UTMC

I don't know if I started the trend, but a week ago I realized all of my friends now smoke pipes. Seriously. ALL of them. At a gathering, we look like a bunch of punk/metalhead professors. Or something.

I got a ridiculously nice briar pipe for Plowfest, and have been enjoying it pretty much every day since. Other than that, my favorite pipe is my cheap ass corn cob. I've also got a cool (eastern-european-somewheres) pipe made from the wood of a sunken ship I don't smoke much, and a crummy Dr. Grabow briar I bought at Walgreens eight years ago which saw a lot of action until I got the corn cob pipe.

I've also owned and lost/tossed a variety of other pipes.

I've been smoking mainly aromatics, but I realized I don't actually like the way they taste at all. I think the next time I go to the tobacconist I'm going to get a bag of Black Cavendish for my nice pipe, and some mighty English tobacco for my corn cob.

So... do you smoke a pipe? What kind of tobacco do you like?

As usual, I went to the bad place when I saw the title for this.

You put tobacco in your pipe?

yikes.
you better be really good at recommending a good "foxing" hound, which Shire produces the best Stilton (which I'd actually be interested in), whether the Torries had a fighting chance in the next go around, and if Cheltenham needs more CCTV cameras!

Sorry, the only pipe smokers I know are douchebags, but that may be a Seattle thing.

Actually, I hope my experience is the exception. I'd so much prefer folks smoke pipes to cigarettes....

I don't look old enough to smoke a pipe. I can't grow a decent beard, either. I do, however, wear wellies and a tweed driving cap and a waxed cotton jacket.

My dad has a crazy pipe collection. Don't think he smokes anymore.

I just bought a couple of nice cigars for NYE. Haven't smoked one in about 10 years.

There's a cool tobacconist on the other side of town that's been there since the 1920s. I might pop over there and check out the pipes.

I only smoke aromatics in my garage when I get the chance to tinker. With 2 kids and my attempts at being a good husband and father, it doesn't happen all that often. Thus, it's about 3-4 times a year.

I get to enjoy a cigar when I get the opportunity to golf, last year that was twice.

Thank goodness for al-kee-haul.

Smoked pipes for a while, still do very occasionally. Invested in a couple of nice Petersons -- I highly recommend it, as they really do make a big difference in the smoke.

And I'm a stinky English tobacco guy. Go figure.

--Jaeger

Guess I'll throw this one into the bucket of things I like to do that douchebags also like to do. Meh.

I smoke a pipe rarely. Maybe a couple of times a year. I always end up buying new tobacco, as the old stuff inevitably dries up, so I just go with whatever whoever's hanging out in the shop recommends.

no reason for your tobacco to go stale: get a humidor.

it doesn't have to be fancy...you can even adapt some tupperware to the job.

Corn cob? Briar? I thought the raging debate was wood/metal/glass and that glass won out handily?

Oh, wait, tobacco...

Anyone sportin' meerschaum pipes? Care to comment on the quality difference in the smoke between corn cob, briar (are there different kinds of woods used? does that make a difference?), and meerschaum?

Funny enough, I had recently begun considering taking up pipe smoking. I was thinking about getting one of those bent-pipes with the little thing that catches the moisture.

DerGolgo wrote:Funny enough, I had recently begun considering taking up pipe smoking. I was thinking about getting one of those bent-pipes with the little thing that catches the moisture.

Yep, Peterson. Yep, do it.

--Jaeger

I occasionally smoke cigars, and whilst perusing a cigar/tobacco catalog recently, considered trying a pipe. But there's a problem with my desire vs. reality.

I desire a warm, wood paneled room, smelling richly of the many old books that overflow from the shelves onto tables. Drawn shades on the massive windows, keeping the dark winter evening out. Creaking wood floor covered with oriental rugs. Framed artwork upon the walls. Atop an antique cabinet, a crystal carafe filled with fine scotch, flanked by glasses (one missing, of course). A well-worn leather chair, fronted by slippers, facing the fire, with a blanket and a purring cat awaiting my lap. Beside the chair, on one side, a tall brass ashtray. On the other side, a table with book, the missing glass, 1/4 full (or 3/4 empty, it doesn't matter), a pipe and accoutrements. Shaded lamps provide the yellow, the fireplace provides the orange, and the wood paneled walls provide the brown, and they all combine to a relaxing hue. Burning wood crackles, grandfather clock ticks, and soft music fill the air. No need to look at the ticking clock. No need to worry about a thing.

