Looking To Start Smoking A Pipe

[PINSONxc]

I have been enjoying cigars for a few years now but only being 19 have stayed away from pipe smoking. I have now had a change in heart and am looking to start smoking a pipe but need some major advice. I am having a hard time finding a reasonably priced pipe and need some suggestions on some good tobacco choices to start with. Also what kind of light is recommended I use a butane for my cigars but was not sure if something else would be a better call. Thanks for any help!

[andrew]

Get yourself a cob pipe, a tamper, and a good aromatic blend (one which you should read reviews on maybe). Once you've got those, load up and enjoy. If you're looking for briar you can't go wrong with a savinelli natural.

[Vrbas]

Cob, BCA, and a nail tamper = less than $20 for pure enjoyment

[DBCcigar]

Go ahead and spend the extra money and get a decent briar pipe. The cob pipe is not to burn very hot!

[PINSONxc]

Just purchased this pipe now have to get everything that comes along with it. Is it ok to smoke more than one kind of tobacco in a single pipe?

[Blaylock]

Before investing alot of money on pipes and tobaccos, make sure you enjoy it first, and learn how to smoke a pipe. Cobs are cheap and very "forgiving". If you have a local tobacco store, get some samples and try different things to see what you like. Talk to your tobaconist about smoking. Online retailers also have bulk blends and many have samplers. You can even get some over the counter brands like Captain Black, Carter Hall, Prince Albert, etc. to start out.

Get used to the techniques of pipe smoking...drying, packing, lighting, tamping, and smoking. The rest is easy. For lighting, I use stick matches and a Zippo. I wouldn't recommend a torch.

In the beginning you can probably get away with one pipe as long as you let it rest (dry) in between smokes. Certain tobaccos will "ghost", leaving behind a flavor, such as aromatics and Latakia tobaccos, so you'll eventually want to have a few in your rotation...another reason to start with cobs.

Best of luck!

[Phil The Thrill]

I recommend that you read up the FAQ, it should have the majority of answers you're looking for.

In answer to your question: It depends.

Virginia tobacco generally doesn't "ghost" (transfer flavours) a whole lot, so you can smoke a bunch of Virginia in the same pipe and be able to pick up the different notes in each tobacco.

Burley is almost the same, maybe it ghosts a bit more, but if you have one pipe dedicated to burley you should be alright.

English and oriental, they're like a portal to another, darker world: You need a Irish preist (You can immitate one with a bottle of some whiskey/vodka/rum- there is a bit on cleaning in the FAQ) to clear out the flavour of english. English is so strong that some people dedicate different pipes to different blends.

Aromatics tend to ghost as well, so you''ll need a different pipe for them.

The solution to all of these? A good old (cheap) Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe. If you treat it well, there is no ghosting between differnt blends. As you get further into pipes you can look into genuine Meerschaum pipes, they also don't ghost, though they do require a bit more care than your average pipe.

[Couch-Commando]

I was in this same situation a month ago. I'm 18 and have just started smoking at college this year. Since cigars are expensive, I switched to pipes. I got a Savinelli and a pound of Lane 1Q tobacco and couldn't be happier.

[PINSONxc]

Originally Posted by Couch-Commando

I was in this same situation a month ago. I'm 18 and have just started smoking at college this year. Since cigars are expensive, I switched to pipes. I got a Savinelli and a pound of Lane 1Q tobacco and couldn't be happier.

What kind of Savinelli did you get?

[strider72]

Originally Posted by Phil The Thrill

The solution to all of these? A good old (cheap) Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe. If you treat it well, there is no ghosting between differnt blends. As you get further into pipes you can look into genuine Meerschaum pipes, they also don't ghost, though they do require a bit more care than your average pipe.

I enjoy both of my Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cobs as much as my Bruyere Garantie Briar pipe.

[JacksonCognac]

Yep, get some cobs post around on here a bit and then eventually get into the "newbie tobacco trade" - you will get hooked up with a nice sampler of tobacco.

I think pipes are great for younger guys because it can be very affordable and highly enjoyable... cigars are great too but at $3 a stick minimum it's tough to make it happen semi-weekly let alone daily... I smoke a bowl or 2 a day... a $5 cob and $20 worth of tobacco could keep me going for months.

[afilter]

All good advice above. I second not making a big investment and to make sure you like it first with several samples.

I would have started with a COB myself if I had not been gifted a handmade briar.

The only thing I would add to what has already been said is that if you truly enjoy it consider a meerschaum pipe for your second pipe. Unlike a briar they can be smoked more than once a day and different blends can be smoked in the same pipe. The neat thing is if you take care of it it will cahnge colors and last a lifetime. They are also realatively inexpensive. I recently purchased 2 for under $30 each with shipping on ebay.

When you are ready to get a briar or two check out the estate pipes as well for good deals.

Good Luck,

Aaron

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by PINSONxc

What kind of Savinelli did you get?

If you decide you like the pipe and you like smaller bowls and I can get off my butt and recondition this one, I have a nice Wally Frank sandblast I can send you. It's too small for me but it smokes very well. I'll cut the cake down to size (not to bare wood) alcohol-clean the shank and polish up the stem. I'll try to get to that this weekend. If you don't want it, it's still going somewhere. I hate to hoard pipes I never smoke when they could be in someone else's collection and getting fired up like they're supposed to!

PM me if you're interested.

[dennis569]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

If you decide you like the pipe and you like smaller bowls and I can get off my butt and recondition this one, I have a nice Wally Frank sandblast I can send you. It's too small for me but it smokes very well. I'll cut the cake down to size (not to bare wood) alcohol-clean the shank and polish up the stem. I'll try to get to that this weekend. If you don't want it, it's still going somewhere. I hate to hoard pipes I never smoke when they could be in someone else's collection and getting fired up like they're supposed to!

PM me if you're interested.

This is why I love this hobby! How often in our society do you see this kind of generosity?
Glad to see that this site didn't go to hell

[PINSONxc]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

If you decide you like the pipe and you like smaller bowls and I can get off my butt and recondition this one, I have a nice Wally Frank sandblast I can send you. It's too small for me but it smokes very well. I'll cut the cake down to size (not to bare wood) alcohol-clean the shank and polish up the stem. I'll try to get to that this weekend. If you don't want it, it's still going somewhere. I hate to hoard pipes I never smoke when they could be in someone else's collection and getting fired up like they're supposed to!

PM me if you're interested.

Hey I probably sound like an idiot but I am not sure how to PM you, I went to your profile to try and leave you a message but could not figure out how!