Newbie Buying First Pipe.

[olemissrebel]

Hello all this is my first post here and I am just going to ask a few stupid questions! LOL First of all I am an avid cigar smoker and have been for more years than most of you have been alive probably! I am just looking for a little change of pace. There is no question about liking a pipe. I love tobacco! I am purchasing my first pipe and was looking at the Peterson system pipes. Should I get a system or regular? I am not planning to start with a rotation. How many bowls per day would be doable with a single pipe? After I get comfortable, I will steadily build a collection.
I know everything about cigars; however, this pipe thing seems like a daunting task! I just would like to know how many bowls per day can you smoke during the break in period for a new pipe? I really would like to smoke the pipe daily if possible. Perhaps an early morning bowl. An afternoon cigar is a must, then probably an evening bowl.
I am sure these questions are answered millions of times on this site. So please don't be irritated with this old newbie!!

 

[papipeguy]

Welcome. Peterson certainly has it's fans and I'll let them respomd to your "system" question. Re how many bowls a day you can smoke from just one pipe I'll just say that you have to sure that the pipe has cooled down from the previous smoke before you load it up agaon. Frankly, I think most of us let a pipe rest for at least a day but I've been in your shoes with only one pipe to my name for a long time. Pulling a number of smokes a day from one pipe from my butt I'd say 3 max. I know guys who have 6 but I think they're pushing it. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Enjoy your time here.

 

[undecagon]

+100 on the MM corn cob pipes! You should really grab at least three of them (small medium and large if you can). This will:

1. Help you figure what sized bowl you like best.

2. Give you an instant and cheap rotation.

3. Allow for some needed rest on your briar (the above mentioned 24+ hrs between bowls is a good rule to follow when you can!)

4. Helps you get used to smoking a pipe!

a) lighting a pipe is more delicate than a cigar.

b) you can not use a torch lighter.

c) you will probably still char some rims, and better to char a cheap cob then a Pete.

D) building even cake is important. Some fret over this, but me, not so much. I will say rotating between a briar and 4 cobs, allowing for rest , cooling, and drying, will make the results better for sure!
Welcome to the pipe world! Might I suggest a tin of GL Pease's "Key Largo". This is an english blend (contains latakia) that also has maduro cigar leaf. It's also one of the richest, creamiest, and most delicious smokes around
In the meantime, what sticks do you like? I gravitate towards Padron's, always maduro, but recently finished a box of CAO's concert cigars. I'm a musician and figured I needed to try them. That same reasoning landed me w/ a box of AVO's trompetas 2 years ago. TAD, PAD, and CAD all suck! (Tobacco/pipe/cigar acquisition disorder!)
::

 

[olemissrebel]

Man that is a great idea guys on the corn cobs!! I will take your suggestion on the GL Pease. I do love Arturo Fuente Mag R's and love the Padron 1964's. I do have a love for those cigars south of Miami as well!!
Thanks guys for the help. I appreciate you taking time for an old Newbie like me. I will keep you posted.

 

[bryanf]

Everyone's going to tell you that you need a bunch of pipes, to never smoke more than once a day, etc...
I can tell you that I smoke about 70 bowls a week, and I smoke the same pipe every single day, and only run one pipe cleaner through it per day. Smokes just fine. Cool, and dry, and tastes great each and every smoke. Never noticed a difference after resting it whatsoever. You'll be fine with one pipe. And the pipe I smoke daily is a Peterson 317 small system pipe. I've been smoking this way for almost 6 years. Worked just find for the overwhelming majority of pipe smokers for centuries before the internet was invented by Al Gore.
I smoke Ennerdale flake or Condor, pretty much exclusively, though I've tried many other blends, this is what I've settled on. Much the way, when I smoked cigarerettes, I only smoked Marlboro, when I drink beer, I drink coors light, and when I drink whisky, it's wild turkey. I find it's nice to know what you like, and stick to it!
I say go for it. Peterson pipes are great after you get about 50 bowls through them. Before that, they don't taste too good.

 

[rmason]

If your going with a cob for rotation, MM's got the grab bags of smokable seconds to make an instant rotation of 10 and they're also fun to see what your going to get.

~Ron

 

[marinecwby]

Sala cant count camels. Lol. Ive got my first two Mizzou meers on the way in the mail. Just picked up the pipes (4) after a a 22 year hiatus. Thanks for the posts. Reading them helps out. Will def try the GL Pease "KeyL" Sounds like my kind of smoke.

