3 days no ciggies....

[nclinsey]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share a bit of good news (for me.) After being a pack a day smoker, occasional cigar smoker and noob pipe smoker I made the full switch to pipes from "coughin' nails". It has been 3 days without a butt and I feel fine. I'm not sure if it's the tobacco I'm smoking in my pipe (Amphora Original Blend), having plenty of the good stuff or just the sheer joy of smoking my pipe, but I've hardly had so much as a craving for a cig that I haven't fully satisfied with a pipe.

I have learned a lot from you all the last few days since I've found this site including proper smoking technique, which I'm still not great at but getting better all the time, (2 out of every 5 bowls burn clean with very little gurgle or re-lighting). I've learned that the stinger in my pipe has been cause for most of my smoking hassles. I read a thread on here today, promptly removed the stinger and had two excellent smokes that have had no gurgling, and seems to burn cooler...I don't even know if that's possible but it seems that way. I also learned how to fix a crack where the plastic (?) stem meets the wooden part of the stem (shank?). The crack was in the wood making the stem loose and so I filled it with wood glue and then used a pinky ring from my wife to create a band/clamp to hold the crack together. So far so good.

The reason for this thread is that first I want to thank all of you for teaching me the ways of the pipe, and while I have a ways to go I think that I would have been considerably more frustrated with learning the process than I have been, and secondly I have a question for the ex-cig smokers: How did you get over the time difference between smoking the pipe and a cig? When I find myself in the car or having a glass (or bottle...oops!), with friends that smoke I only fill the bowl 1/3-1/2 the way. So far this has worked for me when I'm under time constrictions, but I am concerned that this is bad for my pipe. If so, please let me know so I can change it.

Thanks for reading!

N.

 

[teamhavoc28]

Congrats N.!! That is wonderful news. It's been a few months for me, so I'm in the same canoe as you. you have definitely ran across some great fellows on here. I don't have advice for ya but just glad you are working so hard at it.

 

[romeowood]

Congrats, I've made the transition myself and it's been great--a deeper enjoyment of tobacco, freedom from the ball and chain of cigs, and a newfound community here at pm.com.

Regarding your question, short bowls shouldn't be any problem at all for your pipe, as long as you're not smoking fast & hot--which can be a trial at first. I would recommend looking for some smaller pipes (those with smaller chambers)--variously referred to as 'Dunhill Group 1' size, cafe pipes, the small 'spool' shape from missouri meerschaum, 'lady's pipes' (another thread here btw), etc. I have a few and they're great for a 15 minute smoke.

 

[pawpaw]

well friend you aint fighting it alone I was a 3 pack a day smoker. In march I picked up a pipe and cut it down to a pack a day.The past two days its only been one cigeach day. The one i have been smoking is my wake up fix. I am going to load my pipe before i go to bed tonight and get up early so i have time to get the most out of it before I get on the road

 

[seanz]

good on you for knocking the tar babies on the head!!, i haven't looked back since 3 months ago. i have a mini cob that is my quick fix pipe and even now i am in the process of cutting back on how many bowls i smoke a day what i find incredible is how i have stopped inhaling so often on my pipe. though i still do ( most likely unconsciously i try not these days plus smoking a heartier blend helps, as i suck one of those back and up comes whats left of lung :D good luck and keep puffing...

 

[taoist]

Congrats!!!!!
The big deal is to realize pipe smoking requires time and that "less is more" in this new world; it actually becomes enjoyable to put off the next pipe once you experience a "super pipe session" like what Pease wrote about in his "Magic" article.
After I went back to the pipe full-time my lungs cleared out completely in about three days...stunned me as that I hadn't realized they were full in the first place.
The early morning cigarette urge can be "hammered" by having a morning smoke which contains mainly a fresh Virginia blend.....of course you might have smoked Turkish....in any case something like an "Oriental" blend will really help....Early Morning Pipe isn't bad....McConnell's Oriental Mix is good.....but the "fly" blend for me is GL Pease's Ashbury....I'm waiting on Chelsea Morning to arrive in the mail.

