Pipe smoking, a lost art.

[GilaMinumBeer]

This helps a lot. It just doesn't feel comfortable to me yet and I was unsure what the nail was for so I may have to read this a few times and try it that way. I store it the same way I stored my cigars, in a tupperware container, in ziploc with a little piece of cedar. Just.. because I was unsure. I'm definitely having moisture problems I think. Sometimes I concentrate so much I end up getting it too moist. Quite excited though, it's a nice hobby and wife doesn't mind it at all compared to cigarettes.

I lean toward too dry as a general rule. Much easier to add moisture in than take it out. Too wet and it's a PITA to light, gurgles in the pipe, potentially molds, or just doesn't taste right.

My method with the dual zip ziplocks, when tobacco is too dry, is to spritz distilled water into the bag, 1 or 2 shots max at a time. I close op the bag making sure to let it "pillow", and then I shake the sh!t out of it so that the moist bits blend in with the dry, and the dry bits pull moisture from the bag sides. Once the moisture appears to have blended I open the bag back up to deflate the pillow, settles all the bits to the bottom, and then tightly roll the bag, zip it shut, and secure the roll (tape usually) and let it sit a day or two to blend through.

It's very rare that I have to add any more moisture than this unless it has become very dry tobacco.

 

[paperairplane]

A lot of times I will set out the tobacco I am going to burn 15-20 minutes before packing to let it air dry a little. Prince Albert is a good tobacco to learn on - it's a burley and is fine cut. Just don't pack it super tight. I typically use a 3 step pack. Light, tamp, relight. It takes some time and you have to learn. Cigars are pretty easy. You can also try the delayed gratification technique - light and smoke part of the pipe, then let it go out and rest for a while before relighting - some tobaccos will change a fair bit after a little DGT.

I like my pipes clean and pretty cake free. If I have a real dirty one or if I pick up an estate (used) pipe, I will clean it as much as I can with a tool or small knife - not carving wood, just getting all the gunk out. Remove the stem. Pack the bowl with kosher salt and then fill with vodka or grain alcohol (not rubbing) - let it sit 8-12 hours and then rinse it out well. This will leach a lot out of the bowl and leave it nice and clean. Few pipe cleaners and it's ready to go. I like to use a tiny drop of olive oil and rub in by hand just to condition the wood a little.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Does quality of pipe make a massive difference? I'm assuming the one he gave me is a $10-$20 piece as opposed to his $100 pipe.

For me, no.

I have a small collection of Dr Grabow and Corn Cobb. Some of the cheapest pipes around. And I find they smoke as well, or better, than some of the more expensive ones I have.

There isn't much "technology" in the design of pipes. Price is more a function of brand and production effort. Hand carved being the pricier, of course.

I prefer bent to straight. If nothing more than for the reason that the occasional tobacco will create that nasty gurgly slurp of tobacco juice (Can't think of term for sh!t). But, I do have several straight pipes in my collection.

The one pipe I enjoy most for a just sit and chill smoke is my churchwarden bent. Damned thing is nearly 14" long and draws easier than some of my shorter pipes.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I have a small collection of Dr Grabow and Corn Cobb. Some of the cheapest pipes around. And I find they smoke as well, or better, than some of the more expensive ones I have..

A quick search for simple - cheap pipe brought this up and it looks exactly like the one I have. Minus the fancy holder thing.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

A quick search for simple - cheap pipe brought this up and it looks exactly like the one I have. Minus the fancy holder thing.

If you like the way it draws (once you've dialed in the pack), the bowl doesn't get too hot to handle (after a decent cake has formed), it's easy to clean (pipe cleaners pass through the bit easily), then it is a good pipe regardless of cost.

Best pipe I have had to date was given to me by my MIL. $5.00USD bulldog production pipe from a chinese open air merchant in Malaysia. Pipe was fantastic in every way until one day "pop", the bowl split from the heat. I suppose there was a defect in the burl and it finally just gave up.

Still miss that pipe. It is the one that got me started.

 

[theDREWery]

I have an cheap old and used dr grabow that a friend gave me after fitting it with a long stem. Probably overall less expensive than the tobacco I've put thru it in the last month, and it burns cleaner, cooler, and more thoroughly than my $100+ meerschaum.

I agree that a more expensive pipe will not really be any better, just find a pipe that fits you and invest the extra cash into good tobacco.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I am pretty fond of Dan Tobacco. Blue Note is my all time favorite of theirs. DaVinci come in a second. I prefer aromatics and aside from the Dan varietals generally avoid cased (flavored) tobaccos.

