Any pipe smokers here?

[Lanfox]

I'm a cigar smoker who took up a pipe because you don't need to commit as much time as you do with a cigar.

Thats why i switched too, but if im ever out of the states i enjoy a good cuban every once in a while

 

[Jim Karr]

Man, I miss smoking my pipes. SWMBO convinced me it would be hard to keep the kidlets from smoking if Dad does it.

My favorite blends are:a brand called Half-and-Half, (available at any drugstore), which is half burley and half bright. Burley makes massive clouds of smoke, and also has the highest nicotine content of just about any leaf.

And: a custom blend a local tobacconist created for me. Mix .25 parts Mild Turkish, .35 parts C. Latakia, .25 parts Light Ribbon Virginia, and .25 parts Black Cavendish unsweetened. This was my very, very, very favorite smoke.

My experience with cigars seemed that the more expensive the cigar was, the hotter and nastier it was.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

I got a nice couple pipes in the mail today and one on the way from eBay...

First, my recent eBay win is a Tsuge.

And then I got a couple cobs in the mail today and a Nording Fantasy Pipe which is tits!

 

[jezter6]

I should get into this. I was a cig smoker for 10 years and just gave it up. Now I smoke cigars about once/twice a week. I don't want to get into a smoking habit, but a nice fun backyard in the summer thing would be nice. Right now I'm on Black & Milds (yeah - make fun of the poor guy who smokes mass production cigars).

I've been wanting to buy a pipe to check it out since I started the cigar thing - maybe I should give this a run.....

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

I should get into this. I was a cig smoker for 10 years and just gave it up. Now I smoke cigars about once/twice a week. I don't want to get into a smoking habit, but a nice fun backyard in the summer thing would be nice. Right now I'm on Black & Milds (yeah - make fun of the poor guy who smokes mass production cigars).

I've been wanting to buy a pipe to check it out since I started the cigar thing - maybe I should give this a run.....

If you like a smoke, then I think you should. Of course, quitting is better for your health (I can't abide myself promoting smoking without at least a little disclaimer, ya see?)

I smoked cigarettes for 8 years. After quitting, I gave myself a number of months to get unhooked, then started smoking an occasional cigar. Then it got expensive and I had troubles quitting, so I went to a pipe. Funny thing is I smoke my pipes every day, but last week there were two days when I was busy and the weather was cold, so I just didn't smoke. No withdrawal, no craving... I just didn't smoke.

Want to get into pipe smoking cheap? Two words for you: Missouri Meerschaum. They're cob pipes, you can pick them up for $5 a piece. Your local shop may have cheesy little $2 cob pipes, but the Missouri Meerschaums are actually full-size nice-looking cob pipes for not much more. Smoke them a bit, decide if you like it. Try a few different tobaccos.

Decent pipes like Stanwells, Petersons, etc can be had for $35 or so if you look around and they can last you forever if you take good care of them. $50-85 is the sweet spot though where you can find whatever pipe your heart desires. Though, like with anything, you can spend more... I still enjoy smoking out of cobs a lot though.

And good pipe tobacco is cheaper than cheap cigars.

 

[menschmaschine]

+1 On the corncobs. Even among pipe aficionados they're a good pipe. (Don't bother with the filters though. I don't know who ever decided to put filters in pipes, but pipes aren't meant to have filters as you're not inhaling.) Try a cob with Half and Half for a good cheap smoke.

 

[jezter6]

Mr Humps:

Can you give me a quick breakdown of the best $20-50 pipe brands? I'd like to swing by tonight and would be willing to have a good pipe even if it becomes more of a 'showpiece' than a routine smoker.

 

[Smogre]

+2 on the cobs. My pipe collection is about 40 different pipes now and 4 of them are cobs which get smoked all the time. I like using them when trying different tobaccos.
I maintain a simple 7 day pipe rotation for when I'm smoking heavy. (Normally in winter)
I bought my first pipe at a Peterson's and it's still my favorite pipe to this day.

Nice Nordig by the way, Sir Humpsalot. I have a Tsuge as well with a bamboo stem. Very good pipes.

Hey jezter6. When checking out the pipes, find something that feels good in your hand. In my opinion something with a bent stem holds in my mouth better than a straight stem pipe.

