Hello From Michigan! (Again)

[GuitarMyFriend]

Hey everybody. I'm happy to find a forum for pipe smokers written by pipe smokers. I'm 18 years old, and I play the guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, and piano. I am currently a cigarette/cigar/pipe smoker. I used to work at an old mom and pop pizza shop where a few of my friends, (Banjo Ben, and Mandolin Greg) and I would jam outside of work. We were quite the bluegrass group, we had a few people come late, and ask if we were open, and we'd sadly tell them no, but they'd sit and listen to us for a little than go on their marry way. My buds would always have a beer, and they both smoked, but I'd like to have one while we jammed, because we'd jam for hours. But they'd get ticked if I stopped playing to have a quick puff, and I used to put my cig/cigar in my strings, but we'd play a long song, and it'd be gone before I could get to it. So one day I bought a cheap metal bowl, plastic pipe. I used pipe, (Cigarette) tobacco in it and enjoyed it. (I musta been 16 or 17). Than I bought myself a Dr. Grabow Omega textured pipe with some borkum riff bourbon whiskey tobacco, just this last year and fell inlove. Now I own The Omega, than a Dr. Grabow Riviera textured, a Dr. Grabow freehand smooth, a Dr. Grabow Big Pipe smooth, and the Dr. Grabow Royalton textured. I built my own pipe rack and know all the storaging techniques, and how to clean them, and pack them properly. I plan on buying many more pipes (Savinelli Hercules 510 ex, and a Nording pipe), and starting a decent pipe tobacco collection. I already own a decent Cigar collection with a humidor, and cigars off of every shelf. The only problem is I don't have much extra to spend for a big pipe because I live with my grandmother currently, (My grandfather passed recently, I own his pipe also). So I'm here helping her out, not that she needs it, she's a tough lady there's no doubt, but I adore the woman. I'm not smoking a pipe to "be unique", I smoke a pipe and cigars, and cigarettes because I like to. I don't engage in activities to be different, I do it because I like to. I wear a flatcap because it fits my head well, and I wear flannels because I love the feel of em. Granted, I do adore "Old things". I'm one of those born in the wrong generation guys. But finally, I was hoping for some decent tobacco suggestions, and pipe suggestions. I'm knowledgable, but I don't pretend to know it all. I would like extra tips, and suggestions from any of you. I appreciate you taking the time to read this. Now remember my paycheck goes to savings for culinary school, and gas, and Dear Grams, so I can't afford these wonderful Dunhill pipes, as much as I would like one. But once again, thank you,
Zach

 

[mike_68]

Welcome..

 

[George Kaplan]

Greetings from a fellow Michigander! What part of the state are you from, if you don't mind me asking?
I wasn't much older than you when I started the pipe, also with Grabows, for much the same reason. I was a carpenter's apprentice at the time, and hands-free smoking was pretty useful.
Stick around these forums and you'll get plenty of good advice on pipes and tabac, but it sounds like you're doing pretty well already for your budget. I wouldn't worry about new pipes just yet if I were you. I still smoke my old Doc G Omega from time to time. If anything, you might want to look into corncob pipes from Missouri Meerchaum. Hands-down the best value in pipes you'll find, and it sounds like you wouldn't be put off by their "old timey" look.
Best regards and good luck with your new hobby,
-G

 

[ejames]

Welcome Zach! You sound like a young man who has his head screwed on right! There's a huge variety of pipes available as I'm sure you know. As a Grabow freak I was surprised to see you are at present smoking mostly Grabows! The members here can I'm sure, make many suggestions.

 

[George Kaplan]

As a Grabow freak I was surprised to see you are at present smoking mostly Grabows!

ejames gives new meaning to "Grabow Freak". Check out his collection in the Photo Gallery. :affraid:

