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

Troy, at a guess, I'd say your packing method is your problem - maybe too tight or too loose could cause that problem. From your description, I'd say too tight.

Do you have pipe shop nearby, one with an experienced pipe smoker working in it? The best suggestion I can give is to find one and get some hands-on advice on your technique.

By the way, what kind of pipe is it?

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

its a grabow rivera. its possible that it is too loose. There is virtually no resistance on the draw. There is no pipe shops on maui, but I am sure I will get it eventually. I am also used to cigars which you draw only once a minute. Do you need to be constantly puffing on a pipe?

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

Yeah you'll want to puff a little more often than that. Also check out the frank method on youtube it really helped me get my pipe filling nailed down when I started.

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

Thanks

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

Is this amply demonstrated or is this hearsay? I ask because I have used unscented isopropyl 91% for sterilizing and destinking bowls/stem interchageably with Everclear 190-proof and never had problem 1. Only problem I ever heard of (for sure) with iso was from folks who fouled pipes with alcohol that had scent- or bittering agents.

I think a clear, definitive evalution of iso is important as many among us are unable or unwilling to purchase grain alcohol. I'm not sure I know about one.

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

Question : What does "drinkless" mean?

I see pipes from different makers say "drinkless" and I have no idea what its referring to.

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

I have had a pipe crack from the "salt" method, and a friend had one crack after using unscented isopropyl.

Now, to be fair, it might have been the duration of the soak which caused the problem in both cases. I got a phone call and the salt/alcohol sat for nearly 4 hours (instead of like 20 min.). It dried the briar out immensely and I heard an audible pop when the bowl cracked. I believe my buddy had the same problem, falling asleep after setting up his soak - coming back to it hours later.

You don't need Everclear. In fact, I normally use a clear rum or vodka. I used cotton balls instead of salt to fill my pipe. And, I can let it sit overnight. I am able to remove quite a bit of cake, and what is left is highly malleable. It does need to dry a couple days. But, it can be smoked with no ill effects.

If you can use isopropyl alcohol and pay attention to what you are doing, not getting distracted - I think you'll be OK.

I use the other method because sometimes "life happens" and if it does, I know everything will be cool whenever I get back to it.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

It is referring to the system in the pipe. Best information is to go to the manufacturing company's website and look it up, they'll give a better description.

Personally, the Peterson system, the drinkless system, and other things (filters, etc.) in the stem and/or mortise and tenon, are simply attempts to make up for lazy smoking technique and fear of using pipe cleaners.

In fact, some of those "systems" are actually a hindrance to a great smoke as they foul up natural air flow. They also trap things (tars, water, etc..) which are often highly flavored by the tobacco that was smoked previously. Then, if you smoke a different tobacco, those "flavors" trapped there are imparted to the present tobacco being smoked.

Just my :2

By the way, if you put your two cents in and someone gives you a penny for your thoughts, where does that other penny go?

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

Ahh, so its a filter system then...

Taxes. The gov always gets their share... :p

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

In my little corncob pipe, do I need to worry about cleaning the bowl out before switching tobaccos?

I have read something talking about aromatics possibly ruining good Virginia tobaccos if you don't clean your bowl between packing them, but I have what I believe to be aromatics as they are scented tobaccos, but they say they are made from Virginia tobacco, that confuses me.

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

ok, here goes one:

today, i decided to look into the bowl of my first pipe. the one that wont smoke for ****. and i notice that the bowl comes to a bit of a point in the bottom and the bottom of the bowl is the width of 2 paper matches (side by side) in height difference between the air hole and the bottom.

now i know it is supposed to be even (or close) to the bottom, and i know theres a way to do fix this. my questions are:

could i use cigar ash for the honey/ash mud combo, or would that not be a good thing. i can get that ash much more easily/quickly than pipe tobacco.

and:

would i be better off just tossing the damn pipe? it was $60 and id hate to think its a bad pipe. i got it from my work, and im not sure if i could "take it back" and get a new one.

i have just taken a good look in the mortise (?) of the bowl, and it appears to be drilled similar to a peterson system where the tennon is drilled a bit past the air hole to collect moisture, whereas the other pipe is only a little past the air hole. maybe something?

