Pipe newbie

[eldonkr]

I've always liked the idea of smoking a pipe. and even entertained the thought. One of my friends was smoking his pipe when I was at his house a while back. And I liked the smell of the tobacco. So I went out the other day and bought a pipe and a bag of Captain Black pipe tobacco.

The pipe was a $10 pipe at my local smoke shop. The box says HaoJue and on the side it says HG-685. I dont know what that means but there you go.

I make this thread in hopes that the pipe smokers with experience on the board can offer some tips for pipe smoking and pipe care.

For example I'm having trouble keeping my pipe lit.

And, do all pipes require a filter even though the guy at the smoke shop says mine doesn't.


Feel free to pass along your wisdom to me. Also feel free to recommend good pipes and tobacco blends to me.

[Sir RBH]

hello there

Thanks for posting. Always good to read of new pipe smokers.. i like to smoke a pipe and although not a veteran at it.. i do enjoy on a regular basis
RBH
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb214/fogeyunlimited/RBH/tweedWindowpaneSept30007sml.jpg

[DerMann]

What a coincidence, my friend and I went out in hopes of finding a tobacconist in town just yesterday. The only tobacconist within downtown limits was really just a place to buy cigarettes, but they had the essentials for beginning pipe smoking.

Picked up a corn cob (with a filter, probably same as yours) for $4, a pouch of Captain Black Royal and a pouch of Prince Albert.

I don't know if you were told about it, but all pipes require (at the bare minimum) a tamper tool to work (a poker is useful, too). If you didn't pick up a pipe tool, you can use a nail or something that looks like this:

--------|

The tamper is used to compact the tobacco so that it burns well. In my (very) limited experience, Captain Black can be a little troublesome. It is a bit wet, and if you smoke too hard, it can get VERY hot and cause tongue bite (taking a break for most of today because of that reason). If you have it packed well enough, though, and you smoke it at just the right speed, it's a very enjoyable tobacco (especially for the price). I have read that it is difficult to keep CB lit, as it is fairly wet, but keep at it and you'll get a good smoke going.

I smoked a bowl with the filter in my pipe, and then took it out to try it without. The smoke is a bit more enjoyable as far as flavour goes, but the heat did rise a bit. All in all, filters are largely unnecessary. Many pipes below the $40 mark come with filters. I really don't see that many pipes over $50 with a filter standard. Again, it's really not very useful.

As my pipe is corncob, I just scrape out the ash, remove and wash the mouthpiece bit (the proper name escapes me), and let it air dry. I would get some pipe cleaners, which are very inexpensive (especially if you get them from a tobacconist, not the art supply kind).

As far as tobacco goes, try a little bit of every thing. If you have a good tobacconist in town, he will gladly recommend different blends and styles. Peterson, Dunhill, Samuel Gawith, and GL Pease make very good tobacco, and should be available nationwide. Try tobaccoreviews.com to see what other pipe smokers have said about tobaccos.

Lastly, don't be afraid to relight your pipe. I'm still learning and I relight 3-5 times a bowl.

Hope this helps!

*EDIT*

I just tried out a new tobacco, Prince Albert, and it stays lit MUCH better. Although it's not a cavendish (personal taste), it's still a very mild and enjoyable smoke. Cheap, too. A 1.5oz(?) pouch was a little over two dollars. I only smoked it for ten or so minutes whilst speaking with a friend and making my way back to my dorm, but had I been smoking Captain Black, I would have had to relight several times.

[eldonkr]

thanks for the tips.

I'll try the Prince Albert. I bought a three way pipe tool, it has a tamper, a pokey thing, and a spoon looking thing on it. I'll take a picture with my phone of my set up and post it up here.

I have to keep re lighting the captain black. It doesn't bother me that much. I've just been letting it go out and then relighting it when I want to take a puff. I can usually take about 8-10 pulls off of it before the bowl is cash.

Any other tips anyone can offer? Blends they like?

How about how to clean the pipe?

Or a good way to store my pipe, or other kinds of pouches or bags I can use to store the tobacco so if I want to enjoy my pipe on the go I don't have to carry around the bag it came in.

Here is a picture of my pipe and stuff
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/860/mypipege2.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mypipege2.jpg)

[Delthayre]

That's the right sort of pipe tool to buy. I love those, they're very cheap, effective and rugged.

If any nearby tobacconists sell their own blends, you should consider those are they might be cheaper than the tinned tobacco. I have settled upon Lexington, a house blend sold only by Edleez (http://www.edleez.com/), here in Albany, but I smoked several tinned varieties before that. I recommend Dunhill's Standard Mixture Medium and Peterson's Sweet Killarney. I also urge you to avoid Dunhill's Royal Yacht, it provides entirely too much nicotine; I sometimes had trouble walking after smoking it. It is good to sample a range of blends when one begins smoking pipes; someone among the various mixtures of Virginias, Orientals, Latakia, Burley and Cavendish one is bound to find a suitable one.

Pipe cleaners are all that one will usually need to clean the pipe. Any good tobacconist should carry them, as do art supply stores, although I'm not sure if those are quite as suitable. Avoid any pipe cleaners that are too thick, I find those to be difficult to use.

