Hmmm which pipe and accoutrements for the authentic pipe smoking experience?

[dazzer]

So having looked at a few threads of all the lovely deliveries of pipes and paraphernalia I would like to give pipe smoking a proper try out.

I do prefer a longer smoke, so I assume a decent sized bowl would be in order.

What pipe would you recommend to give me a decent introduction to pipe smoking. I have dabbled with pipes in the past but never really researched or was told how and what to look out for etc, so some advice would be appreciated.

By accoutrements, I mean what kind of procedures are used such as cleaning, what tools required, I have seen some metal tools and wondering what these are for?

Do you inhale, does it depend on the tobacco smoked as to whether you inhale, or do cigar rules apply?

Preferably anything upto ?30, but will revise that if any half decent pipes cannot be had for his price range.

[ValeTudoGuy]

IMO a simple cheap Corncob can't be overlooked as an introduction. A pack of pipe cleaners, a simple pipe tool/tamper.

The tamper is the one that bends at 90 degrees and is used for gently pressing the embers down. The other two parts of the tools have uses but are certainly not a requirement.

Corncob Legend pipe - ?6
Pipe Tool - ?2
Pipe cleaners ?1

It may be cheap but don't think it's crap, it's a bloody good starting point.

I don't inhale and don't know anyone that does, you sip a pipe slowly and nurture the bowl with tamping and relighting.. I find it a much more involved process than cigars (at times frustrating and often challenging)

Tobacco wise, I have had good luck with the Gawith Hoggarth range but other than that St Bruno is an easily available classic.

Pipes are a learning curve that comes easily to few but with a bit of effort they can be very very rewarding. The choice of different tobacco's is simply vast!

Good luck

[dazzer]

Bloody hell, ?6, I didn't realise they even made any for that price lol and under ?10 all in, now that is something I will have to immediately get on board and try out.

LOL that Gawith Hoggarth cherry that you have is what piqued my interest, and will be looking forward to getting a few samplers in to go through and try out.


Awesome information, just ordered a missouri corncob and am now heading off to look at tobacco samplers and pick some tools up, cheers mate!

[ValeTudoGuy]

No worries, hope you enjoy it!

Corncobs are notorious for not needing to be broken in, however my advice would be that for the first 4-6 bowls when you finish smoking don't empty the pipe strait away. Put it to one side and allow it to cool fully before emptying it. Its advice i took and I find it helps to build an initial "Char" in the bowl.

I would also advise on familiarising yourself with the basics of pipe smoking, there are some decent YouTube videos on the subject search things like "starting the pipe smoking hobby" or "how to pack a pipe" there's usually some suitably bearded guy to give you a walk through!

In addition to that It would be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the types of leaf and the types of cut used.

Finally for now there are a few different packing techniques, in reality I find different cuts of tobacco suit different packing methods... But I find that mostly the "Baby, Lady, Man" technique is the closest to universal I have found.

Whew, I can sure gabber on, can't I!

[mrcigar]

Yes, I agree that a corn cob is the way forward - if pipe smoking is something you don't get on with, and that would apply only to the mentally ill, then you have paid about a tenner for a bit of fun, and you might return to it at a later date once the illness has been addressed.
It did take a few bowls, however, to rid my cc of that new taste, which I didn't like, and I did think I would abandon the pipe smoking to start with. Since buying a cc I have gone on to buy three decent briars and believe smoking a pipe to be one of the more pleasurable pursuits in life.
You will need to to your collection of bits some pipe cleaners to swab out the moisture in the stem and shank whilst enjoying the thick, rick flavours of your selected baccy.
Do consider a bent or half bent pipe because the reclined position normally associated with this fine practise does encourage a little pipe juice to run down a straight stem into your mouth.
Contrary to a very recent post , the practise of spitting among pipe smokers is most uncouth, and to be avoided. A bent pipe will limit the occasional sour tasting pipe juice due to the benefits of gravity.
Once succumbing to the pleasures of pipe smoking you can venture into a more expensive and stylish pipe, confident that your trusty cc will serve as a pipe to experiment with various flavoured (cased) tobaccos, leaving your nice smart briar un-tainted for your regular tobacco.
A note of caution - do read the reviews on various tobaccos because some tobaccos will 'bite' however gently you smoke them, detracting from the majesty of the whole experience.
Enjoy, and be patient, enjoying even the repeated relights.

[Eddie]

Once you have a cob, the next step would be a falcon, They are cheap (?25ish I think) and bomb proof.

[mrcigar]

Once you have a cob, the next step would be a falcon, They are cheap (?25ish I think) and bomb proof.

But don't you think they are the ugliest pipes around?

[Eddie]

As it turns out, no. Not the prettyest, but still can look ok.

[ValeTudoGuy]

I don't have a Falcon but I will most certainly pick one up at some point. An old chap I know who has smoked pipes since when methuselah was a lad got one a few years back and won't smoke anything else now.

I also like the fact that the bowls and stems are interchangeable.

[Tomothebuilder]

I went for a Peterson (Kinsale XL i think it is)

I'm more of a hobbyist so wanted to have something nice to start off with. Beautiful looking pipes, come in a box and little felt bag!

Tobacco wise, tried a few of the more common aromatics, Holger Dansk, Borkum Riff etc, usually a vanilla/cherry or bourbon style. The most enjoyable I've found so far was Peterson Special Reserve 2012 which was very pleasant, great room note and very smooth.

