where to start ?

[docruger]

hello all. as a lot of you all know, im a cigar smoker. but lately i have been thinking about smoking a pipe, as not to miss out on a whole new tobacco world, not giving up the sticks by no means. and just maybe the wife will let me smoke in the house while watching a game or good movie.any how the title says it all. where to start, like a good cheap pipe, what kind of tobacco to start off with and so on. so how about some advice and tips guys. THANKS

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by docruger

hello all. as a lot of you all know, im a cigar smoker. but lately i have been thinking about smoking a pipe, as not to miss out on a whole new tobacco world, not giving up the sticks by no means. and just maybe the wife will let me smoke in the house while watching a game or good movie.any how the title says it all. where to start, like a good cheap pipe, what kind of tobacco to start off with and so on. so how about some advice and tips guys. THANKS

The easiest (and cheapest) way to test the waters is to get a cob pipe (Missouri Meerschaum for example). An ounce of baccy would help too, most B&M's have their house blends - try an aromatic, or a burley, or a latakia (or all three). You need a pipe lighter (not a torch) or matches which you probably already have. A tamper is useful but a fat headed nail will work (or use a dowel or rod or thingamijig). See other threads for "filling" techniques (don't call it PACKING or the Moo will be all over this thread). Light up and sip, its not a cigar so don't suck on it like one. And enjoy!

[Hendu3270]

My advice is to pick up a cob from Walgreens and a small bag of Carter Hall. Then scan through this thread Pipe FAQ/101/Getting Started

That should get you pointed in the right direction and get you just enough knowledge to start asking some specific questions. Good luck!

[sounds7]

For the price of a cob you could pick up a second hand briar (estate) on ebay. put a pipe cleaner in and then fill the bowl with rock salt and 150 proof or pure grain achohol. Let it sit over night. This will pull all the impurities out of the pipe and leave you with a fresh clean smoking vessel in which to enjoy a bowl of baccy. Being a cigar smoker as you are I know you would enjoy some of the wonderful cigar influenced English tobaccos but the question is will your wife like to smell them? Therefore if you are doing this to gain as much pleasure from the smoke with out compromising the ability to smoke indoors I would start with a mild cavendish of some sort or perhaps a burley based tobacco. There have been threads on here recently about what aromatic has the best tobacco taste. Although I don't have the link handy. Maybe someone can post it.

[drastic_quench]

A Missouri Meerschaum cob is superior to a cheap secondhand briar, in my opinion - as long as you get a wood bottom one like the Diplomat or Country Gentleman.

If you're already a cigar lover, I'd forgo the drugstore tobacco in favor of a good tin or two. Lots of people here send or swap samples as well.

[8ball917]

Originally Posted by Hendu3270

My advice is to pick up a cob from Walgreens and a small bag of Carter Hall. Then scan through this thread Pipe FAQ/101/Getting Started

That should get you pointed in the right direction and get you just enough knowledge to start asking some specific questions. Good luck!

Agreed. This is what I should have started with. IMO, Carter Hall is good, cheap, easy to keep lit, and easy to find.

[AcworthAl]

If I were to start over, here is what I would do. Go to the local drug store and buy two corn cobs and two Dr. Grabows. The cobs are about five bucks each. Grabows run from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. And, depending on the budget, get a tub or foil packs of Prince Albert and/or Carter Hall. I have several corn cobs and they smoke great, but personally I do not like the feel of the stems. I am convinced that one could get plenty of relaxation and enjoyment if one only smoked Dr. Grabows and Prince Albert. Having said that, variety is the spice of life and once you have decided you enjoy smoking a pipe, let your income, budget and wife or credit card balance decide.

[docruger]

thanks BOTLS, i think ill pick up a cob a Grabows and some Carter Hall, and see how it gos.

[Cigary]

I can remember the day I used to smoke my pipe all the time,,,would trade off between a pipe and cigars as the smell of pipe tobacco is extremely relaxing to me. I developed TMJ and stopped smoking a pipe and went full tilt into cigars,,,,I love cigars but pipes were always something I could smoke in the house without the wife getting all bent out of shape,,,she likes the smell as much as I do. My problem was that I bit too hard on the stem which aggravates my condition,,,if I could stop that I'd be a happy camper.

[RHNewfie]

The biggest adjustment I had was with the draw. A pipe without filter is WIDE open, so get used to small 'sips'. Also, the filling, lighting, tamping, and keeping lit etc can be frustrating in the beginning but don't give up! The rewards are priceless!!

I go back and forth with cigars and still enjoy both thoroughly!