New to Pipes and Ran Into a Bit of an Issue

[Murmur]

I am pretty new to pipes and have run into an issue

I smoke aromatics primarily, but i figured i would give a different tobacco a try. picked up captain earles private stock and really was not a fan, now all of my tobacco tastes like it or has a similar taste to it.

I have tried cleaning my pipe and smoking a few extra times to hopefully get that flavor i enjoyed from my favorite tobacco. but to no avail

Really not wanting to have to get a new new pipe since i just picked this one up a few weeks ago

 

[Grovius]

That is probably the latakia which has ghosted your pipe. You can try filling it with fresh spent coffee grounds and let them dry, then clean and see. If the problem persists, you can try the salt and alcohol cure, but be careful (pipe finish on the outside, acrylic stem, etc.).

 

[lraisch]

Usually works the other way around and aromatics "ghost" a pipe. I would suggest a good cleaning with some pipe sweetener or high proof grain alcohol and then smoke it some more. I have had pipes that were "ghosted" take a dozen or more smokes until they recovered.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

While you've got the ghost you may as well double down and try a real English blend.
Private Stock is relatively light on the Latakia, I'd say try G.L. Pease Quiet Nights before you give up on the genre.

 

[pappymac]

I would suggest you invest in a couple of Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipes and use those when trying out new tobacco blends.

I also recommend the fresh, used coffee grounds - just make sure it's not a flavored coffee. I've used that in restoring estate pipes I've found in junky antique shops and it works for me.

 

[Dudditz]

Take a look at this video. It might help you out.

 

[kcghost]

Yes, you need to ivest in a couple more pipes or you will be having more problems like this.

 

[Humblepipe]

I am pretty new to pipes and have run into an issue

I smoke aromatics primarily, but i figured i would give a different tobacco a try. picked up captain earles private stock and really was not a fan, now all of my tobacco tastes like it or has a similar taste to it.

I have tried cleaning my pipe and smoking a few extra times to hopefully get that flavor i enjoyed from my favorite tobacco. but to no avail

Really not wanting to have to get a new new pipe since i just picked this one up a few weeks ago

If you PM me, I will send you an "estate pipe" that is clean with no ghosting (no cost, no strings attached). It will be an older pipe and nothing fancy, but might help you compare tobaccos, smoking experiences. I have a few options in terms of shapes. Let me know... I was new to the pipe not long ago.

 

[Grangerous]

I feel the boys on the forum mean you well but there is no sense sugar coating it…. your pipe is ruined. Mail it to: @Grangerous
PO Box…
New Jersey Shore

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I've stopped smoking latakia now, but I found that when I used to smoke it, I couldn't taste any other tobacco properly for 2 days.
It affects a lot of people the same way, and this could be your problem, and not the pipe itself.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Usually works the other way around and aromatics "ghost" a pipe.

Latakia is still classed as an aromatic in parts of the world and the worst ghost I've ever tried to remove from estate pipes.

 

[Merton]

The advice to buy a few cobs is sound. I would add that buying the MM models with the acrylic stems is your best bet as they are real pipes not novelties and will last for years. They cost around $25. Secondly, there are lots of inexpensive estates around (check smoking pipes) which have been cleaned and sanitized. I would not suggest that, at this point in your pipesmoking life, that you buy some old pipe from an antique store. That could be enough to put you off pipes forever. Finally, ghosts, in most cases, vanish after a good cleaning and smoking some blend that you like in the pipe few times followed by cleaning. But, one pipe won't be enough and you probably will be better off with three to start (stay tuned, you'll be getting more).
One last thing, i like some aromatics and formerly smoked mostly English blends (blends containing varying amounts of latakia). I now smoke mostly virginia blends with almost no English blends. The point is that there is a long arc in this hobby and your taste in both tobacco and pipes will change, grow, wax and wane over time. Try a number of blends and see what you like. The Amphora line by MacBaren is a good place to start. A variety of blends , well made with good quality leaf at a very reasonable price.
Good luck

 

[OzPiper]

Virginias and Vapers don't leave much of a ghost, but English/Balkans (Latakia and Oriental blends) and aromatics do.