(and no, i don't work for Peterson)

Tools wise, love paraphernalia, but have found with the pipe, the best thing to light is a long thick cigar match rather than any lighter and a simple tamping tool you an get for about ?5.

I found smoking it tricky but after doing a bit of research online on packing etc I soon got the hang of it!

Enjoy!

[dazzer]

Wow, awesome info, thank you everyone. The pipe turned up today:

2013-09-24 11.26.17.jpg2013-09-24 11.26.36.jpg

Have to wait for the baccy and bits and bobs now, which is torture considering the pipe is here ready to go lol

I would include the list of the samplers ordered but I can't locate the email confirmation, so will no doubt be a surprise when they arrive

If I take to it, I have been looking at pipes and you mention peterson as I think the peterson 306 http://www.smoke.co.uk/acatalog/306.jpg looks nice, what do you guys think in terms of it being a proper useable pipe?

[mrcigar]

Your budget will narrow things down a bit, especially if you're looking at the ?30.00 mark.
Mysmokingshop website offer a good range of pipes to suit all budgets, as do Gauntleys of Nottingham. smoke-king have a good range too.
I think by the time you have perused these three suppliers, and looked at the styles available for your budget you will be deciding between 3 or 4 pipes.
If you're looking to extend your budget into ?60.00 mark then the Savinelli pipes are very well reviewed and look very stylish too.
A point worth considering might be that some manufacturers pre-carbon the bowl; others don't. I don't think it's a big though provided you are happy to take a little longer building up a carbon cake before going at it like a train.

[dazzer]

Your budget will narrow things down a bit, especially if you're looking at the ?30.00 mark.
Mysmokingshop website offer a good range of pipes to suit all budgets, as do Gauntleys of Nottingham. smoke-king have a good range too.
I think by the time you have perused these three suppliers, and looked at the styles available for your budget you will be deciding between 3 or 4 pipes.
If you're looking to extend your budget into ?60.00 mark then the Savinelli pipes are very well reviewed and look very stylish too.
A point worth considering might be that some manufacturers pre-carbon the bowl; others don't. I don't think it's a big though provided you are happy to take a little longer building up a carbon cake before going at it like a train.

Hi Mate,

ahh yes, the ?30 figure was for my first pipe (not realising a corn cob would be the best bet and that they are so cheap) If I take to it, I will probably explore higher priced models, and definitely the first one will be at the circa ?50 mark.

Oh savinelli, I haven't looked at those yet. I am thinking about bobbing out to look for some cherry or whiskey tobacco tonight as I don't think I can wait for the delivery now the pipe is here.

I am slowly leaning towards a sherlock homes style pipe though (If I get that far), they do look the part I think.

With regards carbonising the bowl, is it literally a case of burning through 4 or 5 half filled bowls and then 4 or 5 full filled bowls?

[mrcigar]

Re: carbonising the bowl - the majority of folk recommend a dozen or smokes with a third bowl of baccy, then a dozen or so two thirds bowl, then a dozen or so full bowl. Slow and long draws are recommended to avoid burning the briar, certainly not quick puffs in rapid succession. Not only do the old timers say this burns the bowl but it makes the baccy hot too and it tastes crap. Additionally, the method described above requires the pipe to remain unsmoked for the next 24 hours to let it dry out.
A modern method, and advised by a minority, is to fill it and smoke it gently.
Some recommend smearing the bowl with honey or similar before packing with baccy and lighting up. I think the idea is that the sugar turns to carbon and builds a base. Personally, I think this is bollocks because burned sugar is not the same as the carbon built up from a few dozen bowls of fine tobacco.
What did I do with mine? I started with the third bowl thing and gave up very soon with all that messing about, and packed it full every time. Did I burn the wood? No. Does my pipe taste crap? No. If I bought a very expensive pipe would I exercise more diligence? Yes. Why? Because I am cautious. Would I put jam in it? Absolutely not!
A note of advice - after smoking the bowl down, don't blow the moisture in the stem and shank into the bowl because this will soften the beginnings of the carbon cake and it will come away when you wipe the bowl with a doubled up pipe cleaner.
Also, and very important, always allow the pipe to cool fully before removing the stem from the shank. The stem swells more than the shank and any attempts to remove it increases the risk of splitting the shank. At best, it will cause the stem to be permanently loose, which is not the way forward.
Further more, if you pack the bowl to the top you risk charring the rim because the tobacco swells the instant you light up. The last thing you want, second to burning bowl due to puffing like a train, or splitting the shank due to an excessive zeal for cleaning, is a blackened bowl top of your fine Savinelli or similar.
Hope you find this info useful. I'm sure others will pitch in with other tips so as to avoid costly mistakes.
I think this is another great reason why a cc is the way forward as a first pipe because you learn all these things with a pipe that costs less than a tin of tobacco.
Lastly, clean your pipe through with a pipe cleaner or two after every bowl. I pull a pipe cleaner dipped on cheap whisky through the stem and shank every few bowls (about 5) to keep the tobacco tasting fresh and sweet. You'll know when it needs doing because it will begin to taste harsh.
Cheers.

[ValeTudoGuy]

A Sherlock Holmes AKA Calabash is cool as hell! For me one of the most comfortable shapes is the Bent Apple though.

At around ?50ish I really like the Rattrays Marlin Smooth Bent Pipe 09.
Edit: For clarity, I mean I like the looks... I don't own one.