I, admittedly, had put my pipes down for quite some time. Had seriously considered selling them, dumping them, or giving them away along with (if i were to guess) about 2 pounds of various tobaccos ranging from drug store (prince albert, walter raleigh, Borghum Riff, Cap Black) to GLP Pease to Sasieni. Last count I had 46 baggies of tobacco.

One of which is my "house blend". When a bag become used enough that it won't pack a full bowl I dump it into the house blend bag. It has made for a surprising good blend of tobacco.

At any rate, I found that most of the tobacco I have is so old that the few cased varieties i have have lost much of their appeal.

I had almost completely given up smoking in general, and snus.

I recently dove into woodworking and one day the aroma from the wood struck a nerve and I reached for an old pipe. Sawdust and pipe smoke. A heavenly pair.

Decided to freshen up my selections today and ordered the following;

Dunhill sampler, 4 tins, elizabeth, nightcap, mixture 965, and london mixture.
Escudo Navy flake
SG 1972
Dan Milonga

All blends I have never had before.

 

[Ace_Club]

Just picked up a tin of Balkan Sasieni and Esoterica Margate.

Walked in to my tobacconist and the clerk showed me to the Balkan. I saw that they also had a bunch of tins of Balkan Sobrani, which was odd since their website showed it as sold out. I asked him when they'd be getting the Esoterica tobaccos in stock because I had noticed on their website that they were sold out. He motioned to my left and showed me the Esoterica blends they had (everything except Penzance and Stonehaven), and told me they don't advertise on their website as they want to sell them to people who will smoke them and not just flip them on ebay. I love having a local tobacconist.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Just picked up a tin of Balkan Sasieni and Esoterica Margate.

Walked in to my tobacconist and the clerk showed me to the Balkan. I saw that they also had a bunch of tins of Balkan Sobrani, which was odd since their website showed it as sold out. I asked him when they'd be getting the Esoterica tobaccos in stock because I had noticed on their website that they were sold out. He motioned to my left and showed me the Esoterica blends they had (everything except Penzance and Stonehaven), and told me they don't advertise on their website as they want to sell them to people who will smoke them and not just flip them on ebay. I love having a local tobacconist.

We still have a couple in town. Too far out of my way to bother with them and they cater more to the cigar crowd.

Vaping shops however have exceeded the numbers of christian churches and starbucks combined.

 

[Ace_Club]

We still have a couple in town. Too far out of my way to bother with them and they cater more to the cigar crowd.

Vaping shops however have exceeded the numbers of christian churches and starbucks combined.

Mine is 1/2 block away from where I work. A nice stroll. It's also America's oldest tobacco shop (or so it claims). Huge selection of cigars and pipes, and tobaccos. It has a free smoking room and a pay smoking room. The pay smoking room is BYOB and very, very nice.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I love having a local tobacconist.

I was considering checking the suggested websites but.. I've been going to our local shop for a very long time. I'll pay a few extra dollars to support them. I would miss the people. There's always a cop there enjoying a cigar and the owner is very generous with information and supplies. Looking forward to visiting him now and seeing what he's got for this venture.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Mine is 1/2 block away from where I work. A nice stroll. It's also America's oldest tobacco shop (or so it claims). Huge selection of cigars and pipes, and tobaccos. It has a free smoking room and a pay smoking room. The pay smoking room is BYOB and very, very nice.

The nearest one to me is a nice stroll, and an old shop. Used to be a wonderful place to explore. Now they have only 4 jars of cheap bulk blend pipe tobacco. They've pretty much changed themselves into a convenience store that happens to have a large walk-in humidor.

 

[Ace_Club]

The nearest one to me is a nice stroll, and an old shop. Used to be a wonderful place to explore. Now they have only 4 jars of cheap bulk blend pipe tobacco. They've pretty much changed themselves into a convenience store that happens to have a large walk-in humidor.

Enjoy.

The main showroom.

The front room of the private lounge.

The back room of the private lounge.

 

[Ace_Club]

I have an cheap old and used dr grabow that a friend gave me after fitting it with a long stem. Probably overall less expensive than the tobacco I've put thru it in the last month, and it burns cleaner, cooler, and more thoroughly than my $100+ meerschaum.

I agree that a more expensive pipe will not really be any better, just find a pipe that fits you and invest the extra cash into good tobacco.

Ditto to the above.

I've a cheap Dr. Grabow, an inexpensive meerschaum churchwarden, a homemade cob, and a Dutch freehand Preben Holm pipe.

