Introducing Friends to Pipe Smoking

[Mrs. Pickles]

You may say fuck off, Mrs. Pickles. I’m a solitary sigma. I don’t need people to smoke with.

That’s cool. I get it. My best smokes are alone.


And yet…


There’s a different enjoyment to sharing something you like with a friend— someone who wants to experience what you find nice about tobacco, pipes, and lighting things on fire. This is a question about that.

If someone wants to learn how to smoke and enjoy pipe tobacco (and you agree to teach them) how do you go about it?

What tobacco do you offer them?

What pipe?

Do you have a gnarly loner cob you haze them with?


To offer my own thoughts to start:

My interested friends get usually get a clay pipe stuffed with Tabac Manil Le Petit Robin.

A clay pipe is an inexpensive piece of history that people seem to dig. They can also clench it, burn it, and utterly trash it and it’s all no sweat, man. Buy me a beer sometime.

With regard to the tobacco, the bone-dry shag cut Semois smokes itself with a single match. There’s no worrying about the mechanics, they can just focus on the flavor and sensation. The flavor is strong, they don’t have to hunt for it. If they’re the type that wants to dig into the nuances, there’s plenty of them to find. Also, it definitely tastes like tobacco. It’s similar enough to a cigar or a cigarette (if they’re coming from that world) but its own thing. Novel but familiar and comforting. And that seems to be the experience most people want out of a pipe.


How about you?

 

[warren]

Under no circumstances I can think of would I encourage acquaintances to start burning up their moneys through smoking. I'd be doing them no favors. If a smoker asked for suggestions, I suggest they follow my path, trial and error. I learn better doing that and the lessons learned are more firmly entrenched.

 

[anotherbob]

You may say fuck off, Mrs. Pickles. I’m a solitary sigma. I don’t need people to smoke with.

That’s cool. I get it. My best smokes are alone.


And yet…


There’s a different enjoyment to sharing something you like with a friend— someone who wants to experience what you find nice about tobacco, pipes, and lighting things on fire. This is a question about that.

I agree so much. There is something about helping a friend break the membrane so to speak. I might listen to music mostly by myself but it thrills me to know I shoved a friend down a rabbit hole and they can no longer say they don't get jazz or metal.

If someone wants to learn how to smoke and enjoy pipe tobacco (and you agree to teach them) how do you go about it?

Depends on them.

What tobacco do you offer them?

I explain what tobaccos I have available and let them chose. Including explanations on which I'd reccomend. I tend to reccomend based on which is less likely to bite and smoke easily. Also their nicotine tolerance. The guy that goes through two cans of dip can probably handle five brothers the girl that used to smoke years ago is getting something a little less vitamin enriched.

What pipe?

Do you have a gnarly loner cob you haze them with?

Tends to be the Falcons. Mainly because of two things smaller chamber and less likely to give bite.
The next thing depends on who it is. Some friends give them the supplies let them take care of it themselves and if they want to ask questions, sometimes really detailed and treat it like I am training them for work. All depends on them or at least how I read them.
Most of the time though what really happens is they ask me questions about pipes and go out on their own and get a pipe and whatever tobacco is available or calls to them or sometimes just literally randomly picked from smoking pipes based on nothing more then it had a cute dog on the tin. And then they do the same thing we do on this forum.

To offer my own thoughts to start:

My interested friends get usually get a clay pipe stuffed with Tabac Manil Le Petit Robin.

A clay pipe is an inexpensive piece of history that people seem to dig. They can also clench it, burn it, and utterly trash it and it’s all no sweat, man. Buy me a beer sometime.

With regard to the tobacco, the bone-dry shag cut Semois smokes itself with a single match. There’s no worrying about the mechanics, they can just focus on the flavor and sensation. The flavor is strong, they don’t have to hunt for it. If they’re the type that wants to dig into the nuances, there’s plenty of them to find. Also, it definitely tastes like tobacco. It’s similar enough to a cigar or a cigarette (if they’re coming from that world) but its own thing. Novel but familiar and comforting. And that seems to be the experience most people want out of a pipe.


How about you?

Totally makes sense. Reminds me when the person is a cigar smoker I break from the tradition I've been taught and recommend starting with a cigar leaf blend. I noticed it really shows them what a pipe can do and the difference between a cigar and pipe blend, well having some familiar flavor profile.

 

[Servant King]

Under no circumstances I can think of would I encourage acquaintances to start burning up their moneys through smoking.

Agreed. The US dollar leaves an especially pungent room note. Best to just have them open up their wallet, take in the "tin note," and move on with life.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

Recommend starting with a cigar leaf blend... shows them what a pipe can do and the difference between a cigar and pipe blend.

That's an interesting idea that I hadn't considered. The pipe itself definitely changes things and experiencing that difference is a big part of the enjoyment.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

Under no circumstances I can think of would I encourage acquaintances to start burning up their moneys through smoking. I'd be doing them no favors.

An honest and thoughtful response. May our friends not succumb to our flaws and may we be the better for knowing them.

 

[anotherbob]

That's an interesting idea that I hadn't considered. The pipe itself definitely changes things and experiencing that difference is a big part of the enjoyment.