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

You can raise the heal by mudding the bottom of it. Do a search for "Mudding a Hackert". it is a good post by out own Mr. Moo out on the net, and should be reposted here, because it's helpful.

I've had good luck with the cigar ash/saliva combo, but have heard from others that honey tends to stay sticky for a long time.

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

Hey all,

My name is Damian and I'm new to both the forum and pipe smoking. My wife brought home a Radice Rind Pure No. R258 a month or so ago as a surprise gift and started me down the path of no return. Everything is going pretty well as I get better at filling my pipe and learning to smoke slowly. I also picked up a 2nd pipe (cause you have to have a few!) so that I could smoke more often and rest my pipes like you are supposed to. My questions may seem pretty basic but here goes:

1. Would you recommend (is it ok) to dump the ash from the pipe mid-smoke, say you smoke half a bowl and then put it down for an hour or so then come back dump and relight, or just leave it in and light?

2. How warm do you let your bowl get or not get before you put it down and let it cool before continuing to smoke?

3. I know it comes with time and I shouldn't worry about it but.... about how many bowls does it take to get up to the dime thickness cake (a watched pot never boils etc. etc.) because this is something of a pride issue with me :D

4. Finally, I have noticed some discoloration on the stem of my pipe where I estimate that the mortise and tenon have a little gap inside the stem and since this is a natural finish pipe its quite noticeable. I get some gurgling every now and then so my guess is that its from the moisture in the stem. Is this a problem or will it cause a problem in the future ie weaken the stem?

Thanks for all your help guys and I look forward to enjoying the CA community.

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

Bump. Come on old farts I'm hangin on by a thread here!

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

Some folks ash-dump mid-smoke, most not. No rule here.

There is a rule about heating up a pipe, however. If it's too hot to touch to your cheek, it's too hot. When a pipe overheats you risk damaging the pipe but, more likely, you ruin the taste of the tobacco. Work on your filling/tamping technique to keep producing nice clouds of smoke with short sips, say, 3-5 times minute, through a warm (but not red hot) pipe.

Regarding cake, it happens slowly - many scores of bowls before it's thick enough to scrape. The question about moisture in a new pipe may relate; more cake means drier smokes in my experience. Raw wood often smokes wet for a while. Smoke half bowls to prevent the heel of the pipe from getting soggy and don't be afraid to use a pipecleaner during a smoke if things get gurgly - or two or three pipecleaners if needed.

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

Thanks for the advice Moo! I am still trying to get my filling down and have tried just about every method. It seems I am getting better at it as I usually only have to relight about every 10-15 minutes or so. Are there any suggestions as to when to tamp (I seem to find myself tamping after its too late and the pipe goes out) and tamping technique. When I tamp I kind of go around the edge of the bowl on a circular route all the way around. Should I just tamp the center and not the edges? Thanks again for setting me on the path to pipe bliss.

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

Tamp as you wish but try not to scrape the sides of the chamber. Tamping was well described by EvanS not so much as a means of compressing tobacco but, rather, to collapse the ash column. Think of a perfect fill relating to a good, even burn; tamping has less to do with pipe smoking as your fill technique improves. You will see...

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

Thanks Moo! I really appreciate the insight and will adhere to the practice makes perfect credo. I am looking forward to improving on my form and sharing the experiences with all.

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

It took me a year or two to get it natural and easy to enjoy a pipe; I still learn something new every so often.

Main thing is fill evenly, compress lightly, light fully, keep dry and puff small for big clouds.

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

I have been smoking cigars for a few years. I usually smoke at least one a day. I have been wanting to try out pipes but don't know what would be a decent pipe to start out with. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

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

A lot of people start out with a Missouri Meerschaum Cob. Don't let the look or the price fool you. Even most seasoned pipe smokers have a couple cobs in their rotation. If you are dead set on a briar Dr. Grabows are decent pipes. My first was a Grabow and it still gets put to use, I would just avoid the really small ones. A little further up the ladder Brands like Savinelli and Stanwell have pipes in the ~$50 range.

With pipe smoking proper technique makes a bigger difference than the cost or quality of the pipe.

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

I appreciate the info. I am heading to a cigar function at a local shop on Friday and they carry the MM cobs. Will pick one up and give it a try.

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

This is great advice.

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

That last paragraph is the real deal. I have had Dunhill pipes that didn't smoke worth a tinker's dam, and have never had a corn cob that smoked poorly. Take out the filter though, it makes a huge difference.

Pipe cleaners are your very good friend, if you hear a slight gurgle, run a cleaner through the pipe from the stem to the bowl (do not remove the stem to do so). This will help you to smoke cool.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

Is it possible to use cigar tobacco in a pipe?

I have a couple of cc's that were gifted to me, yet horribly damaged. The tobacco is fine, just the structure is ruined. My fiancé has a bunch of pipes that her grandfather used decades ago and I was wondering is that might work?

Any thoughts?

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

Sure you can, don't expect it to taste the exact same as in it's cigar format, but you can clip off a half inch and rub it out before filling the pipe.

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

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

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

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/a...-39-29_399.jpg

So....about to go try the crumbled cigar experiment. Which of these fine smoking devices should have the honor of my being my first pipe?

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

That silver duke is calling, GIVE ME LEAF!
Least thats the one I would pick, looks like it could be a nice smoker

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

I'd say go with the Falcon(metal stem), they always seem to smoke great.

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

I've got a couple of questions about pipe tobacco

#1. Where do the blends, the ones in the big glass jars in my B&M, come from? Can make note of the blend and find it at other places? Might be a dumb question but pipe tobacos seem a whole lot more complicated than cigars

#2. I like med to full cigars, mainly because I find the mild cigars to not have much flavor and all I taste is smoke. So far I have tried Carter Hall and Prince Albert in my MM Cobb and I really like that they both seem mild to me but still have great flavor- which is what I was hoping for- great flavor without the overload like a full bodied cigar.
What other types of pipe tobaco should I look to try?

#3. Aromatics - I love the smell of them but I have not smoked one yet. I don't like infused cigars like the acids so does that mean I will not like aromatics? Or are they completely different?
I was thinking about picking up a tin of CAO

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

#1. Where do the blends, the ones in the big glass jars in my B&M, come from? Can make note of the blend and find it at other places? Might be a dumb question but pipe tobacos seem a whole lot more complicated than cigars

Who knows... It's common practice for B&Ms to order bulk in gigantic bags from Altadis, Lane, Stokkebye and others, and then give them names that are unique to that shop. You could ask but they may or may not tell you what it actually is.

#2. I like med to full cigars, mainly because I find the mild cigars to not have much flavor and all I taste is smoke. So far I have tried Carter Hall and Prince Albert in my MM Cobb and I really like that they both seem mild to me but still have great flavor- which is what I was hoping for- great flavor without the overload like a full bodied cigar.
What other types of pipe tobaco should I look to try?

PA and Carter Hall are both burley blends. Most Burley is used as a base for aromatic blends due to their mild flavor and low sugar content. Cornell & Diehl has quite a few burley based blends that you may enjoy. Virgina is also a lighter leaf, but has a higher nicotine content and higher sugar content. The higher sugar content can burn your tongue if you over puff, but if you keep the temp low virginia blends give you a great sweet flavor.

#3. Aromatics - I love the smell of them but I have not smoked one yet. I don't like infused cigars like the acids so does that mean I will not like aromatics? Or are they completely different?
I was thinking about picking up a tin of CAO

You'll have to experience them for yourself. Most aromatic blends do not taste the way they smell, and some cheaper ones are so heavily cased they don't smoke well either. There are good aros from blenders like Boswell's C&D, CAO, Samuel Gawith, and Gawith Hoggarth but they still tend to be lighter in flavor.

Most pipe smokers don't tend to turn their noses up about aromatic blends the way cigar smokers do. Maybe we're wussies, or maybe we're not as snobby. You'll have to see for yourself.

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

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

Thanks guys

How do you know if it is an aromatic if it isn't labeled as such - obviously the CAOs are because of my experience with the cigars of the same names but what about something like Peterson's Irish Whiskey - is it just the obvious answer - this is an aromatic because it has been flavored with whisky?

