New to pipes....

[daniel2001]

Thanks for all the advice guys! Will probably order a sampler tomorrow, not sure from where yet.

One thing I'm finding is that after a few puffs I get not much smoke from the pipe at all. I'm loading the pipe in three stages, tamping each (first tamp quite gently, second firmer and third the firmest) as I go. It will stay lit for a decent amount of time, but the quantity of smoke is lower than I expected. Additionally, it seems the tobacco mostly burns in the centre, leaving a fair amount of unburnt or partially burnt tobacco around the edges of the bowl.

Am I just too used to the plumes of smoke you get from a cigar? I like to avoid asking "what am I doing wrong?", but here, I do wonder if I am doing something wrong...


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[Eddie]

Push the unburnt toby from the edges toward the middle gently with your tamper.

[captain duff]

There could be a few reasons for what you describe. First, the method if smoking is quite different from cigars, because instead of some deep cigar pulls with a pipe shallower but more frequent 'sips' keep it burning well (although smoking too fast makes things too hot, not good for mouths or pipes!).

Next, unless you have frequent sips the burn will tend to stay concentrated where it is and not spread - if you are a slow smoker (and pipe smoking is very good for slow smokers!) then don't be afraid to relight often to spread the burn, even where the original burn has not gone out. It could be to do with how dense the packing is - too loose and the draw isn't good, too tight and the burn will be hard to keep going, so just experiement a bit. Also it could be to do with how moist the tobacco is as if it is too moist it won't burn well so dry a bowl's worth by leaving it in the open for an hour or so before you pack and smoke and see if that helps.

Like anything else it will take a bit of trial and error, but things will just click eventually and everything will make sense

[daniel2001]

Thanks guys! Small sips seem to be doing the trick.

Realised I had run of tobacco (thanks to the WHO and several hours outside my local) so went and bought some plumb and rum and some Peterson Sherlock Holmes from my local shop. Had only been planning on a getting the plumb and rum, but liked the tin of the Sherlock, which I have gotten on very well with.

Have also decided to give a Falcon pipe a go as they seem quite reasonably priced, so hopefully that will be here next week.


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[daniel2001]

My Falcon arrived this morning. Initially, was a little disappointed by the quality of finish of the pipe, but it wasn't exactly expensive so that can be forgiven.

To smoke, it's not quite what I expected. I was expecting the flavour's to be identical to a "normal" pipe, just drier and cooler. But twas just more flavour. So far, despite the slightly iffy finish (on the metal parts and the mouthpiece only, bowl is perfect), I am very happy with this purchase. Haven't had much of a chance to smoke it due to the poor weather here (been raining since the postman delivered my pipe).

Might have to buy the "Plymouth" bowl for this thing.... If only because I rather like Plymouth.

[Pipe Dude]

Falcons are great. Don't unscrew the bowl while it's hot, though, otherwise it'll end up not fitting correctly. You can dry the smoke further by cutting a one inch length of pipe cleaner and using it as a 'washer' underneath the bowl. Enjoy!

[onzlow]

I am also a new pipe smoker i found smoke-king by far the best for pipe gear.got a stunning butz chokin(?) and spent ?20 on 18 different samples found honeydew by gawith hoggarth my fave but im still finding it difficult to keep lit

[Smallclub]

a stunning butz chokin(?)

Butz-Choquin, a very old traditional french pipe company. These pipes are often named "BC" here for obvious reasons? Check this link:
http://www.pipephil.eu/logos/en/logo-butzchoquin.html

[Pipe Dude]

Pronounced Bootz-Cho-can.

[Smallclub]

Pronounced Bootz-Cho-can.

It's more bUtz (like in hUrlUberlU or tohU-bohU) - Cho - ken

[Pipe Dude]

It's more bUtz (like in hUrlUberlU or tohU-bohU) - Cho - ken

Not according to the native French rep of theirs I met...