Total Newbie

[richmondesi]

Hello all! I am totally new to pipe smoking. I have no gear, no preconceived ideas, no preferences... no knowledge. I've always loved the smell of pipes, and I have thought many times about starting. I was steered this way from Badger&Blade (a shaving forum) after discovering how much I like doing things in a way that hearkens back to a slower time. So, I'm totally green, and eager to learn. Help me out, please.

Paul

 

[Tennessee Dave]

Glad to see you made it over. Welcome from a fellow B&B brother to the BoB. You will enjoy it here.

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Welcome aboard!

If you're brand-new, don't miss the very-helpful stickynote on how to begin with a pipe (a the top in the Welcome Wagon section.)

 

[Slow Puffs]

A warm welcome Paul.

Paul

 

[richmondesi]

Welcome aboard!

If you're brand-new, don't miss the very-helpful stickynote on how to begin with a pipe (a the top in the Welcome Wagon section.)

Thanks, I will be spending quite a bit of time on that sticky I'm sure

 

[richmondesi]

OK, I'm sure this is on the forum somewhere, but I haven't seen it yet.

1. Is smoking a pipe similar to cigar smoking in terms of not inhaling as much as a cigarette?
2. Where is a good place to get a reasonably priced "starter kit"?
3. What are some "get 'em hooked" tobaccos that all newbies should try?

Thanks,

 

[LtMac]

Good Morning! Welcome to BoB.

LtMac

 

[Anonymous]

Hello & Welcome richmondesi,
here is a link to a very resonably priced place to get started:
http://www.wvsmokeshop.com/pipestarterkits.aspx
To answer #1:
True, most folks don't inhale, although I'm sure you do involuntarilly take in some. Compared to cigarettes A couple of other points is the overall quality of most pipe tobacco, the lack of chemicals and the relaxing nature of smoking a pipe make it a more healthful alternative than cigarettes, also the cameraderie of places such as this help one have a sense of belonging more so than other hobbies/habits/etc...
Now, for "get em hooked" baccy's everyone here will have a different opinion on that, I found the best thing to do was start experimenting, At wvsmokeshop.com they sell samplers for much of what they carry, you could start there trying different types of tobac: Burley's, Va's, Flakes, etc... Try one type for a week, then move on to another, after a while you will probably develop a preference. You may want to invest in several corn cob pipes as they are inexpensive, this helps in sampling different tobacco's so one type doesent alter the taste of another, specify one pipe for one type of baccy only.
Good luck,
keep coming back!

 

[Justpipes]

Welcome aboard Paul! You have come to the right place!

 

[jhuggett]

Welcome!

 

[Ol'Dawg]

Hello and welcome!
a few other sampler sources I've done business with and recommend--
Ready made bulk samplers

C&D make your own

Tin and bulk samplers

Make your own sampler

Jim

 

[richmondesi]

Thanks for the advice... I'm looking forward to getting started

 

[kilted1]

Welcome aboard Paul, we can corrupt you ipe:

 

[richmondesi]

Welcome aboard Paul, we can corrupt you ipe:

Nah... That's the whole point. bringing the fire that much closer, but add some sweet, sweet tobacco in too ipe:

 

[richmondesi]

Hello & Welcome richmondesi,
here is a link to a very resonably priced place to get started:
http://www.wvsmokeshop.com/pipestarterkits.aspx
To answer #1:
True, most folks don't inhale, although I'm sure you do involuntarilly take in some. Compared to cigarettes A couple of other points is the overall quality of most pipe tobacco, the lack of chemicals and the relaxing nature of smoking a pipe make it a more healthful alternative than cigarettes, also the cameraderie of places such as this help one have a sense of belonging more so than other hobbies/habits/etc...
Now, for "get em hooked" baccy's everyone here will have a different opinion on that, I found the best thing to do was start experimenting, At wvsmokeshop.com they sell samplers for much of what they carry, you could start there trying different types of tobac: Burley's, Va's, Flakes, etc... Try one type for a week, then move on to another, after a while you will probably develop a preference. You may want to invest in several corn cob pipes as they are inexpensive, this helps in sampling different tobacco's so one type doesent alter the taste of another, specify one pipe for one type of baccy only.
Good luck,
keep coming back!

I checked out those pipes at the link, but I really don't know anything about quality pipe makers and such. Is this a decent pipe, or would I be better served to make a bigger investment for a better pipe? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kilted1]

Hey Paul,

You seem very eager for information, and I'm a sponge so here you go, reading material there enough for a lifetime of pleasures of the pipe. If I've missed any that people feel should be on that list, please post away and I'll add them at my earliest convenience!

Kilted1's Bookmarks

 

[richmondesi]

Hey Paul,

You seem very eager for information, and I'm a sponge so here you go, reading material there enough for a lifetime of pleasures of the pipe. If I've missed any that people feel should be on that list, please post away and I'll add them at my earliest convenience!

Kilted1's Bookmarks

That's very generous. Thank you!

 

[kilted1]

Though we can disagree passionately (Join The Asylum: and visit the Rubber Room) I hold pipe smokers to the finest collection of generous human beings on the Earth! We come from every walk of life you can think of, and probably several you can't, every corner of the globe, all bound together by our love of briar and leaf!

ipe:

 

[richmondesi]

I'm beginning to see that you guys are quite a generous group. I have already been the beneficiary of several random acts of generosity. Looks like this is a good place to be

 

[Pseudo Nim]

Greetings and welcome to BoB, first off, no need to spend a fortune on a fine briar just yet, medium priced pipes can bankrupt you as well, when you've built up a big enough collection, that is, while suffering from chronic Tobacco Accumulation Disorder. Which of course is inevitable here.

Try one or two "Seconds" from your local B&M or a couple of basket pipes, cobs are fine as some Tabaks leave a ghost in your pipe, fine if you like the Tabak, not so good if you don't. Even better, a few clay pipes, as these can be cleaned simply by placing them in an open fire (assuming you have access to one).

Aromatics and Latakia can leave a ghost behind and if you don't like either, you could find you've just ruined a very expensive pipe.