Do You Keep Certain Pipes For Certain Types of Tobacco?

[Sethology]

I have picky and obsessive streaks about various things, so I have determinedly avoided designating pipes. I choose pipes and blends on inspiration, always congratulating myself on excellent choices (some are excellent and others not, but that's my attitude). If I started tasting leftover Lat or some aromatic flavoring, I might designate a cob, but I haven't. If I smoked Lakeland aromatics, I'd designate a cob, because that flavoring is so distinctive -- taking other people's word -- and so persistent. But I don't smoke Lakeland aromatics. Meantime, I have 92 pipes, not competitive with some restoration members here, but plenty of pipes to have a long rotation, so not much flavor gets retained. Also, I wipe out my pipes with a paper towel, to maintain only a thin carbon layer, as do many members here, and I don't build cake or ever have to ream, so that also limits ghosting. For me, pipe smoking is about pleasure, not perfection. I do understand the other approach, where some perfectionism is part of the pleasure. To resort to a cliche, whatever floats your boat, or mine.

This is also valid. I find that having dedicated pipes really does exacerbate in propensity for neurotic/ocd-esque behaviors on my part. Sometimes I consider buying more pipes for specific blends, but that would bankrupt me for a fair while lol. I also sometimes wish to smoke certain pipes are days that I want to smoke blends I have not designated for that pipe, so any methodology has flaws here depending on your personality or preferences.

 

[Wellington]

Yeah, if you smoke any blends with great ratios of latakia to the other components, dedicating a pipe to those latakia blends is in my opinion essential. For me at least its hard to get a latakia ghost out, but to each their own and if you dont mind said ghost than I suppose it doesn't matter. So the real question is- do you mind having latakia aftertaste in your virginias, aromatics, and burley mixtures? If so, get an extra pipe. If not, keep on keeping on : )

Good point. I don't smoke Aros or Virginia, just Latakia type English blends and some OTC burley stuff.
I did smoke a tin of i think Brebbia several years ago that was VERY heavy Latakia, kind of smelled like I was smoking a boot, but it grew on me and I loved it, but usually I don't smoke blends THAT heavy of Latakia.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I have a few older English estates with orofic bits that I try and keep for Virginia. Everything I smoke is predominantly burley based so I just grab a pipe and go. That being said, I have found I enjoy some blends more in certain pipes so I probably will start to dedicate pipes to a blend in the future. Oh and I enjoy Lakeland’s in my clay, and found that the plastic notes of my orange Brylon adds a nice dimension to 79 - smoked always with the stem sitting halfway out of the shank.

 

[mingc]

I tend to use my smaller bowled pipes for flakes and coins and my larger bowled pipes for latakia mixtures. The in-between ones get everything. I don't know why I do that, but I just do.

 

[rigmedic1]

Tring different tobaccos in different pipes is part of the fun! Once I find a good match, that pipe is dedicated to that tobacco for as long as I am smoking that blend. The conventions about bowl size and ratio regarding different tobaccos has some merit but I remain mystified when a balkan is better in a small 1:1 chamber pipe than a large wide bowl, or I try a Virginia blend in 3 identical chambers, but it only tastes good in one of them. There are too many factors to consider.
That being said, I do agree that straight Virginia's seem to taste best in tall and narrow chambers. MacBaren Seven Seas Royal is awesome in my old Storient Meer, and Sutliff EastFarthing really sings in my very common unstamped Italian 1:2 ratio Canadian shape briar pipe. You never really know unless you try a tobacco in every pipe that you can. Turned out that for me, Sun Bear tasted best in a corn cob.

 

[BROBS]

I only smoke VA's out of my best pipes because I don't want to ruin them with a shat aro.

 

[canucklehead]

I only smoke VA's out of my best pipes because I don't want to ruin them with a shat aro.

When I first started I used to break in all my pipes with Lane BCA because it left a nice black bowl coating.?‍ I will say that a fully Sutliffed cob is much less likely to burn out haha.

 

[alexander87]

I agr

Dedicating pipes to blends serves the retailer much more than the smoker, with the obvious exception for aromatics, and even leftover latakia can be smoked out in a few bowls.

I agree with this except for Condor. Nothing ghosts like when I have a Condor Moment. I have one Peterson system pipe dedicated to Condor. When I’m all through with my stash I’m going to have the pipe professionally cleaned with an ozone treatment. It’s too expensive to import condor and while I love it, when I’m smoking something else I want something else. Everything else I just smoke it in the pipe that feels right at the moment.

 

[BROBS]

When I first started I used to break in all my pipes with Lane BCA because it left a nice black bowl coating.?‍ I will say that a fully Sutliffed cob is much less likely to burn out haha.

It's most likely impossible! probably why my early cobs are heavier than shit and impossible to burnout haha

 

[BROBS]

I agr

I agree with this except for Condor. Nothing ghosts like when I have a Condor Moment. I have one Peterson system pipe dedicated to Condor. When I’m all through with my stash I’m going to have the pipe professionally cleaned with an ozone treatment. It’s too expensive to import condor and while I love it, when I’m smoking something else I want something else. Everything else I just smoke it in the pipe that feels right at the moment.

condor ghost comes out pretty easy.. just smoke something real strong and full of tar and it will be gone.

 

[alexander87]

condor ghost comes out pretty easy.. just smoke something real strong and full of tar and it will be gone.

I’ll give it hell!