Pipe smoking, a lost art.

[jeepinjeepin]

What percentage humidity should pipe tobacco be kept at?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

What percentage humidity should pipe tobacco be kept at?

IIRC, anything more than 14% and it'll start to mold.

Below that is personal preference.

IMO, the heavily cased tobacco needs to be kept near gummy for the flavors to come through properly. The simpler tobacco, I think, are better on the dry side.

I just try to keep mine moist enough they don't crumble to ash in a pinch between my fingers but not so wet that my hands feel glazed after handling.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

And 14% is roughly 50% relative humidity?

 

[Dan]

This is just me, nothing to reference to in written works. I personally like my tobacco dried out. Seems to burn better than mildly moist tobacco. Recently I found some 3 year old tobacco that had been kept in a cupboard. Smoked great. Will have to say it was a moist tobacco 3 years ago.

 

[Dan]

Ps. I know this is a pipe smoking thread so forgive me. Going to throw up a picture of my new kegerator, still in the works. Fourth tap coming soon and a big Harley Davidson sticker on the freezer door. It also makes a great place to display my pipes!




Edit. I need to update my camera date stamp. I just took the picture about an hour ago.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

And 14% is roughly 50% relative humidity?

Erm, carry the one.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

Erm, carry the one.

Huh? I found this on another forum.

An RH of between 61% and 64% will equillibrate most tobaccos to the 12-14% moisture range. This may be too moist for some smokers. To get to an average moisture content of 10%, you'd need an RH of about 56%, according to my experiments.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Huh? I found this on another forum.

An RH of between 61% and 64% will equillibrate most tobaccos to the 12-14% moisture range. This may be too moist for some smokers. To get to an average moisture content of 10%, you'd need an RH of about 56%, according to my experiments.

That's what I said.

Like I said, often times I find tobacco straight from the tin has much better aroma and flavor but is hard to smoke because it's still so moist. After a year in a bag, however, some have dried out to the point of becoming dust in your fingers. You have to find the happy middle. And even then that middle changes depending on the blend.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

What would happen if you put your tobacco in a hop bag, smoked the bag over mesquite or apple wood, and then smoked it. You'd be smoking smoked smoke. That would be awesome.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

What would happen if you put your tobacco in a hop bag, smoked the bag over mesquite or apple wood, and then smoked it. You'd be smoking smoked smoke. That would be awesome.

Or, you could just buy some unhopped Latakia. NOOB!

 

[Bensiff]

What percentage humidity should pipe tobacco be kept at?

Strangely this is the one area I'm not completely anal retentive. While my cigars never move more than a few percentage points away from 65%, when I buy pipe tobacco I toss it into a ball canning jar and leave it in my pantry. I couldn't tell you what the humidity is, just that I have some stuff that is a good 3 years old now and is much improved and none of it is too dry. Some is a bit on the moist side (no mold) that I can tell from the touch, for that I pull enough out to fill a bowl and let it sit for a bit to get to the dryness I want. I wish I could give you a RH that you could use, but I just go by feel. That is the downfall of premium tobacco, it is finicky and is something of an art...but, a little time with it and you will be able to not think about it, just know what is right for you.

 

[Bensiff]

Ps. I know this is a pipe smoking thread so forgive me. Going to throw up a picture of my new kegerator, still in the works. Fourth tap coming soon and a big Harley Davidson sticker on the freezer door. It also makes a great place to display my pipes!

Nice setup Dan, wish I had 4 taps, but 2 is all I have room for. Does the garage environment have any impact on the briar as it changes from hot to cold, wet to dry?

 

[Dan]

Nice setup Dan, wish I had 4 taps, but 2 is all I have room for. Does the garage environment have any impact on the briar as it changes from hot to cold, wet to dry?

Thanks. Have to admit though only one tap for beer. The other three soft drinks/gatorade/iced coffee.

