Put That in Your Pipe

The Meerschaum Pipe Experience

By Fred Bass

Meerschaum provides a cool and dry smoking experience because of the properties of Sepiolite, known as Meerschaum (sea froth), a non-swelling, lightweight, porous clay. Unlike other clays, the individual particles of Sepiolite have a needle-like morphology.  It doesn't burn, so if the pipe is clean it provides a clarity of the smoking experience not found with other materials. It has become my first choice, save for occasional smokes in Morta or a Cob. The first Meerschaum I bought was back in '69, for the princely sum of $12. I still have it and smoke it. As time went by, I became able to add Meerschaums to my collection, according to the limitations of my budget. Over the years, things have gotten out of control, as I have such poor discipline in these matters and even now, I continue to acquire more of these pipes. It's a fine madness. By writing this article, it is my hope that some will discover and revel in the passion for these pipes that have become so special to me over the years.

Read More...

Put That in Your Pipe

Dust in the Wind - A Primer on Tobacco Moisture

By G. L. Pease
It’s happened to most of us at least once, and if it hasn’t, it will. We dive into our collection for some tobacco we’re looking forward to smoking, open the container, whether tin, jar or plastic pouch, and find that the contents have been entombed just long enough and at just the right conditions to have been rendered as dry as mummy dust, and just about as appealing. As we fight back our dismay, and attempt to delicately extract the contents, hoping to somehow rescue a decent smoke from the rubble of our disappointment, the desiccated stuff just crumbles between our careful fingers, and we’re left with powder where we wanted ribbons.
Read More…

Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight

The 2010 IPCPR Show (formerly RTDA)

The world’s largest luxury tobacco products trade show took place August 9 - 12, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The IPCPR Show is the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association’s annual trade show, where the industry showcases new products and retail tobacconists place orders.

This was the second year in a row the show took place in New Orleans, and it was the 78th annual show. New Orleans is certainly a great location for business and pleasure. You can smoke in the convention center all day, and gastronomic experiences abound throughout the French Quarter and beyond, all night. There are lots of happy faces as everyone seems to be working in a business that they love. PipesMagazine.com got the scoop on several new pipes and pipe tobaccos that have just arrived, or will be coming soon, but first, we have some good news and some bad news.

Read More…

Pipe & Tobacco Reviews

Pipe Tobacco vs. Roll-Your-Own - What’s the Definition?

Pipe tobacco is facing a crucial moment in the crafting of its’ definition for taxation purposes. Some think pipe tobacco could be taxed out of existence. However, right now we have the best chance to save it. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is soliciting comments that must be received by September 20, 2010. Currently, the only government definition for pipe tobacco and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco is based on the labeling. So, if you label it pipe tobacco, then it is ‘pipe tobacco’ … even if roll-your-own tobacco is inside the package.

The problem with this is that last year the tax on roll-your-own tobacco had an outrageous increase of over 2000%. Then the roll-your-own producers, to escape this deadly tax, started selling their tobaccos as ‘pipe tobacco’. Once the government figured this out, two Congressmen introduced a bill to ramp up pipe tobacco taxes to be equal to RYO.

Read More…

With Pipe & Pen - The Blog of Bob Tate

 

  • Members

    • registered 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
    • registered 17 hours, 39 minutes ago
    • registered 21 hours, 21 minutes ago
    • registered 22 hours, 46 minutes ago
    • registered 1 day, 1 hour ago
    • registered 1 day, 1 hour ago
    • registered 1 day, 1 hour ago
    • registered 1 day, 14 hours ago
    • registered 1 day, 23 hours ago
    • registered 2 days, 9 hours ago
    • registered 2 days, 16 hours ago
    • registered 2 days, 19 hours ago
    • registered 2 days, 21 hours ago
    • registered 2 days, 22 hours ago
    • registered 3 days, 3 hours ago
    • registered 3 days, 11 hours ago
  • Who's Online

  • Sponsors

  • Featured Article

    Put That in Your Pipe

    The Second Annual West Coast Pipe Show

    By Rick Newcombe

    If you like pipes as much as I do, then make plans now to be in Las Vegas Nov. 6-7 for the second annual West Coast Pipe Show.

    By traveling west of the Mississippi, you get a whole different group of collectors from nearly every other pipe show. That means many different pipes for buying and trading - pipes you are not likely to see at other shows. It also means making new friends and meeting up with many veterans of our hobby.

    This is a SMOKINGSHOW in every sense of the word. There will be pipe smoking in the exhibit hall, in the dining room, at the casinos and in the bars and restaurants.

    This is only our second show. Last year was a phenomenal success for a first West Coast Pipe Show, with more than a hundred tables filled with pipes and pipe-related things and some of the best pipe makers in the world, including Paolo Becker, Luigi Viprati, J.T. Cooke, Jeff Gracik, Todd Johnson, Brad Pohlmann, Bob Swanson, Bruce Weaver, Bob Kiess, Adam Davidson, Will Purdy, Michael Lindner, Paul Perri, Jon Rinaldi, Charles Cole, Michael Parks, Joe Skoda, Chris Brunton, Steve Morisette, Ryan Quagliata and Ron Fairchild, among others.

    Read More...

  • Welcome

    Welcome to Pipes Magazine

    Pack a bowl, put your feet up with your laptop and relax with your pipe smoking friends. PipesMagazine.com is an online magazine, a community with forums, and a social networking site for pipe smokers. You can have your own FREE BLOG too!

  • Sponsors

  • Recent Blog Posts

    Site Wide