My first experience

[NashNathan]

It was interesting. I was excited with anxiety. I was not as relaxed as I should be. I did the 3 pinch method. Was outside about 25 minutes. Relit 4 times. When I finished there was alot in the bowl still. I can see how this can take up to an hour or more. I definitely need to relax and take it easy.

The blend I tried was Black Kathy. Not too much on taste. But I am also congested in my head and nose. The next blend I will try is English Luxury. I am not a fan of high nicotine, so want to get light nicotine blends. The cob pipe I bought is filtered.

I liked the experience even though I had anxiety, not relaxed and not enough time. I will be placing an online order soon to get a variety of different blend categories. Thanks Guys.

 

[warren]

There are no rules really. Well, other than needing a pipe, something to burn and fire. You don't need to be relaxed, you can simply stuff and puff, my preferred method. I can relax without a pipe and also, enjoy my pipe while hard at work.

Hit one of the local shops, the one on Fairbanks St.?, used to have a variety of house blends, some of which have been around for fifty years, and try a few different ones. I no longer use them as their hours are inconvenient. But, they used to offer, back when Bob owned it, a nice variety of blends and pipes.

 

[NashNathan]

There are no rules really. Well, other than needing a pipe, something to burn and fire. You don't need to be relaxed, you can simply stuff and puff, my preferred method. I can relax without a pipe and also, enjoy my pipe while hard at work.

Hit one of the local shops, the one on Fairbanks St.?, used to have a variety of house blends, some of which have been around for fifty years, and try a few different ones. I no longer use them as their hours are inconvenient. But, they used to offer, back when Bob owned it, a nice variety of blends and pipes.

That's the one I went to yesterday. 5th ave cigars. I got 5 different blends. A couple cob pipes. They have about 30 kinds. A nice selection of regular pipes too.

 

[anotherbob]

It was interesting. I was excited with anxiety. I was not as relaxed as I should be. I did the 3 pinch method. Was outside about 25 minutes. Relit 4 times. When I finished there was alot in the bowl still. I can see how this can take up to an hour or more.

I really think the easier way to go then the 3 pinch method for a beginner is to gravity fill the pipe. You literally drop the leaf in tap the heel of the pipe just to level off what you dropped in repeat until you get to the top. Here is where it gets a touch trickier (neat part though is even if you over do this part most of the pipe will be packed well) pinch small amounts of tobacco and tamp them down with the finger until you start to feel resistance when you draw on the pipe. Also only really one step at the end where you have any bit where you'll run into any variations. Or that's how I do it and wish I would have come across that pack earlier. (I am old enough I had to watch old timers to figure out things to try.).

I definitely need to relax and take it easy.

Good advice for life too. Thankfully pipes can help with that.

The blend I tried was Black Kathy. Not too much on taste.

You're not really going to get much taste from any blend for a while. It's kind of weird when things start to click and you start smoking without too much thinking or effort and the flavors pop and you realize it's worth it to try blends you found boreing before.

But I am also congested in my head and nose. The next blend I will try is English Luxury. I am not a fan of high nicotine, so want to get light nicotine blends. The cob pipe I bought is filtered.

I liked the experience even though I had anxiety, not relaxed and not enough time. I will be placing an online order soon to get a variety of different blend categories. Thanks Guys.

Quick question for you. Isn't it more fun then it seems like it should be?

 

[OverMountain]

Sounds like a good start. Relax and chill, you’re supposed to look cool doing this .

I didn’t taste much starting out because I didn’t dry my tobacco, and I puffed like a chimney because I thought there had to be smoke. Needless to say, I set my tongue on fire!

You are having a way better first go that I did. Enjoy and happy 4th!

 

[NashNathan]

I really think the easier way to go then the 3 pinch method for a beginner is to gravity fill the pipe. You literally drop the leaf in tap the heel of the pipe just to level off what you dropped in repeat until you get to the top. Here is where it gets a touch trickier (neat part though is even if you over do this part most of the pipe will be packed well) pinch small amounts of tobacco and tamp them down with the finger until you start to feel resistance when you draw on the pipe. Also only really one step at the end where you have any bit where you'll run into any variations. Or that's how I do it and wish I would have come across that pack earlier. (I am old enough I had to watch old timers to figure out things to try.).

Good advice for life too. Thankfully pipes can help with that.

