Hello everyone.
As an off again/on again daily cigarette smoker, I was recently turned on to smoking cigars. I have only been smoking cigars for a couple weeks now and really like them quite a bit. Of course, when you start getting into the cigar hobby, it gets expensive very quickly, and seems to almost go hand in hand with pipe smoking.
This relationship between the two (coupled with what seems to be lower costs) is what led me to buy my first pipe and pipe tobacco just yesterday.
Going in, I had not a clue of what to look for or what to buy. I am aware this was probably a bad idea, but I really wanted to try it out, and didn't take the time to properly research as I should have.
Anyway, I ended up buying a Dr. Grabow Grand Duke pipe and a small bag of Super Value Pipe Tobacco, in the chocolate flavor.
I got home, packed up a bowl, and began puffing away. Immediately, I feel as if I am smoking an ultra-light cigarette with a hint of chocolate flavor. Not bad, per se, but certainly not as strong and thick as the smoke that a nice robusto will throw off.
I smoked a couple of bowls in it, and I always felt that the bowl was way too hot for my liking (I had to hold the pipe by the stem to keep from burning my fingers). Also, I felt that the smoke was a bit "thin" versus that of a cigar. I like a thick, flavorful smoke that isn't very strong (nicotine wise). If you have much experience with cigars, think Rocky Patel (RP vintage '92s are my favorite cigars thus far).
Despite the "issues" I had, I must admit that I did like pipe smoking quite a bit. I chalked some of the experience up to the fact that I had purchased a cheap pipe, even cheaper tobacco, and had no idea of what I was doing.
p
At the end of my two bowls, I did zero maintenance to the pipe, and just laid it down to rest. However, I discovered this forum today and feel that I may have goofed a bit.
First, I am not sure that my selection of the Grabow pipe was a good way to go, however, I do not have a lot of money and I am hoping it will work for a while, to see if I am really going to enjoy the hobby. I also now believe that I was puffing way too hard, and way too often, in order to get a cigar like experience from a pipe. I have now learned that this is what lead to the bowl being too hot all the time. Additionally, I am thinking that I should have removed (thrown away) the filter after (or perhaps even before) smoking the pipe. Not sure on this point to be honest.
After reading around on this forum, I realized that I probably should have bought a corncob pipe (literally only a few bucks) as I see that you should clean and "rest" a briar pipe after each smoking session. Coming from cigarettes, I am the type of smoker that likes to light up several times a day (been smoking several cigars a day, and it's SUPER expensive to do this) so I will most likely be in need of a corncob pipe, if I am to continue to explore the hobby. I also need to pick up a pipe tool of some sort, some pipe cleaners, and (maybe) some more filters...although from my reading on this forum thus far leads me to believe it's (probably) best to just take them out.
Well enough rambling from the "new guy". I happened to stumble across this forum about an hour ago (while trying to find a place to learn about pipe smoking) and figured that I may was well register and join the fun.)
As an off again/on again daily cigarette smoker, I was recently turned on to smoking cigars. I have only been smoking cigars for a couple weeks now and really like them quite a bit. Of course, when you start getting into the cigar hobby, it gets expensive very quickly, and seems to almost go hand in hand with pipe smoking.
This relationship between the two (coupled with what seems to be lower costs) is what led me to buy my first pipe and pipe tobacco just yesterday.
Going in, I had not a clue of what to look for or what to buy. I am aware this was probably a bad idea, but I really wanted to try it out, and didn't take the time to properly research as I should have.
Anyway, I ended up buying a Dr. Grabow Grand Duke pipe and a small bag of Super Value Pipe Tobacco, in the chocolate flavor.
I got home, packed up a bowl, and began puffing away. Immediately, I feel as if I am smoking an ultra-light cigarette with a hint of chocolate flavor. Not bad, per se, but certainly not as strong and thick as the smoke that a nice robusto will throw off.
I smoked a couple of bowls in it, and I always felt that the bowl was way too hot for my liking (I had to hold the pipe by the stem to keep from burning my fingers). Also, I felt that the smoke was a bit "thin" versus that of a cigar. I like a thick, flavorful smoke that isn't very strong (nicotine wise). If you have much experience with cigars, think Rocky Patel (RP vintage '92s are my favorite cigars thus far).
Despite the "issues" I had, I must admit that I did like pipe smoking quite a bit. I chalked some of the experience up to the fact that I had purchased a cheap pipe, even cheaper tobacco, and had no idea of what I was doing.
pAt the end of my two bowls, I did zero maintenance to the pipe, and just laid it down to rest. However, I discovered this forum today and feel that I may have goofed a bit.
First, I am not sure that my selection of the Grabow pipe was a good way to go, however, I do not have a lot of money and I am hoping it will work for a while, to see if I am really going to enjoy the hobby. I also now believe that I was puffing way too hard, and way too often, in order to get a cigar like experience from a pipe. I have now learned that this is what lead to the bowl being too hot all the time. Additionally, I am thinking that I should have removed (thrown away) the filter after (or perhaps even before) smoking the pipe. Not sure on this point to be honest.
After reading around on this forum, I realized that I probably should have bought a corncob pipe (literally only a few bucks) as I see that you should clean and "rest" a briar pipe after each smoking session. Coming from cigarettes, I am the type of smoker that likes to light up several times a day (been smoking several cigars a day, and it's SUPER expensive to do this) so I will most likely be in need of a corncob pipe, if I am to continue to explore the hobby. I also need to pick up a pipe tool of some sort, some pipe cleaners, and (maybe) some more filters...although from my reading on this forum thus far leads me to believe it's (probably) best to just take them out.
Well enough rambling from the "new guy". I happened to stumble across this forum about an hour ago (while trying to find a place to learn about pipe smoking) and figured that I may was well register and join the fun.
)