I too, used to smoke cigs. After getting used to quality tobacco, a cig became the nastiest thing out there. I haven't smoked cigs for roughly 7 years now.

 

[Smogre]

As far as some good blends to try.
Well, I'm a fan of McClelland. Frog Morton is one of my favorites.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

Mr Humps:

Can you give me a quick breakdown of the best $20-50 pipe brands? I'd like to swing by tonight and would be willing to have a good pipe even if it becomes more of a 'showpiece' than a routine smoker.

I'd be glad to give you my thoughts on the matter!

Remember though, nice pipes are a luxury item. As a result, prices vary. Going online can save you 30% easily.

First off, pipes to avoid at all costs:

Plastic Pipes- My first pipe was a plastic-y thing that I paid $7 for. It was terrible. Sure, it let me smoke, but it wasn't enjoyable and cleaning it was a mess. These pipes often have a metal basket and a few internal parts to keep the plastic from melting. Totally not worth it. I'd smoke a cob for the rest of my life before I got sucked into one of these.

Glass Pipes- Are sold more for smoking other types of plants. Don't even think about it.

This leaves us with 4 other options which I will detail below...

First, to get them out of the way...
Calabash- Calabash is a gourd found in Africa (I think). They hollow it out, dry it, and turn it into a pipe. Sherlock Holmes smoked a calabash. They have those gorgeous exaggerated curves and look really neat, although sort of garish. You may decide you want one of these, maybe they really speak to you. Personally, I love the way they look, but can't imagine myself seriously smoking one. I know nothing as to their care or longevity. They are pretty unusual, to be honest.

Next...
Meerschaum- is a mineral/stone found underwater in the seas of the middle east, Turkey being the most notable. It's like limestone in that it's formed by dead sea creatures. The difference is that the stone is often a brilliant white color, takes a nice shine, and is easily carved. There's a lot of very extravagant and intricate Meerschaums out there. Like corncobs, meerschaum doesn't "ghost" very readily so it's a nice pipe for rotating different types of tobacco. Over time, the color starts to turn brown as the smoke/stuff leaches through the pipe. These effects can be very attractive and cool and is pretty much a desirable thing. They tend to run $80+ for good ones.

Next...
Corncobs- the best brand is Missouri Meerschaum and they cost about $5 each and as was already mentioned, are highly regarded even by pipe snobs as providing a great smoke. The thing is that a pipe will start to "ghost" after awhile, giving you the taste of whatever else has been smoked in it. That makes it tough to try new tobacs. So many people keep some fresh cobs around just to try out new things.

Finally...
Briar- Briar is a root of a shrub. They cut it up, drill it, and make pipes out of it. 98% of all pipes are briar. They are what you think of when you think of a pipe. The downsides of briar is that they "ghost" previous tobaccos that you've smoked, so most serious smokers have at least a few of them. Generally, you want to let them rest for a few days between smokes. So, in that sense, don't worry that you will outgrow a beginner pipe- you'll just add it to your rotation, if not so you can smoke more often, then so that you can smoke a different type of tobacco with it to avoid ghosting.

Dr Grabow is the cheapest of the cheap. They are available at Walgreens for about $20, however some of the nicer ones are indeed sold through Tobacco stores in the $30-range. While frowned upon by pipe snobs, all reports indicate that they smoke really darned well for the price.

A step up from Dr Grabow are "the real pipes". Peterson, Savinelli, and Stanwell, I believe, are the big three. Most of these will be around $50, though again, you can go on the internet and find specials for less money, or nicer more extravagant ones by those companies for more. Plenty of Peterson, Savinelli, and Stanwells are over $100.

Then there's the carvers... the guys who carve pipes and have made a name for themselves. Many of these carvers have a lesser range of pipes, basically either "seconds", or else more mass-produced pipes. Maybe they have cosmetic defects, less attractive grain in the briar, or whatever. These good pipe makers don't often sell bad-smoking pipes, so usually it's just something cosmetic. Generally, "rusticated" pipes (they look like the bark of a tree usually) are cheaper because they can hide any defect in the briar. On the other hand, some people really just like the look of rusticated pipes. Just because they can hide defects doesn't mean they are unattractive. You can also get sandblasted pipes which may look rusticated, or may just provide a dull matte finish. This also tends to hide defects and allows some pipe makers to "fill" defects with a sort of wood putty, not that this is done very often. And, of course, there is the highly polished (carnuba waxed) finish that shines and sparkles in the sun. It's just a personal preference, really, having little to no effect on how the pipe smokes.

