Pipes Magazine » General Pipe Smoking Discussion

1. 

   jar15a1
   

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   I just transitioned from cigars to pipes this week while serving here in Afghanistan. I'm here for awhile and thought why not give it a go. After doing some research on this endeavour, I now have my first pipe and tabocco samplers.

   I've been breaking in my new briar pipe and immediately notice a difference in the quantity of smoke between cigars and pipes. So my question is this: How much smoke should I be getting with each puff? When the smoke becomes very thin, I have been relighting to get that big smoke cloud like with cigars. This may be wrong so I would appreciate any advice.

   Also, I also notice that my cherry flavored tobacco doesnt taste like cherry, it tastes like tobacco. I suppose this has to do with the brand but with quality aromatics, how strong will the flavors be on average?

   I know, rookie questions but I gotta ask. Thanks for any advice.

   Posted 9 months ago #
2. 

   mp31guitar
   

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   Sounds like we're looking for the same thing. I just posted "looking for suggestions". Thanks for your service. I have an uncle over there.

   Posted 9 months ago #
3. 

   pipetrucker
   

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   Welcome, and from a Vet, thanks for your service. Pipe smoking is about flavor not smoke abundance. With a pipe you want a slow, smoldering burn. A proper pipe burn is almost but not quite going out. That is when you get the best flavor from the tobacco.

   Mason
   
   And though it is much to be a nobleman, it is more to be a gentleman. - Anthony Trollope

   Posted 9 months ago #
4. 

   Kevin Riner
   

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   I like a lot of smoke too. I often have wondered the answer to this question as well. What I've realized in my whopping two years of smoking a pipe is if you get a lot of smoke you stand a good chance of burning the bowl too hot. Not much smoke at all and stand a good chance of going out soon. So I'd say somewhere in between. But I'm definitely a novice. Bunch of great guys around here I'm sure can answer the question a lot better.

   Wonder what branch your in and your post. I minister to a lot of Army guys at Ft. Campbell. Thanks for serving sir!

   "A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in his mouth." - C.S. Lewis

   Posted 9 months ago #
5. 

   bigvan
   

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   Jar, if you're getting smoke, then the pipe is staying lit. It may not be as voluminous a cloud as a cigar would produce, but it should be nearly so.

   I never thought aromatic tobaccos "tasted" like they smelled (which is why I no longer smoke aromatics).

   Posted 9 months ago #
6. 

   jar15a1
   

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   Ah ha... So I shouldnt be concerned that there is only a little smoke.

   And thanks for the support over here.

   What about the flavoring issue?

   Posted 9 months ago #
7. 

   jar15a1
   

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   Kevin, I just left Ft Campbell last year from 3/101. I'm doing a NATO gig in Kabul right now.

   I just ordered some Boswell aromatics after reading the reviews. They all sounded so delicious and Im hoping that they will actually taste like they are described.

   Posted 9 months ago #
8. 

   puffy
   

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   Smoking a pipe too hard or fast will result in a hot smoke.You probably shouldn't look for as much smoke from your pipe as you get from a cigar.

   Life's most valuable treasure is..Love

   Posted 9 months ago #
9. 

   Kevin Riner
   

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   I'm an aromatic smoker and if you smoke em too fast which produces lots of smoke, you can also get tongue bite. Sumpin you don't want.

   Would love to have a smoke with ya if you ever come back to Campbell.

   Posted 9 months ago #
10. 

    jar15a1
    

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    Thanks everyone for the input. I thought I may have been doing something wrong..haha.

    Well Im hoping the Boswell stuff will be as good as critiqued. Im really enjoying this pipe smoking. Ive even ordered a second pipe to giv emy first a "rest". I will let ya'll know how boswell's taste.

    Kevin - I will be in Nashville next summer or fall. I will keep in touch.

    Posted 9 months ago #
11. 

    kcvet67
    

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    Ah ha... So I shouldnt be concerned that there is only a little smoke.

    
    Nope. If you're puffing out huge clouds of smoke you may impress the people around you but the next day your tongue is going to feel like you licked a belt sander. Different types of tobacco burn differently, there are some that give off more smoke than others. As a newcomer to pipes you should pay attention to how your mouth and tongue feel. If you notice a raw feeling develop, put the pipe aside for a while and let it cool. We're not talkong rocket science here, but it takes some experience to find out what you like and how your individual body chemistry reacts to different blends.

    "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
    -- Thomas Jefferson

    Posted 9 months ago #
12. 

    thesmokindragon
    

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    @Jar-1st thank you from all of us here for your service.

    As for the Boswell's aros, they are all very good/IMO. I have had the Berry Cobbler, Christmas Cookie, Sweet Tea, Chocolate Cream, the sweet flavors are there but the tobacco shows itself in/out from time-to-time (which I like). I just smoked some Christmas Cookie tonight and it was still very good...their moisture content is on the wet side, so try and dry them (I have left out for weeks and still they are wet) also don't heat them up too much or their flavors will mute out on you, sip'in as always will really make them shine and I found if you can smoke them in a larger pipe they also seem to work better

    Boswell's Northwoods(full-eng) and Countryside(light-eng) are also very good English blends

    Posted 9 months ago #
13. 

    jar15a1
    

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    I ordered the Berry Cobbler, northwoods, and pennsylvania dutch treat. The reviews did say they can be wet but they sounds to tasty. They should be here in a week or so.

    kcvet67 - Yeah, Ive been getting that tongue bite sometimes but have been trying to figure how not too. Now that I know I dont have to have big smoke, i will let the tobacco just smolder.

    Posted 9 months ago #
14. 

    thesmokindragon
    

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    The tongue bite comes from heat'in up the sugars too much/PH levels I read somewhere, or something (I never was good at science/just mad science slow down smoking and it should be less, but for some smokers different types of bacci will always get them..also watch the moisture levels before smoking & packing (too loose)...if it is too wet it will steam also causing the damn bite...I fought the hell out of MC blends (starting out with fast smoking) and tore the crap out of my mouth for not respecting the bacci/now we are pals again. Biotene mouthwash helps or perhaps some warm water/salt

    Posted 9 months ago #
15. 

    jbmills
    

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    Boswells is good stuff, the northwoods might not be your cup of tea if you're looking for stronger aromatics, but it's still pretty good stuff. Their bear blend is my favorite so far. They're great helpful people, let us know what you think.

    P.S. Thanks for the hard work over there, I'm at Fort Stewart right now.

    Posted 9 months ago #
16. 

    jbmills
    

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    Also the people here are awesome and have helped a new guy like me with every question I've had. You've come to the right place for guidance and you won't find a nicer group of guys, and gals.

    Posted 9 months ago #
17. 

    ace57
    

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    Jar15a1, welcome. In time and with help from all the members You will slide with pipe smoking in no time. The members here are tops.

    U.S.M.C. (SEMPER FI)

    Posted 9 months ago #
18. 

    wannafly34
    

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    Welcome! I will join the chorus and that I am grateful for your service!

    Posted 9 months ago #
19. 

    Anonymous
    

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    Hi jar15a1, I'm new to pipsmoking as well,,just want to let you know that it takes a few bowls before your tastebuds start kicking in...my first smoke to me tasted like I was chewing on a piece of charred wood. Now I can taste the flavors of different blends of tobacco..it's a wonderful experience!
    I'm on board with saying THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

    Posted 9 months ago #
20. 

    irish
    

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    I thank you for your service to this great nation. Godspeed on coming home safe and soon.

    Made in AMERICA with parts from IRELAND

    Posted 9 months ago #
21. 

    lordofthepiperings
    

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    The major thing that helped me when I first started smoking a pipe was advice Dubinthedam, a guy who does really good pipe videos on youtube, gave me. He said to just sip on the pipe. Not to take a huge lasting gulp of it like it's the last I'll ever have, but just a gentle short sip to enjoy the flavorings. As far as the smoke cloud is concerned yes that will mean a hotter pipe and more than likely tonge bite. In the way of aromtics for a beginner I'd suggest Vanilla Cream or 7 Seas Royal Blend from Mac Baren, they burn a little hot in the pipe but haven't given me tongue bite. Also I'd say to try Connoiseur's Choice, Luxury Blend, or Sunset Breeze from Peterson. They're good aros that haven't given me tonge bite. There's lots of good aromtics out there, but there's also a lot of other good types of blends like English and Virginia/Periques and so on. Definitely want to give Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe a try to see if you like English/Latakia blends and Frog Morton on the Bayou from McClelland to see if you like Perique blends. Anyways, thanks for your service and enjoy your pipes.

