Don't go blaming Al Pascia for what your country charges you for excise tax, shipping tax, import fees, duty...etc. I'm a Yank living in Canada and am just used to getting bent over on shipping on anything from anywhere.
@paintedklown: What you did was akin to one having an interest in cigar smoking and wandering into the local gas 'n sip to pick up a Phillies blunt and a bic lighter...similar in theory to a smoking a Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve maduro, but light years apart in the actual experience. You...
a Churchwarden, to me, is something that you purchase later in your pipe smoking career after you know that you definitely like smoking a pipe. Cobs and affordable briars are a great way to start. What exactly is your budget? How much would you be willing to spend on one good pipe or several...
just keep pleading with pipes magazine members who have the Esoterica blends that you want. Ply them with suggestions of trades for tobaccos that you have and they want and eventually one of the Penzance hoarders will give way.
I can see using it on stems, but not wood. Olive oil will get sticky and go rancid in time so I can't see it being good for wood. I would use some sort of stem polish for stem, carnuba for bowl and a flannel wheel on a buffer. I just rub a little Italian nose grease on my vulcanite stems and...
DGT J.F. Germain Brown Flake in a Stanwell 242 pot. Been DGTing this same combo all week and I have to say that I am going to stock my cellar with J.F. Germain Brown Flake, and possibly dedicate this pipe.
@ piperl12: I applaud your thoroughness. I figured it was only a matter of time before one of us manned up and headed out to the shop. I'm sticking with bolt cutters.
The only mixing I do is blending about 1/4 or 1/2 aromatic with a straight Va. I like the aromatic qualities of aromatic tobacco but rarely like the body and flavour of aromatics. So I blend just a bit into a good quality Va and enjoy.