[eldonkr]

What a coincidence, my friend and I went out in hopes of finding a tobacconist in town just yesterday. The only tobacconist within downtown limits was really just a place to buy cigarettes, but they had the essentials for beginning pipe smoking.

Picked up a corn cob (with a filter, probably same as yours) for $4, a pouch of Captain Black Royal and a pouch of Prince Albert.

I don't know if you were told about it, but all pipes require (at the bare minimum) a tamper tool to work (a poker is useful, too). If you didn't pick up a pipe tool, you can use a nail or something that looks like this:

--------|

The tamper is used to compact the tobacco so that it burns well. In my (very) limited experience, Captain Black can be a little troublesome. It is a bit wet, and if you smoke too hard, it can get VERY hot and cause tongue bite (taking a break for most of today because of that reason). If you have it packed well enough, though, and you smoke it at just the right speed, it's a very enjoyable tobacco (especially for the price). I have read that it is difficult to keep CB lit, as it is fairly wet, but keep at it and you'll get a good smoke going.

I smoked a bowl with the filter in my pipe, and then took it out to try it without. The smoke is a bit more enjoyable as far as flavour goes, but the heat did rise a bit. All in all, filters are largely unnecessary. Many pipes below the $40 mark come with filters. I really don't see that many pipes over $50 with a filter standard. Again, it's really not very useful.

As my pipe is corncob, I just scrape out the ash, remove and wash the mouthpiece bit (the proper name escapes me), and let it air dry. I would get some pipe cleaners, which are very inexpensive (especially if you get them from a tobacconist, not the art supply kind).

As far as tobacco goes, try a little bit of every thing. If you have a good tobacconist in town, he will gladly recommend different blends and styles. Peterson, Dunhill, Samuel Gawith, and GL Pease make very good tobacco, and should be available nationwide. Try tobaccoreviews.com to see what other pipe smokers have said about tobaccos.

Lastly, don't be afraid to relight your pipe. I'm still learning and I relight 3-5 times a bowl.

Hope this helps!

*EDIT*

I just tried out a new tobacco, Prince Albert, and it stays lit MUCH better. Although it's not a cavendish (personal taste), it's still a very mild and enjoyable smoke. Cheap, too. A 1.5oz(?) pouch was a little over two dollars. I only smoked it for ten or so minutes whilst speaking with a friend and making my way back to my dorm, but had I been smoking Captain Black, I would have had to relight several times.


Thanks for all your tips. I went out and bought some pipe cleaners. I also got a pouch of prince albert. It smokes great, I actually smoked a bowl of it when I recorded my show for next week (show is link in signature). I like the Prince Albert.

I also found a buy 1 get 1 deal for Dutch Masters. Its a Cavendish with Kentucky Straight Bourbon or something like that. I haven't tried it yet because they don't fit in my stash box (an old cigar box).

I've noticed that you live in Indiana. If you live near my location we could hang out, wear funny hats and smoke our pipes.

@Delthayre

Thanks for your tips. I'll see if my local shop has any of their own blends, I don't think they do anymore.

The pipe cleaners I got work pretty well. One thing that I have noticed is that the metal part that holds the tobacco comes off of the bowl or whatever it is called, I don't know the anatomy of a pipe.

I was cleaning my pipe for the first time and I noticed a huge build up of crud underneath that thing. I used a paper towel to clean that stuff out.

[eldonkr]

My pipe seems clogged. I have inspected and thoroughly cleaned every section and have found no clog.

What now?

[phase pistol]

I myself recently started smoking a pipe. Must be some sort of trend.

Always use pipe cleaners after smoking the pipe. I insert the cleaner, both one way then the other, ALL the way thru so that the end comes into the bowl itself. This removes the carbon deposits from inside the tube part. You don't want that stuff in your lungs. I also leave a clean pipe cleaner in the pipe, when I am not smoking it. This will absorb moisture and keep the pipe ready for smoking.

What I'm reading says you should NOT smoke the same pipe more than once per 24 hour period. This is to let the pipe "rest". I have however always ignored this, and so far have suffered no ill effects. But I guess for best results you should have two or three pipes in the rotation.

Carbon "cake" will build up in the bowl, but that's OK. You don't have to scrape it completely empty each time.

Do some googling and you'll find various pipe sites and blogs. I got my pipe and a sampler of tobaccos from pipesandcigars.com ; they seem like decent folks and will respond to your questions.

There are two types of pipe tobacco, "aromatic" and "English". Aromatics have a more pleasant smell, and might be fruity or spicy or whatever. These smells are easier for non-smokers to deal with. English tobaccos just smell like pipe tobacco, but some folks will find it nauseating.

I never got a tamper tool for my pipe, I just use a pair of tweezers that I happened to have, which have a flat end that I use to scoop out the ash, and to tamp down the tobacco. The trick to packing a pipe, is to take a wad of tobacco, fill the bowl loosely, TAMP it down with the tool (it will pack down to half way). Then take a draw on the pipe; it should pass the air easily (not clogged). Refill the bowl with loose tobacco and tamp down again, repeating until the bowl is full.

