How do pipes work?

Welcome derekz! The pipe's filter is definitely within stem and shank and the pipe comes apart for access and for cleaning.

Holding the pipe's bowl in one hand and the stem toward the center where it's strongest, firmly twist the stem like it was a screw, in one direction, not back and forth...and gently pull as you twist.

Most of us eschew the filters, but they can smooth out your first couple of bowls.

Cleaning is never done with chemicals. Alcohol or spirits with cotton swabs for inner shank cleaning after many smokes..but generally a pass from stem to bowl with a cleaner and a swipe of the inside with a tissue to get the ash out...I always blow out the stem to the bowl before filling my pipes...just to be sure it's clear.

I think the carbon layer will work itself out and that it's not a big deal.

I think that you should clean a pipe with spirits on the inside of the airways before you ever smoke it the first time, and also wipe it down as a disinfectant on the outside of the stem...after that it's up to you how often to get after it.

Grab the stem and shank with one hand on each, pull and rotate slightly to disassemble the pipe. I think I read on here that putting it awhile in the freezer would help the wood shrink a bit so it'll go apart easier. My first pipe was very hard to disassemble so I smoked it once without filter and then it came apart easy enough.
I clean my pipe, disassembled, after every smoke by running a couple pipe cleaners through it .wait until its cool before you start yanking it!

+1 on what alexnorth says! I forgot to mention that part. It works within a minute or so...and makes a big difference.

I think I read on here that putting it awhile in the freezer would help the wood shrink a bit so it'll go apart easier.

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Just be sure to allow the pipe to return to room temp before you smoke it. Just sayin that might be a good idea.

I thought this was either going to be a post asking us which end of the pipe do you stuff the tobacco into, or a rant on how a calibrated, tapered bore draft is so much better than a single diameter draft. Ha ha!!
Anyways, welcome to the forums!!!

Check out Kel's video series. Very informative!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdq096WrXY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

On the cleaning question, clean your pipe after every smoking session. I scoop out the tobacco ash and any remaining leaf (dottle); blow out loose debris into an ashtray; wipe out the bowl with a remnant of paper towel or tissue (some don't do this in order to build cake, but I just go with a thin carbon layer and no cake); clean out the stem and shank with a pipe cleaner; replace the filter if you are using one (most on Forums don't use filters, FYI); and polish up the pipe with a polishing cloth, bandana, or rag. No chemicals or cleaners needed. Every so often you will want to do a more thorough cleaning, but you can get those instructions later. Others will have different rituals, so pick and choose. But it's wise to clean after every smoking session.

Cleaning is never done with chemicals.

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Technically, alcohol is a chemical - C2H5OH for ethanol, C3H8O for isopropyl. :wink:

derekz-
Are you coughing because you are inhaling? Generally, most here don't inhale, and a pipe really isn't meant to be inhaled.
Welcome!

Try this to start.

The only two D&R blends I tried were both good: Rimboché SJ and Two Timer Gold. But they seem like transitions from cigarette smoke, and lacked the complexity and character of most pipe blends. As for suggestions, try sampling from the Peterson (of Dublin) line of tobaccos. I really haven't had a bad one from them yet.

Welcome to the site. You have received a lot of great information. The only thing I will add is to try and read or watch everything you can related to pipes and tobacco. There is a pretty good sized learning curve with pipes so take your time, don't get frustrated and please do not be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question when pipe and tobacco are concerned. Good luck and happy puffing.

It took me a few weeks (maybe a dozen bowls) to develop the reflexes to keep the air in my mouth separated from my throat while puffing.
I've been steadily paying less and less attention to packing lately, though I haven't done a flake in a while.

As long as it's in the bowl and burning you're doing it right. If it's in the bowl and not burning use more fire (no-one will cry about dark rims on a Grabow, I use a bic as it throws the flame reasonably well). If it's outside the bowl and burning you're definitely doing it wrong (I make a funny!).

I've also been increasing my lighting time. Trying to get the whole thing going all at once isn't worth it, if I had a machine that could suck on the pipe for me that would be great, but if it's my mouth the smoke is being drawn into I'm not going to puff like a freight train and fry my tongue just to save a few minutes.

Light a bit, if you're getting smoke puff on it. It will go out a minute later, tamp and then light it again, repeat as necessary, could be more than 20 minutes depending on the blend.

Sometimes I can see that the bowl is burning unevenly so I just push tobacco toward that side and try to light the other.

Puff slllllooooowwwwwwwwwwllllllyyyy.... Tiny sips, like you're sucking lemon juice out of a straw.

I don't worry about caking my pipes, there's plenty of people here that clean the bowl thoroughly every time and never let cake build (if you don't smoke hot it's not an issue).

If you are looking for aromatics, I recommend Boswell. $3/oz and they have an 8 oz variety pack that works as a good intro. I've sampled all 8 plus their newest blend 35 and have yet to find one I didn't like. Some are far and away better, but I'm thinking I might have a sweet tooth when it comes to tobacco and many people don't.

There is an enormous amount of info on pipe care and maintenance. Try doing a Google search using "pipesmagazine.com" and "cleaning a pipe" or "how do I clean my pipe" or any variation thereof. There's literally YEARS of info. Welcome to the forums.