The best smokers are the cob and the Preben Holm.

 

[Ace_Club]

Gila, you'll have to post how you like the Dunhill's and the Escudo. Those were also on my list, but ended up getting the back seat to the Esoterica and Balkan.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Gila, you'll have to post how you like the Dunhill's and the Escudo. Those were also on my list, but ended up getting the back seat to the Esoterica and Balkan.

Will do.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I had seriously considered ordering a tin of the SG Black XX Rope but found something inherently wrong about the idea of having it in my mouth.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Gah. I just realized how much rubbing out 7 tins is going to take.

Don't think I've done that much in one sitting since high school.

 

[Ace_Club]

You could always just roll or fold...

 

[1977Brewer]

I think I may have posted in this thread months ago, but CAD's pic of his pipe made me wonder, yet again, where my pipe has run off to.

I'm a whiskey cavendish guy, always have been. It's what my uncle bob smoked.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I'm a whiskey cavendish guy, always have been. It's what my uncle bob smoked.

I wish I had some idea as to what my grandfather smoked. Some day, if I happen to stumble into it.. I'm sure it'll be immediate emotion.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

You could always just roll or fold...

Never had much luck that way. Not relaxing.

I pack a pretty loose drawn pipe for easy smoking. I don;t smoke in front of the wife or kids, ever, and have little time for finishingh off a bowl in a sitting unless they are away, which is rare.

Most often I'll pack it up smoke off it for a minute or two and set it aside to snuff itself out and repeat that a time or two until it either loses it appeal or is smoked out.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I wish I had some idea as to what my grandfather smoked. Some day, if I happen to stumble into it.. I'm sure it'll be immediate emotion.

I remember the days when my father smoked a pipe. I was mesmerized by the layers of drifting smoke threads in the room highlighted by beams of sunlight through the windows.

I do not remember the aroma, nor do I remember any image of him with pipe.

 

[Ace_Club]

Wow, these two tins smell quite strong.

 

[Ace_Club]

Don't know if I posted these before or not, but this was my most recent pipe acquisition. It's a Preben Holm Danish freehand. Picked it up as an estate pipe for a very nice price. It's larger than any other pipe I have, but it fits very well in my hand. It also smokes very well. Easily my favorite pipe.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Don't know if I posted these before or not, but this was my most recent pipe acquisition. It's a Preben Holm Danish freehand. Picked it up as an estate pipe for a very nice price. It's larger than any other pipe I have, but it fits very well in my hand. It also smokes very well. Easily my favorite pipe.

I think you have. It's still a nice pipe.

I prefer the bulldog or rhodesian shaped pipes, medium sized bowl, bent stem.

I really like the Grabow Cardinal smooth pipe. Small bowl. Perfect for a quick smoke.

 

[Ace_Club]

I think you have. It's still a nice pipe.



I prefer the bulldog or rhodesian shaped pipes, medium sized bowl, bent stem.



I really like the Grabow Cardinal smooth pipe. Small bowl. Perfect for a quick smoke.

That's pretty much what I keep at work. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1446670001.840684.jpg

 

[Shooter]

He motioned to my left and showed me the Esoterica blends they had (everything except Penzance and Stonehaven), and told me they don't advertise on their website as they want to sell them to people who will smoke them and not just flip them on ebay. I love having a local tobacconist.

Ha, I had a friend go into Grant's Pipes once and ask about a tin of Penzance. I had seen it on their website and asked her if she would grab it. Apparently the guy was confused by this woman asking about Penzance, glanced around nervously and then went to the back to fetch it from it's "hiding" spot.

Mine is 1/2 block away from where I work. A nice stroll. It's also America's oldest tobacco shop (or so it claims). Huge selection of cigars and pipes, and tobaccos. It has a free smoking room and a pay smoking room. The pay smoking room is BYOB and very, very nice.

Is it Iwan Ries?

 

[Ace_Club]

Ha, I had a friend go into Grant's Pipes once and ask about a tin of Penzance. I had seen it on their website and asked her if she would grab it. Apparently the guy was confused by this woman asking about Penzance, glanced around nervously and then went to the back to fetch it from it's "hiding" spot.







Is it Iwan Ries?

Yep.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

On the way home I picked up some DNR, Old Rasputin, and a bottle of Ruby Port.

Sat on back patio, slow grilled some Korean short ribs (they were fantastic), sipped on port and a pipe.

A fantastic way to end the work day and start the home night.