Pipe smoking, a lost art.

[BrewinHooligan]

BK, definitely curious how that churchwarden smokes for you.

Loaded some Early Morning Pipe in a cob and chasing it with some espresso to get myself going today.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447437998.358090.jpg

 

[Fedora]

Some Carter Hall in my trusty Grabow coupled with a Mother's Three Blind Mice.

Cheers, pipe people.

 

[1977Brewer]

Some Carter Hall in my trusty Grabow coupled with a Mother's Three Blind Mice.



Cheers, pipe people.

I had that same pipe for years. It never saw tobacco. I had the sandblasted version of the same pipe that did though.

 

[TheCADJockey]

My buddy picked up some supplies as I had requested, so I finally gave my pipe a decent cleaning. It tastes a lot better now, though I still can't seem to pick up a ton of flavors like he can.. my sense of taste is likely still destroyed from cigarettes. This is what he picked up for me:

I do like it better than the viking gold so far. It seems a little more rich. I will definitely need to get myself something a bit more pricey though, so I can see what a decent tobacco is like.

This one in the tin seems to be really moist. Is that normal? I'm assuming I need to dry it out somehow. The one pack of it I had did burn very nicely, just feels damp. I may need to buy myself a new pipe after all, really enjoy it.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Sorry to over-post, this just showed up in my email:

P&C Welcome Wagon

Is this worth it? I know it's only $10 but can't you get that tobacco at gas stations?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

This one in the tin seems to be really moist. Is that normal? I'm assuming I need to dry it out somehow. The one pack of it I had did burn very nicely, just feels damp. I may need to buy myself a new pipe after all, really enjoy it.

Moisture per tin is really blend/cut dependent. If it smokes nice and doesn't need a crapton of relights it's good.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Tried a few of the tins I bought recently.

First was the 1792. Blech! The smoke was nice, the nicotine level was decent. But the aroma and flavor were like smoking 9 day old gym shorts that had been soaked in a wet ashtray. Tried 3 bowls before I gave it up and pitched it in the mix bucket.

Next was the Escudo navy flake. A truely enjoyable smoke although I didn't pick up anything discernibly special about it in flavor or aroma. Very subdued, with a slight sweet note on the tongue and no bite.

Lastly was Dunhill Nightcap. Given the raves about it I was expecting more from it. I didn't find it offensive at all. It has a good nicotine hit to it but it is very bland.

 

[paperairplane]

Tried a few of the tins I bought recently.

First was the 1792. Blech! The smoke was nice, the nicotine level was decent. But the aroma and flavor were like smoking 9 day old gym shorts that had been soaked in a wet ashtray. Tried 3 bowls before I gave it up and pitched it in the mix bucket.

Next was the Escudo navy flake. A truely enjoyable smoke although I didn't pick up anything discernibly special about it in flavor or aroma. Very subdued, with a slight sweet note on the tongue and no bite.

Lastly was Dunhill Nightcap. Given the raves about it I was expecting more from it. I didn't find it offensive at all. It has a good nicotine hit to it but it is very bland.

I always reccomend 1792 becuase the tonquin casing is pretty unique. It's a love or hate thing for most.

If you like Escudo, look into other Navy flakes and any Virginia / Perique blends.

Nightcap is an old standby and a good judge for how well you like smoky latakia flavors. If you like it, look into some Balkans and Orientals.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I always reccomend 1792 becuase the tonquin casing is pretty unique. It's a love or hate thing for most.

If you like Escudo, look into other Navy flakes and any Virginia / Perique blends.

Nightcap is an old standby and a good judge for how well you like smoky latakia flavors. If you like it, look into some Balkans and Orientals.

I used to love the very robust blends. Was also very fond of the oriental blends too. Have had that Balkan sasieni. I recall it being very peppery but otherwise don't recall much about it.

The older I get I find i like the sweet virginia and or cased blends more and more. I also find I like the highly aromatic blends too as the room note adds much to the experience, imo.

As to the 1792 I was really looking forward to this based on the higher nicotine level. But was just put too far off on the aroma and the flavor. I was more put off by the aroma than the flavor actually. Too wet/sooty for me to enjoy on it's own. But I expect it will add a nice kick to the house blend jar so all is not lost. In fact, only after 1 night in the mix it's aroma has disappeared. The box I had the tin in for 2 days is another story.

At any rate, I am always happy try something new. And I will recommend this to anyone who is not put off by the strong sooty/musky aromas and dank flavors of some tobaccos.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Some Sam Gawith Full Virginia Flake to chase away a case of the Mondays.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447701581.373240.jpg

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Meersham cobb with London Mixture today.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So now I have smoked bowls from all the Dunhill blends I recently bought.

London Mixture = Latakia, Turkish, Virginia
Mixture 965 = Latakia, Cavendish, Oriental
Nightcap = Latakia, Perique, Virginia
Elizabethan = Perique, Virginia

and for comparison;

Escudo = Perique, Virginia

And I am a little underwhelmed. The differences are so subtle that had I not smoked each within such a short amount of time I seriously doubt I could have picked up any difference. Don't misunderstand me, I enjoyed each thoroughly. I was just expecting each to be more distinct from the other.

 

[BadDeacon]

I am working through a tin of morning mixture. I also have an unopened tin of yacht club. If memory serves me right, it's a good deal stronger.

