Beginners pipe

[slyder]

What would be a good starter pipe? Ive been kickin around the idea for awhile now. Seems like a great way to relax when i cant decide on what cigar to smoke.

[commonsenseman]

That's a great reason to smoke a pipe, I do it when I don't have enough time for a cigar. The nice thing about a pipe is that you can let it go out & re-light later without it tasting like @SS.

As most people suggest, try a cob (Missouri Meerschaum) to start with, get a pipe tool (or use a nail), get some drug store baccy, & you're ready to go! My 2 favorite drug store blends are Carter Hall & Velvet, a lot of people like Prince Albert as well.

[Walter MItty]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

That's a great reason to smoke a pipe, I do it when I don't have enough time for a cigar. The nice thing about a pipe is that you can let it go out & re-light later without it tasting like @SS.

As most people suggest, try a cob (Missouri Meerschaum) to start with, get a pipe tool (or use a nail), get some drug store baccy, & you're ready to go! My 2 favorite drug store blends are Carter Hall & Velvet, a lot of people like Prince Albert as well.

That's some sound advice there. A good cob will run you $5 to $7 dollars each, and 3 or four tins of tobacco (or bulk tobaccos) should give you a chance to know whether pipes are for you or not. The local tobacco store should have captain Black, Prince Albert, Carter Hall, and perhaps a few more if they are more sophisticated. Get a few ounces of several and check it out for yourself. If your initial attempts are successful post again and I am sure that a good number of members here will be able to get you up and running on what tobaccos will give you a wide variety of tastes to try. Getting some representative samples of several different genre will give you a taste for what is out there. And being a cigar smoker, you will be amazed at how different it can be. Also, being a cigar smoker yo uwill be less likely to be put off by some of the stronger tobacco's to be had.

Take a look at Mars Cigars for some good prices and choices on Corn cob pipes. The Diplomat and Country Gentleman are two that are widely regarded as being great pipes for the money. If you find you enjoy this method of tobacco a freehand Cob is touted as being one of the best smokes out there for the money. That is heresay for me as I have yet to purchase one for myself. I am perfectly happy with my existing cobs and have little time for an 80 minute smoke. Two young girls and a demanding work schedule make sure of that.

[Theophilus]

The cob is the way to go. I started a little over a year ago with a $5 cob. They're cheap, they provide a good smoke, they are easy to care for, and if you ever mess 'em up, you just shell out $5 for a new one.

[FrayAdjacent]

After you've tried a couple cobs and are pretty sure you're gonna stick with the pipe, maybe consider getting a meerschaum or a clay pipe. You can wash them out and change blends without the previous blend affecting flavor.

I just got a LePeltier clay pipe and love it. After smoking a couple bowls of one blend, I can wash it in the sink with hot water, let it dry and smoke something else in it without tasting the previous baccy in it.

I think it's a great investment for a new smoker - it makes it very easy to try new blends without having to use different pipes.

[MarkC]

Blast it, Matt; you're starting to convince me...

[FrayAdjacent]

hahaha, Mark, I'm really liking that clay pipe. It's going to be VERY handy when those samplers get here!

Let me know when you get that tin. Should get to you any day now!

[slyder]

Ok so it pretty much sounds like cob and clay pipes for starters but what about tobacco? I prefer medium to full cigars like DPG Cuban Classics, Padilla 1932s, Sancho Panza Double Maduros, ect. What would be comparable in a pipe tobacco?

[commonsenseman]

Originally Posted by slyder

Ok so it pretty much sounds like cob and clay pipes for starters but what about tobacco? I prefer medium to full cigars like DPG Cuban Classics, Padilla 1932s, Sancho Panza Double Maduros, ect. What would be comparable in a pipe tobacco?

As a cigar smoker I really like Virginias & Virginia/Perique blends.

Virginias to try: Full Virginia Flake, Bracken Flake, 1792, (Samuel Gawith).

Virginia/Perique blends to try: Escudo, Kajun Kake, Anniversary Kake, etc.

[FrayAdjacent]

That's the LePeltier I got recently.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

As a cigar smoker I really like Virginias & Virginia/Perique blends.

Virginias to try: Full Virginia Flake, Bracken Flake, 1792, (Samuel Gawith).

Virginia/Perique blends to try: Escudo, Kajun Kake, Anniversary Kake, etc.

Would Virginias be a good suggestion for a beginner to pipes. I have heard Virginias tend to burn hot.