First smoke ever

[jew_jitsu]

My first time was just a week and a half ago. I am a cigar smoker and wanted to try something new. I am enjoying the pipe quite a bit, although I know that my technique is lacking. I smoke once a day, usually in the evening, and I have had a few times where I only light a couple of times and then a few where I'm lighting every other minute. Right now I'm working on a container of Sutliff Blend No. 5 and I rather enjoy it, both the taste and the tin note. I'm not really sure what kind of room note it has as I don't have anyone hanging around to tell me!
One question, is it better to have a dedicated pipe for each blend that you smoke, or is it ok to switch back and forth on the same pipe?

 

[nsfisher]

Captian black is wet when u first buy it, so add that to smoking in an unbroken pipe, prob did not leave a very memorial experience but... keep at er mate, I think it took me bout 7 yrs to come to luv the pipe. but i also smoked cigs for yrs so that kept me back some too. Hang in there mate an ull live long and enjoy. Happy puffin!!!!!

 

[zanthal]

It might be your tobacco.
But it might be that you're just not used to ingesting your tobacco either. A lot of the smoke residue ends up in your throat and stomach, and to someone who isn't accustomed to it, it can make you feel a little uneasy.
I only picked up smoking a pipe again around Thanksgiving. The first few pipes were a bit of an adjustment, just like anything new to your system. And it took me a few weeks before I tried some tobaccos that I actually have come to savor.
Never had Captain Black myself. But if you're looking for flavor, there are definitely some tobaccos out there that will suit you. You probably want to try some English blends
Esoterica Penzance has a bunch of flavor. It seems the reviews say Seattle Pipe Club's Plum Pudding has a very mild flavor, and maybe it isn't an overwhelming taste, but it's still very good.
@jew_jitsu - You may notice some "transferance" of flavors if you don't clean your pipe very well. Plenty of people though have a pipe for aromatics, a pipe for English blends, etc.
I clean my pipe after every smoke, nothing major but it gets a pipe brush and a swabbing so there isn't a lot of lingering stuff left in the pipe afterwards.
Oh and I ought to mention something that took me a lot of smokes before I realized ... the drier your tobacco is before you pack it, the less condensation build up you will get. That stuff is what really cakes up a pipe (in my experience). I've been in the habit of setting out a couple of fills of tobacco to dry for an hour or two, ever since it was originally suggested.
And I'll add that these are just my observations, I'm not an expert, like some of the guys on this forum. ::

 

[batdemon]

Welcome to the forum, jew_jitsu.

I think one of the best things you can do as a new piper is to be on this board. There is a ton of knowledge to be found and everyone is friendly and willing to share. I have been a pipe smoker on and off for close to 30 years but just recently took it back up. While I know quite a bit, I have learned a lot from the members here in a fairly short time. It's a great place to be. ::

 

[baronsamedi]

portascat :rofl:
CBW is big on room note and light on flavor. If you're a cigar fan you may want to give some latakia blends a shot and go for the flavor of the tobaccos in the blend. Penzance, Squadron Leader, Frog Morton, Magnum Opus and Black House are all great blends.

 

[judcole]

One question, is it better to have a dedicated pipe for each blend that you smoke, or is it ok to switch back and forth on the same pipe?

Dedicated pipes are not necessary. Some people (like me) maintain dedicated rotations - a latakia rotation, a Virginia/burley rotation. Others don't. I have one dedicated pipe, because it smokes that blend beautifully.

 

[mluyckx]

I'm a newbie too, so takes this fwiw....
Tomboo: if you smoked the occasional cigar, listen to these guys for advice. They know what they're doing (sort of ;-) ). Spend the $15-20 on a good tin. I'm a cig smoker and tend to gravitate towards burleys and Virginia's. If you llke some flavor or aromatic, MacBaren Vanilla Cream is definitely one i've come to like a lot. But let it dry out for an hour or two like zanthal said. I do the same and it has two advantages: one, less moist so easier to keep lit, two, since it's easier to keep lit, less steam since you're puffing less to keep it going. And hence less hot feeling on the tongue (tongue burn is not the same as tongue bite). A cigar smoker who smokes the occasional pipe told me he smoked purple cow from Cornell & diehl. But I have neither tried it, nor smoke cigars, so take it just as a hunch.
@jew_jitsu: welcome. I don't have all that many pipes yet, but I did notice that smoking my two heaviest aromatics, MacBaren vanilla cream and Peterson holiday blend, it leaves somewhat of an aftertaste, even with running a cleaner through and wiping the bowl. So I've decided to break it up at least in "aro pipes" vs. "non aro pipes". After all, I don't want to taste vanilla when I'm smoking a straight Burley or Kendal Kentucky.
Again, just the two pennies from a guy who's learning.

 

[jew_jitsu]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll have to try setting out some tobacco to let it dry a bit first. Until I get another pipe, I'll just have to give a good cleaning when switching between aro's and non aro's.

 

[smooth]

A new pipe smoker has at least two strikes against him - probably a new pipe yet to be broken in, and a selection of tobacco brands and mixtures all telling him they are the best.
New fellow, it may be years before the right pipe and the right tobacco meet for you. Don't give up.

 

[classicgeek]

I almost gave the pipe up back in the day for the same reason. It was okay, but nothing amazing. Was it really worth shivering outside? (I took it up in January) Turned out that the tobacco recommended to me was mild, bland and uninteresting. After joining up here, I got my hands on some different blends, including my first English. Then the TAD and PAD kicked in and it's been smooth sailing.
Simon

 

[pipeinhand]

@tomboo, you are me in 1971. My first pipe was a little one from Georgetown Pipe called a Beastie, (I still have it) and my first bowl ever was... Capt Black. I smoked the whole pouch in about 4 days. I was a cig smoker, Kools, and I expected a cornucopia of flavor from my pipe. It didn't happen, my palate was not set to grasp what tobacco had to offer. It is NOT cig smoking where you just suck it in. It is smoke, the act of it, breathing and savoring it in the mouth. It is slower, more time consuming than, sucking it in, I just didn't know that then. In fact my next tobacco was Balkan Sobranie and I just hated it. Yes, the stuff of legend was terrible. My 3 friends and I all smoked pipes so we just kept going all not wanting to be the quitter of the group. Later in life I learned that if one of us had quit, we all would have but, to move on, I bought more of CB and BS to smoke and guess what? I found more flavor and nuances in the smoke as I went on. I found BS to be the wonderful stuff we all claim it to have been and I smoked, I am sure a hundred tins of it. So the meaning of this diatribe? Keep going, try everything and one day, bliss will happen. ::

 

[smokenscotch]

I agree with Lawrence. Try out the Mac Baren Vanilla Cream Flake. That is a real treat. You have to try out different blends, however it really shouldn't be forced. I enjoyed it from the first puff, however I was and still am on occasion, a cigar smoker. Try out a few blends and keep at it for a bit, you'll start to really love it, I would think. Good luck!

 

[wildcat]

As a new guy myself, I think the greatest advice has been said by several members: Hang out here and learn. I've already tried so many things mentioned on the forums. Some I like and some not so much (and those I'll go back and try again!). I've tried drying, "blending," DGT, you name it! Keep on keeping on! My most recent first was Half&Half. Loved it from the get go! I smoke a lot of OTC as that fits my budget right now, but my son and I have tried some bulk and higher end tins too. I am more relaxed, and when I have the opportunity to smoke with my son, it's just great!
By the by, my "first" first was oak leaves wrapped in paper towels!! LOL! Stooopid kid!