Outdoor Smoking

[peckinpahhombre]

I have a pipe question. When it snows up here in the Great White North (as it has been known to do), I have to clear the driveway. I have a long driveway and so I have a tractor with a snowplow that I drive to do the job. I would like to smoke while doing this, but if the snow is coming down, I was wondering if the wet from the snow could ruin the wood or finish on the pipe. Should I only smoke a cob while doing this or is briar ok? Or maybe I should stick to a cheap briar just in case? Am I the only clown that worries about stuff like this?

 

[user 2031]

I'd stick with the cob. Besides a cob in the snow just works, ala Frosty.

If I used a briar, I would use one that I didn't really care about.

 

[Rob_In_MO]

+1

A good Cob or a Basket Briar.

 

[Mozjo33]

Might want to use a wind screen aswell. Good luck.

 

[George Kaplan]

What they said. I good portion of my job is done outdoors. This is nice because it allows me to smoke a pipe or two during the workday, but it's not exactly lounging on the veranda on a summer evening. I'm out there year-round in all weather, and have quite a collection of beat-up "log yard pipes".

 

[Blackhorse]

Back in the 60's - 70's there was a pipe offered that was the latest and greatest...or at least tried to be...called "The Pipe". The thing was that is was made out of pure carbon...or something like that. I see them now and then as an estate. Supposedly, like a Meer, they did not absorb moisture and gave a repeately consistant and clean smoke...and were impervious to environemntal shifts in humidity, etc.

I would think something like that would be a good bet for your outdoor adventures. But then it also seems that making an investment like that JUST to smoke while plowing is a little much...especially when a nice MM Cob Freehand can be had from Mars for under $30, giving you a long and flawless smoke and hangs well from the mouth while working.

I work outdoors all Winter, but under shelter. I use both basket and fine briars outside...but I'm very carefull about putting them away in a sock and inner pocket following use.

 

[Natch]

I had one of those "The Pipe's", and you could "clean: it in the dishwasher! Never much cared for it.

If you'll be working out in the snow, I'd look for an old, beat up, used ebay reject or basket pipe in a full bent, so it can hang in your mouth and keep your hands free. Even the "bent" MM Country Gentleman (their best line of pipes, in my opinion) is really only about a 1/4 bent and it doesn't hang very well in my mouth.

Natch

 

[Blackhorse]

Good point about the hanger.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Only high-end artisan pipes work while shoveling snow. Everyone knows this...the straighter the grain, the faster you shovel.

8)

 

[LIPIPE]

Smoke any pipe you would not mind to lose if it just happened to drop in the path of your tractor. You might have a real tough time tamping and relighting in such conditions so this entire discussion might actually be rather moot.

 

[LIPIPE]

Smoke any pipe you would not mind to lose if it just happened to drop in the path of your tractor. You might have a real tough time tamping and relighting in such conditions so this entire discussion might actually be rather moot. I'll soon be a man up north with a long driveway who smokes a pipe. My plan is to get a contractor so I can enjoy my pipe.

 

[monbla256]

Only high-end artisan pipes work while shoveling snow. Everyone knows this...the straighter the grain, the faster you shovel.

8)

I agree 100% :cheers: Nothing under a grand will smoke well in those conditions :twisted:

 

[Rob_In_MO]

Nothing under a grand will smoke well in those conditions :twisted:

Well, then I guess I'm SOL with my MM Diplomat... 8)

 

[sand18f]

I have an old full bent basket pipe for those situations. Cobs work equally well.

Bill

 

[cigrmaster]

This is the perfect example of where a cob is the best choice. Even a cheap briar pipe could easily be damaged from wind or snow. Even in nice weather, I will not smoke a good pipe outside if there is a ten mile an hour plus wind. Burnout is a real possibility in any windy condition.

 

[kaiser83]

I'm with the rest of the guys about smoking a cob. On the other hand I have often times smoked my briars out in the snow with no issue. I dried them off when I cam back inside and all was fine. I can't say I would do it in a blizzard, but in just light snow...definitely have; a couple times with churchwardens for that matter.

 

[Frozenthunderbolt]

You could also get a nice clay with a stem you can clench or hang

 

[cben]

This makes me think of my dad. He was a logger for most of his life and had his pipe lit all the time.
A cheap briar would last 5 to 6 years and would endure rain,snow,wind,cold,tree sap,oil and grease, gas and desiel and a few drops on ground. He only ever had one pipe at a time and could sure get some use out of them so unless its a real treasured pipe I would not be concerned about it getting ruined while working outside.