For me both the beginning and the end of a bowl are problematic. The beginning of the bowl is hard for me to light, and it takes several passes before it "catches". During this time I sometimes inhale tobacco flakes or even flaming bits of tobacco! lol

Once the pipe is going, I can get about 40 minutes out of it, puffing occasionally. Several relights are usually necessary. As the bowl fills with ash, scoop it out gently until you get down to the black tobacco, and re-light if necessary.

Now the end of the pipe is tricky too. I find that I'm greedy and try to get ALL the puffs down to the very bottom of the bowl, and I inevitably end up sucking ashes at the very end. Ugh! I am trying to see this coming and stop puffing earlier. But I hate to leave unburned tobacco.

I have not found a "favorite" brand yet; pipesancigars sold me a sampler pack of about six tobaccos. Most of them are OK. I do find though that many people ridicule Captain Black for being too common, or they say it tastes terrible. I guess it is the Budweiser of tobaccos.

Anyway that's all I know at the moment. Good luck and don't let the cancer get cha!

- Karl

[Mr_Misanthropy]

Well thanks a lot guys, after all this pipe talk I went and won an estate pipe on eBay. So, when it gets here and I get set up with some tobacco, I'll be sure to report back with details.

[Wooster]

I picked up pipe smoking recently aswell, and I love the ritual of packing and lighting the pipe. Though packing the tobacco in just the right way is an art on it's own, I hope to get better at it as time goes by.

I have to re-lit very often, but I'm told that's just something every rookie has to go through.

[Schnottus]

I've been experimenting with pipes for the better part of a year now and learned quite a bit... Almost all my pipes were estate off of ebay, I find most of the ones I get are horribly maintained, have way too much cake, and require extensive cleaning before use. I've bought about 20 estate pipes off ebay, I'd say 5 were completely unsalvageable and only half of the remaining pipes were good enough to be put into my pipe stand for regular use.

When you smoke a briar pipe over time a sort of ashen-layer, called the cake, will build up on the walls of the pipe. This is good since it protects the wood from getting burnt by the direct heat of burning tobacco. It is recommended you keep this cake about the thickness of a nickel, any thicker and the cake might crack your pipe when it gets hot and expands. This is what the spoon shaped part of three way pipe tools is used for, scraping the cake off. When I buy a pipe off ebay I usually remove all the cake by scraping which can be a tedious process because some of the pipes I've gotten seem like they've never been cleaned and the cake is rock hard.
After getting the cake off I soak the pipe in clear alcohol, usually everclear although I've used vodkas and gins with good results. The alcohol will dissolve whats left of the tars in the pipes. If you really want it clean you can fill the pipe with kosher salt and then pour alcohol in so that the tars released get absorbed by the salt. If you do remove all the cake with this method I recommend coating the inside of the pipe with honey so the ash from the first time you smoke it sticks to the walls and starts to build up a cake. If you have a corn cob or meerschaum (white stone) pipe none of this applies since they don't need a cake and hardly ever build one up.

As for smoking it a large part of keeping it lit for the whole bowl comes down to proper packing. Different tobaccos require different pressures when packing and really the only way to learn how to keep it lit the whole way comes down to practice. Another factor to staying lit is how moist the tobacco is, a lot of chain store tobaccos put PG (propylene glycol I believe) in their tobacco to keep it moist while on the store shelves. Too moist and you will have to let them air out a little. Better tobaccos won't have this problem but I hear lots of you mentioning tobaccos like captain black, prince albert, and similar others so I assume you are buying them at chain stores like walgreens. I started on the same tobaccos and while ok when you don't really know much about pipes they become terrible the instant you try a good tobacco. One of my personal favorites is trout stream, although with a little research you can find lots of good tobaccos online.

As for filters I'm kind of split on those. I've had good luck both with and without. When I do use them they do get very soaked with juices but when I don't I never have a problem either so I gets it's kind of a personal call.

[Schnottus]

For me both the beginning and the end of a bowl are problematic. The beginning of the bowl is hard for me to light, and it takes several passes before it "catches". During this time I sometimes inhale tobacco flakes or even flaming bits of tobacco! lol

Now the end of the pipe is tricky too. I find that I'm greedy and try to get ALL the puffs down to the very bottom of the bowl, and I inevitably end up sucking ashes at the very end. Ugh! I am trying to see this coming and stop puffing earlier. But I hate to leave unburned tobacco.

I have not found a "favorite" brand yet; pipesancigars sold me a sampler pack of about six tobaccos. Most of them are OK. I do find though that many people ridicule Captain Black for being too common, or they say it tastes terrible. I guess it is the Budweiser of tobaccos.

- Karl

If the beginning of the bowl is problematic I am guessing you aren't doing a pre-lighting burn. What this means is you pull a little harder than you normaly would if you were smoking while moving your flame around all the tobacco on top, you should see it all start to glow red if done right. Once all the tobacco is red you should immediately tamp the top down again. This will leave an unlit bowl of tobacco with a layer of charred/partly burnt tobacco at the top. Then you light it again and you will find this charred layer ignites very easily and creates a good burn throughout the bowl.

I can't imagine how you are sucking ashes up at the end as I often smoke mine to the bottom and have never pulled ashes up. I'm guessing your pipe has a huge airway or you are pulling too hard.

