Trial and (mostly) error

[Tom Major]

Hi folks.

Today, while picking up supply of daily sticks, I picked up this little thing as well.



Nothing fancy or expensive, just wanted one so I could give it a go. Never smoked pipe before, never packed one and as you can imagine, I struggle to keep it lit. Tried twice so far and while first attempt wasn't too bad, the second was just a disaster. I watched few clips on yt as to how pack it in proper way but still no joy . Ehh, joys of being a beginner .


With the pipe I picked some cherry-vanilla tobacco. Smell is just amazing!

[Paulie2876]

Stick with it you'll get there.

Sent from my GT-I8200N using Tapatalk

[the pondering moose]

I'm pretty new to pipe smoking, but it seems (IMHO), there are as many ways to pack a pipe as pipe designs, as they all draw differently, and on top of that we all smoke differently.

I still find keeping some pipes with some tobaccos lit a bit troublesome, but by and large, pipe smoking is stylish, tasty and makes you look wise!

"Unfortunately" pipes, paraphernalia, and pipe tobacco are exactly as prone to the collecting/hording/purchasing disorder you catch off cigars. I've gone from one pipe, one tool and one lighter and a sampler of tobacco to... More... :-D

What was my point? Oh yeah, it's really worth perceverence! A nice pipe with just the right tobacco, sipped gently, staying mostly lit, it's superb.

[Tom Major]

Yeah, for a total noob it's not as easy as it seems but aroma of that tobacco.... it's just something beautiful, pure poetry . Even Mrs seems to like the smoke, which surprised me as for her most cigars stink, so expected same with pipe, but no .

Will just need some more research on the subject and more attempts. Shame I only bought small amount of tobacco but hey, Monday is near

[smokey joe]

Looks good Major Tom [emoji106][emoji106]

[Tom Major]

Thanks Joe

Just had third bowl. Still didn't manage to keep it lit all the time, but used lighter just 3 times and managed to smoke all what I packed, so few more times and I might know what I'm doing .

[kitobi]

i have only been smoking pipes for just under 2 years so consider myself a total noob, sometimes the darn thing just wont stay lit, and sucking on it like its a life support ends badly with bite.

feel the tobacco your using most aros are quite moist, lay out a bowls worth on a piece of paper and give it 15 mins dry time, may make all the difference

above all enjoy and yes its not the weed that's addictive but the collecting oooooh my

[Tom Major]

Thank you for the tip mate, wouldn't have thought of drying it a little bit, will try it next time.

As to collecting, well, I must say I could use some accessories, like rack for few pipes, few pipes as well... but will see if I stick to it first

[kitobi]

no worries buddy, enjoy

[TonyN]

Tom keep at it you'll get the hang of it ,just make sure you don't pack the bowl too tight
and make sure the tobacco is not too moist.

[Tom Major]

Thanks Tony .

Think I still pack it too light - draw is very loose and I can't really put it away for more than say 20-30 seconds cause it goes out. But I'm getting there, just had another and it went out only once.

[Tom Major]

Every bowl seems to smoke better than last one. Just finished my first Gold Block that I got from local Tesco and it was really great. I used sort of 3 pinch method to pack it, constantly checking the draw to end up with almost Cuban like feel, then added one more pinch just to fill the bowl and twisted it few times with my thumb. Then charred it twice with light press down between and third lighting stayed on to the end. Amount of smoke I was getting was much better than yesterday, also it was much cooler. When it finally went out, I tapped bowl gently and all that fell out was thin ash. Result !

This tobacco wasn't as moist as cherry/vanilla I picked up yesterday, I let it dry for about 15 minutes and that was it. Me likes it .

[kitobi]

yay congrats that's awesome, lots of good tobacconists do sampler offers also, GQ tobaccos I have used in the past, and today I visited Johnny's tobacconist in Newquay, he does 5 samples for ?7

the fun part is finding that flavour profile you love, alas I'm still looking

[TonyN]

Tom I think you'll find most of the loose tobacco's are more moist than the packet tobacco's
the gold block if your not careful can give you tongue bite and can burn very hot bit like clan aromatic
clan aromatic smells nice in the pouch and in the room but my god by the time you finish a bowl full of clan
feels like you been to the dentist and had a local anaesthetic to have a tooth pulled out lol

[Tom Major]

I've noticed it can burn hot, but with slightly better packing I don't need to keep puffing constantly - no tongue bite so far
[MENTION=13371559]kitobi[/MENTION] - I will be trying various blends for sure, as first course of action will just hit Tesco and try what they have. So far happy with Gold Block. Smells nice, tastes ok, can't wait to try others in my new pipe - coming to me in just about two weeks in friend's handbag