?
Are any styles best suited to tobacco varieties?
Any thoughts on Meercshaum pipes?

All opinions welcome please. I'm fully loaded up and ready to pull triggers.

Shot out of a cannon!!! Need to calm down.

Very impatient at this point so come on help me NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Until you find the style of pipe that you like best, and you won't know til you try some, I'd stick with a moderately priced pipes until you know what is best for you. Some like straights (my only pipes), some 1/4 bents and some full. Others only smoke corn cobs. I don't specify certain pipes for certain tobacco's as I enjoy the ghosting flavors from the last pipe smoked. Although I have not smoked an aromatic tobacco in 35 years, if I did, I would have separate pipes for the gooper tobacco's.

I have pipes that I've had for forty years that still smoke great.

No right or wrong answers, just what works for you.

The only constant is to enjoy the pipe your smoking.

Like the type of tobacco's you like, it is all trial and error.

I think I might stick with this pipe smoking thing, too.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Thanks. If the last 2 weeks are any indication I'm sure it'll stick this time.




Thanks for the tips. Always welcome. Many questions as I learn. Good news is the sour taste has not appeared during this revival. If it does I'll try the pipe cleaner tip. Now I'm definitely looking to add pipes. Here's where the questions begin.

If dedicating pipes to specific tobacco varieties (aromatics, naturals, latakias) would 3 be the ideal minimum?
There's so many different pipe styles how do I know which would be the right for me?
Is it just a style/handling thing or does the style have a specific purpose?
Are any styles best suited to tobacco varieties?
Any thoughts on Meercshaum pipes?

All opinions welcome please. I'm fully loaded up and ready to pull triggers.

Shot out of a cannon!!! Need to calm down.

Very impatient at this point so come on help me NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Slow down Kemosabi, Pipe smoking is about taking things slow and easy although its hard not to get exited and buy up the whole shop. Starting off I would recommend buying a few good Cobs if you want to dabble in aromatics they are not all created equally and you may want to do some experimentation before you dedicate a nice briar to those blends. If you only smoke once or twice a day I think three pipes would be ok. I have some pipes that I have dedicated and some not. Latakia definetely should be dedicated because it will ghost pipes and other blends will just taste well like latakia is in there someplace. I also have a pipe that I dedicate to straight Virginias also I find Virginias are delicate and very nuanced and I dont like them messed with as far as The rest I smoke mainly Vapers and Burpers and I mix and match those pipes without much issue. I dont go to crazy about pipe dedication but depends on the blends really. Your going to have to figure some of that out for yourself.

On the subject of pipes, style is really about what you like and any style can smoke well or not based on its construction. Not an easy thing to discern IMO try to look at reviews and see what kind of pipes seem to fair well in smoking characteristics. Personally In the production pipe world excluding artisan stuff I find Savinelli pipes to be consistently decent smokers although I dont have as much experience as many of the members here so take it with a grain of salt of someone else comes up with a better recommendation. Meerschaum pipes, I actually have one that was gifted to me by my father who took a trip to Turkey years back and I have been smoking it and I must say smokes well and is a joy to use. Some like mine are a bit ornate but perform very well and take on the color of tobacco with years of use. The mineral absorbs moisture and generally keeps the smoke dry and cool but unlike briar pipes the meerschaum bowl need to be cleaned thoroughly as not to build up a carbon cake. Carbon cake on these pipes can creat a condition where the meerschaum is prone to cracking because of heat expansion of the cake.

Pipe souring or off flavors I have found easily taken care of by just cleaning the pipe with alcohol and pipe cleaners. Pipeguy mentioned Everclear is best but overproof rum works and I have used even bourbon with satisfactory results. If in fact that old nording of yours was sitting around for 5 years with dried up tobacco juice in it for that duration you may want to do a salt and alcohol treatment to sweeten it up and that can be found all over the internet how to best proceed with the procedure.

Good luck with your hobby I hope you get alot of pleasure from it as many of us have.

Cheers and happy piping