But reality is: The Garage. In Winter. Un-sided, drafty, fluorescent tube lit, concrete floored, infested with mice and non-operational motorcycles, and a fucking Fiero clogging up 1.5 sides of a two car garage (don't ask). If I dare sit, it's in a half-broken lawn chair, and if I don't want to shiver, then I turn on the roaring salamander heater, stand in front of it, and slowly turn like a slab of meat rotating on a vertical rotisserie (it's nice... my knees warm right up). The broken boombox plays crap radio stations on the left channel only. Or the right, I can't tell. It smells of the garbage cans. And I'd better hurry up, because either dinner has to be made, or bottles need to be cleaned, or it's the babies' bath time, or it's late, or whatever impending little life crisis is about to destroy my solitude.

Why should I buy a pipe if I can't enjoy it?

Holy crap, those Dunhill pipes are expensive.

zimquidl wrote:I occasionally smoke cigars, and whilst perusing a cigar/tobacco catalog recently, considered trying a pipe. But there's a problem with my desire vs. reality.

I desire a warm, wood paneled room, smelling richly of the many old books that overflow from the shelves onto tables. Drawn shades on the massive windows, keeping the dark winter evening out. Creaking wood floor covered with oriental rugs. Framed artwork upon the walls. Atop an antique cabinet, a crystal carafe filled with fine scotch, flanked by glasses (one missing, of course). A well-worn leather chair, fronted by slippers, facing the fire, with a blanket and a purring cat awaiting my lap. Beside the chair, on one side, a tall brass ashtray. On the other side, a table with book, the missing glass, 1/4 full (or 3/4 empty, it doesn't matter), a pipe and accoutrements. Shaded lamps provide the yellow, the fireplace provides the orange, and the wood paneled walls provide the brown, and they all combine to a relaxing hue. Burning wood crackles, grandfather clock ticks, and soft music fill the air. No need to look at the ticking clock. No need to worry about a thing.

But reality is: The Garage. In Winter. Un-sided, drafty, fluorescent tube lit, concrete floored, infested with mice and non-operational motorcycles, and a fucking Fiero clogging up 1.5 sides of a two car garage (don't ask). If I dare sit, it's in a half-broken lawn chair, and if I don't want to shiver, then I turn on the roaring salamander heater, stand in front of it, and slowly turn like a slab of meat rotating on a vertical rotisserie (it's nice... my knees warm right up). The broken boombox plays crap radio stations on the left channel only. Or the right, I can't tell. It smells of the garbage cans. And I'd better hurry up, because either dinner has to be made, or bottles need to be cleaned, or it's the babies' bath time, or it's late, or whatever impending little life crisis is about to destroy my solitude.

Why should I buy a pipe if I can't enjoy it?

LOL

zimquidl wrote:if I don't want to shiver, then I turn on the roaring salamander heater, stand in front of it, and slowly turn like a slab of meat rotating on a vertical rotisserie (it's nice... my knees warm right up).

As an aside, I set my Dickies work pants on fire with a salamander at my old shop. It was fuckin' cold and I only noticed when the smoke started up. Luckily, Duofold thermals are cotton/wool and thus flame-retardant enough.

GrooveMonkey wrote:

zimquidl wrote:I occasionally smoke cigars, and whilst perusing a cigar/tobacco catalog recently, considered trying a pipe. But there's a problem with my desire vs. reality.

I desire a warm, wood paneled room, smelling richly of the many old books that overflow from the shelves onto tables. Drawn shades on the massive windows, keeping the dark winter evening out. Creaking wood floor covered with oriental rugs. Framed artwork upon the walls. Atop an antique cabinet, a crystal carafe filled with fine scotch, flanked by glasses (one missing, of course). A well-worn leather chair, fronted by slippers, facing the fire, with a blanket and a purring cat awaiting my lap. Beside the chair, on one side, a tall brass ashtray. On the other side, a table with book, the missing glass, 1/4 full (or 3/4 empty, it doesn't matter), a pipe and accoutrements. Shaded lamps provide the yellow, the fireplace provides the orange, and the wood paneled walls provide the brown, and they all combine to a relaxing hue. Burning wood crackles, grandfather clock ticks, and soft music fill the air. No need to look at the ticking clock. No need to worry about a thing.

But reality is: The Garage. In Winter. Un-sided, drafty, fluorescent tube lit, concrete floored, infested with mice and non-operational motorcycles, and a fucking Fiero clogging up 1.5 sides of a two car garage (don't ask). If I dare sit, it's in a half-broken lawn chair, and if I don't want to shiver, then I turn on the roaring salamander heater, stand in front of it, and slowly turn like a slab of meat rotating on a vertical rotisserie (it's nice... my knees warm right up). The broken boombox plays crap radio stations on the left channel only. Or the right, I can't tell. It smells of the garbage cans. And I'd better hurry up, because either dinner has to be made, or bottles need to be cleaned, or it's the babies' bath time, or it's late, or whatever impending little life crisis is about to destroy my solitude.

Why should I buy a pipe if I can't enjoy it?

