A few beginner questions

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Frusciante54

Lurker
Sep 9, 2024
3
7
Hello. I switched from cigarette to pipe smoking about a month ago because my mom recently died of lung cancer and that scared me. According to my research, pipe smokers are way less likely to have lung cancer compared to cigarette smokers so it was the easiest and best option for me. Plus, I like it better. But I have a few questions.

I don't have the budget to buy the expensive types of pipes, so I opted for the cheap ones. I bought one for 5 dollars, no draw at all, so that was trash. I bought another one (with no filter) but it always gets cloggy after every smoking session, so I have to clean it 5 times a day. The best one I bought had something like a metal basket on the bowl. It's easier to clean, almost never clogs even though I smoke about 10 times a day. That one is also around 10 dollars.

I live in Turkey. I use 2 types of tabacco. One is Captain Black Royal (original) which is a bit expensive. And then, the cheap one. Very cheap one. It's kind of like a knock-off, it's called "Kaptan Black". The guy at the tabacco shop sells it by measuring it and putting it in a bag, while Captain Black is in a package. Original one costs 4 thousand per kilogram, while knock-off is around 600 liras. So there's a HUGE difference between the two in terms of price, but for the taste and everything else, I would say it's 90 percent the same, original being maybe 10 percent better.

Here are my questions:

1 - The cloggy one has a bigger bowl so it lasts about 15 minutes. The metal basket is kind of smaller so it lasts about 5 minutes, around the same time as a cigarette. How do people keep it at 45 minutes?

2- I could never find any pipe cleaner tools. I use tooth picks and Q-tips. Is that bad for my pipe? It gets the job done.

3 - I maybe could spend some extra money and get a quaility pipe. But I need to know if it's worth it. I could buy a 50 dollar pipe at maximum. Would it make that much of a difference?

4- Most of the time the pipe smoke keeps my nicotie cravings satisfied. But as a habit, after every meal, I feel like I need that fast nicotine hit. As you know, pipe delivers nicotine slowly so the pleasure is very different. I can't help but smoke a cigarette after every meal. I used to smoke 20 cigarettes, now I do 10 pipe sessions (without inhaling of course) + 3 cigarettes after every meal. Did you experience that kind of problem? What could I do to solve that?

Thanks in advance.
 

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
1,340
5,874
London UK
Sounds like you're doing great with limited resources, to be fair.

I still smoke a filtered RYO cigarette when I wake up in the morning, but then it's pipe all day.

If you can find a cob pipe, that might be a step up - briars are nice, but the nicotine hit will be no different. It's the lack of a pipe tool that will hamper you - credit to your improvisation, but a proper tool is a must have.

Are there any online retailers for you?
 

proteus

Lifer
May 20, 2023
1,542
2,570
54
Connecticut (shade leaf tobacco country)
Second the cob pipe. if you can get to this site and if they'll ship to you then try corncobpipe.com. Every pipe there is just great and many are under 20 USD plus shipping and some even under 10. Filtered or unfiltered doesn't matter. You can smoke filtered without a filter. Anything can be used as a pipe tool. You can use a drill bit that will fit or even part of a metal coat hanger. You make a reamer from olive wood.
 

Frusciante54

Lurker
Sep 9, 2024
3
7
Sounds like you're doing great with limited resources, to be fair.

I still smoke a filtered RYO cigarette when I wake up in the morning, but then it's pipe all day.

If you can find a cob pipe, that might be a step up - briars are nice, but the nicotine hit will be no different. It's the lack of a pipe tool that will hamper you - credit to your improvisation, but a proper tool is a must have.

Are there any online retailers for you?

Thank you for your kind words. Yeah I think it's all about what you are used to. A lot of people smoke right when they wake up. I for one can't smoke any form of tabacco unless I eat something.

Yes, there are online pipe sellers in Turkey. But I remember someone saying "corncob pipes are like use-and-dispose, you know like cigarettes" which would be very expensive. Are you talking about corncob pipes? I see corncob pipes between 20 and 100 dollars. I can only go up to 50 dollars max. Is it worth the investment? How does it taste?
BTW, speaking of which, I freaking love the taste of corn itself. If it gives it a little corn taste through the smoke I think I would fall in love with it, lol.

Second the cob pipe. if you can get to this site and if they'll ship to you then try corncobpipe.com. Every pipe there is just great and many are under 20 USD plus shipping and some even under 10. Filtered or unfiltered doesn't matter. You can smoke filtered without a filter. Anything can be used as a pipe tool. You can use a drill bit that will fit or even part of a metal coat hanger. You make a reamer from olive wood.

So a 20 dollar corncob pipe could also be great? I think what I have is... Porcelaine I guess, I'm not sure. One of them has a metal basket in it.
 

proteus

Lifer
May 20, 2023
1,542
2,570
54
Connecticut (shade leaf tobacco country)
Thank you for your kind words. Yeah I think it's all about what you are used to. A lot of people smoke right when they wake up. I for one can't smoke any form of tabacco unless I eat something.

Yes, there are online pipe sellers in Turkey. But I remember someone saying "corncob pipes are like use-and-dispose, you know like cigarettes" which would be very expensive. Are you talking about corncob pipes? I see corncob pipes between 20 and 100 dollars. I can only go up to 50 dollars max. Is it worth the investment? How does it taste?
BTW, speaking of which, I freaking love the taste of corn itself. If it gives it a little corn taste through the smoke I think I would fall in love with it, lol.



So a 20 dollar corncob pipe could also be great? I think what I have is... Porcelaine I guess, I'm not sure. One of them has a metal basket in it.
Not sure what you have. But yes anything from Missouri meerschaum is going to be a great smoker. I have a small collection of those cobs and I love every one.
 

