Starting to smoke pipe tobacco

[kowalzekc]

As the title says I am a newb at pipe tobacco. I have in the past but it hasn't stuck much due to my lack of being able to keep the darn thing lite or getting to hot. I usually stick with cigars, my favorites being acid blondie or arturo fuente curly head. So my questions to you all are:

What am I doing wrong keeping it lite

What do you reccommend for a good "starter" blend

Is there anywhere online I can buy tobacco?




I have a cobb pipe that works fine so that part of the equastion is good.

 

[kupferrules]

I suffered some of those very issues when I first got into it. In fact, I stopped smoking pipe tobacco and did cigars for 6 months...then I tried smoking a cigar while snow blowing. Didnt turn out so well; quickly ruined the cigar. So, I gave the pipe another shot. What I learned: (1) packing is perhaps the most important. I use the 3 step method. some recommend the "Frank" method. Find which one is right for you. I use the 3 step and to test, I draw on the unlit pipe and it should feel like drinking through a straw...every so slight resistance. (2) breathing. There is a fine line between too much attention and not enough. Honestly, its all trial and error.

Avoid aromatic tobaccos. Everyone thinks it is where to start...but its not. The coating creates steams and will burn your tongue. Also, you will probably burn it too hot to taste any flavor. I tend to smoke virginias. They have the most naturally occuring sugars. However, if they are not aged, they can get hot quickly. I was recommended a burley as a beginner. I found them a little light on flavor...but that is just me. So, nuts and bolts, I say get a little Mclelland Red Cake.

Yes, you can purchase from good online vendors. I do not know this sites policy on posting that though.

I am sure lots of people will disagree with me. that is okay. Pipes are very personal. everyone is different.

-Frank

 

[Garlisk]

I find that the two most important parts of keeping a pipe lit are packing and tamping. Here is my preferred method:

I generally use the 3 step packing. First 3rd of tobacco, packed very lightly, second 3rd of tobacco packed a little heavier, and final 3rd packed the heaviest...you did it right, when as the above poster said, it feels like sipping through a straw. If the resistance is too light or hard, might as well start over. It took me about 5 pipes before I got pretty good at packing, so its not a long learning curve...but its there.

When you light the pipe, you will notice the tobacco expands and puffs up. Tamp it down, and relight. It will expand again. Tamp it down and relight. You may need to do this one or two more times. This process creates a layer of ash over the tobacco that helps keep it lit.

As you are smoking, if its getting harder to keep the pipe going...tamp it, while lightly drawing on the pipe. You will compress the ash layer, and you should get some nice thick smoke and a reinvigorated pipe. I usually have to retamp 3-6 times per pipe.

To be honest, I don't think pipes are great for yardwork because they do need attention (in my experience) and are better left for those total relaxation moments.

 

[Kentos]

A ribbon cut tobacco will burn easier than a flake too. IIRC Frog Morton was a great beginner, non aromatic Toby for me.

 

[PugslyCat]

Without any more information about how you are smoking, I would have to guess that you are either packing the pipe to tight or not puffing frequently enough. Keeping a pipe lit is primarily about keeping air moving across glowing embers. If you put the pipe aside or just don't puff on it, it will go out. If the pipe is clogged due to the bowl being over stuffed or the pipe needs cleaning, it will go out.

Drawing air through a properly filled pipe shouldn't be appreciably more difficult than puffing on an empty pipe.

As Garlisk points out, plan on having to tamp and relight the pipe shortly after the initial light. Repeat as necessary, though you probably will just need to tamp without relighting for the rest of the bowl.

 

[JM]

Captain Black (white). Good place to start. Folks love it.

 

[brother cavefish]

one must keep airflow in the pipe, suck in, blow out smke -- and then and again gently blowing through the stem to the bowl and give the bowl O2, then suck it back in--------the bowl cant stay stagnant it must recieve O2

 

[Commander Quan]

The billows technique of blowing down into the stem is good for stoking a pipe that is on the verge of going out, but is unnecessary for general puffing.

SmokingPipes.com PipesAndCigars.com 4Noggins.com are all places you should check out for buying online.

As others have said, Aromatics such as cherry, apple and the like are usually not the best way for someone to break into pipe smoking. These blends, especially the ones that are purchased in bulk bags are treated with propylene glycol to keep them from drying out. This is fantastic while it sits on a shelf, but it also means that it will never dry out enough to give you a decent smoke.

A lot of new pipers, especially those that have smoked cigars, prefer Latakia containing blends more commonly refereed to as English blends. The Latakia component gives the blend a smokey horse barn flavor, and is easy to taste without smoking the pipe too hot. Whatever you choose, it's a good idea to let a couple big pinches sit out on the counter for 20 minutes to dry before you try lighting.

When you fill your pipe, take a pinch and with your thumbs on the outside of the pipe (don't push your thumb down into the bowl) work the tobacco into the bowl. Grab another pinch and do the same. You want the tobacco at the bottom to be barely compressed, if the bottom layer is too tight it'll never smoke well. Test the draw, it should have the same resistance as drinking water from a straw. If you need to add one more pinch and again work it into the pipe, but remember too much tobacco won't burn well.

Use a match or soft flame lighter to do the charring light. At this time the tobacco should rise as it burns, possibly up over the top of the rim. Tamp it down lightly to even it out and relight. The tamp is a tool you'll want to use sparingly until you develop a technique, but you should be using it to tamp down the ash, not to compress the layer of tobacco under the ash.

Pipes need to be puffed more often than a cigar. 5-10 times a minute is normal. If the draw becomes too tight or the pipe starts to gurgle run a pipe cleaner down through the stem into the bowl of the pipe.

Lastly don't worry about relights. They are a normal part of pipe smoking. Guys that pride themselves on being able to smoke entire bowls of tobacco without a relight are usually more focused on keeping it lit then they are on savoring the experience.

Have fun.

 

[kowalzekc]

Thanks fellas, I figured I was packing wrong. I'll be mainly smoking while enjoying a nice scotch and reading a book or sitting by a fire. Now all I need is some good tobacco.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I'll second Frog Morton as a great starter.

 

[kowalzekc]

I just went to my local shop and got an once of mclelland am pipe which I am currently enjoying as I type. It has a camp fire smell and has a oaky/smokey flavor while smokes. I also got an once of mclelland iq, which I'll enjoy tonight.

Also,I packed the pipe different than I used to and found I was still lighting it frequently, but not as to the point I used to. I think I relite about 3-4 times, but I also kept packing regularly.I had very little product go to waste and I enjoyed this immensely. I must say, the buy by the ounce product didn't steam at much as other cheapy drug store special stuff I have had. The stuff I got is more expensive and I wont indulge as regularly, but I will enjoy pipe on a higher level then I used too.

 

[jwhite]

Good deal, glad you're enjoying your smoke.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I've been at this pipe thing for a few months now and still have a lot to learn, but two of the most valuable things I've learned so far (and these relate to your last post) are: 1) to air out/dry any tobacco that sticks together significantly when you pinch a bunch between your fingers; and 2) do not be concerned with re-lights, do it as much as you need to, it isn't an inherently bad thing, BUT it can teach you things, e.g. if your tobacco is too wet* and if you packed your pipe too tightly or loosely.

*Opitmal tobacco moisture level is very subjective thing. You might have a soaking wet tobacco that you need to re-light every few minutes but you also might enjoy the flavour it gives when wet more than when it's drier.

There are sooooo many variables that you can concern yourself with if that's your thing, if you enjoy scrutinizing things. On the other hand, smoking a pipe can be as simple as shoving any tobacco into any pipe and just puffing away. It's a fabulous hobby and I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I do.