Don't Just Smoke A Pipe

[cosmicfolklore]

@FLDRD If I may add a little to what you've said... One of the things that causes a newbie to heat up a pipe and ruin a smoke is when they are smoking slowly and start to get hints of a great flavor... instinctually, one would maybe puff a little harder to get more of that great flavor,. but by heating up the fire by puffing harder, they push that flavor away. We tend to get the best flavors by smoking slower. So, if you get a hint of a flavor that you want more of, then force yourself to counterintuitively smoke slower, not puff harder.

I hope that helps some also.

 

[captainsousie]

@FLDRD If I may add a little to what you've said... One of the things that causes a newbie to heat up a pipe and ruin a smoke is when they are smoking slowly and start to get hints of a great flavor... instinctually, one would maybe puff a little harder to get more of that great flavor,. but by heating up the fire by puffing harder, they push that flavor away. We tend to get the best flavors by smoking slower. So, if you get a hint of a flavor that you want more of, then force yourself to counterintuitively smoke slower, not puff harder.

I hope that helps some also.

I still occasionally fall victim to this. Usually when I'm doing something else at the same time as smoking.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I still occasionally fall victim to this. Usually when I'm doing something else at the same time as smoking.

Me too... I have to consciously make myself stay slow.

 

[FLDRD]

@FLDRD If I may add a little to what you've said... One of the things that causes a newbie to heat up a pipe and ruin a smoke is when they are smoking slowly and start to get hints of a great flavor... instinctually, one would maybe puff a little harder to get more of that great flavor,. but by heating up the fire by puffing harder, they push that flavor away. We tend to get the best flavors by smoking slower. So, if you get a hint of a flavor that you want more of, then force yourself to counterintuitively smoke slower, not puff harder.

I hope that helps some also.

Yes, thanks. I have noticed that as well. My OP was born of a reflection of the fact that I'm now having regularly wonderful pipe sessions, with much less of the problems I once had. So I began pondering about why that might be. I analyzed my instinctual actions and came up with this to share with new ones who still have those issues.

 

[FLDRD]

I think you misunderstood my post. Let me clarify. You posted an idea. Others came and disagreed with that idea, whether politely or a bit snarkily. I summed up the disagreement.

If you think a bit deeper, how can the post have been directed at you if you were the one posting the original idea and others were voicing some level of disagreement to said idea?

Misunderstanding clarified.

 

[sandollars]

@FLDRD If I may add a little to what you've said... One of the things that causes a newbie to heat up a pipe and ruin a smoke is when they are smoking slowly and start to get hints of a great flavor... instinctually, one would maybe puff a little harder to get more of that great flavor,. but by heating up the fire by puffing harder, they push that flavor away. We tend to get the best flavors by smoking slower. So, if you get a hint of a flavor that you want more of, then force yourself to counterintuitively smoke slower, not puff harder.

I hope that helps some also.

All the time. But I am a glutton by nature.....

 

[FLDRD]

I appreciate your post. You gotta know that the boys here, they're just cracking on ya in fun. You kinda have to roll with it and not let it get to you. Most likely they didn't notice what section it was in. I never pay attention to that myself. But, there is some good in breaking this stuff down for newbies. Thanks FLDRD.

When they joke ya, joke 'em back... or just laugh if you don't wanna mess with it.

Thanks, advice taken. I'm actually not a snowflake

 

[FLDRD]

Like I stated, "not meaning any harm". However, I can see how it may have been taken as rude, so I am sorry and should have used better communication.

I to am relativily new to pipe use. I don't smoke much and have gotten tongue discomfort several times to the degree that stopped a few times.

Again, I am sorry I was rude and not respectful.

Thanks. I'm here to make "friends" and am generally not overly sensitive. You all can treat me like one of the regular guys and I'll fit in well enough in time.

 

[FLDRD]

Don't listen to these guys....... Half of them are just pulling your chain. The other half are just jaded because they forgot what it is like to fall in love with smoking a pipe but every single one of them would bend over backwards for you or most any other member.

It really can be a transcending experience and although I now have it down well enough to just stuff my pipe, I still weigh out What I am putting in it.

Your advice is sound and you are well on your way. Welcome to the club. Thick skin required.

Skin thickened.

 

[gamzultovah]

Perhaps you should read my previous response noting that this was posted in THE BEGINNER SECTION ..............

Much like you, I was only giving my best advice to new smokers. I apologize if I hurt your feelings.

 

[gamzultovah]

I think you misunderstood my post. Let me clarify. You posted an idea. Others came and disagreed with that idea, whether politely or a bit snarkily. I summed up the disagreement.

If you think a bit deeper, how can the post have been directed at you if you were the one posting the original idea and others were voicing some level of disagreement to said idea?

This +1

 

[lawdawg]

I agree with your description there OP. I'll add that everyone should expect quite a bit of trial and error when first figuring out how to smoke a pipe. Really, that's the only way to get there, no matter how much knowledge you have up front. It is a pretty steep learning curve.

Even the most experienced pipe smokers will have crappy bowls, or days where nothing tastes right. Even GL Pease mentioned in a recent article (and somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I'm sure) having one of those crappy smoking days where he temporarily vows to quit smoking and give up his pipes. If GLP has off days with his pipes, I think the rest of us can forgive ourselves if for some reason we can't always coax out the best flavors on demand.

 

[FLDRD]

Much like you, I was only giving my best advice to new smokers. I apologize if I hurt your feelings.

Feelings not hurt. I'm here to play and make friends. I'll try and seek to see misunderstandings before I seek disagreements. Cheers.

 

[mso489]

There are many ways to approach smoking a pipe. If you are enjoying it, you are probably doing some things right.

 

[bullet08]

I don't just smoke a pipe. In this humid south, I occasionally scratch my armpits when it gets too sweaty.

 

[hauntedmyst]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you can get a churchwarden cocked at just the right angle so the bowl is facing forward, roll up the window in the car and hit the freeway. It's like turbo charged pipe smoking. Yeah you are going to burn your throat a bit and maybe go through pipes faster but knowing you can go through a massive bowl in under a minute is what makes you are real pipe smoker. Don't sip, turbo it.

 

[FLDRD]

Puff it, smoke it, breath it, sip it.
I still like my analogies.
I'd certainly like to have the pleasantness of a perfect smoke every time, but I'm still exploring many options of tobacco / pipe combos. And what I've found, is that like women, some prefer to be puffed, smoked, breathed or sipped a little more here and there during the process, and some more of one than others. ?
I'm also working "against" the variables of outdoors/breeze, different tobaccos, different pipes, etc. as I reference the differences above. I have 20 something pipes of varying shapes that I'm learning about, and 50+ tobaccos to open and try in addition to the 15-20 or so I've tried. When I find an excellent combination that repeatedly seems to give me an excellent smoke, I "marry" the 2 and store them together on my shelf as my way of taking "notes". I have around 7 pipes that are attached to a specific blend.
And then of course, some pipes seem to smoke nearly anything I give them, and some tobaccos perform beautifully in nearly any pipe. Why not just stick with these magical combinations I've found that work for me?
Curious.
Inquisitive.
Glutton for punishment.
So I'm certain that tonight I'll look at my rack of unmarried pipes and scan my open tins for a combo I haven't tried yet. If the tin gets emptied and it was nice but didn't stand out enough to "win" a pipe, I'll happily move on to opening another tin of something I haven't tried. When I want certainty, I'll look at my "married" combos and choose one for the moment.
Some nights it's a little of both.
Cheers.