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Wow, a lot of info going on there, and all good advice.
Here are my thoughts on smoking a pipe:
1 - The pipe. Corn cob is definitely the way to go when starting out. They are cheap enough to not worry about if pipe smoking doesn't work out for you. Additionally, they don't require any of that breaking-in carry on - just pack it, light it and smoke it. Only downside is they tend to burn hot.
2 - Tobacco. As already pointed out with aromatics, the smell does not very often reflect the taste and they can be very harsh. There are some great aromatics on the market but My own preference is towards the non-aromatics. As VTG has already pointed out, the Virginia tobacco has a natural sweetness to it, whereas the Burley is more rounded and nutty in taste. Other tobaccos like Latakia will add a heavy smoky taste, Perique will add a zesty peppery taste, and Turkish/Oriental will add a fruity exotic taste. In terms of supermarket tobacco, there is the standard trio of St Bruno, Condor and Mellow Virginia. I find the latter bites hard and tastes like a Milkyway chocolate bar.
3 - Lighting up. Despite all the chitchat amongst the purists about liquid fuel I use a Zippo. It's 100% reliable and provides a soft cool flame. A butane torch is not the way to go.
4 - Packing. I've tried all different methods and have settled on the gravity fill with a top-off. Works every time. Don't be tempted to pack to tight. The tobacco will swell when lit and it can be tamped thereafter. If the pack is too light you will have difficulty in getting a light because the air gets drawn through the tobacco too quickly. Tamp and try again. The char light is important, so light it and let it go out, then tamp gently and relight.
5 - Keeping it lit. If the tobacco is too wet or packed too tightly or both then you will fight to keep it alight. The tobacco is too wet if it clumps together when you pinch it. Let it dry out for a bit before packing. Once lit, puff gently, really gently. Sucking like a whore will cause the baccy to burn and result in tongue bite. Tongue bite is not caused by heat but the alkaline produced when the tobacco burns too hot.
6 - Storage. Tip the contents of the tin into a Mason jar with a screw lid. Open it only when you need to or those fabulous, yet volatile,aromas and flavours will diminish.
7 - Cleaning. Keep it clean by running a pipe cleaner through the stem and mouth piece every time you finish. Don't pull the pipe apart whilst it is warm or you risk cracking the stem. Every few smokes use a proprietary cleaning product or some whisky or the like to clean the stubborn stuff.
8 - Relax. Despite the many hundreds of words written in this thread and the appearance of being a dark art, the thing about smoking a pipe is that it 'happens' when you relax and just 'do it'. There is a bit of an art to it and it does take practice and patience, but the steady improvements in developing the skill is, in itself, rewarding. Keep at it and enjoy it.
Here are my thoughts on smoking a pipe:
1 - The pipe. Corn cob is definitely the way to go when starting out. They are cheap enough to not worry about if pipe smoking doesn't work out for you. Additionally, they don't require any of that breaking-in carry on - just pack it, light it and smoke it. Only downside is they tend to burn hot.
2 - Tobacco. As already pointed out with aromatics, the smell does not very often reflect the taste and they can be very harsh. There are some great aromatics on the market but My own preference is towards the non-aromatics. As VTG has already pointed out, the Virginia tobacco has a natural sweetness to it, whereas the Burley is more rounded and nutty in taste. Other tobaccos like Latakia will add a heavy smoky taste, Perique will add a zesty peppery taste, and Turkish/Oriental will add a fruity exotic taste. In terms of supermarket tobacco, there is the standard trio of St Bruno, Condor and Mellow Virginia. I find the latter bites hard and tastes like a Milkyway chocolate bar.
3 - Lighting up. Despite all the chitchat amongst the purists about liquid fuel I use a Zippo. It's 100% reliable and provides a soft cool flame. A butane torch is not the way to go.
4 - Packing. I've tried all different methods and have settled on the gravity fill with a top-off. Works every time. Don't be tempted to pack to tight. The tobacco will swell when lit and it can be tamped thereafter. If the pack is too light you will have difficulty in getting a light because the air gets drawn through the tobacco too quickly. Tamp and try again. The char light is important, so light it and let it go out, then tamp gently and relight.
5 - Keeping it lit. If the tobacco is too wet or packed too tightly or both then you will fight to keep it alight. The tobacco is too wet if it clumps together when you pinch it. Let it dry out for a bit before packing. Once lit, puff gently, really gently. Sucking like a whore will cause the baccy to burn and result in tongue bite. Tongue bite is not caused by heat but the alkaline produced when the tobacco burns too hot.
6 - Storage. Tip the contents of the tin into a Mason jar with a screw lid. Open it only when you need to or those fabulous, yet volatile,aromas and flavours will diminish.
7 - Cleaning. Keep it clean by running a pipe cleaner through the stem and mouth piece every time you finish. Don't pull the pipe apart whilst it is warm or you risk cracking the stem. Every few smokes use a proprietary cleaning product or some whisky or the like to clean the stubborn stuff.
8 - Relax. Despite the many hundreds of words written in this thread and the appearance of being a dark art, the thing about smoking a pipe is that it 'happens' when you relax and just 'do it'. There is a bit of an art to it and it does take practice and patience, but the steady improvements in developing the skill is, in itself, rewarding. Keep at it and enjoy it.
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