How Do You Keep Track...

[scloyd]

I started using thepipetool.com to list my tobaccos. That lasted about a month, then I found it to be too much of a hassle. I don't have a large cellar so it's not an issue. I have about 15 tobaccos in my rotation that I smoke and a few I never smoke because they don't appeal to me.
I have an on again/off again hobby of collecting foreign currency that I log/list on a website...sometimes it takes the fun out of collecting.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

Well, it's hard to forget all of the ones that I have tried, but trying to remember exactly what they were like, is my problem. It's not like I save a portion of it near the end to compare to something else. I know there are some that I like, so if I pick up something similar to that along the way, it's kind of hard for me to compare the two without being able to smoke them side by side. I haven't gotten to the point of creating a full blown cellar yet, as I'm still trying stuff. I'm trying to smoke through some of what I currently have so I can buy more to try. For me, I think writing it all down in a journal that's my own record of the journey, as piper64 says, will be what I start and soon, before I start forgetting. My memory can be a real disaster for some things, but absolutely perfect for others.

 

[voorhees]

I can remember where and when and if they have special meaning for my pipes. As for tobacco, if I smoked a lot of it and enjoyed it, I can remember that. If I didn't, I'm not going to have any real reason to.

 

[sablebrush52]

The man, the myth, the legend, has more pipes than anyone could count, yet knows who made each and every one of them, when they bought it, what it's made of and all sorts of other details special to each pipe.

jiminks is like that. He can tell me when and where he bought each pipe, or who gifted it to him and when, and he carries the tally of his cellar in his head. Of course, he has quite a big head...

 

[lawdawg]

Trying to keep track of my pipes and tobacco, even though I don't own all that much of either, sounds like a chore. Pipe smoking is fun, and I do enough paperwork and record keeping at my job. I generally know what blends I like, and I limit my pipe and tobacco management to very broad mental categories such as "probably need to order some more of that" and "probably got enough of this, don't need any more."
However, if you enjoy keeping tabs on your pipes and tobacco, then more power to you. Smoking is all about the enjoyment, and if you enjoy keeping track of it all, then keeping records / notes would enhance the experience. Keeping records of my smokes is just not something I care to even consider.
I will say that when I run across a blend I think I'd like to try, I make a note of it in my phone for future reference. Once I try the blend, if I like it enough, I'll remember it. If I don't remember it, then I probably wasn't that crazy about it ::

 

[tavol]

I keep track of what's in my cellar and what's open using tobacco cellar
I keep track on my thoughts on a blend on tobacco reviews
I have never suffered form PAD. I have limited myself to 21 pipes so to remember what bends go with what pipes is straight forward.

 

[JohnMosesBrowning]

I'm just starting out in my piping journey, but I am already keeping track the same way I keep track of my whisk(e)y, books, etc. I carry a Traveler's Notebook and fountain pen. I've sectioned off pages for blends I've tried, blends to try, pipes I think are neat, etc.
I'm a big spreadsheet guy as well but different formats work better for certain things and I like carrying my little leather Traveler with me wherever I go. I'm a librarian so noting, documenting, recording, etc. is just part of my personality I suppose.
For those who do like spreadsheets to record with, I think Googledocs works great because you can access it from anywhere as it's cloud based. My annual "books read" list is in Googledocs so I can reference it easily and share it as well.
https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/travelers-company

 

[workman]

I use the notepad on my phone for inventory. My cellar is modest. I have considered taking notes on the various blends but haven't gotten around to it. If I do, it will be in a book and written by hand. Writing stuff on the computer is like doing schoolwork and that ain't fun.

 

[workman]

I don't find pipes interesting, so I'm not taking notes on them. They are tools.

 

[ashdigger]

I sat down one day and did a complete inventory of pipes and tobacco. I've never updated it. So its essentially a worthless document.

 

[mahew]

I use an excel spreadsheet to track my tobacco. I have it set up with four separate pages. One page for tins, one for jars, one for tobaccos currently in my smoking rotation, and one for the stuff I no longer have on hand. Each page has a standard set of categories, including personal notes, components, name, blender, quantity, weight, etc. The total weight on hand is also calculated on each page. I have a similar setup for my Bourbon and Rye collection.

 

[blackadderlxx]

I keep a detailed spreadsheet of all the blends I have in stock, the ones out-of-stock, the Producer, blend name, origin, family, components, and a few other headings, plus a rating from 1-4, with some aroma/tasting notes.

I do something like this as well. I have one page with all the blends I've bought, their components, whether they are subject to deeming and their ratings on TR. I have another page with what's in my cellar, not counting single 50g tin type stuff or samples, etc. Just stuff I have stashed. Then I have macros to total the weights up and also give me a number of days worth of tobacco I have based on 2 bowls a day average. Then a third page has stats and purchase dates of the new pipes I've bought.

 

[curl]

I’ve input all my tobacco in Pipe Tool. I update my database with each purchase.

I export my pipe tool database to excel just as often cause I don’t trust the interwebs.

I scan the database when it’s time to open a new tin, and I figure I can use it when I sell some of my cellar.

My actual real world cellar is hard to search, it’s in several crates and drawers, and the Mylar bags aren’t the easiest things to sort thru.

 

[johnbrownspipe]

I've been mulling over this idea myself. Not necessarily a journal of what I have but more what it is. Almost like a personal review of each blend that changes as you re-visit blends or acts as a guide to know you might not want to revisit it.

 

[jaytex1969]

 

[jrenko]

I dont keep track of what blends i have in the celler, it's more fun to find something you forgot you had.
Pipes i only own a few of, those i like are expensive and i can't buy to many of them.

 

[5star]

I keep a journal on my computer of every bowl I smoke. I’m a pretty modest smoker, so this is an easy thing to do.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

I've been mulling over this idea myself. Not necessarily a journal of what I have but more what it is. Almost like a personal review of each blend that changes as you re-visit blends or acts as a guide to know you might not want to revisit it.

Exactly. That's one of the things I want to have in there. A record of what I've had. Sure, I may know if I really hate or love something, but I'm sure after so many blends, I'll eventually lose track of something.

 

[mso489]

I'm not a spreadsheet or ledger person. Pipe smoking for me happens in the present. I can remember at lot about it and certainly recognize a blend I've sampled or smoked. I don't want it to feel like a part time job or an investment account, so I let it float in my consciousness and memory. I don't recommend this, but that's what I do. If someone recommends a blend that appeals to me, I'll jot it in the margin of my paper calendar and consider it when TAD strikes. Every time I eat a cupcake, I don't write it down, as it were.

 

[shikano53]

When I started pipe smoking three and a half years ago I started a spreadsheet. I marked date, tobacco type, dry time if any, straight out of the tin smoke. The last column was comments where I tracked my thoughts on the tobacco. I found as time passed this helped me train my palette and learn to identify at least some of the tobacco flavors and things especially after reading some of the reviews. I'm just a very moderate smoker, two bowls a day tops so I'm not very good at identifying but the notes and comments helped me on my journey. I stopped logging about a year ago. Just my two cents.