Not that I've noticed. Pipes on top of the kegerator I just put there recently but they have been living in a pipe cabinet in the garage for years. Having said that, winters here are fairly mild, I don't think the garage has ever got to freezing temps, maybe a few hours on the coldest of nights. Humidity is not much of a problem here either. So I don't know what the effect of freezing cold and damp weather would be.

 

[Bensiff]

Thanks. Have to admit though only one tap for beer. The other three soft drinks/gatorade/iced coffee.

Not that I've noticed. Pipes on top of the kegerator I just put there recently but they have been living in a pipe cabinet in the garage for years. Having said that, winters here are fairly mild, I don't think the garage has ever got to freezing temps, maybe a few hours on the coldest of nights. Humidity is not much of a problem here either. So I don't know what the effect of freezing cold and damp weather would be.

I suppose it would have made sense for me to look and see you are in CA...up here in Western Washington humidity and temp extremes is always an issue

 

[aygov]

Ps. I know this is a pipe smoking thread so forgive me. Going to throw up a picture of my new kegerator, still in the works. Fourth tap coming soon and a big Harley Davidson sticker on the freezer door. It also makes a great place to display my pipes!

View attachment 78961


Edit. I need to update my camera date stamp. I just took the picture about an hour ago.

That is a beautiful setup!

 

[worksnorth]

Just ordered a new Savinelli! Pipesandcigars.com has a sale going on them right now.

 

[Shooter]

Strangely this is the one area I'm not completely anal retentive. While my cigars never move more than a few percentage points away from 65%, when I buy pipe tobacco I toss it into a ball canning jar and leave it in my pantry. I couldn't tell you what the humidity is, just that I have some stuff that is a good 3 years old now and is much improved and none of it is too dry. Some is a bit on the moist side (no mold) that I can tell from the touch, for that I pull enough out to fill a bowl and let it sit for a bit to get to the dryness I want. I wish I could give you a RH that you could use, but I just go by feel. That is the downfall of premium tobacco, it is finicky and is something of an art...but, a little time with it and you will be able to not think about it, just know what is right for you.

Once the tin is cracked, canning jars are the way to go with tobacco. Seal it up and forget about it!

 

[Bensiff]

Once the tin is cracked, canning jars are the way to go with tobacco. Seal it up and forget about it!

See, you are all advanced and stuff, I just buy an ounce or two of bulk from Kirsten's in Seattle...love their Mariner blend.

 

[rifraf]

Once the tin is cracked, canning jars are the way to go with tobacco. Seal it up and forget about it!

Nice, wife just bought a ton of these..

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Haven't posted in here before, but I enjoy an occasional pipe smoke. My dad smoked a pipe always when I was young.

I smoke a Dr. Grabow De Luxe 9845. It is a very nice smoking pipe circa late 1930's.

I am a lucky bastid in that I still purchase from the same quality shop my old man did when i was a tiny tot. I have great memories going to Uhle's as a kid with my dad. http://www.uhles.com/

:edit: apparently they ship! You guys should have a try of their stuff, it is very good.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Even if I dont partake in a certain hobby I always love to go into a shop that caters to one thing. Seeing a million different kinds of tea, or cigars, or beef jerky, or whatever... really appeals to the kid in me.

 

[rifraf]

Even if I dont partake in a certain hobby I always love to go into a shop that caters to one thing. Seeing a million different kinds of tea, or cigars, or beef jerky, or whatever... really appeals to the kid in me.

Never thought about it that way but you're totally right. The amount of care, love, energy etc that goes into people's hobbies is amazing and the only thing more amazing is that no matter how obscure or specific someone's obsession is there is always someone else who is just as into it.

 

[Shooter]

See, you are all advanced and stuff, I just buy an ounce or two of bulk from Kirsten's in Seattle...love their Mariner blend.

Bulk works too, I have plenty of that in my cellar!

 

[Shooter]

I smoke a Dr. Grabow De Luxe 9845. It is a very nice smoking pipe circa late 1930's.

