New user pipe suggestions

[swmalone]

A little background. I occasionally smoked cigars but decided I wanted to try a pipe. I picked up some pipes in an ebay auction and I have some questions about which I should keep and which I should resell, dump, or whatever. I am hoping you don't tell me to dump them all.
I picked up a Missouri Meerschaum, this was new from a store. The used pipes are a medico standard, a KBB Yellow Bole Honey Cured Imported Briar, Carey Magic Inch, and then a few briars with no maker marks anywhere. I have tried the meerschaum, medico, and kbb.
I live in Northern Utah and the nearest tobacco store of any kind is a 20 mile drive and the selection of pipe tobaccos is pretty limited. I have been able to get a few samples of tobacco that the owner provided for me to get a start. I have been visiting this site an others for tips on how to pack and light the pipes as well as how to clean them. What I have been noticing is that the two briars seem to burn hot and wet compared to the meerschaum. I am just looking for suggestions on the pipes and what I might be doing wrong. Sorry if I am not providing enough detail.
Also on another note I was visiting a thrift store and came across a couple of Dr. Grabow pipes, I believe a duke and grand duke. They were listed at 20 a piece and seemed to be in really good shape. Any input on if I should consider picking up one of these would be appreciated as well.

 

[fadingdaylight]

I wouldn't suggest dumping any of them. If you can post pics, that will Help check out he condition. If they are in good shape and clean, I would say keep them and smoke them. At least for a now while your building your rotation.
The corn cobs are great. Super affordable and smoke like a dream, I just recently got onto them. Having a few around is definitely a good idea in my book.

 

[puffdoggie]

swmalone, one mistake many new pipe smokers make is smoking too fast causing excess heat & moisture. Try slowing down. This can also be affected by how you pack the pipe and the blend you are smoking. Each pipe may have its' own peculiar ideal packing for a given blend. Some pipes will make a blend smoke & taste great while the same blend will not taste the same in another pipe. As I said above, slow down, vary your packing to find the right pack for the pipe & blend. It's all part of the learning curve. Welcome to the forum & the hobby. Happy puffin,
Dave

 

[swmalone]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try to get some pictures of them and figure out how to post. Any thoughts on the two Dr. Grabow pipes? I think that if they are still there I can get them for $16 each if I make a donation, or I can hope they will stick around another week and they will drop in price by 50%. The combination of tobacco and pipe making the taste vary is something I'm going to have to get used to. I will have to try to smoke each of the blends in each of the pipes before I decide whether or not I want to stick with the blend.
The blends I have are a vanilla cavendish, rum maple, peter stokkerby black truffle, and virginia no. 1. That last one seemed to have a bit more nicotine than I'm used to. I felt a bit sick after smoking that.
To comment on how long it takes me to smoke it is usually about 40 minutes. I have a question about thoughts on only packing the bowl half full. If I wanted to have a bit quicker smoke is this acceptable or would it be better for me to find a pipe with a smaller bowl for that purpose?
Again thanks for the quick responses.

 

[mcluvinmypipe]

I am fairly new pipe smoker.I can share with you only my experiences.I found my pipe that has a thicker bowl works good it does not get as hot it gets warm but not hot.I also learned to sip not hit to hard that has saved my tongue.I suffered a scorched tongue and learned to slow way down.I even put my pipe down now and then to cool off a little then do a relight.When I am lighting my pipe I just tease the tobacco with a match I try not to make a big ball of fire.I switched from cigerettes to a pipe and taught myself to slow down and not panic and stress to finish my bowl off I know my tobacco will always be there.My jones has left me I do not stress over the need of a cigarette anymore.I look forward to my next pipe.I started with aromatic liquor store blends and found out they are to me a bit more bitter and biting.I like english blends now they seem to burn cooler and my tongue does not sting from them.I also like Royal Yacht it is classified as an aromatic but it is a Virginia blend I really like it.My english blend is Nightcap smooth and strong.I have a couple pipes the ones i use most often is a 9mm filtered Rhodesian style and an unfiltered Canadian by Weber,ebay,I smoke my Virginia out of the Rhodesian and smoke my English in my larger Weber.hope this helps.It only gets better and better.I just ordered a Mr.Brog Lumberjack can't wait for it to come in.

 

[plateauguy]

The only one I'd question is the Magic Inch, but that's a personal preference.
Be sure you clean and sanitize those pipes before using, except for the new MM cob. Don't forget the shank! You'd be surprised at what gets trapped there.
Any idea of how old the Grabows are? Older Grabows and Yello Boles are good solid pipes, don't know much about the Medico. The MM Cob will be the easiest to learn on. I'd buy a couple and eventually get a Forever stem from Walkers Briar Works. The stock stems don't last long, and the Forever stem moves things up a notch.
Welcome and be sure to ask questions, we love to help!

 

[swmalone]

From the research I have done the magic inch is not a well regarded pipe. I am not sure how to tell the age of the Grabows, or the age of any pipe for that matter. So far other than the MM pipe the yellow bole has been the favorite of the ones I have tried. I found some pretty good tutorials for cleaning pipes and followed the instructions for cleaning and sanitizing.

 

[swmalone]

This is a picture of some of the used pipes. It isn't the best picture. If anyone want to see more detail about a specific pipe just ask.
I am trying to get more uploaded, but for some reason it isn't working so well. These aren't the best of the bunch, those are in photos I will try to post later.
Okay so that picture didn't work. I will try again later.

 

[swmalone]

Okay so here it goes again.

This is all but the new MM, I know the pictures aren't great but it is a start. Like I said if you have questions about a specific pipe just ask.

 

[swmalone]

If anyone can see these pictures let me know. I think I'm attaching them correctly but I keep getting question marks.

 

[swmalone]

I tried to post images from a dropbox link but I haven't been having any luck. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[rangerearthpig]

For what it's worth, my 20 yr old and my 19 yr old are both starting out with a cob an a Grabow. They both seem to like the Grabow better, but I suspect the appearance has won over the efficiency. I think any of the pipes you mentioned would be excellent starter pipes.

 

[phil67]

Grabow's are fine, but personally I'd suggest a few MM cobs. Great pipes, and many who have high quality briar's also have some MM cob's in their rotation and swear by them, as do I.

Read HERE for posting pictures.

 

[dechuckie]

From one newb to another, follow puffdoggie's advice and definitely make it a priority to smoke more slowly. This key change I made to my smoking improved my opinion of my first briars.
And if you're ever thinking about making the jump to something slightly pricier, I would recommend the Rubino line from Rossi. I'm in the process of breaking one in right now, and it's a very cool smoker, and seems to be caking up nicely.
Good luck!

 

[swmalone]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. That Rossi pipe is very nice looking but it will be down the road. I think I have enough pipes to keep me busy for a while. I was able to pick up a Dr. Grabow Royal Duke at the thrift store for $10. I had been looking at it almost every other day for 3 weeks waiting for it to go on the 50% off and they decide to just give it to me at the price rather than make me wait another week.
I have been enjoying that pipe quite a bit. I have been going slow and with the royal duke I haven't noticed it getting to hot or the moisture problem. I also like that it is a little smaller bowl than the Yello Bole.
Now I just have to find a few blends I really enjoy. I am very limited on the offerings I have, the closest smoke shop is 20 miles away. I have tried Peter Stokeeybe sweet vanilla and that one is growing on me. Any other suggestions from that line or smoker's pride would be appreciated. Those are the two I seem to have access to in bulk, and it is limited to a small sampling of aromatics.