Hardest part when starting to smoke

[birddog]

What's been your hardest obstacle when trying to smoke? Is it discovering the taste of tobacco? Lighting the pipe and keeping it lit? I would like to hear from you and maybe the solution or method you found to work please.
Anyways take care and keep on smokin.
Dave

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

The hardest part for me was getting the right smoking cadence down. I burnt the shit out of my tongue a few times before I read about and applied the technique of "sipping." The second most would probably have been packing and lighting. I wouldn't say I'm mastered, but I don't have any concerns with my smoking cadence and packing technique.

 

[ravkesef]

+1 on rsuninv. Every new smoker must learn how to package type properly, and when I'm helping a new smoker here is the advice that I give:
1. The tobacco should be a lot drier than you think it should.
2. The pipe must be packed far looser then you think it should.
3. The pipe should be smoked a lot slower than you think it should.
Follow these three simple but essential rules and you'll be on your way toward enjoying your smokes. And here is a corollary to rule three: when you're smoking your Pipe, it should be pleasantly warm, and not hot. How warm? If you hold it against a baby's skin, the baby will smile because it's so nice and warm. Any hotter than that, and it's too hot!

 

[birddog]

Very good advice.

 

[grouchydog]

All of the above - the proper "balance" between pack, cadence and staying lit. I think Rav is on the money with his advice - I needed to hear that again.

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

@rav, but what about the second hand smoke?! Think about the baby's health and safety before testing the heat of a pipe on it. Lol.

 

[foggymountain]

For me it has been the expense. I had no idea when I picked up an old briar 58 years ago what an enormous expenditure this pipesmoking would involve, but it has been worth it.

 

[monty55]

I wouldn't call it hard, nor were there obstacles, but certainly some hurdles. I wasted a lot of money on pipes that were not very good, I didn't like, or I didn't need. I wasted a lot of money on tins of tobacco I do not like. I have the tobacco thing under control, but the Pipe's I'm still working on. Oh.. um, don't peruse ebay while intoxicated... that's a sure way to end up with a wtf pipe.
Everything else is just a learning experience, filled with joy, and wonder at what the next day of smoking and playing with my pipes will bring to my life.

 

[grouchydog]

@Foggy - I agree. I initially picked up the pipe because cigars were so spendy and I saw pipe-smoking as considerably less expensive. Then I started hoarding pipe-weed, and holy cats did the cash begin to flow out...

 

[dread]

Packing and cadence, which went hand in hand for me. Once I started packing the pipe properly my cadence slowed. I don't know if they were related or a natural progression, but that was it.

 

[aquilas]

I would have said packing, but early on, I figured I wouldn't get caught up in all the packing methods there is. I just stuck with the 3-stuff baby/woman/man method and it's worked for me.
If anything, I'd have to say it was the cadence for me as well. I thought I had to puff like a train in order to keep the tobacco lit, but soon learned this was the "hot pipe" and "hot smoke" people spoke of. Then I learned from cosmic on here to smoke slow and I've never looked back.

 

[tlag77]

Oh.. um, don't peruse ebay while intoxicated... that's a sure way to end up with a wtf pipe.

This is good advice to follow, have not done it....yet, but it is something I might do. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

Drunk online shopping simply leads to purchases you wanted to make but were to scared to. Only your bank account is harmed, but you wanted it anyways.

 

[marine33]

I would say packing the bowl then the cadence and then getting palate conditioned to taste the flavors.

But there have been people on here that have been a HUGE help and I could not have gotten as far without them.

 

[rmbittner]

It's been so long ago -- I started smoking a pipe in 1980 -- but I honestly can't recall anything being "difficult." Sure, you had to learn things as you went along, but that's half the fun of this hobby, the fact that you never learn it all.
Maybe it helped that I had read several books on pipe smoking before I ever picked up a pipe. So I knew at the outset how to pack, how to handle the charring light, how to approach the act itself. But I also read books on beer, wine, and spirits long before I could legally try anything for myself. So maybe that's just me: I don't like surprises, so I try to go into any new adventure as prepared as I can be.
Bob

 

[owen]

maybe smoking a way through all the conflicting reviews out there. enjoyable tho.

 

[drennan]

For me - Packing right. I was packing way to light and suffering from multiple relights and little flavour as the tobacco was burning too hot, I started doing the three step packing method and it's made a massive difference to the enjoyability of my smoking.

 

[sidious]

+1^ I also have been packing too light and had the same issues as drennan.

 

[ravkesef]

cmdrmcbragg wrote:

@rav, but what about the second hand smoke?! Think about the baby's health and safety before testing the heat of a pipe on it. Lol.

By no means should you let the baby attempt to smoke it before he reaches two years of age. I remember one of my sons climbing into my lap when he was about 4 or 5, andf saying: "Daddy, would you please light your pipe?" Why?" I asked. The answer: "So I can cough." Good grief. Don't ever let the antis hear that one!

 

[numbersix]

h.. um, don't peruse ebay while intoxicated... that's a sure way to end up with a wtf pipe.

"Daddy, would you please light your pipe?" Why?" I asked. The answer: "So I can cough." Good grief. Don't ever let the antis hear that one!

:rofl: