Some simple n00b questions

[andrewk]

Hey everyone, just bought my first pipe and I am loving it! I can smoke it inside without a foul odor, it tastes very good and unique, and I think it may be even more relaxing than cigars.

Now on to the questions -

#1.I can't get my hands on pipecleaners until friday - any ideas for a stopgap cleaning method until then?

#2. I like to smoke a little at a time - I have heard and read that you can relight pipes multiple times - how many is too many?

#3. How long can I let a partially smoked bowl sit before lighting again? I left one overnight today and roughyl 14 hours later it seemed ok....

#4. I only have on briar pipe now, and I have only smoked once a day so far but would love to more... How many times can I smoke the same pipe a day? How long should I wait between smokes? (BTW - I am smoking all from the same pouch of baccy)

[Quick_nick]

The general rule of thumb on resting time is 24 hours now if you get a wild hair and decide to smoke your pipe twice in that day it's not gonna blow up in your face. I would suggest buying a couple cobs or if your not strapped for cash then just pick up a few more briar's then you can start to dedicate to different tobacco types as well.

You can and should relight as many times as you need relighting does not hurt the pipe just remember not to get it too hot.

And on a partially smoked bowl I wouldn't think it would matter to the briar so much but the baccy won't be in prime smoking condition. After 14 hours I might have just dumped it and refilled. I've never let a pipe sit for very long partially smoked, I can be an impatient bugger.

Cheers

[Smarvy]

Smoking a bit and letting a bowl sit before picking it up again actually has a name: DGT. Stands for Delayed Gratification Technique. Mostly this is done with VA's; some people claim that it increases the complexity and their enjoyment of the VA tobaccos to DGT them. Most folks that do this don't let the bowl sit for more than a few hours, sometimes overnight. Like everything else in this hobby, there is no one right way of doing things.

I wouldn't worry about cleaners (until Friday I mean) unless you're smoking hot and wet out of the same pipe 6 times a day. Buy some pipe sweetener when you get your cleaners, or just use some good ole ethanol when you get to cleaning as you'll likely have some crud built up by Friday.

Like Quick-Nick says, get some cobs, or a couple more briars if you can afford it so you can rotate your pipes and give them a rest. He's right when he says they won't blow up, but you don't want to treat them like that all the time. You know what, get some cobs anyway; they're great smokes, they're easy, they're cheap and you'll learn a lot about pipe smoking using them, without the potential ruination of a nice briar pipe.

I'd also recommend you get some Carter Hall or Prince Albert to smoke: they're dirt cheap, pretty good, and will burn easy so you won't get frustrated fiddling with a finicky tobacco right off the bat. If you don't like them though, don't give up on pipes because of it: some people just don't like the drugstore tobaccos.

What are you smoking now?

Get some cobs.

Aloha,
Justin

[Dzrtrat]

I agree with Justin on the DGT and also agree with its a matter of your taste on how long you wait between relights. If it tastes good to you then by all means brother smoke it.
As far as the pipe cleaners.....you'll know when enoughs enough .....you'll taste it.
I smoke a pipe pretty much all day, I am one of the fortunate ones that smokes at work and I smoke about 3 or 4 bowls from one pipe, now granted I will let that pipe rest a couple of days and will clean it with spirits before putting it to bed but I have had no ill effects.
Cobs are the answer to lack of rotation and if you mess one up while learning they are a lot cheaper than briar.

[andrewk]

Thanks for the helpful responses. I am really enjoying the hobby thus far and its great to have a community like this to fall back on for help.

Right now I have a no name briar that smokes wonderfully! $35 from my local tobacconist. Anyway, I havent had any trouble lighting it or keeping it lit so I must be doing something right!
So far all I've smoked is the house blend tobacco from the place near me.
One bowl of burley that tasted of burnt hay. (Yuck)
And since that, bowls of "irish creame" which has been complex and delicious.

Right now I am looking to buy a tobacco sampler, so check out my WTB thread if you can help! Thanks!

[uncballzer]

Originally Posted by andrewk

Hey everyone, just bought my first pipe and I am loving it! I can smoke it inside without a foul odor, it tastes very good and unique, and I think it may be even more relaxing than cigars.

Now on to the questions -

#1.I can't get my hands on pipecleaners until friday - any ideas for a stopgap cleaning method until then?
I read one article about the person not cleaning at all. It was posted on here, but he eventually cleans something of the pipe. I've gone a few times without it, and with you smoking only once per day, you'll be fine till you can get some cleaners.

#2. I like to smoke a little at a time - I have heard and read that you can relight pipes multiple times - how many is too many?
As many relights as you wish.

#3. How long can I let a partially smoked bowl sit before lighting again? I left one overnight today and roughyl 14 hours later it seemed ok....
Till the end of time I assume.

#4. I only have on briar pipe now, and I have only smoked once a day so far but would love to more... How many times can I smoke the same pipe a day? How long should I wait between smokes? (BTW - I am smoking all from the same pouch of baccy) How much does the pipe mean to you? Some of my not so nice pipes, I'll reload right away and go at it again, or a little later that day. But I would only go once a day if it's a pipe you want to keep for a long time or for the next while.

Here's some links to read through.
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=175150

[McCharlie]

When I started with a pipe I went through a phase where I bought every tobacco under the sun, so in addition to the two briars I had I also bought four cobs. I treated the cobs like crap and they still treated me good. So I agree with the others, buy some cobs.

[Dgar]

I think you've gotten some excellent advice.

I'm still new to the pipes a month or two. Cob pipes, Prince Albert, and Carter Hall are the three things I would suggest everyone try when there just starting out.