The Handlebar Club Forum

I am a new pipe smoker, so new in fact that my pipes havent even arrived yet!
I am curious as to what is being smoked, through what kind of pipe and what your prefrences are in pipe shape, brand; as well as tobacco.
p.s. I am also trying to aquire a Oscar savinelli bulldog pipe (estate), what are your thoughts?

I'm an occasional pipe smoker myself. Can't even tell you what brands mine are. I have a calabash and two carved meershams. The latest meersham I picked up in an antique mall so it's quite "worn". My bigest problem is in finding good tobacco locally. There are simply no sources without driving either to Dallas or Oklahoma City.

So have your pipes arrived? I'd love to see them. Also post the information you have about this pipe you're trying to aquire. I'd like to learn more about pipes. I'll post pictures of mine later when I get the camera out.

Russell

I smoke a Pipe occasionally I have about 5 pipes, a churchwarden, a few meerschaums,
My favourite smoke is Samuel Gawiths best brown. However for the most part I like to chew, dip and snus my tobacco.

Try tobaccoreviews.com.

I smoke a corn cob pipe. Might also try the tobacco barn.com lots of good information. one other one House of calabash in Oregon city Oregon.

WWR

I tend to prefer straight or very slightly bent pipes and have some great pipes from Savinelli, Barling, Stanwell etc.

You can get a great pipe new for $40 USD (estates for far less), so don't be fooled into thinking you have to spend a fortune. Cobs are another option and are VERY inexpensive.

Tobacco: Well it really depends what you like and what your previous smoking experience is if any. http://tobaccoreviews.com is quite helpful though occasionally misleading.

I tend to smoke lots of Virginia-based tobacco. Without any foreknowledge of your tastes or experience with other tobacco products I'd recommend Dunhill De Luxe Navy Rolls as it's pretty forgiving and has a fairly rich, spicy, medium-sweet flavour with a medium nicotine hit. I love the stuff. Contrary to what many others might suggest, I wouldn't necessarily assume that mild tasting tobaccos are better for the beginner. Extremely mild blends could cause you to over smoke the pipe causing some major mouth irritation. The pipe should never be hot to the touch. Warm, but not hot. Pipe smoking needs to be carried out very slowly and gently.

Sip, sip, sip.... Pause for around 5-10 seconds. Repeat.

Don't fill your pipe too tightly (fill is a far more helpful term than pack). Very slight resistance on the draw is what you're looking for.

Don't be afraid of several relights per smoke, as that's perfectly normal.

Tamp the tobacco ash in the bowl very gently and often. You're only looking to flatten the ash really.

Do not inhale.

Try as many blends as you can get your hands on and experiment with airing (allowing a bowl-sized amount of tobacco to dry a little naturally before smoking) for different timescales. Some tobacco blends are best aired for 10 mins, some for several hours. Much is personal preference.

http://tampandpuff.com is a great community with lots of great people and advice - I used to post there often.

Alternatively, I'd always be pleased to answer specifics.

Oh, and most importantly, be sure to persevere. Pipe smoking is quite a testing skill to get to grips with. You will almost certainly dislike your first few smokes, but once you get your first 'nirvana moment' you'll begin to know what all the fuss is about.

Enjoy!

Thanks Matt, for that wonderfully enthusiastic introduction to Pipe Smoking. I'll see if I can make a moustached smiley with a pipe... I'm sure the Pipe Forums must have them already.

David

You're very welcome David. I could literally write about it all day!

I am going to pick up the pipe again. I love that cob! Any advice on how much a beginner (weight of tobacco) should get. I started with 2 ounces and it seemed to do just fine as I am a hobbyest and not a habbitest. (I think I just made those words up).

Thanks,

Kell

2 ounces (50g) of one or two blends you think you might like. Seems perfect. If you're not going to smoke it all in a month or so, you should consider how you plan to store it to keep it fresh. The clip-top glass jars you see in kitchens are perfect (Kilner is best: http://www.kilnerjarsuk.co.uk/kilnerran ... ops-square)

Although I lean towards a good hand rolled cigar.. I do enjoy the pipe too.. especially in the fall sitting out on the back porch.. Have several pipes, my favorite is a Peterson... it just smokes so nicely!! A local tobacconist blends a vanilla black cavendish that is smooth, tastes and smells good.

I've always preferred bent pipes, but I only have one right now. I have several stored at home, but where I'm at now I've got two straights, one bent, an outsize Dublin that I'm considering selling, and a couple clays. I'm always thinking about getting more, but never seem to.

My favourite tobacco is Mac Baren's Scottish Blend, but right now I'm smoking a house blend from Fox's in Dublin.

As I posted elsewhere, my choice for an everyday pipe is the metal Falcon. It can be taken apart to clean in a second, thrives on rough usage and is relatively inexpensive. The bowls are interchangeable so you can have whatever style you prefer at the moment. No, it's not a gorgeous collector's item only to be smoked in your favorite reading chair (although it certainly could be), but rather a real buddy pipe.

I love my MM cobs and my Peterson. Really been looking for a falcon to try but they are hard to find in my area.

As far as tobacco goes I generally like anything from Macbaren, Samuel Gawith, and my new favorite is the Middle earth pipe weed collection from Just for Him. The shortcut to mushrooms is absolutely awesome.

I really like the look of the churchwarden pipes used in the LOR movies. Was thinking about getting some. Anyone have experience with the churchwarden???

I have a Stanwell churchie. While it does give a very cool and pleasant smoke, the long stem can lead to greater condensation and a wet smoke quicker than a shorter pipe. I tend to have a pipe cleaner to hand to run down the stem if it starts to gurgle.