Pipe Smokers

MadMardigan

MadMardigan

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2A Bourbon Hound OG
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So I ordered a beginners kit from 4noggins this morning after talking to a friend who enjoys pipes over cigars. I like a good cigar from time to time, but looking to try something new.

What’s some good tips for a newbie?
 
Don't get upset if it doesn't work at first. Smoking a pipe is much unlike smoking a cigar, where a nice cigar is almost guaranteed to stay lit the pipe is basically guaranteed to fizzle out a million times. Smoking one is a bit of an art.
 
Don’t let your tobacco dry out. I don’t have a humidor, I keep my pipe tobacco and sealed candy jars. Got a dollar store terra-cotta flower pot and broke it, Take about a half dollar sized piece, soak it in water for a few hours. Shake it off and throw it in the jar. Repeat once a week keeps pipe tobacco nice.
 
Use a lighter, the purists will say to only use wooden matches because of flavor, this and that, blah blah blah. You’ll burn up a pack of blame matches keeping your first bowls lit. It really is an art, don’t draw to much on it, if the tobacco gets too hot it’ll tear your mouth up. They call it pipe bite, some tobaccos bite worse than others.

Now you need to buy a go-to-hell hat.
 
Get a pipe tool. Make the little air channel at the back of the bowl, it helps the draw and to stay lit.
 
My favorite place for pipe tobacco and accessories is smokingpipes.com.

They are based out of North Myrtle. Used to be able to go in and ogle pipes and tobacco but the stor now caters to the cigar smokers
 
I’ll second smokingpipes.com as well as tobaccoreviews.com I’ll also second the lighter. Get a few bics.

To start with get a lot of samples of different types of blends. Discover some different English, Virginia, Burley, Oriental and VaPer blends. Don’t worry too much about building a cellar to begin with. Get your feet wet first.

You may want to stay away from flakes and coins, or simply opt to rub them out while you’re still learning.

Cobs are viable pipes and lots of ‘snobs’ use them.

If you can, smoke with an experienced piper. Cadence is good to learn by observation. McCranies in Charlotte, Pipe and Pint in GSO and Pipes by George in Raleigh are all great shops and will help you.

There are a few good forums focused on the hobby. Not sure I can name them here.
Finally, if you don’t know where to get a sample of tobacco and supplies, ask. 😀
 
Another plug for smoking pipes.com.
I smoke pipes mainly during the colder months.
I keep my tobacco in Ball jelly jars.
Preferred brand is mostly Lane LTD....LL7 and 1cue. Actually a 50/50 blend of both my favorite.
Not ashamed to admit that Captain Black ain't bad either!
 
Snal~ said:
Another plug for smoking pipes.com.
I smoke pipes mainly during the colder months.
I keep my tobacco in Ball jelly jars.
Preferred brand is mostly Lane LTD....LL7 and 1cue. Actually a 50/50 blend of both my favorite.
Not ashamed to admit that Captain Black ain't bad either!
Click to expand...

I'm a reformed cigarette smoker, my goto has been Mac Baren Scottish blend or Navy flake.
 
Nice set up. I loke that shape and my go to for out and around.
I use rubber tips on mine, makes it easier on my mouth.
Watch what you eat and drink, soft drinks will give you a lot of burn.
 
When I smoked a pipe (after I quit smoking cigarettes in 1989) and (after my kids were grown and I didn’t need life insurance anymore)) I smoked Lane 1Q. I think it’s the most popular in the world the last I heard. Not for everybody, but I liked it.

The way things are going these days, I might pick it back up.
Grandad put some miles on this one, and I am pretty sure my son (the IVth, coincidentally) smoked some weed in it.
27238C1B-33E5-47DF-842B-F026255A3975.jpeg
 
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I smoked a pipe for over 30 years. I started on a trip to Alaska with my uncle in 1971. I had smoked cigars for several years, but he seemed to be enjoying his pipe. I got two cheap pipes and several packs of Sir Walter Raleigh in a store in Fairbanks and went to it. My mouth was not amused but soon got used to it. I tried all sorts of blends. Some were terrible, especially the real fruits ones. Some were very good. I smoked Borkum Riff for a while. Mixture 79 was my duck hunting tobacco. I finally settled on Carter Hall as my everyday tobacco. I still have a bunch of Carter Hall containers I use to store nuts and nails. I absolutely loved the whole process of pipe smoking. I did, however, put my pipe down in mid bowl in 2002 and have not smoked anything since. I dearly miss it.

Break your pipes in gently, keep them clean, and carry two lighters for when the first one quits. I really like Zippo lighters.
 
Mine have been untouched for a few months but I enjoys them when I make the time to sit on the deck and watch the yard.

