What you wish you had been told when you started...

[joeysmac]

Hey there everyone. I'm smoking my first pipe tomorrow. I picked up a basket briar pipe and some tobacco the guy at the shop recommended for beginners.

Here's your chance to impart wisdom on a new brother. Let me know what you wish someone would have told you when you first picked up the pipe. I couldn't work it in tonight, but tomorrow a buddy of mine and I are lighting them up together. Can't wait to hear what ya'll have to say...

[tzilt]

I wish I had known that just cuz a review says "tastes like figs, honey, wine, cream, salmon eggs grasshopper farts and heather blossoms" doesn't really mean it will taste any different than the other aromatic you burnt your mouth on.

[PipesandGOP]

You can never be too careful when lighting to not char the rim of the pipe- same goes for relights, not only for the rim's sake but for the pipe's walls as well to keep them from getting pretty charred or even burn out.

[Subotaj]

That it will damage my voice.

[dmkerr]

I wish I had been told that pipes would be addicting. Not the nicotine but the desire to build a collection! And that costs money!!!!

Enjoy your pipe!

[Blaylock]

I wish someone had told me, in the beginning, to go out and get a couple of cheap cobs and some good but cheap tobaccos...and just get used to the "how to's" of pipe smoking...packing, lighting, puffing, and tamping.

Once you've gotten use to that, then the tobacco flavors will really start to be appreciated. My

[perogee]

That the slope is long, steep, slippery and there are no emergency exits

[JAX]

That there will always be another tin of something you've gotta pick up and try. They may be affordable but the price tag adds up quickly.

[parris001]

I wish I had been told that it's not uncool to smoke aromatics. I had collected several aros I liked but then ditched them all for more sophisticated blends because of a lot of unkind things I had read. I developed a great relationship with Va/Pers, English, Balkan, and all the blends I heard things about but in the end I went back out and replaced the aros I had given away.

Smoke what you like. Don't be swayed.

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by Blaylock

I wish someone had told me, in the beginning, to go out and get a couple of cheap cobs and some good but cheap tobaccos...and just get used to the "how to's" of pipe smoking...packing, lighting, puffing, and tamping.

Once you've gotten use to that, then the tobacco flavors will really start to be appreciated. My

[drastic_quench]

"Skip the drugstore tobacco. There's a universe of top-quality tobacco online."

[Vrbas]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

I wish I had been told that pipes would be addicting. Not the nicotine but the desire to build a collection! And that costs money!!!!

Enjoy your pipe!

[uncballzer]

my advice? Re-read all the above.

[PipesandGOP]

Originally Posted by parris001

I wish I had been told that it's not uncool to smoke aromatics. I had collected several aros I liked but then ditched them all for more sophisticated blends because of a lot of unkind things I had read. I developed a great relationship with Va/Pers, English, Balkan, and all the blends I heard things about but in the end I went back out and replaced the aros I had given away.

Smoke what you like. Don't be swayed.

Very true. You'll learn that every moment you smoke deserves a certain blend fitting to that particular time. Could be the weather, time of day, or hell, just the mood you're in. But just because something's sweet or smells good (and this is coming from someone that doesn't smoke that many aro's) don't be afraid to try it because some guy says you're smoking a newb blend or a sellout or something. The same goes for not being afraid to try out new blends that aren't aromatics as well.. nothing like a rich english or balkan.
Sorry to jump in like that but well frankly I've had too much to drink, am thoroughly enjoying my pipe atm, and just had to throw that in and second that whole thing parris001 said.

[Dog_Soldier]

Well lots of advice here so far. Get some corn cob pipes they are cheap and great for trying out new tobacco types. Smoke what tobaccos you want take the recomendations here as just that recomendations everyones tastes are different. Someone already recomended a cob and some "drug store blends", but some drug store blends can be kinda blah. Though try some Prince Albert it's a cheap "drug store blend", but it's been around for years and I think it tastes pretty good.

Oh and welcome to Club Stogie, watch that first step the slope is steeper than it looks.