You're not really going to get much taste from any blend for a while. It's kind of weird when things start to click and you start smoking without too much thinking or effort and the flavors pop and you realize it's worth it to try blends you found boreing before.

Quick question for you. Isn't it more fun then it seems like it should be?

Thank you. And yes, it is fun.

 

[NashNathan]

T

Sounds like a good start. Relax and chill, you’re supposed to look cool doing this .

I didn’t taste much starting out because I didn’t dry my tobacco, and I puffed like a chimney because I thought there had to be smoke. Needless to say, I set my tongue on fire!

You are having a way better first go that I did. Enjoy and Happy 4th.

Thanks. I had zero tongue bite.

 

[OverMountain]

T


Thanks. I had zero tongue bite.

Great news. When able, check out a classic like SWR/SWRA. They burn cooler and are a staple of pipe tobacco history.

 

[anotherbob]

Thank you. And yes, it is fun.

nope thank you. The more people learn about and also enjoy pipe smoking the better for us.

 

[warren]

Never been to 5th Avenue Cigars. I stay out of the city after I retired from my career job. Back in the day, I forget the old guy's name, it was a combination used pipe and head shop. I believe his daughter owns it now. I used to stop in when I was walking foot patrol.

 

[bullet08]

Used to grow fig called Kathleen's Black. I wait five years for it to put on a fig. Got frustrated and pinched it. Results were exceptionally good. Sweet, good size fig. Well, smoking pipes are like that. Relax and slow down. Result might bring enjoyment. Three pinch method, don't press in so hard after each pinch. The idea is a lot of space for air.

 

[warren]

To address the conflict in my earlier response to the OP. I've not been in the shop since I retired. I did frequent the shop when working in the city. G and P is the current incarnation of the shop I was referring to. It is located south of Fireweed Lane on Fairbanks St. Been a few years since I've availed myself of their services but, back then, it carried a decent selection of pipes, blends and such. They also hosted a club.

I facitously refer to IRC as my local brick and mortar even though it's thousands of miles away.

 

[NashNathan]

To address the conflict in my earlier response to the OP. I've not been in the shop since I retired. I did frequent the shop when working in the city. G and P is the current incarnation of the shop I was referring to. It is located south of Fireweed Lane on Fairbanks St. Been a few years since I've availed myself of their services but, back then, it carried a decent selection of pipes, blends and such. They also hosted a club.

I facitously refer to IRC as my local brick and mortar even though it's thousands of miles away.

I will have to go check them out. Thanks.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

If you haven't been pointed there yet, or found them yourself, Tobacco Reviews is a very good resource. Can help you find things at a strength you're comfortable with, and the more detailed reviews are also helpful in guiding you to pick out individual flavors/components.

 

[kcghost]

Don't worry about us. We really don't care how many relights or which packing method you use or any of that that stuff. We do like that you were smoking outside, and you had a good time.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Sounds like a good start. Relax and chill, you’re supposed to look cool doing this .

I didn’t taste much starting out because I didn’t dry my tobacco, and I puffed like a chimney because I thought there had to be smoke. Needless to say, I set my tongue on fire!

You are having a way better first go that I did. Enjoy and happy 4th!

This made me laugh. I always tell my medical students that the #1 rule in surgery is to always look cool.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Don't worry about us. We really don't care how many relights or which packing method you use or any of that that stuff. We do like that you were smoking outside, and you had a good time.

Once you realize that relighting is OK, it gets so much easier.

 

[AcesAndEights]

Ha! Sounds way better than my first experience! The first time I smoked a pipe was at an impromptu “man weekend”. No wives or kids allowed, dammit! We were drinking, BBQing, playing yard games, etc.

My brother, nice guy that he is, bought us each a pipe and brought a few baggies of tobacco. So we’re all sitting around, passing around these little bags of tobacco that were sitting in the sun, getting visible condensation built up in them, puffing away like idiots trying to keep the stuff lit. More un-burned tobacco than ash in the ashtray.

We all had blisters in our mouths for a week. Sounds like you’re off to a good start!

 

[OverMountain]

This made me laugh. I always tell my medical students that the #1 rule in surgery is to always look cool.

Definitely true in aviation as well

 

[Lucashly]

This made me laugh. I always tell my medical students that the #1 rule in surgery is to always look cool.

A good lesson in general.