Ah, yes, good ol' Dr. Grabow!

 

[worksnorth]

So the gurgle? Moisture cooking out of the tobacco condensing in the stem? Is that what's going on?

 

[Czm]

So the gurgle? Moisture cooking out of the tobacco condensing in the stem? Is that what's going on?

It's saliva goin into pipe. Btw I just got a brand new zippo blue and can't use it for pipe but would work great for cigar / cig. Anyone willing to trade?

 

[Dan]

That is a beautiful setup!

Thanks aygov! I'm waiting for another faucet and some 3/8" 16TPI brass inserts to come in. I'm going to take motorcycle handgrips I bought years ago but never used and mount them as tap handles. The HD logo on the freezer will bring the whole thing together. Amazing what a little paint can do to an old white refrigerator.

Haven't posted in here before, but I enjoy an occasional pipe smoke. My dad smoked a pipe always when I was young.

I smoke a Dr. Grabow De Luxe 9845. It is a very nice smoking pipe circa late 1930's.

I am a lucky bastid in that I still purchase from the same quality shop my old man did when i was a tiny tot. I have great memories going to Uhle's as a kid with my dad. http://www.uhles.com/

:edit: apparently they ship! You guys should have a try of their stuff, it is very good.

Nice pipe stuff and your shop looks like a nice step back in time. Love all the rich dark wood, briars on the wall, jars of bulk tobacco! We have nothing like that around here. I think one of the malls in the next town over has a John Ts (or at least they used to) but that hardly compares to your shop!

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Oh man, I don't know how I've overlooked this for so long. Great thread, Dan! Prost!

I recently bought a cheap pipe from the tobacco shop that I buy my cigars at. My dad smoked a pipe when I was really young, and I gave it a try about 13 years ago, but never stuck with it. But recently I'd been buying cheap pipe tobacco cigars as my daily smokers, so I figured I'd give it another try.

It really is a lost art, as in there's actually a technique to it. This time around, I'm really enjoying it. I've mainly been smoking cheap stuff, Captain Black Royal. I like the black cavendish/golden blend, really nice smoke. When I finish this latest pouch of Royal, I'm going to try some different brands and blends. I'm guessing just like my stogies, variety is the spice when it comes to pipe tobacco. Any suggestions would be more than welcome.

Happy smokin'!!

 

[Dan]

Thanks NB I'm glad you like the thread! I started it back in march and it just sort of smoldered for awhile. The cool weather seems to have resurrected it.. ha ha.

I've smoked a number of different tobaccos over the years but the only one that I remembered well was MacBarens Virginia #1. PipesandCigars screwed up my order in a good way, sent me 8 oz of it bulk instead of the 3.5oz tin I ordered. I was a bit peeved but it really worked in my favor. If you'd like to give it a shot PM me your name and address and I'll share a few ounces with you!

Here's a short discription from tobaccoreview.com and it is pretty accurate

A ready rubbed tobacco, manufactured from a selection of choice, ripe Virginia tobaccos, which gives Virginia No.1 a mild, sweet smoke.

Cheers!
Dan

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So the gurgle? Moisture cooking out of the tobacco condensing in the stem? Is that what's going on?

Moisture from the tobacco infused with tar, and saliva from the stem.

Here's a short discription from tobaccoreview.com and it is pretty accurate


Cheers!
Dan

Ha. Yeah. so, that wonderfully aromatic smoke I was on about not too long ago. I dedicated myself to finding it in the only best way I know how. Each night I load a bowl with a different tobacco and set that tobacco aside. A process of elimination. If the next morning the intensity of the aroma I seek has improved then I know I have found that blend.

Started with the more exotic blends. Blue Note, nope. DaVinci, Nope. Oriental no. 1, etc...

Which blend was it?

None of them. No blend of Latakia, Cavendish, or Perique.

It was all Virginia. Macbarens Virginia No.1 to be precise.

Ironic.