So...this morning, I packed the Sav 313 with some Mac Baren Vanilla Flake. I tried to roll and stuff, but it didn't go well, so I ended up unpacking and just rubbing it out and filling the pipe that way. I put my leftover rub back in the jar with the other flakes and took my packed pipe to work with me and let it sit in the truck. At lunch, I went out to the truck, rolled down the windows and turned the radio on and relaxed. I lit my pipe and much to my surprise, it was about 20 minutes before I realized I hadn't tamped and then when I tamped, of course I smothered the damn thing out. So I dumped the ashes and then it took me a few more relights to get through the second half, but I got through another bowl. I wouldn't go as far as to say I completely have the hang of it yet, but maybe I'm getting a light cake started in the briar. I occasionally did get some very faint tastes of the vanilla, so maybe I'm starting to slow down enough to where it's not so hot all the time. It's been about an hour since I finished and I still have a slight ashy taste, but it's not as horrible as some previous attempts.
I am hoping to work through this in time. I know I'm setting out to accomplish a difficult task that everyone says not to do and that is being a beginner trying to learn to smoke aromatics in a briar. But hopefully, with some patience, I can get this down like learning to drive a standard transmission. Do the hard part now and then be able to do anything I want to later. I need to get a few more bowls through this sucker before it's broke in real good, but maybe I will get there eventually. :|
I did like the Latakia blend I tried in my 601, but I haven't tried that one again. Maybe later this week or weekend.
Still have much improvement. Don't know if it would be easier to sit with someone that already knows how to smoke a pipe or not, but alas, I don't know anyone who does. One thing I have decided in the last few weeks is that I don't want to smoke my pipe in a social setting. I would rather it be something I enjoy by myself on the occasion that I smoke it.
I am hoping to work through this in time. I know I'm setting out to accomplish a difficult task that everyone says not to do and that is being a beginner trying to learn to smoke aromatics in a briar. But hopefully, with some patience, I can get this down like learning to drive a standard transmission. Do the hard part now and then be able to do anything I want to later. I need to get a few more bowls through this sucker before it's broke in real good, but maybe I will get there eventually. :|
I did like the Latakia blend I tried in my 601, but I haven't tried that one again. Maybe later this week or weekend.
Still have much improvement. Don't know if it would be easier to sit with someone that already knows how to smoke a pipe or not, but alas, I don't know anyone who does. One thing I have decided in the last few weeks is that I don't want to smoke my pipe in a social setting. I would rather it be something I enjoy by myself on the occasion that I smoke it.