I've ordered from pipesandcigars multiple times and would highly recommend trout stream as a good all around smoke although I also really liked mocha black and the W.O. Larsen tobaccos.

[CigarMan]

Hey all, I've worked for the local tobacconist for about 10 years now and would be happy to offer any help or information possible. Many of the folks here have answered your question pretty well. It's good to start with a nice starter/inexpensive pipe to see if you'll even enjoy it first of all. And you will notice that you will have to continuously relight your pipe at the beginning. Most of this is because it takes some practice to pack the tobacco in the pipe just right so that it will smoke well. There's generally a 3 to 5 pinch rule, drop the first pinch loosely in the bowl, next one also loosely, but tamp it down, next one the same and continue until you have a nice spongy pack (similar to the feel of a cigar - firm, but spongy). Light the bowl and tamp down the hot ash, relight and tamp down again that way you get some of the hot ash further down in the bowl so that it will burn from the bottom/middle instead of just the top. Relight and you should have a nice even continuous burn. Of course this takes practice, but that's the fun of smoking a pipe . . . practice, practice, practice . . .Eventually invest in a better quailty pipe and you will notice a considerable differnce in smoking.

If I can be of any other assistance, please feel free to ask . . . HAPPY SMOKING!

[Gaige]

The joys of learning the Art of Smoking a Pipe.... :eusa_clap

Some things to remember:

1. It's a relaxing past-time. Don't rush it or you're missing out.

2. Everyone has to relight; I've never met anyone who doesn't... so don't worry about it.

3. Go back to #1. When you rush, you pull too hard, causing the tobacco to burn far too hot; this can (and will!) in time ruin your pipe, cause tongue bite, and generally put you off smoking a pipe completely.

4. Buy some pipe cleaner (I have "Pipemaster's Clean and Cure" and "Bee Pipe Sweetener". After smoking, clean your pipe and use these items to keep your pipe fresh. I usually let my pipe sit, disassembled, for 24 hours with a cleaner in the stem.

5. Check back on #1.

6. Enjoy!

[der schneider]

I put my pipes away 16 years ago but I have been thinking about starting up again. I still have a clay and a pewter tavern pipe. A friend recently purchased a meerchine {sp} and suggested smoking a bowl at martini night.

If you are in the indpls area on a tuesday evening you are invited to stop at the shop and join us for martini night.

I have a friend who owns a tobacco shop called santuary traders. he carries all sorts of pipes, tobacco's and snuff. I think he may have a web site.

I like the style of pipe you have recently purchased. I love the aroma of a pipe but do not care for the ashen taste I have a few days after. Maybe I need to take my time.

[eldonkr]

Well thanks for the help. I'll definitely take all the advice. Maybe its just my pipe, but I couldn't seem to get much out of it this evening. I'll give it a good clean here soon.

[Gaige]

If you're serious about pursuing pipe smoking as a past-time, you'd be well to save up some money and purchase a good pipe. It does make a world of difference.

I have around 16 now and many were purchased off of eBay as "estate" pipes, then brought to a local shop for a professional cleaning. I've obtained many excellent pipes this way.

[Nick D]

I've been a pipe smoker for several years (bought my first pipe and tobacco on my 18th). There's nothing quite like the scent of a good pipe. People will tell you that it reminds them of their grandpa, or an uncle.

Before getting an expensive(ish) pipe, you may want to practice on a corncob. Some people disparage the humble cob, but they're very forgiving, don't hamper the flavor, and are inexpensive. Even when you get used to it, though, a different pipe will have different smoking characteristics.

The pipe's going to go out, so don't worry about it. I once read that a pipe should always be at the point of going out. Sort of a hard thing to gauge, but the point is, smoke it slow and it won't bite you. Sometimes now I can smoke a whole bowl without needing to relight, but it's a rare thing.

Cheers,
Nick

[Lancealot]

When I first started out with a pipe I had trouble with getting the bowl too hot myself and scorching my tongue. I have gone over to a churchwarden since then that seemed to balance out the no filter with the heat. So I get a nice smoke flavor but the length of the stem cuts down on the heat greatly. Which reminds me I'm about out of my latest favorite McBrune mixture it's a Scottish blend my local tobacconist mixes up.

[John Boyer]

Speaking of Churchwarden's..my pipe for this evening is a Radice Churchwarden w/ bamboo stem loaded with Dummerston from Pipeworks & Wilke. This is the first Churchwarden I have owned and I am enjoying it greatly! It is a great pipe for smoking a stronger blend given the slightly smaller bowl and longer stem (although Dummerston is not strong by any means). I have historically shyed away from purchasing Churchwarden's as they appeared "ackward" and, traditionally, have small bowls. However, having learned how to better handle this 12 inch pipe, this shape may very well become my "pipe of choice". It is also an ideal pipe to smoke while reading. John

[DapperCat77]

I too just recently started smoking a pipe, I got my first pipe for Christmas. I also had a problem lighting and keeping it lit. At first I was packing too loose, then too tight. After a little experimenting I found how to pack it just right now my lighting problems are all gone.

[John Boyer]

What better way to start the New Year than with reflections over the Pipe?

