New member, new smoker, etc.

[jabuhrer]

Hello!

I'm Joey. I'm 26, and started smoking a pipe a few weeks ago. I picked up a cheap "basket pipe" from a great shop here in Denver (Edward's) and a couple of ounces of one of their mild blends "Drury Lane." I love it!

I've spent the past few weeks breaking in the pipe, and also breaking myself in I've noticed that the experience has improved quite a bit since I first started. I don't smoke cigarettes or cigars, so at first my senses were a bit overwhelmed. However, after going through an ounce or so, I've started to be able to pick up much more of the subtleties of both the aroma and the taste. This has been a pleasant development, because at first I couldn't imagine how anyone could ever tell the difference between all of the dozens of blends that I saw at the shop. At this point, I think I will pick up another small bag or two to smoke through the cheapo (so that I will hopefully know what I'm doing a bit more) and then buy a nicer briar pipe, and then perhaps also a meerschaum to add to the rotation. I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far!

 

[kilted1]

Welcome to BoB :cheers:

 

[SailorJack]

Welcome Aboard Joey!! We got another one hooked boys!! Reel him in!!

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Welcome to the group, Joey!

 

[Ol'Dawg]

A big howdy and welcome!

Jim

 

[Anthony]

Welcome aboard friend.

My reccomendation is to get a cob or two as well. Especially for testing new tobaccos you might be unsure of. Especially aromatics.

Another good thing is to lean how to not suck down the ash (happens alot with larger chambers) at the bottom of a bowl while breaking them in rather than teasing the pipe and only getting a little carbon on the top 2/3's of the bowl.. My first few times I would puff too hard/fast and eager to finish up the last bit of it.

 

[jabuhrer]

Thanks everyone!

Anthony: thanks for the tips! So, the trick is to take it easy towards the bottom of the bowl? That makes sense. I've been trying to make sure to smoke all the way down to the bottom and smoke all of the tobacco in the bowl (as I've read you're supposed to). It seems like the smoke gets a little, well, smokier and not quite as pleasant when you get towards the bottom, and it seems to require a couple of re-lights at that point too. I've just been assuming that this will improve once I get a bit of cake built up way down there. Let me know if anyone has thoughts on that.

Thanks again for the warm greetings everyone!

 

[Anthony]

Thanks everyone!

Anthony: thanks for the tips! So, the trick is to take it easy towards the bottom of the bowl? That makes sense. I've been trying to make sure to smoke all the way down to the bottom and smoke all of the tobacco in the bowl (as I've read you're supposed to). It seems like the smoke gets a little, well, smokier and not quite as pleasant when you get towards the bottom, and it seems to require a couple of re-lights at that point too. I've just been assuming that this will improve once I get a bit of cake built up way down there. Let me know if anyone has thoughts on that.

Thanks again for the warm greetings everyone!

exactly.

A properly packed bowl's bottom third of the tobacco is a bit less compressed than the rest of the bowl, to facilitate oxygen flow. I.E.- not as hard of a puff, but more of a consistent puff in the bottom third. (especially bottom fifth)

If you have a bent billard/sitter of sorts, there's usually a resevoir that will keep moisture from entering the bowl itself. Make a habit of learning when to ash your pipe (usually only once or twice in a smoke) but run a pipe cleaner through a couple times prior to knocking the loose ash (not the "lid" that contains the light) to help avoid sucking up ash in the bottom of the pipe. Run the pipe cleaners to avoid having the moisture entering the chamber while doing so. That helped me immensely in getting a bit of cake on the bottom, avoiding gunk/moisture buildup in the bottom, and having a pleasant finish to your bowl. Aromatics and certain Virginia's I've seen tend to burn wetter (it's good to let your tobacco air out for a good ten minutes prior to packing especially if it's straight out of a tin).

 

[jhuggett]

Welcome!

 

[jeremyt]

Hello Joey and welcome to BOB . Sounds like you're off to a good start.

 

[Centurian 803]

Welcome, Joey. I fear you are already beginning to display symptoms of PAD and TAD. Sssssiiiiigggghhhhhhh!

 

[Smokey Joe]

Welcome aboard and have fun trying different blends. When you find the ones ya like, stock up and find some more ya like,etc,etc... :rabbit:

 

[jabuhrer]

Haha, thanks guys

PAD and TAD, eh...

 

[mark]

This hobby is dangerous to your economic welfare,,,get a second job,,,,,

 

[Trout Bum]

Welcome and have fun, Joey!