New to the Hobby

[hunlock]

Greetings!
I am a pretty serious cigar smoker/collector, and have been for the last seven years or so. I have always wondered about what it would be like to enjoy a pipe, and what that side of the hobby was like. Last week, I picked up a cheap drugstore pipe, and some captain black. I have to say, I think I can really get into this! So much so, that I am thinking of unloading some cigars to help fund my new hobby.
I do have some basic questions, that I hope you fine folks can help me out with.
Basically, I'd like to pipe up a good pipe. Ideally, it would be under $50. Of course, I know price ranges vary drastically, but I think as a newb, this would be a good starting point. The drugstore pipe works fine, but something tells me that it's just not going to cut it. Can anyone recommend a pipe that would fit this category? I like the look and feel of a drop pipe, but at this point, I am open to all and any suggestions. Next, I keep hearing about the "proper" pipe for various tobaccos. At this point, should I be worried about this?
I am very excited to be a new member in your community,and look forward to learning from all of you!!!
Thanks in advance for any assistance you may provide.
-TB

 

[ejames]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[hunlock]

Wow!
Thanks for the welcomes and the links!
My drugstore pipe cost me $3.73.... Haha!

So, your suggestions of Dr. Grabow, and Kaywoodie seem to fit the bill!
I'll check out the links as well.
Thanks so much!

 

[vabriar]

I to extend a welcome! I think others have hit the nail on the head but I will also suggest checking out local tobacco shops in your area. Good luck and I look forward to hearing your opinions due to your cigar background.

 

[kyriefurro]

My drugstore pipe cost me $3.73.... Haha!

Let me guess, one of those Fujima "quality" pipes? The ones with the metal lining? That's what I started out with. Moving up to a $30 generic basket pipe from the local tobacconist was a serious improvement.

 

[judcole]

Welcome aboard.
If you are going to be serious about this hobby, you are going to have to spend some money, just like you do with cigars. Smoking what you are smoking is, to be blunt, like smoking White Owls.

Basically, I'd like to pipe up a good pipe. Ideally, it would be under $50

No such thing, unless you get a good deal on an estate. Dr. Grabows and Kaywoodies - at least the current production runs - are, at best, rotation filler. (I have heard that some of the older Kaywoodies are very good indeed.)
Roth's advice is right on the money.

 

[ssjones]

Check BriarBid.com, members post decent pipes there (I recommend Andy, aka DocWatson pipes) I think his name there is Charatnlovr.

 

[hunlock]

Again, great advice!
I have no problem spending a bit more for a pipe, but I was hoping it was something I could ease into. An estate pipe? No problems there either. In fact, I dig vintage, collectible items. I have a strong drive to create project-based hobbies for myself, and could easily get into buying estate pipes, refurbishing, and collecting. Like I may have mentioned before, there are many levels of this hobby that interest me.
All of my local shops have only a small handful of pipes and accessories, and eBay is full of lesser quality knock offs. I guess briarbid and done other forums with classified sections would be a nice place to start.
When I first started enjoying cigars, I thought: "how are people tasting these different taste profiles? All I taste is smoke!"

I assume the same will happen here. From the style of pipe to the way I smoke it, it seems that all should play a vital role in altering the experience.
If I haven't mentioned before, I have to say that I really am excited to be here and learn from you folks.
-TB

 

[jah76]

Welcome!
Marty Pulver sells good quality estate pipes under $50 on his "Specials" page. I've had nothing but good business with Marty and if you ask an honest question you'll get an honest answer.
http://www.pulversbriar.com/

 

[jfox520]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[smokeybear]

Welcome to the forum this is a great place to learn and i see you have already received some very sound advice.
If i can add anything to the advice i would just say search the bidding sites such as ebay for a good estate pipe you shouldn't have a problem finding one under 50$ but worth more thats the great thing about estates plus most are already worked in.
If you have questions on a particular brand just ask on here and im sure someone will help explain the brand to you. Once you acquire an estate go through the cleaning ritual (you can find how to clean them on here aswell) and after that enjoy your experience.
Picking a Pipe isnt easy but its part of the fun of this journey and if you think thats difficult wait till you start looking for your favorite blends. 8O Happy Piping and again welcome ::

 

[kyriefurro]

eBay is full of lesser quality knock offs

Not necessarily. You *do* have to do your research and read the auctions carefully, but, at least from my experience this last couple of weeks, many of the pipes on there are decent quality. In the last two weeks I picked up a J.M. Boswell freehand for $42, a Peterson Limerick for $38, and the Champ freehand I posted yesterday for $36. I also lost out on several auctions as they shot past my price range. But yeah, as Smokeybear said, you canf in find some good ones at a pretty reasonable price if you're patient.

 

[mso489]

There are several ways to go at this, like using MM cobs to fill out your rotation until you feel you want to

invest in a mid-level pipe ($80 to $100). Another suggestion that hasn't been greeted with wild enthusiasm

yet, but that works: Go to Cup O Joes site, Savenelli pipes, Economy pipes, and look at the unfinished pipes.

These become golden brown and look great after about a month. They go for $44 to $50 or so, and they

are Savenelli's, so you'll be smoking them for the rest of your life, enjoyably, whatever else you may buy later.

 

[fitzy]

+1 Roth.
I'd also add into the mix that you can look at some Brigham pipes that start at about $50.

Here's a nice one for $50.96

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/Brigham/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=127700
You can find a nice Savinell for $50 and up.
These for example are $50.83

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=125679

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=125731

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=116629
I absolutely would recommend you buy a decent briar pipe in the 50 to 100 dollar range.

 

[smeigs]

welcome hunlock! If you have a local B&M that you can check out I would look for some estate pipes as well, I have picked up some great estate pipes for under 50 bucks. There are always some great "no name" pipes as well at B&M's, this means that they are pipes that have been made by big name companies such as Savinelli but they are made by either new pipe makers or they are mass produced to sell to shops around the globe. A good cob is always a great place to start as well. Good luck and hope you enjoy the hobby!

 

[tarak]

Welcome to the hobby.
Couple of suggestions. Check out Savinelli's Duco Carlo or Morino lines ($50ish), or even better, if you can throw just a couple more bucks, their Toscana line (just under $70) :
I own a used Toscana from the mid-90s and its a great little smoker.
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/index.cfm?tag=Duca%20Carlo
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/index.cfm?tag=Toscana
Also, corncobs do garner respect.
Ebay is a risk, especially if you are new. But if there's a specific pipe you're looking for....search for it there. Make the sure the seller has good ratings, sells pipes regularly, and look for plenty of pics and a good description to check for stem wear, tooth marks, charring, etc.

 

[phred]

Welcome, hunlock!

When I first started enjoying cigars, I thought: "how are people tasting these different taste profiles? All I taste is smoke!" I assume the same will happen here.

Yep, pretty much. Roth had a great post a while back in this thread - the OP was asking about samplers, and roth's recommendations are spot-on. Get samples of representative types of tobacco - English/Latakia blends, Virginias, Burleys, Va/Pers, Oriental blends - and learn the major differences. Then, as you find flavor profiles that you prefer, you can 'drill down' into the subtler differences between various Burley blends, or specific examples of Va/Pers. I'd recommend at least a couple of each major type - if I were to judge all Burleys by my experience with Sir Walter Raleigh, for example, I'd have never tried Sugar Barrel...

 

[tarak]

The old saying around here is "smoke the best you can afford to buy".
That being said, I have a friend who loves his $45 basket pipe bought at a local store.
Do yourself a favor, and seek out some better tobacco as well (my apologies to any Captain Black fans).
With your cigar background, you may enjoy a myriad of different kinds.

 

[hunlock]

Whoa!
Tons of great links fellas! I truly appreciate your input!
As far as the tobacco is concerned, I do intend on experimenting. I am not one for flavored cigars, but I do seem to enjoy the aromatics. I think I might pickup a few ounces, and see what I like and what I don't. I never thought I'd like to "barnyard" aroma of some of my cigars, but now it's something I seek out. So I guess it would be important to revisit different tobaccos from time to time as my palate develops.
I'm pretty excited to experiment and discover tobaccos. I remember a long time ago, someone at my local lounge just finished a pipe as I arrived. I remembered thinking that the room smelled like figs, dark fruit, spices, and I would even venture to say sweet vanilla-bourbon.... Man, that smelled great!

 

[cigrmaster]

hunlock, welcome to the site. I was a big cigar guy for a number of years and the one blend that opened my eyes to how great a pipe could be was Escudo. It has the flavor and strength that I was looking for coming off of cigars. I did not start with aromatics as many do. Since you are a cigar guy and collector, then you are used to paying 10 plus for cigars, so a ten dollar tin of tobacco which will give you at least a dozen smokes, is a hell of a deal.
In terms of pipes, spend more money and get a quality pipe. The pipe will make a big difference in your enjoyment of pipe tobacco. Grab a nice Savinelli( it was my first pipe) and see what you think. Pipe smoking is totally unlike cigar smoking. It has a large learning curve but it is worth it. You will find that there are so many more aspects to piping than smoking cigars. Cleaning your pipes, packing properly, slow smoking, prepping your tobacco, finding out what tobacco you like, finding out what pipes you like, size of pipes, shape of pipes, weight of pipes, the list goes on and on. Take your time and enjoy the journey. Oh yeah, make sure you have plenty of pipe cleaners, they are your friend.