So first off, pick a style of pipe that you like. Bent or straight? Apple? Brandy? Acorn? Billiard? Poker? Dublin? Freehand?. Just look around. Then find a finish that you like. Rusticated? Sandblasted? Polished?

Then go from there. Don't get too caught up in the brand. Just find one that speaks to you. The reddish one I have in the second picture is a Nording Fantasy Pipe ($75). I bought it because it's beautiful to my eyes, but many people say they don't smoke too well (though mine seems to be a good one). It is flanked by two Missouri Meerschaums ($5.10 each). The one in the top picture is a Tsuge, which is my favorite carver. His top of the line pipes, the ones I love, cost upwards of $500, but the one in the picture is in his lesser line of pipes and I got off eBay for $65, though sometimes you can find them for even less.

check out www.smokingpipes.com and also www.frenchyspipes.com Those are two highly regarded sellers that provide great pics to help you get a feel for what's out there.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

Alright Alright forgive me! I just had to do it....

Went outside and took a "good" picture...

 

[JustDave]

That thing is badass!!!

 

[menschmaschine]

Sherlock Holmes smoked a calabash.

Only in the movies. None of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories have him smoking a calabash. Pipe smokers who haven't read all of the stories would be shocked at some of his pipe smoking habits. [This from a guy who actually went to Reichenbach Falls in Meiringen, Switzerland... yeah, I'm a dork.]

 

[Willy Boner]

I only smoke Honey flavored Backwoods cigars anymore. I have an old glass bong I used to use for the canabis. I never thought of bong hitting any kind of tobacco. I would like to see somebody else try though, I could use a good laugh!

 

[APendejo]

I am a cigar smoker. I smoke a bowl on occasion.
Is it true that to be a pipe smoker you have to wear an ascot and one of those funny tweed jackets with the leather patches on the elbows?
AP

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

not damage the pipe. it just now has enough resin soaked into it that it has a hint of flavor from the wacky tobaccy.

I used to have a Petersen pipe and the local cigar shop owner said to coat the bowl with honey and let it sit overnight before smoking it for the first time. He also said that a couple times a year, depending on how often you smoke, you can do a very thorough scrubbing of the bowl and do the same thing. I had a room mate that snagged my pipe off the coffee table and used it to smoke his bud. It had that taste in there for days until I decided to try the honey trick. Worked like a charm.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

I am a cigar smoker. I smoke a bowl on occasion.
Is it true that to be a pipe smoker you have to wear an ascot and one of those funny tweed jackets with the leather patches on the elbows?
AP

No, but it sure helps!!!!

Actually, I wear bow ties.

 

[MadDwarf]

I only smoke my pipe once a week or so, usually as a social thing - it gives me a reason to go hang outside with buddies who are taking a smoke break. I've got a couple local blends I enjoy, but MacBaren's vanilla is good stuff when company is around. Pleasant taste, and one of the best-smelling aromatics I've found. I almost always get a compliment on the smell, as opposed to the 'rocks thrown from a distance' reception some of my English blends would receive.

My favorite pipes are a Peterson and a long-stemmed Savinelli with an amusing name, though a friend bought me an aluminium-handled Kiersten that I'm enjoying way more than I expected.

Still watching Craigslist for an affordable used ascot so I can fully enjoy the experience - I'm fairly sure I'm missing out on something.

 

[vfinch]

I'm a pipe smoker as well, though not very often anymore. I have a run-of-the-mill briar pipe and a long stem branched cherry wood. Unfortunately I now live farther away from the two tobacconists I used to frequent so I usually just grab some behind the counter shred when I'm out.

 

[korndog]

Just resurrected my pipe collection recently, so I guess I'll dig up this thread.
I am really enjoying my pipes again after a few years off. I have a pretty serous rotation with some rare danish pieces from Chonowitsch and S. Bang. Right now I'm smoking some Marlin Flake and enjoying it very much, but I had smoked mostly blends with Latakia in the past.

here is a picture for fun.