It is a common frustration of those of us first engaging the Pipe: “how to keep it lit.” This is our first lesson--the Pipe is in control! After nearly 25 years of Pipe smoking, I will re-light 3-4 times per bowl, excluding the pre-light. In fact, I will often find myself re-lighting unnecessarily; it is just part of the ritual. It is such an anomaly to keep the Pipe lit through an entire bowl, that it is actually a contest among accomplished Pipe smokers for prizes. Once we think we have mastered this technique, we will change Pipes, blends or encounter different cuts of tobacco and be humbled-once again.

The personality of the Pipe is unlike any other tobacco practice. We cannot engage the Pipe with feelings of worry or anxiety. If we attempt to do so, we will learn to set these feelings aside, give them up, put the pipe down and wallow in our own "self pity" or--worse yet--give up the Pipe entirely. The Pipe will not tolerate it. It is wonderful how the Pipe guides us in this way.

With this, I wish all Pipe smokers a Happy New Year and many years of joy and peace that I am confident your Pipes will bring!

[shortbow]

Dang, John, wish I could put it so well. Those who seek enlightenment don't need 20 years in a Zen monastery, they just need to smoke a pipe.:D

[jazzncocktails]

What better way to start the New Year than with reflections over the Pipe?
Great reflections, Mr. Boyer!

While primarily a cigar smoker (and only occasional at that), I practiced some pipe smoking last winter and have been thinking of returning to it--it's a great winter pasttime, even in southern California where it gets just cold enough. Like many inconsistent or new smokers, I had trouble both packing the bowl and keeping it lit. The guidelines at the following website proved to be immensely helpful; hope you new pipe smokers find them as useful.

How to Pack and Light Your Pipe (http://www.smokingpipes.com/information/howto/packing.cfm)

Cheers!

[John Boyer]

Attached is a very encouraging Wall Street Journal article, particularly for those of us with an interest in pipe smoking. John

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123509294170728733.html

[jamespowers]

Attached is a very encouraging Wall Street Journal article, particularly for those of us with an interest in pipe smoking. John

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123509294170728733.html

A 96 year old pipe smoker. Well, that puts the scientists claims to a bit of shame as the old guy is still smoking and living after all these years. lol
Lots of good advice here. I clean my pipes witht eh kosher salt and cheap vodka routine when they get a build up.
My friend has this mean looking pipe reamer that cleans the heck out of cake build up. I don't remember the brand but it works.
I have about forty pipes that I get to use in rotation but mostly in summer. Winter is cigar season for me. ;)

[Kermez]

I prefer pipes in the winter, but that's when for me all the great cigars and beers come out, so I am torn as pipe-smoking quite badly wrecks my sense of taste for a day or so.

[John Boyer]

A 96 year old pipe smoker. Well, that puts the scientists claims to a bit of shame as the old guy is still smoking and living after all these years. lol
Lots of good advice here. I clean my pipes witht eh kosher salt and cheap vodka routine when they get a build up.
My friend has this mean looking pipe reamer that cleans the heck out of cake build up. I don't remember the brand but it works.
I have about forty pipes that I get to use in rotation but mostly in summer. Winter is cigar season for me. ;)

I clean my pipes with the traditional pipe cleaning alcohol; thinking I might not get much pipe cleaning done with the Vodka:D

It is also good to know that you have about 40 pipes. My wife thinks my 25 pipes are approaching borderline insanity; I can now tell her that I am just short of the right numbered of pipes of 40. I am currently attempting to build a separate but practical collection of Churchwardens, say, 6-8. Thank you for this advice and further evidence on the ideal pipe collection.:) John

[jamespowers]

I clean my pipes with the traditional pipe cleaning alcohol; thinking I might not get much pipe cleaning done with the Vodka:D

It is also good to know that you have about 40 pipes. My wife thinks my 25 pipes are approaching borderline insanity; I can now tell her that I am just short of the right numbered of pipes of 40. I am currently attempting to build a separate but practical collection of Churchwardens, say, 6-8. Thank you for this advice and further evidence on the ideal pipe collection.:) John


The right number? lol lol I am probably a bad example to use to any wife as I do not understand the words too many or enough. :D

[Macheath]

I clean my pipes with the traditional pipe cleaning alcohol; thinking I might not get much pipe cleaning done with the Vodka:D


lol

I didn't have that problem cleaning my pipe with Dewar's. This was last year, when I was trying different blended scotches, and I found out I wasn't too keen on the stuff. Decided I'd stick to Johnnie Walker for blends.

Does it make any difference though, what spirit you use to clean your pipe? I imagine the spirit will lend some of its flavor to the cake, but there was no discernible effect that time that I did use scotch.

[John Boyer]

lol

I didn't have that problem cleaning my pipe with Dewar's. This was last year, when I was trying different blended scotches, and I found out I wasn't too keen on the stuff. Decided I'd stick to Johnnie Walker for blends.

Does it make any difference though, what spirit you use to clean your pipe? I imagine the spirit will lend some of its flavor to the cake, but there was no discernible effect that time that I did use scotch.

