Welcome from Pennsylvania and New York. Since you've got a ribbon tobacco, this video may be of interest to you:
Hello from Victoria BC
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Goodness, he makes it look easy. I'm sure it is, once you get the hang of it. Another dud for me today. I'll keep at it. Cheers.
No luck. The tobacco was certainly drier and less packed, and I did seem to have a bit more success keeping it lit, but not much, and definitely no taste. I may try the Irishman's method of filling a pipe next time (TheIronMonkey's video above), but I doubt that it will make all the difference.
Perhaps the tobacco could use 24 hours instead of 12 hours out on the paper? I also have Kramer's Father Dempsey and GL Pease's Quiet Nights. I'm not sure if those would be any easier, though. I'm just working through the Balkan Supreme for the moment.
I understand that the usual advice to new smokers is to "slow down," but I struggle to keep to that advice while also keeping the tobacco lit. I know I don't have a top of the line pipe, but many men have used Dr. Grabow's with success before, so I can't blame the pipe.
I'll keep at it.
Sorry you're having trouble. Have you had your pipe apart and run a pipe cleaner through the stem and through the shank into the bowl? Its possible you have some obstruction in your airway. Keep at it.
I can try taking it apart and running a pipe cleaner into the bowl, but I don't think it will fit in the stem. It looks like the below Grabow, with that metal piece at the end (do you know what is is? what it's called?). Most pipes seem not to have it, but it looks like all Grabow's do.
I find it draws quite easily, even when it was packed tight.
That's a stinger, and is meant to condense tars from the smoke. If it's threaded into the shank, then I guess you can't remove it, but if it draws easily, then this is not the problem.
I have Grabows designed for filters that have no stinger.
Go ahead and pipe clean the stem through to the bowl, then run the cleaner backwards through to stinger.
Keep trying, and best of luck!
I have Grabows designed for filters that have no stinger.
Go ahead and pipe clean the stem through to the bowl, then run the cleaner backwards through to stinger.
Keep trying, and best of luck!
Cheers. I may see if air is escaping somewhere, as it draws very easily.
Oh, I can take the stem out -- it's not threaded into the shank. I just meant the hole is very small and difficult to get a pipe cleaner into. But I'll try again.
Last night I thought of something, if you haven't solved your problem yet. I remember that Grabows with stingers are adjustable so the you can keep the scoop of the stinger parallel with the bottom of the bowl.
If the stinger is not aligned correctly, the stem may not be tightly fitting into the shank. If you think this is your problem, just twist the stinger ( may take a pair of pliers) so that it aligns well, then see if you get a tighter fit when you put it back together. Hope this helps.
By the way, I think these Grabows were called "AdjustOmatic" so that they could be reset if they got overclocked. The scoop stingers were supposed to be used to help clean your bowl, and the pipe supposedly could be taken apart without cooling, but I personally wouldn't do that. Cheers!
Thanks for giving it some thought. I had another unsucessful smoke last night -- this time with Kramer's Father Dempsey after running a pipe cleaner through the pipe. I'm drying out GL Pease's Quiet Nights to try tonight. Hopefully the fifth time is the charm.
There is a little arrow on the side of the stem, almost a spade. I imagine this should be pointing up. But you are saying it's possible the stinger is not aligned with this arrow, so even though the arrow is pointing up, the stinger is not where it should be? The stinger on mine does have a bit of scoop at the end, with the hole on the side of the stinger. I haven't found any pictures of my pipe (or stinger type) online. It's an older estate Grabow (Lark), and now I'm regretting taking the risk with an Ebay purchase.
Again, it very well be me and not the pipe. That said, I may look around locally. I have a very nice humidor that I may be able to trade for a decent pipe, something I know has a good track record.
That white spade is the logo and is supposed to be on the side. The best way to check alignment is to look from the back of the pipe and check if the slot of the stem is level and parallel to the top of your pipe (assuming the top of your pipe is flat and level, not canted).
Right, on the side pointing up. Okay, I think I understand you. I will look when i get home.
Sorry! Looking at the pic of your pipe, it should be at the top. Many Grabow pipes have the logo on the side. But, the slot alignment still holds true.
Oh, that's not my pipe. I sent that from work and don't have pictures of my pipe on my phone (still don't, as my camera lense is shattered). I will check when I get home. So the stinger's "scoop" should be parallel with the bottom of the bowl, i.e., with the concave pointing to the ceiling?
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Depending on the Grabow, the logo can be on the left side or the top of the stem. The end of the stem/slot should be horizontal.
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