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

Yes, that one is obvious, for the reason you stated - it is acknowledged in the name. Other aromatics will also be described as having some sort of flavoring added to it. Oftentimes, you can tell by the aroma of the tobacco in the tin/bag, it will obviously smell of something added to the tobacco. While some tobaccos will have an ephemeral smell of citrus, coffee, cocoa, etc... in aromatics, it will be apparent that something was added. Take the time to read as well, for often it will be noted in the description.

As a couple examples:

Dan Blue Note Mild, Golden Virginias which possess a naturally high sweetness, are mixed with a very mild Black Cavendish. These tobaccos are aged for weeks together in a pressed cake. A fresh flavor with essences of exotic fruits and a touch of Bourbon Vanilla is added to make this an extraordinarily mild blend.

Dan Malthouse Founders Reserve This blend is named after the venerable former malthouse in which the tobacco is prepared. The Malthouse is a superb mixture of provincial Virginia tobaccos that are infused with Scottish Single Malt Whiskey.

Cornell & Diehl Blockade Runner A true Navy Cavendish crumble cake made with hand stoved red Virginia and golden Virginia and soaked in a premium rum for seven days, then lightly stoved again, pressed and cut.

Cornell & Diehl Cross-eyed Cricket This has a base of unsweetened black Cavendish with Turkish, Latakia and Perique, enclosed in a light rum punch flavor. Is this an English or aromatic blend? You decide. (Obviously, an English by the blend of tobaccos, but turned into an aromatic by the adding of the "flavor.")

Gawith & Hoggarth Bob's Chocolate Flake Loved by pipe smokers from all corners of the globe. A medium flake with a small amount of Latakia blended to give this tobacco its unique character. The cocoa and vanilla casings enhance the flavor of this popular flake. (Even if you didn't know by the name, it has added "casings" to enhance the flavor. This one is done in a very tasteful way and is an excellent aromatic, but an aromatic nontheless.)

Hope this helps.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

Peterson's Irish Whiskey is just about the only aromatic I smoke with any regularity. I never got the Whiskey flavor the name implies, but the tin always smelled like christmas to me(namely, smelled of fruitcake), and burned wonderfully while not being overly sweet.

And correct me if I'm wrong Rev, but aren't true English blends allowed one flavor while not being considered aromatic? IIRC, the whole distinction of an English tobacco came from the English monarchy getting angry over too many unsafe chemicals being added to tobaccos, so they banned any tobaccos with more than one flavor.

A quick google search pops this up:
http://pipesmagazine.com/python/pipe...e-in-the-same/

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

Actually, I do not think I called anything and English blend. That term was only used in the description by C&d in which THEY called Cross-Eyed Cricket an English blend "enclosed" with a rum punch flavor.

Ooops, I go back to another post and there mention "English" blends. My bad. Yes, I am a good American and sometimes slip into that mode of calling blends with Latakia in them, English blends. It is a bad habit. Forgive me.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

No problem, wasn't trying to call you out or anything. Was just sorta thinking aloud if you will. Just wanted to make sure my info was correct.

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

If I might, here are my sort of categories:
Aromatics (anything with a flavoring attached)
Burley blends (straight up burley or where burley is over 50% of the blend, other constituent tobaccos [VAs, Orientals, Burley, Cavendish, etc... but w/out casings/flavors/topnotes] may be added)
Virginias (no other types added)
VaPers (only Virginias and Perique)
Latakia blends (Latakia w/other constituent tobaccos)
Oriental blends (Oriental predominate, but other constituent tobaccos are present except Latakia)

Now others might break them down differently, and even my own definitions are a thing that may be adapted or changed from time to time. But this is overall how I like to see them. Of course, I am no expert, just a guy who enjoys an occasional pipe.

As such, I am not a big fan of Burley blends nor of Orientals. I do smoke and occasional aromatic, but even that not very often. But that is only how I have found to satisfy my own palate - everybody's palate is different.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

Thanks again for all the input here

I picked up a couple of ounces of Lane 1Q yesterday at a local B&M near our training area. It was really nice but smoked hot. Was that because of it being more moist than the carter hall and Prince Albert I've been trying? Should I let it dry a bit?

