GuyanaBoy
HAPPY SMOKES!!
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2002
- Messages
- 826
So, you want to start smoking a pipe. What do you need to know? What do you need to have? Hopefully this series of articles will help you some.
So if you are a beginner, sit back. . . .read on. . . .and maybe we can help you.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Starting out can be a little difficult. . . particularly if you don't know what you are doing. So, lets look at a few things you have to have in order to enjoy pipe smoking to its fullest.
1. A Good Pipe.
This pretty much goes without saying. And you would be suprised how many people rush into this hobby and then have a bad experience and quit. . all because they started with a bad pipe.
I would suggest a good estate pipe, that has been broken in and smoked. This will help alot because you won't have to go through the break in period yourself.
There are some other good pipes that can be had in the $50 to $75 range. (Some Peterson, Savinelli, etc)
Usually, these are good "entry level" pipes as they have quality pipes but on the lower end of the price range. (Bear in mind, the upper end really has no limit. . . I saw one go on Ebay one time for $900)
Often times, the quality craftsmanship of an up end pipe ends up being well worth the money spent.
We will talk more about what to look for in a good pipe in a later post.
2. A way to light the Pipe
This can be with a lighter, or with matches. I would recommend the longer matches, as it gives you plenty of time to get the pipe lit.
I would NOT recommend a torch, as you can easily scorch the top of your pipe or worse. You can also get the fire too hot from the outset and that could cause lots of problems too. Furthermore, you probably don't want the blaze that close to your face for the time it takes to get the pipe lit.
3. A tamper
This is something you will need to help in the lighting process. I have seen $100 tampers, $1.50 tampers in pipe stores, and even a Golf tee (which works just fine and certainly isn't expensive)
We will cover how to use the tamper a little later as well.
4. Tobacco
I would recommend that you visit a Pipe store that has bulk tobacco. This way you can often "try before you buy" and you can certainly smell the aroma of the tobacco and get an idea if you like it or not.
There are many "Pipe Purists" who say you should NEVER smoke an aromatic tobacco. That you should only smoke an English blend.
My answer to this is. . . . . SMOKE WHAT YOU WANT TO SMOKE!
The aromatic tobaccos smell very good usually and many times, when someone comments "That pipe smells good!" it is an aromatic tobacco that is being smoked. Bear in mind though that the aromatic tobacco will be wetter, harder to keep lit, and can often be VERY rough on your tongue.
The "English blends" will often be the more natural tobacco's and will often include latakia, or other special blends. (We will talk more about this later but first things first.)
Just find something YOU like and enjoy it.
Incidently, this is one fo the real advantages of buying at a Smoke Shop that offers bulk tobacco. . .you can "try before you buy" and you can buy by the ounce.
Get a couple of different tobacco's . . . that way, if you don't like the first one, you still have something else to try.
5. Tobacco storage
This is not usually as complicated as with cigars. For one thing, the aromatic tobaccos are really moist. But at any rate, you still have to have a place to store the tobacco.
This can be as easy as a zip lock bag, tupperware, or a fancy Pipe Tobacco Humidor with a rubber gasket.
You may also want a small pouch to carry a daily supply of pipe tobacco. Again, this can be as simple as a zip lock back, or as nice as a nice leather pouch. I have both. . . and use them both frequently.
When you purchase a leather pouch. .. .look for one that is rubber lined. That way, the tobacco stays moist, even if it is in the pouch for several days.
6. Pipe cleaners
DUH. . . .of course you will need these. You will want to clean your pipe when it starts to "gurgle" or when it starts to stink, or when everything starts to taste the same.
(We will also talk later about how to properly clean the pipe.)
OKAY. . . .that should get you started.
A little later, we will talk about the different tobaccos, the way to load and light a pipe, and what to look for in a pipe.
Hopefully with this article, we have helped you know what you need to get started.
NOW. . . .questions? Comments? Accusations? Fire away.
HAPPY SMOKES! ! !
STEVE
So if you are a beginner, sit back. . . .read on. . . .and maybe we can help you.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Starting out can be a little difficult. . . particularly if you don't know what you are doing. So, lets look at a few things you have to have in order to enjoy pipe smoking to its fullest.
1. A Good Pipe.
This pretty much goes without saying. And you would be suprised how many people rush into this hobby and then have a bad experience and quit. . all because they started with a bad pipe.
I would suggest a good estate pipe, that has been broken in and smoked. This will help alot because you won't have to go through the break in period yourself.
There are some other good pipes that can be had in the $50 to $75 range. (Some Peterson, Savinelli, etc)
Usually, these are good "entry level" pipes as they have quality pipes but on the lower end of the price range. (Bear in mind, the upper end really has no limit. . . I saw one go on Ebay one time for $900)
Often times, the quality craftsmanship of an up end pipe ends up being well worth the money spent.
We will talk more about what to look for in a good pipe in a later post.
2. A way to light the Pipe
This can be with a lighter, or with matches. I would recommend the longer matches, as it gives you plenty of time to get the pipe lit.
I would NOT recommend a torch, as you can easily scorch the top of your pipe or worse. You can also get the fire too hot from the outset and that could cause lots of problems too. Furthermore, you probably don't want the blaze that close to your face for the time it takes to get the pipe lit.
3. A tamper
This is something you will need to help in the lighting process. I have seen $100 tampers, $1.50 tampers in pipe stores, and even a Golf tee (which works just fine and certainly isn't expensive)
We will cover how to use the tamper a little later as well.
4. Tobacco
I would recommend that you visit a Pipe store that has bulk tobacco. This way you can often "try before you buy" and you can certainly smell the aroma of the tobacco and get an idea if you like it or not.
There are many "Pipe Purists" who say you should NEVER smoke an aromatic tobacco. That you should only smoke an English blend.
My answer to this is. . . . . SMOKE WHAT YOU WANT TO SMOKE!
The aromatic tobaccos smell very good usually and many times, when someone comments "That pipe smells good!" it is an aromatic tobacco that is being smoked. Bear in mind though that the aromatic tobacco will be wetter, harder to keep lit, and can often be VERY rough on your tongue.
The "English blends" will often be the more natural tobacco's and will often include latakia, or other special blends. (We will talk more about this later but first things first.)
Just find something YOU like and enjoy it.
Incidently, this is one fo the real advantages of buying at a Smoke Shop that offers bulk tobacco. . .you can "try before you buy" and you can buy by the ounce.
Get a couple of different tobacco's . . . that way, if you don't like the first one, you still have something else to try.
5. Tobacco storage
This is not usually as complicated as with cigars. For one thing, the aromatic tobaccos are really moist. But at any rate, you still have to have a place to store the tobacco.
This can be as easy as a zip lock bag, tupperware, or a fancy Pipe Tobacco Humidor with a rubber gasket.
You may also want a small pouch to carry a daily supply of pipe tobacco. Again, this can be as simple as a zip lock back, or as nice as a nice leather pouch. I have both. . . and use them both frequently.
When you purchase a leather pouch. .. .look for one that is rubber lined. That way, the tobacco stays moist, even if it is in the pouch for several days.
6. Pipe cleaners
DUH. . . .of course you will need these. You will want to clean your pipe when it starts to "gurgle" or when it starts to stink, or when everything starts to taste the same.
(We will also talk later about how to properly clean the pipe.)
OKAY. . . .that should get you started.
A little later, we will talk about the different tobaccos, the way to load and light a pipe, and what to look for in a pipe.
Hopefully with this article, we have helped you know what you need to get started.
NOW. . . .questions? Comments? Accusations? Fire away.
HAPPY SMOKES! ! !
STEVE