I kinda “inherited” a small pipe collection from a friend of the family’s when one of their relatives passed. I’ll have to take some pics soon, all of them smoke differently and I have a couple favorites.

Boswells “Pennsylvania Dutch Treat” is ones of my favorites next to a vanilla custard blend. Haven’t dabbled in the English blends yet.
 
Me and @thrillhill are about to give this a go today. This will be my first time smoking a pipe.

Went by Pipes by George today. It’s a legendary place as far as I’m concerned. Best time to go is Saturday morning.

Got me some 1Q and all the things I need to start.

6CFE510C-42EC-4570-9ACC-589B1E56EBEB.jpeg
 
Studentofthegun said:
Me and @thrillhill are about to give this a go today. This will be my first time smoking a pipe.

Went by Pipes by George today. It’s a legendary place as far as I’m concerned. Best time to go is Saturday morning.

Got me some 1Q and all the things I need to start.

View attachment 492425
Click to expand...

Great choice. Go slow, don't let it burn too hot.
 
Studentofthegun said:
Me and @thrillhill are about to give this a go today. This will be my first time smoking a pipe.

Went by Pipes by George today. It’s a legendary place as far as I’m concerned. Best time to go is Saturday morning.

Got me some 1Q and all the things I need to start.

View attachment 492425
Click to expand...
George is a great guy and runs a nice shop. That’s a sweet looking savinelli. I’ve wound up not using the balsa filters or restrictors in mine. Seems to give a little more airflow and reduce chances of getting tongue bite. Enjoy sir!
 
fieldgrade said:
Ordered another pipe.

Dr Graybow Royal Duke -

I’m a fan. Good briar pipes locally made, and for skinny money.
Made right here in Sparta NC

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Dr Graybow has a pretty cool history as a company. Genius marketing, ”people will buy them over something else if they think they are endorsed by a Dr.”
 
CF5BF98E-9B27-420E-8ABE-04C04CF49863.jpeg
this is my favorite pipe, nothing flashy or fancy. It was my Grandpas. The finish is wearing off, the bits a little chewed up, but it’s my favorite. It doesn’t have a brand-name marking, just Italy on the bottom of the stem.

Right now I’m smoking a lot of Mac Baren HH pure Virginia hot pressed out of it. Pretty good tobacco.

​

 
fieldgrade said:
When I smoked a pipe (after I quit smoking cigarettes in 1989) and (after my kids were grown and I didn’t need life insurance anymore)) I smoked Lane 1Q. I think it’s the most popular in the world the last I heard. Not for everybody, but I liked it.

The way things are going these days, I might pick it back up.
Grandad put some miles on this one, and I am pretty sure my son (the IVth, coincidentally) smoked some weed in it.
View attachment 489289
Click to expand...
Since @SnowRooster posted his grandpa’s pipe too, I started digging a little on my grandad’s that I had posted earlier.
Kaywoodie - they had nice displays in drugstores way back in the day. Like 1950 and earlier. And had a ton more shapes and styles. wiki has a good page.


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SnowRooster said:
View attachment 503258
this is my favorite pipe, nothing flashy or fancy. It was my Grandpas. The finish is wearing off, the bits a little chewed up, but it’s my favorite. It doesn’t have a brand-name marking, just Italy on the bottom of the stem.

Right now I’m smoking a lot of Mac Baren HH pure Virginia hot pressed out of it. Pretty good tobacco.

​

Click to expand...
Tobaccopipes.com sells a little rubber bit you can fit over the end to make it easier and more comfortable to hold in your teeth, several of which I’m missing. Especially if the old pipe fits somebody else's teeth. $1.29 for two I think.

1658961742054.png4194B349-930B-4D96-8D03-AE501A679DA1_1_201_a.jpeg
 
@Belcher79 's post on his estate pipes got me to look through my stuff. came across this lad selling new Kaywoodies made by the current president of S.M. Frank (Kaywoodie) after 2016 they dropped their metal filter, the "drinkless" system and went to push stem only. an improvement imo

greywoodie.com

Greywoodie, Your Kaywoodie Provider

tobacco pipes, tobacco accessories, Kaywoodie pipes, Kaywoodie, Medico, Yello-Bole, S.M. Frank, SM Frank, new Kaywoodie, Graywoodie, Greywoodie, Greywoodie LLC, Kaywoodie.com, graywoodie.com, greywoodie.com, greywoodiellc.com, graywoodiellc.com, Kaywoodie for sale, Super Grain, Drinkless, modern...
greywoodie.com

curiosity got the best of me and I ordered a bent pot from greywoodie. pretty impressive and not too expensive either
 
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