Pipe smoking, a lost art.

[rifraf]

Rule of thirds.

First third pack like a child.

Second third pack like a woman.

Third third pack like a man.

I've seen that and tried it but I guess I don't understand. Wouldn't packing hard on the top layer compress everything underneath?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I've seen that and tried it but I guess I don't understand. Wouldn't packing hard on the top layer compress everything underneath?

Only for this guy.

You want a hard packed crust so it will stay lit. You want it looser down through the bowl so it will draw right.

Too tight and it's like sucking through pumice. Too loose and it just burns hot.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

So? As tight as possible without a tight draw? I struggle with pack.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So? As tight as possible without a tight draw? I struggle with pack.

Hardest part for me, when learning, was to avoid a "pinch and pack". Packing a pipe should be a relaxed process. Using your fingers only to drizzle the tobacco into the bowl as you pack.

Also, even with the ready rubbed tins. I get a much better pack if I take the time to rub out all the tobacco as soon as I open the tin. Without, I'd often get too many packed clumps that don't draw.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

I need to get on YouTube.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I need to get on YouTube.

IMO, it's impossible to say there is any one, definitive, way to pack a pipe because every tobacco is different (some very dry, some rather moist, some dry but "gummy", etc...) and every pipe is different. You have to practice with 1 pipe to get the method down and adjust from there between pipes and tobaccos.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

IMO, it's impossible to say there is any one, definitive, way to pack a pipe because every tobacco is different (some very dry, some rather moist, some dry but "gummy", etc...) and every pipe is different. You have to practice with 1 pipe to get the method down and adjust from there between pipes and tobaccos.

That's probably the best advice I didn't want to hear.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

That's probably the best advice I didn't want to hear.

I still struggle with cobb pipes. I worry that if I pack as tight as I do with the briar that the bowl will crack or something. I know I shouldn't worry, but I do.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Smoked some of the tobacco I grew last year, last night.

Mild but extremely pleasant. Probably should have shredded it more like spaghetti, but it works.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

http://jimscigarandpipe.info/frank.html

Give this a try jeep. It works very well but always felt too loose for me early on (when I'd smoke doing yardwork the bowl seemed to finish way too soon).

Now, with a tighter pack, it feels like they take forever to smoke. i may have to revisit this myself to find a happy medium.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Smoked some of the tobacco I grew last year, last night.

Mild but extremely pleasant. Probably should have shredded it more like spaghetti, but it works.

I dug all my kit out (keep it all in a cream cracker tin) and planned to have a bowl too.

Laid my head down and that was as far as all that got.

 

[Dan]

My dad smoked a pipe for 40+ years. He was a master at it. Made everything look easy. I know he had a tamper at one time but he must have lost it and just used a nail. His choice of iginition was regular old paper matches. He would "drizzle" the tobacco into the pipe, tamp it down and fire it up with one match, sometimes two if it was very windy, and then he'd keep it going till the tobacco was gone. It was rare to see him (when not at work) without a pipe sticking out of his mouth, lit or not.


I've used everything but a flame thrower to fire my briar. The trick seems to be a good pack like GMB talks about. Tobacco that is not to moist or dry. Then for me anyway, burn the top layer, tamp it down, fire back up and it burns pretty well after that, might need one or to more applications of fire.

Looking forward to the McBarens I ordered yesterday. Should be here by the weekend after next.

Do any of you guys use pipe sweetner?

 

[SnakeRidge]

I'm brewing this afternoon when I get home from work, and I think I might have to dig out the Churchwarden that I spent all last winter seasoning. I guess I'm a cool weather smoker too!! Thanks for the tips about packing. I struggle with that too

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Do any of you guys use pipe sweetner?

151 Rum for deep cleaning stems and bowls as needed (rare). Everclear if the pipe goes foul (happened once).

I've collected enough pipes that I would devote 1 pipe to each type of tobacco and would only deep clean it between tobacco changes.