As noted, it is my practice is to use a commercial alcohol based pipe cleaner. I have only heard of Vodka and Everclear being used as appropriate substitutes. I have also heard that rubbing alcohol is undiserable for pipe cleaning, but I do not know exactly why. I am not sure about Scotch. Seems like Scotch would leave a residue. John

[shortbow]

I've never before been too bothered about pipe cleaning, aside from occasional reaming of the cake to a reasonable thickness and fairly frequent use of pipe cleaners.

But, I got a little freaked out recently, reading allusions elsewhere to the possibility of contracting tuberculosis from estate pipes. After searching around some, I found no concrete dissertations on why one should really be concerned about this given the rarity now days of TB, coupled with the feeling on my part that the nicotine et al in the pipe should kill any undesirable bugs.

But being sufficiently neurotic to half believe this stuff, I looked on some of the pipe boards about using rubbing alcohol instead of everclear or vodka, and was persuaded by informed egg-head types that it is perfectly safe for bowl and stem as long as you let it dry completely before smoking. Conventional wisdom says it should be at least 70% isopropynal. Anyway, I'm going to try it in the next couple of days on some new estates I got recently. If you don't hear from me, you'll know it shouldn't be used.:D

[Ethan Bentley]

Shortbow, what do you think of your Estate Pipe, how does it compare to breaking one in yourself?

John, my old economics professor used to smoke a pipe, he must have been doing so for forty years or so now and he says he still uses three or four matches during a pipe smoke. I seem to recall that once I managed to smoke a whole pipe, with no phantom tobacco with just the initial light and pre-light. Interestingly this was while I was walking outside pretty close to the sea.

Walking and pipe smoking - a delight!

[shortbow]

Ethan, provided the pipe has not had a glopy aromatic smoked a lot in it previously, the lack of a need to bread it in is one of the joys of estates. The other big one is that you can get some really nice pipes that would be prohibitively expensive if bought new. (Given my meager resources.)

[jamespowers]

As noted, it is my practice is to use a commercial alcohol based pipe cleaner. I have only heard of Vodka and Everclear being used as appropriate substitutes. I have also heard that rubbing alcohol is undiserable for pipe cleaning, but I do not know exactly why. I am not sure about Scotch. Seems like Scotch would leave a residue. John

I have never tried Scotch but I wouldn't mind the residue if it left one. :p
I used Vodka because it has no real discernable taste. I think I use some cheap brand that was left behind by the previous owner of my house---Stanton's. It is only good for pipe cleaning so there is really no chance I might be tempted to drink some in the process. :rolleyes:

[Copper]

I have never tried Scotch but I wouldn't mind the residue if it left one. :p
I used Vodka because it has no real discernable taste. I think I use some cheap brand that was left behind by the previous owner of my house---Stanton's. It is only good for pipe cleaning so there is really no chance I might be tempted to drink some in the process. :rolleyes:

I used a touch of Laphroaig to get the lucite taste out of a new churchwarden stem one time. I pulled some into the stem like a straw, blocked both ends and just let it sit for a few days.

Though the taste of the whisky passed quickly, it took with it the plasticky taste and was quite pleasant.

[jamespowers]

I used a touch of Laphroaig to get the lucite taste out of a new churchwarden stem one time. I pulled some into the stem like a straw, blocked both ends and just let it sit for a few days.

Though the taste of the whisky passed quickly, it took with it the plasticky taste and was quite pleasant.


Then again, you had to taste Laphroig. :eek: ;) :p
I am sure it worked because alcohol gets rid of quite a few sins in a pipe. I fill mine with kosher salt first and then wet this salt with the cheap vodka after blocking the stem. That white salt will turn brown after about 30 minutes and suck all the tar, and other stuff that taints the pipe, right out. Rinse with more vodka and let dry. No problems with nasty leftover tastes. :cool2:

[shortbow]

Is it important that the salt is kosher?

[Kid Mac]

Kosher salt has a much larger grain size than table salt and a more open granular structure; it's coarse salt. It is a better medium to absorb any tars and "gunk" loosened by alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol which contain methyl alcohol).

Some pipe smokers avoid the salt and alcohol treatment because it can, in rare cases, damage a pipe (e.g. bowls cracking after treatment). I've never had this happen, but I rarely use the salt treatment. I suppose some saline could leach into any cracks or fissures and later crystallize and stress weak points in the briar.

I don't see why another absorbent medium couldn't work if you can't get kosher salt -- cotton rag, paper toweling, etc.

Dry ashes,

Mac

[jamespowers]

Kosher salt has a much larger grain size than table salt and a more open granular structure; it's coarse salt. It is a better medium to absorb any tars and "gunk" loosened by alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol which contain methyl alcohol).

Some pipe smokers avoid the salt and alcohol treatment because it can, in rare cases, damage a pipe (e.g. bowls cracking after treatment). I've never had this happen, but I rarely use the salt treatment. I suppose some saline could leach into any cracks or fissures and later crystallize and stress weak points in the briar.

I don't see why another absorbent medium couldn't work if you can't get kosher salt -- cotton rag, paper toweling, etc.