RookieGuy80

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 6, 2023
734
2,710
Maryland, United States
Corn cob pipes are the Toyota Hilux of pipes. They'll smoke forever on abuse and pipe cleaners and cost a quarter of what a decent cat or briar will (depending on which side of the metaphor you're on).

I'd try to find a proper pipe cleaner though. You can get away with a lot of skimping smoking a pipe, a roofing nail makes a wonderful tamper and cobs are cheap and you can get away with smoking rolling tobaccos in a pipe. But pipe cleaners, even a small enough bottle brush, will pay for itself in keeping your pipes fresh and clean and tobaccos (relatively) tasty.

Onto the nicotine hits and cravings. You're finding out they do not hit the same. Pipes are a slow ramp up and slow release. Think growing plants in organic soil. The plants go through absorbing what nutrients they need a they become available. But if you need to treat for anything, it's a laborious process. Cigarettes are that shot of fertilizer available for immediate uptake. Stronger but don't last as long and not near as beneficial to the plant longterm.

All that to say you will always struggle to feel that kind of "satisfied" smoking a pipe after dinner until your body finally becomes accustomed to your new delivery system. If you can find it, nasal snuff might work for you. It hits a lot closer to immediately with what feels closer to a cigarette hit, just without most of the other chemicals available in cigarettes. For the two months I've successfully quit cigarettes, nasal snuff did a lot of the heavy lifting for cravings.
 

jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
26,272
30,289
Carmel Valley, CA
Don't know what Meerschaums cost in Turkey, but that'd be my second choice after a Missouri Meerschaum.

Enjoy!

Please put your location in your Profile!
How: Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down.
 

Sig

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 18, 2023
514
2,414
Western NY
It sounds like you may have some very undesirable pipes. I'm not being mean. A $5 pipe eith a metal insert sounds like a very cheap Temu type pipe. You absolutely fo not know what you're missing. Either a Missouri Meerdchaum corn cob pipe, a cheap briar or a Meerschaum pipe will be 100% better.
Turkey is known for their Meerschaum, but you should be able to easily find a cob or briar.
I have corn cob pipes that ive been smoking for 2 decades.
They do NOT taste like corn. They taste like a briar after a few uses.
As far as tobacco, you can find "name brand" tins of tobacco there, but I'm not sure how expensive they are.
 

elvishrunes

Can't Leave
Jun 19, 2017
368
690
My friend, you are in Turkey. Get yourself a meerschaum pipe.
Gonna make this comment! Meer indeed.

20-100$ US is a little too pricey for a cob, they are meant to be a cheap pipe, 10-40$. Yes for 50$ US you should be able to get a decent smoking Meer in Turkey that would likely cost 75-150$ in the US.
 
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bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,218
41,502
RTP, NC. USA
It's more genetic than anything else. If there's a death in the family due to lung cancer, may your mother rest in peace, your chance gets elevated.

If I remember genetics from college days, everyone has genes for cancer. But some family has some "trigger" that would make it easier to get it. That's why you see 80+ year smoking away filter less Camel with no issues. And others who work out and take care of themselves like religion drop dead at 35.

Quit it now. Or go happy.
 

OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
6,751
36,409
72
Sydney, Australia
Türkiye is the Land of the White Goddess - ie meerschaum.

Some members here smoke their meerschaum pipes almost exclusively.

While they are not the cheapest pipes available, I’d suggest getting one, once you have mastered the fundamentals of pipe smoking
 

Briarcutter

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 17, 2023
577
3,939
U.S.A.
If you live in Turkey call or visit the makers yourself. CELEBI has reasonsble prices for us,I am sure you could get a much better deal than we ever could.
Yes! I'd recommend a straight piece and nothing too fancy to begin with. With a straight piece you've got a good chance it will take a pipe cleaner. I've noticed a lot of bent pieces do not take pipe cleaners while assembled.
 

anotherbob

Lifer
Mar 30, 2019
16,664
31,241
46
In the semi-rural NorthEastern USA
sounds like you have not pipe tobacco pipes. I don't know if they're good for other tobaccos. I don't know what you have locally available but there has to be some budget real tobacco pipe. How do people make it last several ways. We'll certainly get into later.
 

Frusciante54

Lurker
Sep 9, 2024
3
7
Thanks for everyone's replies. I'm curious to try meerschaum pipes. I've found online even lower than 5 dollars. Right now I only have budget for one. Which one is better for durability and taste? Corncob or meerschaum?
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
3,984
52,037
Casa Grande, AZ
Thanks for everyone's replies. I'm curious to try meerschaum pipes. I've found online even lower than 5 dollars. Right now I only have budget for one. Which one is better for durability and taste? Corncob or meerschaum?
Meerschaum for taste, snd if by “durability” you’re referring to wear and tear from smoking, meerschaum wins as well.
If “durability” means ability to withstand impacts, drops, and general careless banging around while working, etc then a cob is better, but not much more than an inexpensive briar pipe.

For cigarette transition, I’d recommend “roll your own” tobacco that is labeled for pipe smoking, made of virginias or burleys without the flavoring of aromatics. Flavored “American” aromatics tend to be made of cavendished burleys and lower on the nicotine, and high on moisture and humectants. They can also burn hotter and dirtier (wetter and more residue).
See if tobacco shop has any of the “codger” blends, like Half and Half or others.

If you’re actual reasoning is for avoidance of lung cancers you have a familial history of, I’d recommend nicotine pouches or chewing tobacco and quitting smoking.

Best of luck, and of course I’m no expert on health, pipes, or tobaccos.
 
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