Beginner's Guide to Beginning
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For a generation of folks that seem to order everything online, its not a bad instruction set.
I can imagine with all the options out there it can be rather confusing where to start.
Back before the internet told us what we should like it was different.
You asked somebody you knew who smocked a pipe what they liked to smoke.
Then you tried that, if you didn't like it, you just kept smoking it till you did... :D
I can imagine with all the options out there it can be rather confusing where to start.
Back before the internet told us what we should like it was different.
You asked somebody you knew who smocked a pipe what they liked to smoke.
Then you tried that, if you didn't like it, you just kept smoking it till you did... :D
And it was easier because most of the stores across the country only had six or seven OTC's to chose from.
Greatly Appreciated work Mr Hm Haynes put out,
Stll learing and paying primary attention to Tobacco moisture,Right packing tightness,not too Tight,you can always tamp down keemp this in mind Paul, yet dont puff, be careful or do you still want your tongue has more leathery feel than it is now,and do not smoke late in the night before bed time ,better get a cigarette,
Stll learing and paying primary attention to Tobacco moisture,Right packing tightness,not too Tight,you can always tamp down keemp this in mind Paul, yet dont puff, be careful or do you still want your tongue has more leathery feel than it is now,and do not smoke late in the night before bed time ,better get a cigarette,
I think some of us are willing top rag on ya, hmhaines, because we have been reading your reviews and feel confident that you'd take our criticism and jests for what they are, camaraderie.
If this was your first post, we'd have already torn you to shreds and left you to die in the heat of our enlightenment. :
:
If this was your first post, we'd have already torn you to shreds and left you to die in the heat of our enlightenment. :
:
My belief is the surest (and surprisingly shortest) way to learn anything is simply by doing.
When I took to the pipe back in September 2015 I had no mentor to guide me and I wasn't aware of such places as this forum (which I joined a month later) so I was entirely on my own.
It doesn't take a genius to tell you that the reason you cannot draw on your pipe because you packed it too tight, it doesn't take a genius to tell you that the reason you cannot light the baccy is because it is too wet and it doesn't take a genius to tell you that regular cleaning of the pipe is a very good idea. Yet I did all of those things but most importantly I learned from my mistakes and improved matters everytime I lit a fresh bowl.
You simply cannot replace experience with a tutorial, we all have to learn at our own pace and in our own way in a practical manner, often making many mistakes along the way. It might take a while but one does get there in the end.
Just my tuppence worth ::
Regards,
Jay.
When I took to the pipe back in September 2015 I had no mentor to guide me and I wasn't aware of such places as this forum (which I joined a month later) so I was entirely on my own.
It doesn't take a genius to tell you that the reason you cannot draw on your pipe because you packed it too tight, it doesn't take a genius to tell you that the reason you cannot light the baccy is because it is too wet and it doesn't take a genius to tell you that regular cleaning of the pipe is a very good idea. Yet I did all of those things but most importantly I learned from my mistakes and improved matters everytime I lit a fresh bowl.
You simply cannot replace experience with a tutorial, we all have to learn at our own pace and in our own way in a practical manner, often making many mistakes along the way. It might take a while but one does get there in the end.
Just my tuppence worth :
:Regards,
Jay.
I agree with the OP, a lot of 'guides for beginners' are confusing at best, mostly because pipe smoking is such a subjective experience. I love what you've written hmhaines, but it might need a little editing for those on the other side of the pond. Good work!
I love the input, and you're all right: you really should just do it how you're gonna do it! If there's anyone else like me lurking around the forum, searching for a way to start, this'll help them.
@cosmic - I'm surprised you guys are holding back at all. This really is the friendliest pipe forum!
@seagullplayer - The 'guide' is written exactly for folks like that. I don't have anyone around who knows anything pipe-related. Makes it hard to get into stuff like this.
Absolutely the most important thing, completely agreed. :D
@cosmic - I'm surprised you guys are holding back at all. This really is the friendliest pipe forum!
@seagullplayer - The 'guide' is written exactly for folks like that. I don't have anyone around who knows anything pipe-related. Makes it hard to get into stuff like this.
Absolutely the most important thing, completely agreed. :D
Being new to the pipe myself, I can see a lot of value in what HM has tried to do here and how it can help a younger generation who is big on guides and tutorials. My own journey has been quit similar to this, though I did start out on aros for the first couple of weeks then picked up some English blends and find I like both.
I'm kind of a beginner myself. I've been smoking pipes off and on since 1970.
I thought that there were a lot of good points in the OP. Not spending a lot of money on a high end pipe right off the bat is excellent advice. Cobs smoke great and you can become acquainted with the fundamentals and decide if this is a pleasure or not without a major investment. Plus, you won't insult and probably incinerate a nice piece of woodcraft.
The notion that one should begin by sampling component blending tobaccos is more of a miss than a hit for me and here's why. A lot of blending tobaccos aren't pleasurable smoked on their own and really aren't intended to be smoked on their own. So a beginner can get a distorted sense of how these components might work with each other in a blend. Smoking a variety of blends to see what you like, FOLLOWED down the road by smoking blending tobaccos can teach a pipe smoker more about how these varietals work and help him or her to better recognize what he or she is smoking. Of course, smoking blending tobaccos may be of small service if you like aromatics.
Also, the types of blends one likes changes over time. I used to like pretty stout English and Latakia blends. These days I can't abide them. But I've gradually begun to appreciate milder English or Balkan blends and/or blends wherein the Latakia is a condiment, not the main event. Nowadays I mostly smoke Virginias or Va/Pers. I've gotten to the point that I know what I like in a Perique and have bought several types of blending Perique for tinkering at home.
