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Servant King

Lifer
Nov 27, 2020
4,732
27,422
39
Frazier Park, CA
www.thechembow.com
Welcome to the forum, from Southern California. One caveat about University Flake though...the amount of dry time you'll need for it does border on the absurd. For me, I thought an hour would suffice. Wrong! I then thought three hours would take care of it. Wrong again. Then I tried six. No closer...I literally needed to leave it out overnight just to get it past beef jerky texture, and I still had difficulty keeping it lit. Not even the goopiest aromatics I ever tried were that stubborn. So yes, I second what @ashdigger said, but sometimes...let's just say you need to go the extra distance.

Enjoy the forum, and happy smokes! 👍
 
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gervais

Lifer
Sep 4, 2019
2,202
7,753
40
Ontario
Welcome from Ontario, Canada!
For the record, I've been smoking my pipes since 2019, and I STILL suck at it. 😂

Not sure if that makes you feel better or worse!
 

Seeleybc1

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 29, 2022
180
1,018
Palmer AK
Yep welcome! can’t say anything that others already haven’t, but will add that I was/am in the same boat! Very new to it. Having said that you’d be surprised how fast things will progress in terms of starting to be able to enjoy the actual smoking experience. I’ve been sidetracked (in a good way) by the pipe aspect of it, and now can’t stop looking at pipes online and in shops lol. Regarding the smoking part, I am one of the ones that overthinks things, wants to do it right immediately, wants it to be perfect. I’m finding out that just isn’t the way the pipe smoking thing works, and am focusing on the experience of learning and growing, instead of an end result. This forum is a fantastic resource. Cheers !
 
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Lyon0oq

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 31, 2012
569
5,343
55
New Providence, NJ
Welcome from CA, and are you using a tamper? I went through my 20s and some of my 30s not using a tamper when I smoked my pipe, and never understanding why I couldn't keep the darn thing lit.


Screen Shot 2023-01-19 at 1.40.48 AM.png
 
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rmbittner

Lifer
Dec 12, 2012
2,759
2,024
Welcome from mid-Michigan!

“Sucking” is pretty general; feel free to share what, exactly, isn’t working for you and we’ll do our best to help or to point you to the threads where others worked through the very same issue.

I‘ll just say this right off the bat, though: There seems to be this idea floating around that every bowl should be a two-match bowl and that “good” pipesmokers never need to relight or that there’s something wrong with relighting. Don’t believe it. Depending on the cut of your tobacco (and a host of other things) the two-match bowl may be a rare surprise or even something you never experience. Don’t stress out about trying to make it happen.
 

OverMountain

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,399
4,970
NOVA
Dry it, sip it, burn it cool. One day it just clicks, at least it did for me.

Welcome, we hope to enjoy your company!
 

Seeleybc1

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 29, 2022
180
1,018
Palmer AK
I agree. It’s starting to happen for me, and I must say it’s nice.
kinda like learning to play the guitar. There’s a frustrating, almost physically painful phase of learning in the beginning, then things sort of click as you say. Youre not there yet. Youre still not very good really, but you are at the point where you can at least enjoy it as you continue to grow and learn.
 
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anotherbob

Lifer
Mar 30, 2019
16,661
31,234
46
In the semi-rural NorthEastern USA
Welcome from mid-Michigan!

“Sucking” is pretty general; feel free to share what, exactly, isn’t working for you and we’ll do our best to help or to point you to the threads where others worked through the very same issue.

I‘ll just say this right off the bat, though: There seems to be this idea floating around that every bowl should be a two-match bowl and that “good” pipesmokers never need to relight or that there’s something wrong with relighting. Don’t believe it. Depending on the cut of your tobacco (and a host of other things) the two-match bowl may be a rare surprise or even something you never experience. Don’t stress out about trying to make it happen.
a pipe can be a two match or half the box it is less an always thing and more of a wow it happens much more often and more so if yot don't care how many relights it takes.
 
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atwaterville

Starting to Get Obsessed
Nov 15, 2021
263
3,155
Los Angeles, CA
Welcome. As an occasional cigar puffer myself, I can understand the frustration of adjusting to pipe smoking technique and pipe care. I think someone on this forum made an analogy of cigar smoking is like drinking a cup of espresso whereas pipe smoking is like sipping a cup of fine tea. I try to remind myself constantly to slow down when I get excited with the flavor and started to puff faster. I find packing the pipe using the Frank method and smoking using the breathe method generally work for me.

Enjoy your piping journey!
 
May 9, 2021
1,688
3,621
56
Geoje Island South Korea
Howdy & welcome, from Korea.

What you're describing about your experiences are pretty much akin to mine.
Take your time with it, dry your tobacco and keep on going.

There's much to be learnt from this place.