When I started smoking a pipe roughly seven months ago, I perused my fair share of articles and videos about the basics. A lot of these resources were very helpful, but they all seemed flawed in one way. During the part where each resource described lighting the pipe, they all seemed to assume that the reader would know how to draw properly. They just instructed to draw or take puffs very matter-of-factly. Knowing that it's best not to inhale, I tried to figure out what that meant. I ended up landing on a method in which I would create a vacuum suction on the pipe by closing my lips fully while drawing. Seemed to work well enough as I reached a point where I could get good smoke consistently and keep the pipe lit pretty well.
Recently I've been noticing that my cheek muscles often feel sore after smoking. I've also noticed that when I smoke with friends, my smoke seems wispier than theirs, and they can take longer breaks between puffs to talk and still keep their pipes lit. I realized that I must be doing something wrong. I went back to YouTube, this time specifically looking for videos about drawing on the pipe, and doing so without inhaling. This video by StogieFarts proved to be a game-changer by describing proper draw as being like using a straw (you can take water in your mouth without immediately swallowing it).
Seriously, game changer! I was so scared of inhaling but know I see that using the stem like a straw allows for a smooth and effortless draw without exhausting my cheek muscles. Best of all: I can taste the smoke so much more richly now. I can't believe what I was missing (and that I stuck with the hobby this long despite doing it poorly).
Moral of the story: next time you teach somebody how to smoke a pipe, don't assume they'll know how to draw. Give 'em the straw metaphor.
Recently I've been noticing that my cheek muscles often feel sore after smoking. I've also noticed that when I smoke with friends, my smoke seems wispier than theirs, and they can take longer breaks between puffs to talk and still keep their pipes lit. I realized that I must be doing something wrong. I went back to YouTube, this time specifically looking for videos about drawing on the pipe, and doing so without inhaling. This video by StogieFarts proved to be a game-changer by describing proper draw as being like using a straw (you can take water in your mouth without immediately swallowing it).
Seriously, game changer! I was so scared of inhaling but know I see that using the stem like a straw allows for a smooth and effortless draw without exhausting my cheek muscles. Best of all: I can taste the smoke so much more richly now. I can't believe what I was missing (and that I stuck with the hobby this long despite doing it poorly).
Moral of the story: next time you teach somebody how to smoke a pipe, don't assume they'll know how to draw. Give 'em the straw metaphor.
: