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?