Other than that I'm getting a good handle on the pipe and can see myself smoking one more than my cigars. :O


One more thing - what do you all do with your tamper after using it? I'm either getting ash all over my thumb from wiping it off or I'm wiping it off on the edge of the sole of my boot before sticking it back in my pocket

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

The Lane 1Q smokes hot because it is cased and smothered in a humectant, polypropylene glycol, and will not dry out quickly, if at all. Many like it, I am not a fan, too moist and too much flavoring.

Of course, I don't want to suggest in any way that you smoke or do not smoke something simply because I do or do not like it.

As for cleaning your tamper - if you find other ways than the one you mentioned, let me know. :D

Peace of The Lord be with you.

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

Thanks Todd

Do you smoke any aromatics? Suggestions for one with a great room note my wife will like?

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

Check out Boswell for quality aromatics. As far as the tamper, I just stick it back in my pocket with ash on it.

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

My favorite is Two Friends Celtic Mist, produced by Cornell & Diehl. Call C&D and get a sampler. Their aromatics use no PG and real favors.

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

THIS! There is not anyone in the tobacco biz nicer than the folks at C&D.

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

Just sent them an email asking about samples of their aromatics

I'm leaning towards the aromatics with the pipe because I figure if I want a good tobacco flavor and aroma I get that with my cigars.

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

There are other aromatics out there, but I am of the belief that C&D has the most pure aromatics produced in the US. Others are good, but I personally (that is, my own opinion) hate PG and the other humicants and additives that others use which leave their tobaccos too moist for far to long.

Don't get me wrong, I love McClellands (another great US pipe tobacco producer) for Virginias - Christmas Cheer, 5100, and 2050 are staples in my rotation. They also have a few aromatics that I like.

But the problem with many aromatics (outside the C&D stable) is that, because of the humicants, I have to watch very closely my puffing habits - they can bite very badly in a very short time, and then my tongue is miserable for a couple days. C&D aromatics don't leave me in that quandry.

VAs can also bite if not watched carefully and sipped slowly, but when I am smoking a VA or VaPer, I somehow know to sip and not 'puff.'

E-mail, shme-mail. Give them a call and talk to Patti. Tell her Todd from Embarrass, WI told you to call. 800 433 0080

As for good tobacco flavor and aroma w/cigar -vs- pipes. I love my cigars, absolutely do. There is no comparing the flavor of cigars and unflavored/non-aromatic pipe tobacco. It is like comparing oranges to potatoes. Seriously.

Virginias, VaPers (Virginias W/Perique), Latakia blends, Orientals, Burleys... they are all so very different from one another.

If you talk to Patti, get her to work up a small sampler of each variety. What doesn't suit you, you could either PIF, or sell. If you are nice to her, if you tell her you'd like to buy larger samples of aromatics and just a pipe or two of some other stuff - you'd be surprised about how accomodating she might be.

Hope this helps.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

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

Ok. Next question :)

Really enjoying my two MM Cobs and finding that I prefer the bent stem over the straight. Somewhere I read on here about breaking off a pipe cleaner and bending it to use as a filter which I have been doing and have not noticed a diffence in the smoke over using the filter

Tonight I stepped out side, pulled out my Cobb and loaded it, took a test pull to check if I packed it to tight (which I didn't) and tasted an awful mess realizing I had not cleaned and changed out the pipe cleaner filter since my last smoke. So I just took it out and smoked it sans filter

Wow. Lots of billowing smoke and could really taste the tobacco. What I did notice though was the draw was just a little light for my liking. Regardless, this was probably my best smoke so far with my Cobb.

Does a none filtered pipe have a smaller hole where the filter would go to tighte up the draw a bit?

How many of you smoke your filtered pipes without the filter?

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

I smoke all my pipes, including my cobs, without filters. Although, the only pipes I own which could take filters (at least right now) are my cobs.

Yes, non-filtered pipes do have smaller draw holes and the draw is a bit tighter. Although that loose draw isn't a big deal, it is a good "sipping" pipe that way.

Peace of The Lord be with you.

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

I've been wanting to try a pipe for some time and purchased a really cheap cob pipe and a few pouches of tobacco at the drug store.
I found them very unsatisfying so I checked out some reviews and am interested in trying out Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired and Dunhill Night Cap.

Do you think that it these would be too bold for a pipe noob?