 

[aygov]

I've just recently started doing the cigar thing again after smoking them early on in college. Pipes intrigue me but I don't know that SWMBO would appreciate me acquiring another smoking habit. At my last job I worked with a guy in his mid 20's and he was a pipe smoker. He'd sometimes bring some tobacco into work if he was off for a pipe night after and I really enjoyed the aroma. My father used to smoke a pipe way back before I was born but unfortunately in the multiple moves that have occurred since I was a kid, the pipes have gone missing or I would probably take ownership of them.

If you are in the downtown Chicago area and looking for pipes/cigars and related paraphernalia I would recommend looking up Iwan Ries. It's a couple blocks from where I work and they have loads of cigars and pipes/pipe tobacco. My pipe smoking friend I mentioned earlier was pretty impressed with the pipe section of the store. They also do internet orders if you fancy...

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I've just recently started doing the cigar thing again after smoking them early on in college. Pipes intrigue me but I don't know that SWMBO would appreciate me acquiring another smoking habit. At my last job I worked with a guy in his mid 20's and he was a pipe smoker. He'd sometimes bring some tobacco into work if he was off for a pipe night after and I really enjoyed the aroma. My father used to smoke a pipe way back before I was born but unfortunately in the multiple moves that have occurred since I was a kid, the pipes have gone missing or I would probably take ownership of them.

If you are in the downtown Chicago area and looking for pipes/cigars and related paraphernalia I would recommend looking up Iwan Ries. It's a couple blocks from where I work and they have loads of cigars and pipes/pipe tobacco. My pipe smoking friend I mentioned earlier was pretty impressed with the pipe section of the store. They also do internet orders if you fancy...

A good basket pipe can be had for the price of a decent cigar. It doesn't "have" to cost a fortune but, as with anything, it can if you let it.

Some of my favotite pipes are Dr Grabow drug store briars.

 

[Dan]

I don't know if it is the cooling weather, this thread or both but I'm really craving a good pipe smoking evening on the front porch.

I have a few Dr Grabows as well. They are thick walled ones and smoke fairly cool.

My favorite two pipes are a straight square bolwed drugstore pipe (one of my dad's old pipes and very well broken in) and a.. I think it's a Savinelli. I'm going to have to break into the pipe cabinet tonight and start dusting them off. The Savinelli looks like this one. Very light and cool smoke.

 

[aygov]

A good basket pipe can be had for the price of a decent cigar. It doesn't "have" to cost a fortune but, as with anything, it can if you let it.

Some of my favotite pipes are Dr Grabow drug store briars.

Yea, cost is a part of the consideration, but SWMBO has had a zero tolerance policy to all things smoking. It took me some doing to convince her that me smoking the occasional cigar wouldn't turn me into a chimney so I think I'll leave the pipes to another time.

If and when I do give it a try I'm definitely not going to lay out mega bucks on a pipe.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I don't know if it is the cooling weather, this thread or both but I'm really craving a good pipe smoking evening on the front porch.

I have a few Dr Grabows as well. They are thick walled ones and smoke fairly cool.

My favorite two pipes are a straight square bolwed drugstore pipe (one of my dad's old pipes and very well broken in) and a.. I think it's a Savinelli. I'm going to have to break into the pipe cabinet tonight and start dusting them off. The Savinelli looks like this one. Very light and cool smoke. View attachment 76415

My Lorenzo Spitfire is by far my most enjoyable pipe to date as far as quality of smoke, best draw, ergonomics, and bowl seasoning.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Yea, cost is a part of the consideration, but SWMBO has had a zero tolerance policy to all things smoking. It took me some doing to convince her that me smoking the occasional cigar wouldn't turn me into a chimney so I think I'll leave the pipes to another time.

If and when I do give it a try I'm definitely not going to lay out mega bucks on a pipe.

I feel ya', my wife detests smoking (despite being a smoker when we dated ). So, I smoke my pipes outside. Usually in teh garage.

Used to be a thing for me to smoke a bowl while brewing. Sort of like the cigar ritual many have.

 

[Dan]

Pipes can sure be expensive. I think in my dad's collection most of the pipes are medium priced range. Mostly bought back in the late 60s to mid 70s so I dont know what they cost then. Probably around $80-$100 now. My uncle was bit fancier and I'm sure some of his pipes would be well into the $300-$400 range today. Mine, except for the drugstore pipes average around $90.

