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SSGT.

Might Stick Around
Jul 7, 2024
84
426
Sealy Texas
Just learning the ins and outs so bare with me in my ignorance. I have found that I am a meerschaum man whether it be block meerschaum or Missouri Meerschaum. now I'm looking for my blends and cut. I started out with Capt. Black all blends liked the royal and the original most. Now though I've bee going through the Cormell & Diehl lines so far I lean towards Gentleman Caller, Haunted Bookshop, Bayou Flake and Belmont Station. I've only tried the one Flake and I kind of like the cut it seems to burn longer but I really don't know.

I'm looking at the coin and rope cut blends and wondering about how you prepare it for smoking. I'm also looking for recommendations of blends the flavored blends seem to me to be too much like a stick of gum 10 min in and it looses it flavor. I lean towards Virginias Black Cavendish and dark fired Kentucky's. Would love some feed back from your experiences.
 
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Just go ahead and order whatever ropes and plugs you can find. The ropes tend to be stronger in nicotine. but plugs can vary.
I think that we all go through this curious phase, where we want to try slicing our own, but then you'll hit a point where the whole process will seem like a waste of time, and it is. But, sure, go ahead and try them. Give it a whirl. Eventually, most come to the realization that prepping tobacco and loading the pipe is NOT where the pleasure in smoking is for us.
 

proteus

Lifer
May 20, 2023
1,537
2,565
54
Connecticut (shade leaf tobacco country)
Search using smokingpipes.com. Select what tobacco you want and what ones you say to exclude.if any.

First out for me is MacB HH Dark Fired and bullseye flake and newminster 400 and on the light side is Boswell premium burley. Old Joe blue might also fit the bill. CD burley flakes too. Eight State maybe. Just running off from memory. Use the search and followup on tobaccoreviews.com and you'll be off to the races. Oh and make sure you have your credit card standing by. 😂
 
Nov 20, 2022
2,736
27,686
Wisconsin
I recommend sticking to your ribbon cuts until you get experience and comfortable with packing and smoking the pipe. Perhaps you are already there.

To answer your question, I love Escudo which is a coin cut. I just fold and stuff at this time. My advice is to rub it our thoroughly until you get the hang of it. Same for the ropes, they can be quite strong with nicotine.
 

Choatecav

Part of the Furniture Now
Dec 19, 2023
502
1,346
Middle Tennessee
I recommend sticking to your ribbon cuts until you get experience and comfortable with packing and smoking the pipe. Perhaps you are already there.

To answer your question, I love Escudo which is a coin cut. I just fold and stuff at this time. My advice is to rub it our thoroughly until you get the hang of it. Same for the ropes, they can be quite strong with nicotine.
Gotta echo the Escudo, Doc. I just finished a bowl of it about 30 min ago. I rub mine out, but that's just me.

I've never bought any of the ropes. Does one generally cut the rope into coins and process accordingly or whittle off pieces like with a plug? I know the responses back will be something like, "Whatever you want to do is right."
But, I would like to hear from some who smoke rope regularly.
 
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Nov 20, 2022
2,736
27,686
Wisconsin
Gotta echo the Escudo, Doc. I just finished a bowl of it about 30 min ago. I rub mine out, but that's just me.

I've never bought any of the ropes. Does one generally cut the rope into coins and process accordingly or whittle off pieces like with a plug? I know the responses back will be something like, "Whatever you want to do is right."
But, I would like to hear from some who smoke rope regularly.
I don't have much experience, but I cut it like a thin coin and rubbed it mildly and stuffed.
 

Sobrbiker

Lifer
Jan 7, 2023
3,972
51,835
Casa Grande, AZ
Gotta echo the Escudo, Doc. I just finished a bowl of it about 30 min ago. I rub mine out, but that's just me.

I've never bought any of the ropes. Does one generally cut the rope into coins and process accordingly or whittle off pieces like with a plug? I know the responses back will be something like, "Whatever you want to do is right."
But, I would like to hear from some who smoke rope regularly.
I’ve been slicing them into very thin coins and rubbing them out fully into a shag, an ounce or so at a time.
Some of the ropes can be stubborn to keep lit, and for me this helps.
 

kcghost

Lifer
May 6, 2011
15,141
25,688
77
Olathe, Kansas
Woith Escudo I found the best way to prepare it IMHO is to just toll two coins together and stuff them into the pipe being sure not to overstuff your pipe.
 
Jul 26, 2021
2,412
9,781
Metro-Detroit
I either fold and stuff coins or rub them out.

With ropes, I either slice thin with a knife or use a cigar cutter to make coins (which usually get rubbed out).

With plug, I either slice into flakes or shave some off the plug. If flaked, I usually cube cut or rub out.
 

RookieGuy80

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 6, 2023
734
2,710
Maryland, United States
So first, yes flakes tend to smoke longer than ribbon. They are a denser presentation of tobacco, there is more to smolder than there is ribbon in the pipe.

Coins are a round flake. You can prepare them the same, rub it out or fold and stuff as you see fit. As long as you're enjoying it you're doing it right.

Ropes, those very few times I smoked them, I cut into coins using a cigar cutter. They're like a long round plug.
 
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