Dry ashes,

Mac

The Kosher salt also lacks Iodine which could do a good job of messing up the taste of a pipe. ;)
I have never had a pipe crack using this method and I have used it on dozens of my pipes to say the least. :) I imagine it could damage a pipe that might have some problems with it in the first place. Always inspect a pipe before doing anything with it. If deep cracks are apparent then it might be a good idea to go for any type of aggressive cleaning. Getting them wet will expand the cracks and could crack the pipe.
Other mediums could work but not as well in my experience. Nothing else sucks the garbage out of a pipe like salt. ;)

[Kid Mac]

Yes. Pickling salt is also not iodized; iodized salt effects the color, but not taste, of pickles.

I've also never had problems with the salt treatment, but some smokers reported problems in Pipe and Tobacco Magazine. Apparently the problem is with tiny imperfections or fissures in the bowl or shank that you don't notice, which enlarge (i.e., crack) when the salt re-crystallizes. I imagine the bad results are uncommon, but I thought I'd pass it along before anyone tried the method on an heirloom. Activated charcoal might also work as an absorbing medium.

When I did use the salt treatment, I used Everclear alcohol -- high proof and neutral flavor.

Mac

[jamespowers]

Yes. Pickling salt is also not iodized; iodized salt effects the color, but not taste, of pickles.

I've also never had problems with the salt treatment, but some smokers reported problems in Pipe and Tobacco Magazine. Apparently the problem is with tiny imperfections or fissures in the bowl or shank that you don't notice, which enlarge (i.e., crack) when the salt re-crystallizes. I imagine the bad results are uncommon, but I thought I'd pass it along before anyone tried the method on an heirloom. Activated charcoal might also work as an absorbing medium.

When I did use the salt treatment, I used Everclear alcohol -- high proof and neutral flavor.

Mac

Iodine can smell pretty bad too. ;) :p
I am not sure how careless you have to be in order to leave that much salt behind but.....[huh] Like I said, I always rinse with clear alcohol after dumping out the salt as well.
Charcoal might work but I don't want my pipe tasting like bourbon. ;) :p
Everclear?! They still make that? I thought that was rubbing alcohol. ;) I tend to try to use 90 proof alcohol with the salt treatment. It works better with a higher proof.

[Kid Mac]

Yep, they still make Everclear, and it is still available in North Carolina. Two variations 151 proof (which I used for the salt treatment) and 190 proof. :eek:
Now that would be effective pipe cleaning. lol

Of course, you get a look from the clerk when you buy it.

Cheers,

Mac

[jamespowers]

Yep, they still make Everclear, and it is still available in North Carolina. Two variations 151 proof (which I used for the salt treatment) and 190 proof. :eek:
Now that would be effective pipe cleaning. lol

Of course, you get a look from the clerk when you buy it.

Cheers,

Mac

Yeah, they wonder if you will pull a Richard Pryor or something. ;) :p :p
190 proof! Geez, what, do they make that in their backyard? :eek: :eusa_doh: :rolleyes:
I would probably be afraid to use that in my pipe. It might crack it.:p

[Copper]

Then again, you had to taste Laphroig. :eek: ;) :p
I am sure it worked because alcohol gets rid of quite a few sins in a pipe. I fill mine with kosher salt first and then wet this salt with the cheap vodka after blocking the stem. That white salt will turn brown after about 30 minutes and suck all the tar, and other stuff that taints the pipe, right out. Rinse with more vodka and let dry. No problems with nasty leftover tastes. :cool2:

He he - Yes, Laphroaig is certainly not to everyone's taste, but I'm still a fan! The alcohol does indeed do the trick quickly. I just wanted it to get to work on the stem though and wouldn't be pouring it into the bowl.

[JJWord]

The only pipe I have is a Doc Grabow I bought many years ago. It has this metal trap in the stem that has a scooped look to it. I really don't know what purpose it serves, but its removable for cleaning.

Am I better off leaving it out completely?

[shortbow]

Thanks for the head's up on the salt!;)

[CigarMan]

The only pipe I have is a Doc Grabow I bought many years ago. It has this metal trap in the stem that has a scooped look to it. I really don't know what purpose it serves, but its removable for cleaning.

Am I better off leaving it out completely?

The purpose of the metal trap is to filter out saliva/moisture that could travel to the bottom of the bowl. When this happens, steam occurs causing tongue bite. But at the same time it does restrict the air flow a little bit too. Personally, any that I have that come with filters I take out the enjoy the full flow of the pipe, but it's really up to you. Try it without it and see what you think, then base you're decision off of that.

[CigarMan]

My pipe seems clogged. I have inspected and thoroughly cleaned every section and have found no clog.

What now?

Hey eldonkr . . . did you ever get your pipe unclogged?

[wildturkey8]

One of the hidden jewels of the internet is Blakemar Briars of Litchebourgh, England. I love the fact that I am ordering straight from the manufacturer. They have as complete selection of shapes, finishes,and sizes as you will find anywhere. You can also order to your own filter requirement, or no filter at all. Just type in Blakemar Briars on your search engine. Oh, by the way the price is as reasonable as it gets for a top of the line pipe.

[Kid Mac]

WildTurkey,

I second your recommendation of Blakemar Briars. I've several Blakemars. All are excellent smokers. They are well constructed and lightweight. Great value, even before the current pound/dollar exchange rate.