I'm brewing in a few more weekends. Will start around 8 am so the weather will be nice and cool. This will be the first time I've brewed and smoked a pipe at the same time. What a perfect combination.

 

[Dan]

I feel ya', my wife detests smoking (despite being a smoker when we dated ). So, I smoke my pipes outside. Usually in teh garage.Used to be a thing for me to smoke a bowl while brewing. Sort of like the cigar ritual many have.

My dad use to do the same thing, he smoked in the house as well. But the garage, my mom use to call it "your Dad's out puttering in the garage"

"Puttering", what kind of word is that anyway?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I'm brewing in a few more weekends. Will start around 8 am so the weather will be nice and cool. This will be the first time I've brewed and smoked a pipe at the same time. What a perfect combination.

Just make sure you keep the bag of tobacco well away from the Irish Moss.

The latter, a good smoke, it does not make.

 

[IXVolt]

Just make sure you keep the bag of tobacco well away from the Irish Moss.

The latter, a good smoke, it does not make.

Love the Dan'izm

 

[cheezydemon3]

I've just recently started doing the cigar thing again after smoking them early on in college. Pipes intrigue me but I don't know that SWMBO would appreciate me acquiring another smoking habit. ...

You HAVE to get a pipe. Even if you only use it to smoke the last 2 inches of the cigar, you will get more than your money's worth.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

My dad use to do the same thing, he smoked in the house as well. But the garage, my mom use to call it "your Dad's out puttering in the garage"

"Puttering", what kind of word is that anyway?

I used to wonder about that too. the I discovered which drawer he kept the porn mags in. I didn't want to know the details anymore and made sure to make a LOT of noise before venturing out into the garage.

 

[static]

My dad use to do the same thing, he smoked in the house as well. But the garage, my mom use to call it "your Dad's out puttering in the garage"

"Puttering", what kind of word is that anyway?

An awesome word. My mom used to say that as well.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

You HAVE to get a pipe. Even if you only use it to smoke the last 2 inches of the cigar, you will get more than your money's worth.

Good pint, er, point.

aygov, Next time you go to a drug store (CVS, WalGreens) look behind the register for drugstore bags of tobacco. Around there you will likely find a Grabow pipe (A Duke, or a Savoy most likely). Should be around $10 at most.

stay away from the bulk bags of tobacco (IMO) but a pouch of Prince albert is a decent smoke. Captain Black is amazingly aromatic but a bit rough. I actually like to blend the PA with the CB for a decent working mans tobacco if I can;'t get to a smoke shop for a quility tin.

 

[Dan]

Good pint, er, point.

aygov, Next time you go to a drug store (CVS, WalGreens) look behind the register for drugstore bags of tobacco. Around there you will likely find a Grabow pipe (A Duke, or a Savoy most likely). Should be around $10 at most.

stay away from the bulk bags of tobacco (IMO) but a pouch of Prince albert is a decent smoke. Captain Black is amazingly aromatic but a bit rough. I actually like to blend the PA with the CB for a decent working mans tobacco if I can;'t get to a smoke shop for a quility tin.

I tried CB a few times and that is a good word for it -rough. Smells great when somebody else is smoking it though. Prince Albert is really a pretty decent smoke, nice aroma, burns well and smokes cool.

My dad smoked Borkum Riff Rum for a few years. Smelled awesome but the few times I tried it didn't care for the flavor. Some pipe tobaccos smell great but dont taste all that well.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I tried CB a few times and that is a good word for it -rough. Smells great when somebody else is smoking it though. Prince Albert is really a pretty decent smoke, nice aroma, burns well and smokes cool.

My dad smoked Borkum Riff Rum for a few years. Smelled awesome but the few times I tried it didn't care for the flavor. Some pipe tobaccos smell great but dont taste all that well.

Loved the smell of the cheap drug store cherry that my dad smoked (strange how it makes me think more of sandalwood and morrocan vanilla than cherry). I tried some. that's what fouled the one pipe.