Inhaling smoke, to do or not to do?

[joachimmoe]

I would like to start off saying hello to everyone. This is my first post, and I'm looking forward to a lot of great answers. Now, a lot may probably wonder, why I am so young, and smoking, but the deal is, that my granddad recently passed away, and left me this great Stanwell 1993 special eddition pipe and many more. He always smoked pipe, and since being very young, I've found it very special and interesting.
So, here's the question. When I smoke, I am all ways in doubt when I take a drag of my pipe. If I don't inhale, should I just blow the smoke out right away? Keep it in my mouth for a couple of secs, or just inhale? If I keep it in my mouth, it usually tastes really really awful. (Currently smoking "My own blend - cherry").
Thank you.

 

[numbersix]

Welcome to the forum. My grandfather also smoked a pipe and that was part of the charm for me too. He was from Ireland and lived to a ripe old age of 92.
In terms of smoking, everyone does it a little differentIy I suppose, but most pipe smokers do not inhale. That's the beauty of pipe smoking. No lung problems, but you can still get a nic kick without inhaling.
I usually just puff and exhale - may stay in my mouth for a sec or 2. Some people will exhale through the nose, but that's not for me. ::

 

[shawn622]

I don't really inhale on purpose. Most pipe smoke is like inhaling a brick.

 

[joachimmoe]

Thanks a lot, for your answers. The thing is, if I drag, and let in the smoke for a sec or two, it can really taste awful. Like.. REALLY awful. Why is this?

 

[numbersix]

Probably the tobacco. There's so much to choose from that you may need to start buying some sampler packs to get a feel for what you like. I have to say tho, upon reflection, I probably don't even hold it in for more than a sec.

 

[joachimmoe]

It's with a lot of different tobaccos. Sometimes, I try holding it in for 4-5 seconds, trying to enjoy all of the aromas, ending up in me inhaling and coughing like crazy.

 

[joachimmoe]

Yeah, that's what I mean. I've been smoking cigs for quite a while, so I'm smoking pipe like it's a cig. Or at least, I'm trying to learn how to get rid of the habit of inhaling.

 

[gray4lines]

When i pull smoke in, I don't hold it in for more then a second.
I do not inhale.
Look up "retrohaling" for advice on picking up flavors. In short, it's blowing some or all of the smoke through your nose (still no inhaling).

This lets you use your nose and sense of smell to really pick up on all of the flavors... but be careful, as sometimes it can burn and make your eyes water if you blow too much smoke through.
Last thing... dont be offended, but is the pipe clean? If you dont clean and take care of it after every one or two smokes, it may start to taste funky.
Hope this helps!

 

[bubblehead33]

not coming over from cigarettes, i dont inhale. that said, theres likely a certain ammount that is inhaled anyway but as a rule i dont try to. usually just roll in into my mouth for a second or so and exhale. some blends i blow out my nose but not all. you'll get the feel for it as you go. just my 2 cents. oh, and welcome to the forums!

 

[joachimmoe]

@Gray Oh yeah, I use pipe cleaners after every bowl. Is that enough? Also, I don't use filter.
@Bubblehead33 Thanks a lot. I might try exhaling through my nose, since "My Own Blend" really offers a lot of aroma filled tobacco, which I of course bought to enjoy.

 

[gray4lines]

Yes, pipe cleaners are perfect. You should be good.
Yeah, try the nose trick, it really makes a difference. I learned with cigars, pipe smoke is generally much smoother through the nose.

 

[joachimmoe]

Wow, thanks a lot. Can't wait for my morning bowl tomorrow.

 

[bubblehead33]

glad to help, im still learning myself!

 

[joachimmoe]

Would you then recommend me getting a filter in my pipe?

 

[philip]

If I keep it in my mouth, it usually tastes really really awful.

Welcome, joachimmoe.
This can be caused by a number of things. Likely causes are...

1. Bad tobacco or tobacco you don't like.

2. Puffing too hard. often because it was packed too tight.

3. A dirty pipe. If this is the pipe your dad smoked, it is likely that the shank needs to be thoroughly cleaned out.
Don't inhale.

 

[joachimmoe]

I cleaned it with real big care. I used rubbing alcohol too.
Now, how do I know how to puff? When I smoked Cigs, it didn't make any difference, any tips?

 

[philip]

Now, how do I know how to puff?

Very lightly. Pipe smokers sometimes like to call it sipping instead of puffing. I like to puff just barely hard enough to draw the smoke through the stem. It's not at all like smoking a cigar.
I'm sure the others can describe it better than I can.

 

[taerin]

Look up videos on how to smoke pipes on youtube, there's a lot of pipe presenters that will get you fixed right up. SmokeRingsPipeDreams has like a 60 part series on it and cigars as well...

 

[joachimmoe]

Well, thanks a lot Philip. I usually puff like I'm Snoop Dogg or something.

 

[nwgibson85]

As a casual (1-3 times per month) pipe smoker, and as a Nursing student. I would advise not inhaling. I have been smoking a pipe for only 11 months, but have been toking cigars since I was 18 (now 27), and in my opinion both cigars and pipes are better to be enjoyed with puffing, and then the aromatics can be enjoyed with the room note.
I saw that you are not enjoying the flavor much. I would advise trying 1Q, because it is an easy find, and delicious with the vanilla notes. Along those lines I would advise you to try smoking cooler. In other words the hotter the pipe gets the swankier the taste. Try to take your time with it. Switching from cigars to pipes was a tough transition for me, because my cigar smoking looked a lot like a steam engine smoke stack comming at ya! I have learned over the past year that a full bowl takes me 1-1.5 hours, and a half bowl takes me 30 minutes +. When I take my time with it, and pay attention to the temp of the bowl it tastes infinitely better.
Oh and the reason I mentioned that I am a nursing student, is because I constantly take care of smokers and diabetics. Inhaling can wreck your lungs with cigarettes... cigars and pipes will trash them much sooner. But do not think for a second that not inhaling keeps you safe. Nicotine is the #1 killer in tobacco, because of its affects on the heart. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a horrible disease associated with inhaling smoke.
All that being said enjoy your pipes, keep working the finesse of smoking and you will soon be a pro.