Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Aromatics may or may not contain quality tobacco as their constituent base. The flavors of cherry/rum/maple/fruitloops/etc.. are all acheived by a "top note" flavoring added to the tobacco. Pipe tobacco as a general rule does smell much better than does a cigar - at least to the non-smoker. However, English blends will piss people off like nobody's business.

Personally, the "normal super market/right aid stuff" is (in my own opinion) substandard tobacco and should be avoided. Most of it gives me tongue bite like nobody's business. I don't know, but I'd guess that if you go to http://www.pipesandcigars.com/ and then call them after looking some stuff over, that they'd fix you up a "starter kit" to you specifications.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Has anyone tried the forever stems? If there was one thing I could do about my cob, it would be to reduce the amount of draw it has.

I'm wondering if these would sove this:

http://www.walkerbriarworks.com/html...er__stems.html

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I've heard many good reviews of the Briar works stems. I would say go for it!

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

So question for the nut house pipe smokers, an older gentle made stuck in his was smokes Tampa sweets Cherwoods he finaly broke today and ask me to find him a pipe blend that taste the same any suggestions

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Prince Albert Vanilla Cavendish - http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_...PHA=P&TID=1934

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

thank you Mr. Moo will have to try that

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Da vinci is a tobacco I have recently tried and feel in love with It has a noticable chianti in it. I am looking for a pipe tobacco that has a strong chianti taste to it and has a little more strength to it because although great, the Di Vinci is like smoking air.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Sorry, cannot help. Tried the DaVinci once, hated the "chianti" taste/smell and have tried to avoid anything even remotely like it. Although, I do not believe I have ever encounted anything that resembles it in taste.

I'd contact Cornell & Diehl, call them and talk to Patti Tarler, ask if they have anything that is similar. Their aromatic would be clearner and less fill with PG than DaVinci. Here's the link to look stuff up. http://www.cornellanddiehl.com/oldindex.html
Hope this helps.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Here's a question for you pipe folks. I have a very nice Meerschaum Billiard that was gifted to me from one of the members here. I have this fear that if I went to go smoke it outside in freezing temperatures, it might crack. Is the an irrational fear? Can I take her out in sub-freezing temps? Thanks.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I don't own a meer, but from reading several stories on several fora, I'd say you fear is very real and by no means irrational.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

What are some pros and cons to smoking meerschaum pipes?

I was looking at these: http://www.marscigars.com/meerschaum.aspx

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I'm still trying to get the hang of smoking a pipe. Yesterday was my first successful use of a tamper to keep the pipe lite. My problem is, when I get to about half a bowl the pipe starts to get condensation in the bottom of the bowl and stem. What should I do to address the issue?

Best regards,
Andrew

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Pass a pipe cleaner down through the stem and into the bowl. If it is a straight pipe this should be easily done, if the pipe is bent, it may take some finagling, twisting, turning, and pushing, to get it down there.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Smoke filled half bowls until you do get the hang of it. :sl







:wo

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

My pipe is one of the Kaywoodie pipes with the weird ball-ended contraption on the end of the stem. Should I attempt to cut it off?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks for the advice, I'll try that next time. Tonight I smoked a cigar instead-(P

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I suppose you could try to cut it off as that probaly is the root of your problems. Not really sure why kaywoodie insists on putting those damns stingers in there. Thats the only reason why I dont have one

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I thought those screwed out of the stem? Have you tried that?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

:tpd:

I always thought stingers twisted or could be pulled out.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Not on the Kaywoodies, the tenon has threads that screw into the mortise. Some of the stingers on other pipes can be pulled out, but the kaywoodie stingers are part of the bit.

If it is a new model Kaywoodie, I would cut it off below the threads. If it is a antique, you may want to leave in intact, as the older ones are somewhat collectable.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks for the advice guys. The first thing I did was go to the tobbaco shop and get some decent tobbaco, Mac Baren Black Cavandish. Next I took a hack saw to the stinger and cut it off just below the threads. I loaded up half a bowl, with a pipe cleaner handy. First of all, the taste was much better than the Borkum Riff that I started out with; it didn't bite my tongue. When I noticed some condensation building up in the bowl I ran the pipe cleaner down the stem. Problem solved! I had a nice half-hour smoke.

One final question, I know with cigars most people reccomend taking a puff every minute or so. Is there a comparable rule of thumb for smoking a pipe, or should I make like Popeye and just puff away?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

If you really want to taste the subtle nuances, "sip" your pipe. That's the best way I can describe it. If you puff away, you will get much more condensation and possibly burn your tongue.

But, you may not be susceptible to tongue bite.

Try some different things and see what happens.

Oh, this is a must. Smoke your pipe. When done with a bowl, run a pipe cleaner through it. Then let it sit for about 2 days before smoking it again, giving it time to dry out thoroughly.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

...and, where it pays to have a couple of extra pipes on hand while pipe #1 is airing out:tu

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

this is a great resource I went back to the beginning and started reading learned that tamping is key to staying lit.
I thought my Dr. Grabow was a bad pipe because it would not stay lit tamping fixed that
also that loose draw with little smoke problem I had again tamping fixed that also.
I actually enjoyed smoking my pipe tonight for the first time and got threw a whole bowl with out giving up on it :tu
I learned to load properly and no P word is used in this house any more concerning the pipe :D
I still got a long way to go still got to get me the basics tamper and cleaners (using roofing nail for now)
and I also learned why it took me 2 years to start using this pipe as all the tobacco I had was aero from Walgreen's
had the giaint bags of all the flavours and after 2 years just rolled up they are still moist :confused:
I got good backy from emjay and sterling and I am glad I have finaly figured out how to use it properly and enjoy it.
so basically THANK YOU OLD FARTS!!!!! :pn
:l

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Ah HAH! :tu

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks for the advice. I haven't gotten tongue bite with this new tobbacco, but I'll try sipping it. I must say I enjoy smoking a pipe, so now that things are going well I'll probably pick up another one.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I definately get a lot more flavor from sipping. but I still give it a couple good puffs every now and again. sadly I tend to sip or whatever every 20 seconds or so. more often if I really like the baccy!

as to letting the pipe dry out.... Hmmm... I have two pipes. a ben Wade and a basket pipe that smokes like a gurgling baffoon. i tend to smoke two or three bowls a day. and mostly out of my ben wade. sounds like you just gave me a reason to get another pipe of 20... :)

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Stock up on some cobs. As many will agree, cobs can be some of the best smoking pipes out there once broken in. I love my cob that I picked up last spring, thing smokes like a champ, but I'm holdin out hope for the new one I picked up last week as it still needs some breaking in.

The glory of a cob is they're perfect for travel, you break one its not a big deal, its ~$8 to replace depending on where you get it from. Same with burning them out, they're great for smoking on in between nights for your briars. I have 4 pipes, 2 cobs and 2 briars, and the cobs tend to see about 2-3 times the action my briars do combined.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Good advice about the cobs. Really they are decent smokes. Get rid of the tampon inside that they come with and they smoke much better.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

That's what she said.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Aaaaaaand now I'm really tempted to walk into work on Sunday, find the box of Medico filters and make a label to put over top the logo reading "Feminine Products" :r:r:r

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Sorry, all they do is soak up moisture, expand as they do, and they never really dry out - simply impeding the smoke flow more and more. They are the greatest hindrance to making a cob smoke well.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Is that the same as the wood filter that comes in my Savanelli? I'm having a particularly hard time keeping it lit and I wonder if that is one of the factors.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

The wood filters are not the same. Although, I'd get rid of them also. Unrestricted air flow will help some to keep it lit. There may also be other factors... you bowl fill/pack, your initial light/tamp procedure to get your intial burn, your puffing habits.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I took out the wood filter and it definitely improved the overall smoking experience. I could feel the bowl and how I needed to either fill it more or pat it down more. I only needed to relight twice which for me... was a score.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Glad that suggestion worked for you.

Enjoy your smoke.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

How do you know when the pipe is done? For ex. last night I was on the porch reading and it was quite dark even w/ the light on. It would go out and then I'd light it back up. But I was never sure when the tobacco was done... when I dumped it out I still had a tiny bit left.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

There usually will be a little bit of unburnt tobacco int he bottom of the pipe. It's not something to worry about. Moisture can collect in the bottom preventing it from burning up, and the drilling of the pipe can also effect how well it burns the last bit. If it's only a small amount, you're not doing anything wrong.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

What if you keep trying to light it? Could you damage the bottom of the pipe?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

If you are too aggressively trying to get the last bit of tobacco to burn, you'll burn your tongue before you burn the pipe.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

How can I sterilize a used pipe?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol, a q-tip, cotton swap and pipe cleaners. :banger

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

You can put the 91% isopropyl alcohol directly onto all surfaces?

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Not on the outside of the bowl, unless you're prepared to refinish the pipe. Everything else, yep. If toxicity is your concern, it evaporates quicky enough that this isn't a problem, though I prefer to use drinkable high-test stuff.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Do not, repeat, do not us isopropyl alcohol. That stuff does nasty things to briar, so the next time you smoke it, you can crack your pipe. Doesn't happen all the time, but... It will also whiten vulcanite stems.

Get yourself some Everclear, grain alcohol.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

In fact, I do believe there was a post somewhere in this thread about pipe cleaning/sterilizing.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Yeah I dont put it on the wood, just the stem, then after it airs out for a while I put a light coat of olive oil on for 10mins, then wipe dry.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Hi guys, thanks for all the great information. I tried pipe smoking a couple of years ago....got a grabow and some cornel and diehl. I was having problems keeping it lit, I used the loading technique listed here, but i suspect the tobacco was too wet. I found the tobacco in a closet the other day and was thinking of giving it another shot. I had two questions.....is the tobacco still good? It was in its original container for the past two years, it has a lid, but it has been opened in the past. Second, I understand that you should not store pipe tobak in a humid enviorment, I live in hawaii and the RH inside my house varies from 65 to 75 percent. Will my tobacco always be to wet?

Thanks guys, sorry if the humidity thing has already been brought up, I looked through a bunch of pages and didnt see anything.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Troy the tobacco is probably fine. You can try drying the tobacco out by laying out a bowls worth and putting it under a desk lamp, or goose neck lamp. Let it go for 10 minutes, and then check it every 5hour after that.

Re: New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart
 

Thanks for all the help guys. I made an attempt at the pipe again, loaded it in accordance to the forum, and did a first and second light. There was very little smoke production, and unless I was tamping on every draw, it would go out within a couple of puffs. Also, the bowl sounded like I was frying bacon in it. I imagine the frying sound was the tobacco being too wet, so I put some in the fridge for about 5 hours (I don't have a lamp). This time the sound was gone, but I still cannot keep it lit for more than a few puffs, with very little smoke production. Finally I gave up and lit a cigar.

Any Ideas guys?

Thanks in advance