I smoke small travel pipes mostly. One bowl every morning! [emoji482][emoji482][emoji482][emoji4]

 

[pnwpiper]

Two Friends Redwood in a Peterson bent apple.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Milonga in a Lorenzo Spitfire Filtro Stromboli.

Amazing!

 

[TheCADJockey]

I've become obsessed with cleaning my pipe now that I have the wires to do so. Though now that I have started enjoying it a bit more, I have tried to get better packs and fill the bowl more... only to end up with really bad results. Won't stay lit and after only a few pulls it starts to gurgle. Even got a few "beads" of liquid that pulled through and hit my tongue, grossly acidic and foul. The first time it happened, I took it apart and brushed it out again, removing the ferrule (if thats what its called) and giving that a good cleaning this time before securing it in the pipe better. The second pack was the same result. Pulled and tasted better.. but ended up gurgling very quickly again.

Not sure if it is the nature of my pipe, the tobacco or how I try to pack it, but a full pipe isn't working. It's not the worst thing in the world. For now, it looks like I'll have to stick to just pushing a pinch into the bowl for a quick smoke. At ~1/3rd packed, it burns relatively quick but very nicely.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Not sure if it is the nature of my pipe, the tobacco or how I try to pack it, but a full pipe isn't working. It's not the worst thing in the world. For now, it looks like I'll have to stick to just pushing a pinch into the bowl for a quick smoke. At ~1/3rd packed, it burns relatively quick but very nicely.

Some pipes "gurgle" easily. But it is mostly due to too much moisture in the tobacco, and can be compounded by packing the bowl too full.

After packing the bowl, and before attempting to light, draw through the pipe. If the draw is too tight, use a poker and loosen the pack up.

I loosely fill my pipes and then tamp them down until the draw goes from nothing there to just noticeable. And then I false light. This will loosen the pack up and open the draw back up. After I get a nice char over top, I re-tamp the bowl, lightly, until the draw is just right for me.

 

[TheCADJockey]

After I get a nice char over top, I re-tamp the bowl, lightly, until the draw is just right for me.

Thank you. This is definitely the case. I tried doing it the way my friend does. He fills his bowl over the top and then packs it down, three times. It wasn't so hard to draw, but think it was way too tight for the new, moist tobacco I have. It felt like it had dried out a bit since last time and I really wanted a smoke, so I packed the hell out of it. Counter-productive and wasteful instead.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Thank you. This is definitely the case. I tried doing it the way my friend does. He fills his bowl over the top and then packs it down, three times. It wasn't so hard to draw, but think it was way too tight for the new, moist tobacco I have. It felt like it had dried out a bit since last time and I really wanted a smoke, so I packed the hell out of it. Counter-productive and wasteful instead.

Yeah. I tried that method too. Always felt like I was trying to suck an ice cube through a straw. What works for me is to sprinkle until the bowl is full and then I take a 3 finger, 1/3 bowl pinch, to the top and roll it in lightly with my thumbs. This method keeps it loose for me. When the bowl is full I check the draw. If it is too tight I loosen it up with a poker. If it feels like nothing is there I go for the false light. And then tamp down until the draw is right.

 

[TheCADJockey]

And then tamp down until the draw is right.

False light? Just light it and let it go out?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

False light? Just light it and let it go out?

Light it, while gently puffing, to char everything on top and then tamp it down, which snuffs it. Then re-light. to the point you get slow long draws with plenty of smoke.

The false light tends to loosen the bowl up and causes the tobacco on top to fluff up until it's charred.

PS: Gurgling and a hot bowl means you are puffing too rapidly to keep it lit. Either the draw is off or the tobacco is too moist.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

just got my new Churchwarden! already burned a bowl of the Sunzabitches. both are floccing awesome!

 

[TowsonTiger22]

Off friday. So ill burn a bowl of irish oak

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Another Lorenzo Spitfire bent (non filtro) with Escudo Navy Flake.

 

[Ace_Club]

Order placed for a straight ebauchon blank. It may actually get worked on this winter, or it may get forgotten on my workbench. We shall see.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Order placed for a straight ebauchon blank. It may actually get worked on this winter, or it may get forgotten on my workbench. We shall see.

That is too cool. Actually been eyeballing this myself:
http://www.mancrates.com/projects/pipe-carving-kit

 

[TheCADJockey]

That is too cool. Actually been eyeballing this myself:
http://www.mancrates.com/projects/pipe-carving-kit

Oh man. I might need to get that. Really not a bad price for something from Man Crates. Reviews aren't bad either.

 

[Ace_Club]

That is too cool. Actually been eyeballing this myself:
http://www.mancrates.com/projects/pipe-carving-kit

Oh man. I might need to get that. Really not a bad price for something from Man Crates. Reviews aren't bad either.

I had looked at that, but figured I already had most of the tools needed. The few files/rasps I may need could be picked up from HF for very cheap. The briar kit I purchased was $26, including shipping, from Vermont Freehand.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Have heard great things about Vermont freehand. Pipe makers emporium is also a good place to pick up supplies. I currently don't have any of the tools so the kit from man crates is appealing to me

 

[Ace_Club]

Obviously it will all depend on the shape of the briar that arrives, but when ordering, my goal is a straight rhodesian. Something like:

I really like the shape of the bowl on the rhodesians. It may come out looking completely different, but that's what I'm envisioning going into this project.