For the past day I've been smoking an amazing 40 year old Oriental blend that has me once again interested in those flavors. So be prepared to have your tastes change, and change again.
Packing is something that you learn with practice. If you can suck in the smoke without your head imploding, you're doing OK.
People differ on the proper moisture content. I get the most flavor when my tobaccos are very dry, as in dry to the touch when lightly squeezed but still pliant. Some blends do better with a tiny bit more moisture.
Mostly smoking for me is about the pleasure of great flavor. What technique I've picked up has been acquired to better experience that flavor.
Patience and practice generally rewards me with great smokes. Been at it for 46 years and learn something new every day.
I thought that there were a lot of good points in the OP. Not spending a lot of money on a high end pipe right off the bat is excellent advice. Cobs smoke great and you can become acquainted with the fundamentals and decide if this is a pleasure or not without a major investment. Plus, you won't insult and probably incinerate a nice piece of woodcraft.
The notion that one should begin by sampling component blending tobaccos is more of a miss than a hit for me and here's why. A lot of blending tobaccos aren't pleasurable smoked on their own and really aren't intended to be smoked on their own. So a beginner can get a distorted sense of how these components might work with each other in a blend. Smoking a variety of blends to see what you like, FOLLOWED down the road by smoking blending tobaccos can teach a pipe smoker more about how these varietals work and help him or her to better recognize what he or she is smoking. Of course, smoking blending tobaccos may be of small service if you like aromatics.
Also, the types of blends one likes changes over time. I used to like pretty stout English and Latakia blends. These days I can't abide them. But I've gradually begun to appreciate milder English or Balkan blends and/or blends wherein the Latakia is a condiment, not the main event. Nowadays I mostly smoke Virginias or Va/Pers. I've gotten to the point that I know what I like in a Perique and have bought several types of blending Perique for tinkering at home.
For the past day I've been smoking an amazing 40 year old Oriental blend that has me once again interested in those flavors. So be prepared to have your tastes change, and change again.
Packing is something that you learn with practice. If you can suck in the smoke without your head imploding, you're doing OK.
People differ on the proper moisture content. I get the most flavor when my tobaccos are very dry, as in dry to the touch when lightly squeezed but still pliant. Some blends do better with a tiny bit more moisture.
Mostly smoking for me is about the pleasure of great flavor. What technique I've picked up has been acquired to better experience that flavor.
Patience and practice generally rewards me with great smokes. Been at it for 46 years and learn something new every day.
"But people need to spend more time smoking and less time asking questions."
I couldn't agree more Didi. I would only ask for advice after trying to solve an issue myself first.
Regards,
Jay.
I couldn't agree more Didi. I would only ask for advice after trying to solve an issue myself first.
Regards,
Jay.
Well, well! There's people and then there's people!
What sablebrush wrote above is right on. One can read too much, watch too many videos, etc, as well ask too many questions in lieu of trying out something.
On various methods for packing the pipe: Forgettaboutit. If your tobacco is properly dried, it's a lead pipe cinch to load it correctly: just push and tamp with finger.
What sablebrush wrote above is right on. One can read too much, watch too many videos, etc, as well ask too many questions in lieu of trying out something.
On various methods for packing the pipe: Forgettaboutit. If your tobacco is properly dried, it's a lead pipe cinch to load it correctly: just push and tamp with finger.
"If your tobacco is properly dried, it's a lead pipe cinch to load it correctly:"
John, lately I've been experimenting (with much success) with airing a couple of flakes for a few hours then rubbing them out. Nothing new there really but I then go on to load the pipe as per normal only to replace it back on the rack.
There it stays for a day, sometimes two days and when it comes to smoking the pipe I really do notice the flavours that much more plus the burn rate is very consistent with rarely a relight required.
I suspect many folks have been doing this for years, I only 'stumbled' upon this method by pure chance.
Regards,
Jay.
John, lately I've been experimenting (with much success) with airing a couple of flakes for a few hours then rubbing them out. Nothing new there really but I then go on to load the pipe as per normal only to replace it back on the rack.
There it stays for a day, sometimes two days and when it comes to smoking the pipe I really do notice the flavours that much more plus the burn rate is very consistent with rarely a relight required.
I suspect many folks have been doing this for years, I only 'stumbled' upon this method by pure chance.
Regards,
Jay.
Good stuff! I tend to rub first and dry second, but either way, it's getting the tobacco in good shape for a fine smoke. Most folk I've read here say there's more flavor that way, and only a couple of guys swear when it's wet it's better. (Talking smoking here, keep mind elevated!!)
John, you are quite correct...I got my sequence wrong. I do indeed rub out afore drying.
Got a couple of flakes of Limited Edition Aged FVF rubbed and airing right now. I will load my Oom Paul just afore bedtime and leave it a day or two to enjoy the stunning goodness that that blend has ::
I have yet to fully enjoy any wet tobacco. Very few I find are actually smokeable straight from the tin, all benefit from a certain degree of airing...some much more than others!
Regards,
Jay.
Got a couple of flakes of Limited Edition Aged FVF rubbed and airing right now. I will load my Oom Paul just afore bedtime and leave it a day or two to enjoy the stunning goodness that that blend has :
:I have yet to fully enjoy any wet tobacco. Very few I find are actually smokeable straight from the tin, all benefit from a certain degree of airing...some much more than others!
Regards,
Jay.
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