New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart

[Sancho Fuente]

I have had a pipe for a few years. I smoke it maybe once a week but enjoy it hardly ever. I am having a real problem with keeping bowls lit, and the bowls get fairly hot. As far as I know I am filling the bowl correctly using the gravity/3 push/roll up way that everyone says is best. I am using estate Savinelli briars, which are in excellent shape and very well taken care of since I am very anal about cleaning. I have been smoking a mostly flavored Boswells sampler that I was given with the pipes when I bought them, with the occasional sopping wet store brand thrown in. It seems they all taste very bland to the point where it becomes a chore to make it past a quarter of the bowl.

Now for the questions after my life story.
1. Being a cigar smoker, is it best to get some heavy blends now (like GL Pease Odyssey/Abingdon) that I can really taste the flavors in? I am guessing that some of my problem is user error puffing entirely too fast to try to keep these bowls lit and actually experience some sort of flavor.
2. I think I am going to order a MM Country Gentleman to try new tobaccos in until I find the right blends/styles that I like. Thoughts?
3. What other brands would you recommend for someone who is used to a cigar type taste and not mildness for starting out to really get a feel for pipe flavors?

Thanks in advance old farts.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Sancho Fuente

I have had a pipe for a few years. I smoke it maybe once a week but enjoy it hardly ever. I am having a real problem with keeping bowls lit, and the bowls get fairly hot.
Thanks in advance old farts.

After filling the pipe (before lighting) is the draw resistance anything more than verrrrrrrrry slight? I mean, if you put a match to it and draw, does the flame go straight down or is it packed too tight for that to happen? Whattaya think?

[Sancho Fuente]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

After filling the pipe (before lighting) is the draw resistance anything more than verrrrrrrrry slight? I mean, if you put a match to it and draw, does the flame go straight down or is it packed too tight for that to happen? Whattaya think?

The resistance is less than a cigerette I would say. The flame also goes down into the tobacco. That could also be from the cigerette smoking I guess, drawing too hard maybe?

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Sancho Fuente

The resistance is less than a cigerette I would say. The flame also goes down into the tobacco. That could also be from the cigerette smoking I guess, drawing too hard maybe?

No - that's good. Filling too tightly is a common culprit for pipes needing constant relights.

Tobacco squished between thumb and index crumbles, springs back a good bit or stays smooshed?

[Sancho Fuente]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

No - that's good. Filling too tightly is a common culprit for pipes needing constant relights.

Tobacco squished between thumb and index crumbles, springs back a good bit or stays smooshed?

It takes maybe 2-3 seconds to spring back with the Boswells Christmas Cookie I smoked the other day. Once its in the bowl it still springs back when I push down on it. My Boswells Berry Cobbler stays smooshed. None of the 7 kinds I have crumble.

And thanks for the suggestions on blends and the advice BigFrank. Once Mister Moo figures out what I'm doing wrong I might have a good smoke.

[BigFrank]

Originally Posted by Sancho Fuente

And thanks for the suggestions on blends and the advice BigFrank. Once Mister Moo figures out what I'm doing wrong I might have a good smoke.

Easiest method I know is the 3 stage load. Gravity fill the pipe. Then push it down 1/2 way. Refill to top. Push down to 3/4. Fill again. Char light then tamp. That is my fail proof method for loading. Might also be the tobacco you are smoking. Moisture level, heavy casing or toppings can affect how well a tobacco smokes. When loading up the pipe take a few test puffs on the pipe. If there isnt enough drag you will have trouble keeping the pipe going. Load light at first test, you can always add more tobacco, and work from there. All things considered I would believe it may be your tobacco more than anything else.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Sancho Fuente

It takes maybe 2-3 seconds to spring back with the Boswells Christmas Cookie I smoked the other day. Once its in the bowl it still springs back when I push down on it. My Boswells Berry Cobbler stays smooshed. None of the 7 kinds I have crumble.

And thanks for the suggestions on blends and the advice BigFrank. Once Mister Moo figures out what I'm doing wrong I might have a good smoke.

Pipe isn't soggy in the heel, is it? Sounds like your tobacco isn't too wet but maybe dry the tabak some more; change blends for a comparison, maybe. Things sound right to me.

[Slow Triathlete]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Pipe isn't soggy in the heel, is it? Sounds like your tobacco isn't too wet but maybe dry the tabak some more; change blends for a comparison, maybe. Things sound right to me.

I'll chime in with a question about your pipe here. I used to have the same problem with one of my first pipes. I later found out that the drillhole into the pipe was raised and off-center (no wonder it was so cheap). It altered the smoking capability of the pipe and actually caused the tobacco to get sopping wet during the smoke. I'm not sure about the science of why it did this I just know that it happened.

Take a look down into the bowl of the pipe and see where the hole is. It should be flush with the bottom of the bowl and as centered as possible.

[BigFrank]

Now for the questions after my life story.
1. Being a cigar smoker, is it best to get some heavy blends now (like GL Pease Odyssey/Abingdon) that I can really taste the flavors in? I am guessing that some of my problem is user error puffing entirely too fast to try to keep these bowls lit and actually experience some sort of flavor.
You can start off with some heavier blends, but what I would recommend would be to go at least a week without smoking anything. Allow your palate to get some rest. Then get a few different blends and go from there. FWIW I went from smoking 2-3 cigars a day to the pipe and I tried to rush the transition. Just grab a few blends that look good. There's a ton of pipe tobacco out there. We also have a newbie sampler trade for tobacco here http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9168 Also, when smoking start by smoking VERY slowly. A pipe is better served by having relights than puffing too hard. In time, you will get the hang of it...I still to this day do not light a bowl once and finish it without a relight. One trick I have learned is when lighting for the first time. Take a few puffs, then let it go out then tamp the ash down some and relight. This is often called a charring light. After that, I put the flame to my tobacco and puff away like a powerhouse a half dozen times or so to get the tobacco going. From that point on I puff slowly. Every so often I blow slowly back into the bowl to keep the ember going and try to not tamp too often while smoking...But like I said I still need relights while smoking. If the tobacco goes out I do not try to force it back. I just let it go out, put the pipe down and go grab a refill on my drink or whatever. Come back and relight.
2. I think I am going to order a MM Country Gentleman to try new tobaccos in until I find the right blends/styles that I like. Thoughts?
Go for it, I have a few cobs that still get smoked regularly. Great pipes, and great to learn how to smoke in.
3. What other brands would you recommend for someone who is used to a cigar type taste and not mildness for starting out to really get a feel for pipe flavors?
There are many blends with actual cigar leaf in them. Key Largo, Robustio, Dominican Maduro & Glory are a few that come to mind. I would start with getting a few straight blends. Get a blend that is just Virginia, One heavy with Latakia ( odyssey is good here ) and maybe a straight Burley blend to learn how the tobaccos taste as a stand alone smoke. From there when you go to smoke blended tobaccos it makes it easier, well it did for me, to identify the tobaccos in the blend. Also, it helped me learn and pick up on what the blender is trying to accomplish.