Pipe FAQ/101/Getting Started

[David M]

If I look carefully in the mirror...I can notice the new little bulge on the top of my head.
Thats my brain reflecting its increased size after reading all of this wonderful information.
Amazing resource, Required reading.
Thanks!

[F. Prefect]

Originally Posted by doublebassmusician

Should I have a pipe for each type of tobacco? I've heard over people only smoking english blends in certain pipes, aromatics in certain pipes etc

You will probably find some disagreement amoung smokers, but if you have enough pipes and one of you favorite blends contain a high percentage of Latakia, that "smokey" taste will tend to leave it's calling card and should you attempt to smoke a Virginia/Perique blend for example, in many cases you will be able taste the lingering flavor of Latakia.

As far as aromatics, again if you have a sufficient number of pipes it's a good idea to set one or two aside for nothing but aromatics

But in the case if you are just beginning and have only acquired a couple of pipes, even though some of these flavorings will tend to stay with a pipe for a while, I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. The lingering flavors will eventually disappear, so for the time being, lite up and enjoy. When the time comes you have acquired several more pipes you can begin to experiment and find out what works best for you based upon the tobaccos you smoke most frequently.

F. Prefect

[David M]

Originally Posted by buzkirk

Also I noticed, since I started smoking a pipe I haven't craved a cigar at all...

I am also kind of one part perplexed, another part pleasantly amazed at the unexpected intense connection I have had with pipe tobacco and the whole experience in general.

Its only been 4 days but I have been smoking like a Chimney as often as possible and am just so darn happy about it.

My tongue is practically gone right now, in its place is some moist fleshy organ with a 1,000 pieces of glass on it, yah, the tongue bite is pretty intense. I am totally fine with it though. I am sure over the coming weeks I will find that it all mellows out and I am sure I will even get some tobacco that may be milder as well.

I also just received my first gifted Cigar and this Camacho beauty created with pre-embargo cuban seeds smells so delicious, well, I am definitely not leaving cigars anytime soon.

So happy with the pipe though. So so happy and just surprised. This has all been very unexpected for me and I am so glad I dove in.

[F. Prefect]

Originally Posted by David M*

I am also kind of one part perplexed, another part pleasantly amazed at the unexpected intense connection I have had with pipe tobacco and the whole experience in general.

Its only been 4 days but I have been smoking like a Chimney as often as possible and am just so darn happy about it.

My tongue is practically gone right now, in its place is some moist fleshy organ with a 1,000 pieces of glass on it, yah, the tongue bite is pretty intense. I am totally fine with it though. I am sure over the coming weeks I will find that it all mellows out and I am sure I will even get some tobacco that may be milder as well.

I also just received my first gifted Cigar and this Camacho beauty created with pre-embargo cuban seeds smells so delicious, well, I am definitely not leaving cigars anytime soon.

So happy with the pipe though. So so happy and just surprised. This has all been very unexpected for me and I am so glad I dove in.

Sounds like you have made a very common mistake when as you put it, you dove right in. Tongue bite is NOT a problem caused by what tobacco you are smoking (although some hotter burning blends will produce it more easily) and will not go away with time.

Tongue bite is caused by hot smoke and an indication that you are puffing on your pipe much too hard and too frequently. Try just "sipping" on the pipe rather than taking long hard draws. I think you will find that the tongue bite will be a problem of the past, and as a bonus, you should be able to enjoy more of the subtle flavors of the blend that are not detectable when you are puffing harder and harder thinking that the more smoke you can produce, the more flavor you will experience when in fact just the opposite is true.

Don't feel singled out as just about all of us have gone through the very same thing in the first few weeks of our pipe smoking careers and this self induced tongue bite as actually caused some new pipe smokers to throw in the towel without knowing that all they needed to do was SLOW DOWN.

Give it a try, I think it should help.

F. Prefect

[David M]

Originally Posted by F. Prefect

Sounds like you have made a very common mistake when as you put it, you dove right in. Tongue bite is NOT a problem caused by what tobacco you are smoking (although some hotter burning blends will produce it more easily) and will not go away with time.

Tongue bite is caused by hot smoke and an indication that you are puffing on your pipe much too hard and too frequently. Try just "sipping" on the pipe rather than taking long hard draws. I think you will find that the tongue bite will be a problem of the past, and as a bonus, you should be able to enjoy more of the subtle flavors of the blend that are not detectable when you are puffing harder and harder thinking that the more smoke you can produce, the more flavor you will experience when in fact just the opposite is true.

