Hello, I recently bought a used Chimney pipe, I have never smoked anything before... SNIP
Hi, great advice from others. I'll add that chimneys are difficult to master, and your reply below that the raw chamber is only thinly coated will exacerbate the difficulties. Some might say you should put it away for a while, and the corncob suggestions are spot on ($10 price range from Missouri Meerschaum, even found on Amazon).
But, since you have it you might as well start breaking it in. Try packing a pinch loosely, and a second pinch with a little press (you'll be able to tamp in a moment). Your chimney should be less than half full. Light a chimney with aong match, not a torch. You can use a Bic at max but draw gently a few puffs. Don't burn yourself.
You will get a lot of smoke and some flavor, but just slow down, now. Some will let this "charring light" go out first, but this is when you should tamp gently, and re-light.
This will be your main smoke for a while, but hold back, don't go nuts. Let the gentle draws of smoke play over your tongue; you should not think about it like sipping through a straw; in your stage it should be more of a gentle kiss. The slower and shallower you go, the more you will learn from the experience. You'll ramp up in time.
Coffee or tea, something slightly acidic, or water, will wash the alkaline residue from your tongue and palate to mitigate an alkali burn, which is a part of "tongue bite."
Enjoy practicing with these shallow bowls, building a little higher with each smoke. It'll help build a good cake at the bottom, which is important for chimneys.
If there is wet tobacco left at the bottom, you have smoked too intently. Your goal is white ash at the bottom of that chimney. You can swab the wet floor with a pipe cleaner, and let it dry 24 hours. Don't try to keep wet tobacco alight.
Reply to let us know, and please include a picture of that new pipe.