LOL

LOL deux. And far too close to home.

Shhted wrote:

GrooveMonkey wrote:

zimquidl wrote: Why should I buy a pipe if I can't enjoy it?

LOL

LOL deux. And far too close to home.

LOL Thrice. And it really does help to have a comfy spot to smoke, or a good route to walk and ponder the nature of the universe (or how to get the friggin' bike together again...).

I used to smoke a pipe from time to time. My dad got me into it
a lot of years ago. He used to smoke a pipe for many years. He
had over 50 to choose from. Still has them somewhere. I bought
my pipe from the base exchange in Warner Robins, Ga. Cost about
five bucks or so and did the trick. Haven't smoked it in years. Cigs
are my evil!

ImEazy wrote:I used to smoke a pipe from time to time. My dad got me into it
a lot of years ago. He used to smoke a pipe for many years. He
had over 50 to choose from. Still has them somewhere. I bought
my pipe from the base exchange in Warner Robins, Ga. Cost about
five bucks or so and did the trick. Haven't smoked it in years. Cigs
are my evil!

Nice!

So, uh, how do I get one of those ashtrays? Alternately, how do I make one. I see a length of chain, what's the rest?

Ames wrote:As usual, I went to the bad place when I saw the title for this.

+ Infinity

smashinator wrote:
Nice!

So, uh, how do I get one of those ashtrays? Alternately, how do I make one. I see a length of chain, what's the rest?

Asked my son and he said he got it at the local Dollar Tree in the
mall. My guess would be the rest is nothing more than Chinese
pot metal chromed to look like polished aluminum. It is two
seperate pieces though. The chain and then the tray/gear. It
would be hard to make one that costs less than a $1 though.

To answer the question, I usually get Mariner tobacco from the tobac shop on 56th st in Tacoma, sometimes mixed with something else

Cheap Missouri Meerschaum cherrywood pipe and some 'soft vanilla' thanks to the local tobacconist, frozen toes and hands thanks to smashinator, and unkempt garage with multiple projects thanks to ADD.

Nice!

I finally bought one...now all I have to do is to figure out how to smoke the damn thing.
Any hints?

jangleplatz!

Fill about 1/3, pack VERY lightly. Fill another 1/3, pack a tiny bit firmer. fill Last third, pack somewhat firmly.

It's better to pack too loose than too firm. You can always tamp it tighter. Too tight burns crazy hot, results in moisture in the bottom of the bowl and tastes god-awful.

Use wooden matches to light it, because they're damn fun and don't taste like lighter fluid. Light once so all the tobacco at the top pops up. Tamp it down, now light it for real.

Little puffs. If it gets too hot to comfortably hold against your cheek, set it down until it's cooled off again. Hot means moisture, which means BAD TASTE. You've really got to smoke slow. There's no such thing as a "quick pipe."

It will go out. A LOT. Just light it again.

Getting the hang of it takes practice. LOTS of practice. I'd go so far as to say it's a hobby more than a tobacco conveyance. Once you get the hang of it, it tastes fantastic and there are all kinds of different tobaccos to explore, like fancy tea for pyros.

One other thing: stay the hell away from "Cherry" anything. It sounds good, I know, and the tobacco smells great. It tastes like burning torture and will leave your mouth raw and you'll never want to smoke again.

As far as good tobacco goes, Black Cavendish is a great place to start. It's SUPER mild, and just a little sweet. English tobaccos smell and taste like "grandpa." You'll know what I mean when I try it. I like Virginia tobaccos, but they tend to bite your tongue unless you smoke SUPER SLOW. Then they taste wonderful.

Have fun!

Yeah, what Smashinator said.

Also the type of pipe helps -- I'm a big fan of the Peterson "System" pipes -- they're great pipes but not stoopid expensive, and they actually have a mechanism to help trap a lot of the moisture so it doesn't get into your mouth.

Also: if your new pipe isn't broken in yet... you need to build a "cake' in the bowl. For the first few bowlfuls, only fill it about 1/3 to 1/2 way and smoke that. the objective is to build a coating of tar/gunk in the bowl that will protect the wood and arguably improve the taste of the smoke.

If the pipe ever gets too hot to hold in your hand, put it down and let it cool off. Also, if you ever get a "hot spot," same thing -- that means your cake is uneven or is burning a hole in it. Like Smash said, heat is not your friend.

Otherwise, enjoy! They're vastly superior to cigarettes pretty much across the board -- other than convenience. However, they force you to stop and actually enjoy the experience rather than "maintenance smoking," which is how most smokers do it.

Oh, and I wholeheartedly agree with the suggestion to stick with English tobacco -- ice cream can be cherry flavored, but not my pipe.

--jaeger

Any of you aficionados try a tomahawk pipe ?