Don't feel singled out as just about all of us have gone through the very same thing in the first few weeks of our pipe smoking careers and this self induced tongue bite as actually caused some new pipe smokers to throw in the towel without knowing that all they needed to do was SLOW DOWN.

Give it a try, I think it should help.

F. Prefect

Definitely good advice.
I am slowly letting that recommendation seep in.
Finding the balance between the need to get it lit & have it stay lit and getting a full draw.
I clearly do not fully grasp that part yet.
I enjoy the full heavy smoke draws but also am beginning to get used to the draws which come naturally about 3 minutes after the first few big puffs (to get 'er lit & going) and how they are much less full, small puffs in fact with minimal smoke.
I hear ya. Thank you. Next session will begin employing it more.

[David M]

Originally Posted by F. Prefect

Try just "sipping" on the pipe rather than taking long hard draws.

The sipping is good advice.
What I am also finding is the small puff starting at the lips and quickly opening the mouth, letting in air, creates a nice shotgun effect on a small puff. Good for several shots or small bursts, all very mellow.
I am sure there's a 1,000 different approaches to creating a mellow smoke experience in the mouth.

If ever you want to increase the cherry inside, a few fingers on top of the bowl and a few puffs will stoke the fire inside so it wont go out.

Thanks again for highlighting this.
The taste is not minimized, not in the least.

[JacobMarley]

The best way to polish your pipe is with the oil from your nose.

[easysmoker]

Oil from your nose, eh? And I thought it was only good for killing the head on a glass of beer! Ha! What will it do for me next?

[dup]

Any suggestions on breaking in the bottom of a fairly deep bowled pipe?

I hear smoking half-bowls works... but it is fairly hard to light with a deep, narrow bowl...

[HU1844SMOKER]

I have used honey on a new pipe but we are talking about a small dab on the finger and making sure it does not get on the outside of the pipe. Do I think it is necessary? No, but I read it somewhere and tried it.

[MarkC]

I've tried it, and to be honest, I didn't see any real difference in the speed the cake built. I doubt I'll do it again.

One suggestion I've heard and haven't tried yet is when you get to the point that there's just a little tiny bit of baccy left and you can't get it to burn well, add just a tad more to the bowl, tamp it down, and go at it again. I just through that out there as an idea; as I said, I've never tried it.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by dup

Any suggestions on breaking in the bottom of a fairly deep bowled pipe?

I hear smoking half-bowls works... but it is fairly hard to light with a deep, narrow bowl...

Smoke slow, smoke cool, smoke all the way down to the bottom. Let the pipe go out periodically, then let it sit and cool/dry and relight. Repeat till you're spitting out ashes. The only way to cake the heel. Don't be afraid to swab with pipe cleaners to keep it as dry as possible. Note that overdrying the baccy will NOT help, as it will simply burn too hot and you will get moisture in any case.

[juni]

A quick question: How often should you do the salt/alcohol cleaning? Once a month? After a certain # of bowls? Never, unless you have bought an old, used pipe?

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by juni

A quick question: How often should you do the salt/alcohol cleaning? Once a month? After a certain # of bowls? Never, unless you have bought an old, used pipe?

Extreme cleaning is only necessary when necessary ... if the pipe stinks, you need to clean it with salt/cotton and alcohol. Periodic cleaning about every ten or dozen bowls will keep the pipe clean enough to not need extreme cleaning.

What does he mean by periodic cleaning? Soak the top of a bristle cleaner with pipe sweetner/alcohol and swab out the stem and shank. Using a bristle brush also helps remove gunk, as do Q-tips in the shank. Run fluffies through till they come back clean and dry. If needed, hit the bowl with a reamer (figuratively speaking that is). Let air out for at least 2 days.

I have pipes being smoked regularly for 2 years and haven't had to do an extreme cleanup on any yet.

[juni]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Extreme cleaning is only necessary when necessary ... if the pipe stinks...

They do smell a bit like ashtray, but that is normal I guess. What I usually do:

I let the pipe cool down and then wipe the inside of the bowl with a piece of household paper (not roughly) to get rid of pieces of ash, then I dab a pipe cleaner in whiskey and clean the shank and then do it again with a fresh pipe cleaner without alcohol. After this I do the same thing with the stem.

With the Peterson system pipe I usually dab a q-tip in whiskey and clean the "system" part of the pipe (there is usually quite a bit of "stuff" in it).