 

[taoist]

I always keep a couple of "smallish" pipes for a tight moment smoke; what I was saying is that sooner or later you will not even be tempted to try and jam in a quick pipe. Right now if I have the "urge" and no place to smoke (maybe the wind is blowing outside or whatever) my memory and the slight tingle on my tongue seems to put it in it's place. Really does work like that for me no matter how odd it sounds.

 

[nclinsey]

Wow, thanks for all the positive words guys!

I have also started to notice a clearing in my lungs. I don't inhale as much as I thought I might, although that might be because of a couple of really hardy hauls that left me gasping.

I really like the idea of getting a smaller pipe or a 'cob until I can kill the want for a short smoke.

Taoist I will definatley look into an Oriental blend, I'm headed to my nearby tobacco shop tomorrow to stock up before tour. I will see if they have any of your suggested tobacco's!

Thanks again everyone, and happy smoking!

 

[romeowood]

If you're going to the tobacco shop, ask for some GL Pease Cairo. I think it would make a great transition smoke for you.

Also I sent a PM. re: pipes

 

[fullbent]

Congrats!! It's tough,but you can do it!

 

[krgulick]

Congrats on making the switch. Soon enough you'll kick the coughin nail habit altogether.

 

[pstlpkr]

Nclinsey, congratulations!

For me the one thing that made the transition for me all the easier...

Was the sheer inconvenience of the pipe vs. "coughin' nails".

The "coughin' nails" as just too easy, and therefore no ritual.

The pipe offers the opportunity for "the ritual"... and therefore more enjoyable.

 

[lonestar]

For a small pipe, look at Medico estate pipes.

They make good pipes, and almost all of them that I have seen are small pipes.

That may just be my experience and not a rule, but of the dozen or so I've owned, they were all quite small.

For a good tobacco, I recommend Cornell and Diehl's Oriental Silk.

Its a very fast burning blend, very mild flavored, and a bit reminiscent of a fine cigarette.

The name itself is a pretty fitting description.

Very good quality Turkish tobaccos and Virginias with a bit of Perique.

Not a bold blend, very mild flavors, but smooth, silky and satisfying.

 

[nclinsey]

Thanks again guys,

I am looking forward to going to the tobacco shop tomorrow. I will let everyone know what I end up with!

 

[nclinsey]

Okay, so I just returned home from the tobacco shop with 25g of their own brand called Turkish Ribbon and a 'cob. Smoking a pipe full right now and so far it's a nice cool smoke with no tongue bite to speak of and a bit of a spicy flavour. So far so good.

The 'cob is a Missouri Meerschaum. On first smoke I really like it and you can't beat the price. I dunno what the heck the piece of cardboard that's rolled up in the stem is all about, I assume it's some sort of filter but if you guys agree that it's okay to remove it, I will.

I'll let everyone know how it goes over the next few days. My band and I are playing in Slave Lake AB as part of their benefit concert. For those who don't know, a couple of months ago the town got destroyed by forest fires.

If any of you are from Alberta or are going to be at that concert please let me know and we'll have a smoke.

 

[nclinsey]

Okay, so I just returned home from the tobacco shop with 25g of their own brand called Turkish Ribbon and a 'cob. Smoking a pipe full right now and so far it's a nice cool smoke with no tongue bite to speak of and a bit of a spicy flavour. So far so good.

The 'cob is a Missouri Meerschaum. On first smoke I really like it and you can't beat the price. I dunno what the heck the piece of cardboard that's rolled up in the stem is all about, I assume it's some sort of filter but if you guys agree that it's okay to remove it, I will.

I'll let everyone know how it goes over the next few days. My band and I are playing in Slave Lake AB as part of their benefit concert. For those who don't know, a couple of months ago the town got destroyed by forest fires.

If any of you are from Alberta or are going to be at that concert please let me know and we'll have a smoke.

 

[lonestar]

Fairly good chance the Turkish Ribbon is Oriental Silk rebranded, though it could just as easy be another blend, maybe Peter Stokkebye Turkish. All that matters is how you like it.

 

[pstlpkr]

NC,
The filter is (IMHO) just a mess that has found a place to happen.

Chunk it.

 

[lordnoble]

See, I like the filters in the pipes that have them. To each, his (or her) own. That said, I've never gotten a slight gurgle from a MM cob, so you should be OK without it.
-Jason