Advice needed

[joshb83]

Don't worry, I'm just as new, but a good light at the beginning is the moneymaker. Definitely annoying until you get it, but once you do, it's like a epiphany and it becomes second nature. Just stick with it and it'll be well worth it, and that's all that matters is he enjoyment. Best of luck!

 

[drsquat]

This was me about 6 months ago. 18 months of trying this and that, waiting for the experience to build and everything fall into place. I was nearly ready to chuck it all away until I stumbled onto two things; the Frank method of packing and a quicker smoking cadence (yes that's right folks - quicker!). See the most recent thread on the Frank method and give it a try. I cannot tell you much more I now enjoy my pipe smoking experiences after these discoveries. Good luck.

 

[danielplainview]

I've never had that much trouble keeping a pipe lit. Even the moist out of a fresh tin burns well enough after a good light. Give a good 20 second char light, tamp, true light and you should be in business. Finding the middle ground for how loose or tight to pack the pipe, will make a world of difference. A little trial and error is all that is needed.
If you still decide to give up, don't throw your pipes in the river,

Send them to shantiques.

 

[jawwarmer]

Hello stflorian,
Just read of your problem. Well, when I started smoking a pipe many years ago 45+++ years now, I have picked up the odd tips. I first started using aromatic tobaccos because I thought it would be an impressive thing to do. One evening I was in an old pub (we have lots of them in Ireland) there was what appeared to be an ancient gent sitting by a stove smoking a pipe and drinking a pint of Guinness. We struck up a conversation on pipe smoking and the type of tobacco he was using. When I showed him what I was smoking a gentle smile appeared on his face, he then said, don't bother with that rubbish and get yourself a good plug (plug tobacco). He was smoking Erinmore plug. I went and got myself some plug tobacco and have never regretted it to this day.
Aromatic and ready rubbed tobacco can be very dry and are oftimes difficult to smoke. I would suggest that you blend your present lot of ready rubbed tobacco with a good plug tobacco, such as, Samuel Gawith Grousemoor. To aide in the pipe staying lit may I suggest that when filling your pipe you put a little ash from the previous smoke on top of the newly filled pipe, that will aide in the lighting, I do it all the time and I usually have to light the pipe only once.
If your tobacco is very dry you can moisten it with some liquid. I use a tablespoon of beer, and have been doing so for years. It takes time to fully learn the ins-and-outs of pipe smoking, also, it takes a while for a pipe to reach its full potential as a good smoke - DON'T THROW OUT YOUR PIPES!
Pipe smoking craft takes a while to learn, you will not learn to smoke a good pipe-full in a couple of months, its taken me years.
I hope this is of some help to you. Send me an email if you like with any comments. duty_watch_500khz@hotmail.com
Cheers and keep puffing away.