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

Awesome, yeah I love Dr. Grabows, affordable and from what I've seen and felt, an amazing pipe. I actually just got my Big Pipe, and my Royalton today. I just wish I had more. I like an option to smoke out of, and I want a different smoke everynow and than. I believe my next big purchase will be the Savinelli Hercules 510 Ex with some Dunhill Nightcap and Early Morning. I'm a camping buff and springs here which means taking a week or two off of work to go for a hike and a camp which means eating nothing but fish, and drinking nothing but tea and smoking nothing but a pipe. Mr. Kaplan, I am located in Custer currently. Mr. Mike, thank you for the welcome. Mr. Ejames, I thank you for the comment. Call me old fashioned but I like to work, go outside, hike, fish, hunt... you can imagine how difficult it is to find a decent friend in my own generation. I have plenty for I'm a pretty friendly fellow, but friends with the same interests come in few. And Mr. Ejames, I've seen your photos, and Dear Lord do I envy you. If I put my banjo, guitar, and mandolin in your photo, I wouldn't be able to ever leave that area. I'm happy I can finally just chat about my love of Pipes and old things. I don't smoke marijuana, so whenever I'm with buds who do, I just pull out the old Pipe, and they just laugh and go along with it.

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

Also, being slightly new at pipe smoking, I want to try every type of tobacco to find my favorites. But I have no means to do so. There's an admiral tobacco near me, but they sell Borkum Riff and Captain Black, which I can't deny my love for. But without even trying anything else besides Paladin Cherry Cavendish, I know that there's many more I wish to try. And Mr. Kaplan, I do want a corncob. And I do adore woodworking of anysorts. But right now I have my heart set on the Culinary field. I'm a chef at the hospital out here. I can't wait someday to try new tobaccos, but I'm currently unable to which just breaks my heart.

 

[ejames]

Zach,there are a few places to get some free or low cost tobacco . Altidis and Sutliff come to mind for the Freebies. Most of the e-tailers will sell you samples also. Others here can probably tell you more on this. I smoke mostly OTC burleys so don't buy much of anything else.

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

What do you mean as free? I've never heard of those stores, are they online?

 

[smokinbriar]

Welcome Zach,enjoy your grabows.

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

Welcome Zach,enjoy your grabows.

Believe me sir, I do.

 

[ejames]

What do you mean as free? I've never heard of those stores, are they online?

PM sent .

 

[jefe1037]

What do you mean as free? I've never heard of those stores, are they online?

PM sent .

I had no idea either, but i found it on the googles

 

[George Kaplan]

Custer up by Ludington? I just came through that way today down from the Traverse Bay area. Hell, I coulda made a detour and dropped off some sample Blockade Runner and Squadron Leader, and a slightly used cob to smoke 'em in! Better luck next time.

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

YEAH! Well shoot, let me know the next time you're coming up, and we'll have a pipe!!!

 

[George Kaplan]

YEAH! Well shoot, let me know the next time you're coming up, and we'll have a pipe!!!

You got it, old son! I was up north on a work trip this week, but I'm occasionally in your neck of the woods in warmer seasons. Got friends in Big Rapids, and Shelby's sort of a holy pilgrimage for me. (Don't suppose you play disc golf?)
I've heard from discerning smokers that Borkum's Whiskey isn't half bad for a pouch tobacco. I've smoked my share of it myself, but that hasn't been since.....Oh, good lord! Since before you were born! Never thought I'd hear myself say that to a grown man. I guess that's my cue to use my old codger voice and rant about how the old Borkum Riff was heads and tails above this new, pale imitation they're passing off as Borkum's these days. :lol!: Anyway, I'm sure you could be doing a lot worse. Even Captain Black has its following among some forum members, whether they admit it or not. The most important thing is to like what you smoke, and smoke what you like. (That, and buy a cob )
-G

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

Well today after work, I'm stopping a getting a MM Cob. And possibly picking up a few different cigars. My friends and I (all 20 or younger) are going to have a gentlemens night sometime next month, we just have to prepare for it, we're getting Jack Daniels Gentlemens whiskey and we're all dressing the part. I'm going to wear a shirt and tie with a sweatervest and smoke my Royalton. We're going to set up with Scotch glasses and shot glasses, and possibly wine glasses and play poker and smoke, we just don't know where yet.

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

Oh And I have played disc golf before, I'm afraid I'm not terribly good at it, but honestly I've played once and we were just fooling around, so I'm not sure how good I am at it.

 

[PipeLeisure]

Welcome Zach, I love Dr. Grabows as well...nothing wrong with them, nice pipes for the money. I also have a unopened pouch of the Borkum Whiskey, some day I will give her a try.

 

[GuitarMyFriend]

Yeah I adore them. And hey, I used to live right next to Dartmouth! (Portsmouth RI), close enough.