I feel like the goal is ultimately to show a person what is available and an option. Or in other words what a pipe can do. Usually they're surprised by how enjoyable a pipe really is or how relaxing it is.
And with what Warren said. I tend to not show someone anything with tobacco if they've never tried it before.
If they smoke cigs then the pipe might actually save their health and increase their life span. If they have enjoyed cigars on occasions especially if they're more a when the mood strikes or during the poker game smoker, then the pipe might save them money or be more enjoyable. I have to admit I do like cigars but I find pipes way more enjoyable (tend to like that cigars are lower maintenance, but the pipe is just more fun).

 

[sardonicus87]

If someone did ask, I have a $50 Ropp that I'd let them use.

That's how I got into pipes almost 20 years ago. I used to make my own cigarettes and a guy at school noticed how much I seemed to actually enjoy and savor them (as opposed to only just getting a fix) and he asked if I ever tried a pipe. Invited me to his apartment to try some. He loaded a briar with PS 81 Danish Export.

I'd personally suggest cheap briar that's broken in and smokes easy over a cob or clay. Yeah clay is cheap, but it's not going to be fun for them if it sticks to their lip or they hold it by the bowl and burn their fingers. I also find cobs off-putting personally, and they can be minorly divisive, but almost nobody hates briar when it comes to pipes (even if they prefer clays or meers or cobs, they don't hate briar). Plus, we're talking about letting them use a pipe a handful of times here, under supervision and guidance, you can stop them from burning it out.

As to what to load, I wouldn't start them on a straight virginia or an aro. Maybe some kind of lightly flavored (non-aromatic) burley blend, like an LJP burley, or something like MB Navy Flake.

The only other thing I might do is get the pipe started for them (wiping off the mouthpiece obviously before giving it to them). You just want them to have an easy first time, set up for success to see if they'd like it. Then they can go get their own pipes.

 

[Searock Fan]

Doesn't happen often, but the last few times someone asked my about how to smoke a pipe, I suggested they research on the net, write down any questions they had and then get back to me. Can't remember anyone ever "getting back to me." Most of the time when a newbie realizes how much work and expense it is they just blow if off.....

 

[Sig]

Ive had a few friends who were interested. Only one stuck with it and he is a MONSTER!
For instance, a couple weeks ago he showed me his new $2,000 S Bang pipe.....to go along with his other three. If it's a big name carver, he's got at least one. I'm not completely sure what tobaccos he's into because he only talks about pipes.
I gave him a Falcon and a cob a few years ago, the rest he did.
Other friends have tried because the love the smell when I'm smoking. But, they soon realize it's not the same.
Pipe smoking is something where you really got to like fiddling and trying new things. Most nicotene junkies will just smoke cigarettes or dip. The tools and the array of different tobaccos is why I do it. I'd still do this if there was no nicotene.

 

[Sobrbiker]

The friends I do have that partake of nicotine already are set in their ways, and none have expressed any curiosity when I break out a pipe.
If asked, I’m sure I’ll do what I do with anything-share my experience up to that point in time highlighting the pitfalls and triumphs along with the ever present caveat that my opinion is just that.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

This has been an enlightening thread so far. I think I've seen my pipe-smoking life flash before my eyes.

What I wanted when I started with the pipe was something novel and comforting, but mostly what I got was something to fiddle with, obsess over, and burn the money right out of my wallet.

 

[Auxsender]

What I wanted when I started with the pipe was something novel and comforting, but mostly what I got was something to fiddle with, obsess over, and burn the money right out of my wallet.

Is this bad or good? I can’t tell.
Are you happy with what you ended up with?

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

Is this bad or good? I can’t tell.
Are you happy with what you ended up with?

Yes. It’s been a delight.

 

[OzPiper]

I’m with @warren about introducing non-smokers to pipes.

I’ve had a few enquiries from cigar-smoking mates, but only one has stuck with it. He had smoked a pipe years ago.
He was interested in getting a Falcon. I had a little used one, which I cleaned up, together with a few others and gave them to him.
Pointed him towards a tobacco retailer or two, and away he went.

 

[telescopes]

I personally don't feel the need to discourage people from a vice. Death comes for us all. That said, in my experience most people don't have the patience to take up a pipe. Those that do pick it up because they will themselves to do so - if they are ones who stay with it.

 

[PaulRVA]

You ask and I’ll steer you along the best I can but it’s been my experience that someone rarely sticks with it. Once the novelty wears off or when they don’t work through the gamut of beginners problems and overcome them they tend to bow out.
Im also with @warren in that I’m not going to encourage someone to play who already isn’t in the game.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

You may say fuck off, Mrs. Pickles.

Nah, but I’ll think it since you think that’s the way to express yourself to start a thread.

Let’s keep that bar low.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

Nah, but I’ll think it since you think that’s the way to express yourself to start a thread.

Let’s keep that bar low.

Sorry for the obscenity, Linus. I am crass, but I appreciate gentle reminder to keep decorum (and puppy avatar) you bring to the discussion.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

I’ve had a few enquiries from cigar-smoking mates, but only one has stuck with it.

That said, in my experience most people don't have the patience to take up a pipe. Those that do pick it up because they will themselves to do so - if they are ones who stay with it.

You ask and I’ll steer you along the best I can but it’s been my experience that someone rarely sticks with it. Once the novelty wears off or when they don’t work through the gamut of beginners problems and overcome them they tend to bow out.

Yeah, true. This tracks with my experience as well. Most people just want to experience it once or twice.

I certainly enjoy show-and-tell with a friend, but If they're not a patient person who already likes tobacco and can endure a learning curve, not even the addictive power of nicotine can keep them smoking a pipe!