If you are smoking different genres of tobacco and a ghosted pipe bothers you, then having more than 1 pipe is a must. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time trying to exorcise that ghost.

If you look, it's possible to get unsmoked briar pipes for as low as USD$20-30 each. PM me if you need a lead.

 

[bullet08]

I play a Catholic priest on TV show. Not really, but let's pretend. Latakia don't ghost my pipes, or the ghost run at the sight of my collar. Don't have problem smoking Va on same pipe day after Lat. Either that or my palate is dead.

 

[didimauw]

I have no experience with Latakia, however a good warm water flush will do wonders and keep most pipes smelling neutral. I'd try that first before anything else.

 

[Jacob74]

If you PM me, I will send you an "estate pipe" that is clean with no ghosting (no cost, no strings attached). It will be an older pipe and nothing fancy, but might help you compare tobaccos, smoking experiences. I have a few options in terms of shapes. Let me know... I was new to the pipe not long ago.

Good on you 7charb, very generous! Murmur, take heart. Your pipe will come back to normal after a good cleaning. Having a few different pipes for different types of blends is a great idea. You'll only need a few, say... 58 or so different ones to keep some good variety.

 

[chopper]

I am pretty new to pipes and have run into an issue

I smoke aromatics primarily, but i figured i would give a different tobacco a try. picked up captain earles private stock and really was not a fan, now all of my tobacco tastes like it or has a similar taste to it.

I have tried cleaning my pipe and smoking a few extra times to hopefully get that flavor i enjoyed from my favorite tobacco. but to no avail

Really not wanting to have to get a new new pipe since i just picked this one up a few weeks ago

You must have a rather sensitive palate.
I smoke most genres [except for Lat-bombs and sticky aromatics] and don't even notice any ghosting.

Latakia is a rather strong flavour. For me it was an acquired taste.
Those who smoke Lat-bombs predominantly often suffer from palate fatigue.
Latakia is best suited to my preferences when it's used as a condiment.

After a few bowls of an aromatic, the ghost should disappear.

Nonetheless, since you appear to have a sensitive palate, you might want to consider dedicating that pipe to English/Balkan blends and buy yourself a few more pipes.

Highly recommend Missouri Meerschaum cobs. Very good smokers at very reasonable price.
I recommend those with a hardwood insert at the base.
Last night I pulled the trigger on nine cobs including 2 x Let Freedom Ring cobs [$8.99 each] and 2 x Polished Morgan cobs at $9.99 each.
Excellent value for a cob with a hardwood insert.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Take your pipe apart and clean it. Run warm water through the bowl. It may dull the finish but it won't ruin it and you can shine it back up again. Then take a bunch of pipe cleaners and clean the airway. If you have any cake in the bowl, ream it out. If you don't have a reamer, then wad up some paper towel and clean out the bowl. Now take some paper towel and wipe out the inside of the bowl with some alcohol - rum, whiskey, vodka, doesn't matter. Use the alcohol to dip some pipe cleaners in and run them through the air way. Let the whole thing dry and then start smoking tomorrow. If the ghost isn't gone, it will be soon enough as you smoke it. Your pipe is by no means ruined. Ghost don't stay forever. You may eventually develop a taste for English blends but they, as you now know, are quite different from aromatics. I couldn't stand them for the first 10 years of pipe smoking and now I love them.

 

[anotherbob]

Personally I'd just smoke the ghost out. I've only had one ghost that stayed for any really length. Sweet Mystery X which is what it sounds like. A very sweet aro with a hard to pin down flavor. Basically everything after that for a long while tasted so much sweeter which wasn't always bad. Even that left after a few smokes.

 

[Akousticplyr]

If you PM me, I will send you an "estate pipe" that is clean with no ghosting (no cost, no strings attached). It will be an older pipe and nothing fancy, but might help you compare tobaccos, smoking experiences. I have a few options in terms of shapes. Let me know... I was new to the pipe not long ago.

A true gentleman!