    Posted 9 months ago #
22. 

    Pipe Novelist
    

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    Ive found that volumes of smoke actually vary for me depending on what blend I am smoking. There are some English blends and burley blends that if I puff too fast and have big clouds of smoke, they bite my tongue something awful. Now if I sip and have small volumes of smoke, I dont have this problem, and I also find that the flavor is better. Now some aromatic blends that tend to bite other peoples tongues, I can puff, puff, puff away on them and get huge clouds of smoke and never have a problem with my tongue.In any case, you should never feel like you are doing something wrong if your pipe goes out. Its part of the experience, and some tobaccos even taste better relit. I have been doing this for close to a year now and I still find myself having to relight 5, 6, sometimes even 9 or 10 times during a bowl. The main thing is just for you to enjoy the hell out of it!

    

    Posted 9 months ago #
23. 

    baronsamedi
    

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    As a vet, thanks for your service! Just keep the draws long and slow and don't fret if you need a relight. At some point, you'll feel how much to tamp, how long to draw and your own smoking rhythm. It differs a bit whether you clench it in your teeth or hold it in hand and it differs with each pipe and tobacco, but not so much that it's crazy.

    Focus on enjoying, rather than the technique and the technique will come, sort of the opposite of what you'd expect. Instead of "practice practice practice" it's just "relax, relax, relax".

    Soon you will understand the quirks of each tobacco and learn to deal with them.

    Remember, like martial arts, you are always a student, even when you find yourself teaching others.

    BTW, I'm not a badass, I'm just socially awkward. – BillyZoom

    Posted 9 months ago #
24. 

    unclearthur
    

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    Thanks for your service! For a slightly more economical choice of aromatics look into the Mc Barens 7 Seas blends. So far I am impressed with each one.

    If at first you don't succeed you are running about average.

    Posted 9 months ago #
25. 

    ohin3
    

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    Tamp brother tamp! You have to keep your ember on your tobacco. When the smoke seems to be getting thin, give a very gentle tamp with a tamper. Just use the weight of the tamper and gravity to crush the ember and ash back down to the yet unburnt tobacco and puff while doing it.

    Aromatics are not meant to taste like they smell. Those agents are added because of their smell not their flavour. Ever taste perfume or eat a flower for that matter? They don't taste like perfume and flowers eh?

    Posted 9 months ago #
26. 

    jar15a1
    

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    Well thank you all for the advice and service support. This pipe smoking adventure is shaping up to be a great experience. My cigar smoking boss is intrigued but what Im telling him about my inter-active smoking experiment. Who knows, maybe he will come on over to the pipe side. I still like cigars but pipes are turning out to be much more fun.

    Posted 9 months ago #
27. 

    JC
    

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    Hey Jar... As you can tell we all appreciate you and your efforts to keep our country safe. You've already received some pretty good advice. By slowing down or by what is often refered to as sipping (easy shollow puffs)you will be less likely to suffer from tongue bite and you will also be more likely to pick up the flavors within the blend you're smoking at the time. The way you pack and tamp your pipe is also very important so don't pack it too tight you want the tobacco in the bowl to be somewhat springy kind of like a feather pillow or a pile of freshly racked leaves. To tight will make you puff to hard and the tobacco to burn to hot...

    Be safe!

    "United States"
    
    As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake.

    Posted 9 months ago #
28. 

    lordnoble
    

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    Thanks for your service! I think matchstickman has something though. Some blends will produce tons of smoke and taste great with only the slightest pull. I think though that there are many factors, including but not limited to: tobacco moisture, relative humidity, lighting method, etc.

    -Jason

    unclearthur on high nicotine blends:
    A few will leave you wandering around wondering who you are .

    Posted 9 months ago #

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