You can also order a second stem for your pipe at a very reasonable cost. Blakemar's vulcanite seems to be of very good quality, as it is not prone to oxidization -- at least that's my experience.

Cheers,

Mac

[wildturkey8]

Kid Mac: I had bought my first Blakemar in 2001, and I've haven't had to buy a replacement stem yet.

[Harp]

...reflections over the Pipe?

It is a common frustration of those of us first engaging the Pipe: “how to keep it lit.” This is our first lesson--the Pipe is in control! After nearly 25 years of Pipe smoking, I will re-light 3-4 times per bowl, excluding the pre-light. In fact, I will often find myself re-lighting unnecessarily; it is just part of the ritual. It is such an anomaly to keep the Pipe lit through an entire bowl, that it is actually a contest among accomplished Pipe smokers for prizes. Once we think we have mastered this technique, we will change Pipes, blends or encounter different cuts of tobacco and be humbled-once again.




John,

Great post. I've not mastered the pipe (and never will),
but found some Orlik Slices at Chicago's Iwan Ries & Co;
and the book, Three Outsiders on eBay. :)
Should make a good "match." ;)

[skillbilly]

My wife was repeatedly suggested that I take up pipe smoking.
My father smoked a pipe, which I held onto for years until it mysteriously
vanished. I recently, with the help of a friend, purchased a lovely pipe and
then ordered two varieties of tobacco.

Each leaf blend was listed as being 7oz in size and I expected it to
arrive in a small tin or pouch of some sort. Imagine my surprise to receive two large
Ziploc bags containing more tobacco than i have seen in my life at one time.

Obviously, after I unload some on my friend, which may have been his intention :),
it will take me quite a while to smoke it all. Can anyone tell me the proper way to store it.
It would be a shame for this to go to waste due to ignorance.

[Kid Mac]

Skillbilly,

To store your tobacco, I'd recommend Ball Mason canning jars (the time of jar with a canning lid). The 24 oz size nicely holds one-half pound of tobacco, and the one-half pint jars are a great size for the contents of an opened tin of tobacco. Plus, they are inexpensive.

Over the years, I've tried many kinds of containers for cellaring tobacco, and, for me, these work the best. Simply screwing down the lid gives you a very good seal. (No, you do not need to actually can the tobac.)

Bail jars also work for a time, but eventually the rubber gasket fails.

Dry ashes,
Mac

[skillbilly]

Thanks Mac.
I actually have to pick up some of those jars for the wifey
this evening. Maybe she won't notice one or two missing. :)

[ScottF]

One of the hidden jewels of the internet is Blakemar Briars of Litchebourgh, England. I love the fact that I am ordering straight from the manufacturer. They have as complete selection of shapes, finishes,and sizes as you will find anywhere. You can also order to your own filter requirement, or no filter at all. Just type in Blakemar Briars on your search engine. Oh, by the way the price is as reasonable as it gets for a top of the line pipe.

I'm new here and joined for the hat info, but to find pipes, scotch, etc....wow! Great tip on the Blakemar Briars.

It took me years to kick my pipe habit, but I picked up this nice oak English antique the other day at an antique store, so some of the pipes are back out, l-r: Edwards, Mastro de Paja, Peterson, Bari (my favorite), Savinelli Duca Carlo, Peterson (2nd favorite).

http://oldsplice.homestead.com/PipeRack.jpg

[wildturkey8]

Scott: That is a fine collection. I just received a brand new rusticated black prince deluxe pipe from Blakemar. It is beautiful. It would look great in your pipe stand

[ScottF]

Scott: That is a fine collection. I just received a brand new rusticated black prince deluxe pipe from Blakemar. It is beautiful. It would look great in your pipe stand

I just googled it - beautiful pipe. What website did you order it from? I'm finding the same basic Blakemar page at several different addresses, which concerns me.


I used a touch of Laphroaig to get the lucite taste out of a new churchwarden stem one time. I pulled some into the stem like a straw, blocked both ends and just let it sit for a few days.

Though the taste of the whisky passed quickly, it took with it the plasticky taste and was quite pleasant.

Laphroig is one of my favorites - any time you can combine Scotch, pipes and hats in a single effort....all you need is a pool table and a good hound dog (and if my gf is reading, a wonderful woman waiting for you at home when you're through playing).

[wildturkey8]

I just googled it - beautiful pipe. What website did you order it from? I'm finding the same basic Blakemar page at several different addresses, which concerns me.



Laphroig is one of my favorites - any time you can combine Scotch, pipes and hats in a single effort....all you need is a pool table and a good hound dog (and if my gf is reading, a wonderful woman waiting for you at home when you're through playing).
Scott: Try www.bruyerecourt.abelgratis.co.uk. I bookmark it.

[John Boyer]

John,

Great post. I've not mastered the pipe (and never will),
but found some Orlik Slices at Chicago's Iwan Ries & Co;
and the book, Three Outsiders on eBay. :)
Should make a good "match." ;)

Harp,

Wonderful! I would be interested in what you think of both. This evening, I am smoking a bowl of Orlik Slices in a Ferndown Bent Dublin, while dipping into the Poetry of William Wordsworth. It, too, is a good "match".

John