I’d just like to give a big thanks to the collective assistance for a newbie like me from this forum.
Only been piping for a few months but the following is some solid advice I’ve seen or received (in no particular order):
Once again, I take my hats off to those who have provided the above guidance. If I ever meet Herr Frank I’m definitely buying him a beer!
Only been piping for a few months but the following is some solid advice I’ve seen or received (in no particular order):
- Frank method for packing a pipe - total game changer for the inexperienced piper in my view. The other methods “work” but if you don’t have a mentor showing you it’s tougher.
- Dry your baccy before loading - combined with the Frank method you won’t be constantly relighting.
- Jar your baccy - This helped me massively, especially with Latakia blends. They tasted like mouldy horseshit in my pipe straight out of the tin. Jarred and left for a month, problem solved and an awesome smoke prevailed (smoking Presbyterian as I write this, which prior to this tip I’d have never touched again - it’s now my favourite!).
- Draw your flame to the baccy when lighting, don’t torch it directly. Saves the initial few mins tasting like hot ash and far better flavour overall.
- Slow and steady - take your time, sip and enjoy it. If you don’t have an hour+ to relax and enjoy your smoke, probably not worth lighting up (I’ll preface this with the fact I’m an infrequent smoker on weekends only).
- Coffee and dark chocolate - a match made in heaven when smoking.
- Aros really aren’t for newbies - like 90% of new pipe smokers I was drawn to the marketing and reviews of “tasty” aros. Reality was I’m not experienced enough to draw out and fully appreciate the flavours. Ultimately I was tasting semi tobacco flavoured hot air with the very occasional hint of the aro. It was a hard pill to swallow as I really wanted to experience those marketing descriptions on the tin.
- Don’t be scared by “full flavoured / strong” blends - I avoided these initially thinking they’d kick my butt (hence starting with aros). With some guidance from here, I was rightfully assured as a newbie it was the best way to taste and get an appreciation of different baccy types.
- Codger blends are fine - especially when learning the mechanics of pipe smoking. PA and Granger helped me get a far better understanding of what I should be doing as they’re really forgiving.
- Breathe method and retrohale while smoking - like the Frank method of packing, these changed my appreciation of pipe smoking.
- Cobs aren’t bad - initially I was skeptical a pipe 1/5th the cost of my “reasonable” briar would be any good. Truth is they’re great, especially after changing to a forever stem. Plus if you kill them, your not going to be on the phone to the suicide hotline. I take one ADV riding because of this commodity nature.
- Careful on chamber size - as a newbie I find 1.5” depth on a chamber about perfect. Anything significantly beyond that is just too much for me.
Once again, I take my hats off to those who have provided the above guidance. If I ever meet Herr Frank I’m definitely buying him a beer!