 

[marinecwby]

Al Gore: Internet inventor..Lmao.

 

[marinecwby]

Rothnh..12,462 posts. Speak sinsae. You are the man. Will def hit you up for advice. Thanks guys. Good to be back in the pipe arena..

 

[petes03]

+1 on the MM 10 pipe grab bag. It's a cheap way to get a good smoking rotation. As for the Peterson,I am a Peterson fan! I have 10 Petes including 3 Systems, and all of them are excellent smokers! My System pipes deliver some of the coolest, moisture free smokes of any pipe I've tried. As for the rest period, I'm of the "rest your pipe one day for every bowl smoked" crowd. For instance, smoke two bowl in a day, rest the pipe two days. The theory being,IMO, that the pipe will smoke cooler,sweeter, and drier if properly rested. Also, it helps keep the briar from becoming overly stressed. With the MM (Missouri Meerschaum) cobs on the other hand, feel free to smoke bowl after bowl in them as they don't stress like briar. Cobs are not just for Snuffy Smith, they're great smoking, well engineered pipes! As long as you stick with MM cobs. Pipe tobacco is different from cigar tobacco, and certain ones will ghost a briar in a heartbeat, MM cobs are a good way to test new blends without having to worry about ghosting. I'm gonna recommend a few blends that I've really enjoy from different categories, they may not interest you, but then again they might! Aromatic = Lane Limited 1Q, Burley = Scotty's Butternut Burley, English = McClelland Frog Morton On The Town, Codger Blend = Carter Hall. I'm not personally a big Virginia - Va/Per fan, although I do smoke them from time to time, so I'll let someone else suggest one of those. Good luck, and welcome!

 

[olemissrebel]

Man thanks for all the advice. I can't wait to get some cobs in to mess up!!LOL I will be able to rest the Peterson some and get some training wheel smoking in with the cobs. Al Gore!!LMFAO
Some great tobacco suggestions. You don't know how much I really appreciate it. If you are ever on the Cigar Aficionado forum look me up. I am JohnnyB60. We do the same on the Newbies referring them to a link.
I appreciate your patience and will be visiting very often since this is my newest obsession!

 

[rmason]

Thanks for the link roth I knew I was forgetting to post something. Oh yes and olemissrebel I forgot to say welcome.

~Ron

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Welcome to the forum. I like your avatar.

As a cigar guy myself I broke into pipes slowly. 2 years later I find myself enjoying a pipe more frequently than a cigar these days. If you find yourself a pipe that is well constructed and made of good briar then you should have no problem enjoying it daily. Most will tell you to let it rest a few days between smokes for the briar to dry out but in my opinion its not necessary. My first pipe was a Czech made basket pipe. I didn't do any of the recommended break in steps nor did I let it rest. I filled the bowl and smoked it daily for like a week. Still got it and never an issue. Of course this is just one mans opinion.
Enjoy the new adventure and a Peterson pipe would make a great starter pipe.

 

[bryanf]

I wish to change my advise, because I don't want to lead a new pipe smoker in a direction he may not enjoy.
My pipe smoking without rest works for me because 1) I smoke a very small bowled pipe which only lasts 10 minutes max, so not much moisture develops at all. 2) I do this with a Peterson system pipe which is designed to trap all moisture away from the bowl (and I find it really does work well) 3) I smoke what many others would probably consider pretty nasty tobacco, and the taste difference is minimal in a clean or dirty pipe! Ennerdale and Condor are probably both on the farthest end of the spectrum from SUBTLE! However, I love what I smoke, and both brands are top selling in the world.
I recently tried to smoke a bowl of Condor in a large pipe, and the bottom was moist to the point where I would not want to load another bowl on top of it until it dried up, which took a day.
I think I will, humbly, have to rethink my advice, because what works for me, probably won't work for most American smokers of large pipes.

 

[cigrmaster]

bryan, thanks for that last post, you are definitely a unique smoker. What you smoke most people here would find very difficult to take, myself included. The fact they are so strong and definitely not subtle would mean that a dirty pipe would not have that much of an influence on the flavors.
I want to get the most flavor that my blends have to offer so I am fastidious about keeping my pipes clean and dry, this gives me the best opportunity to get that magical smoke every time.
olemissrebel, since you are smoking Padron 1964's and Cubans then I submit you have the resources to smoke some pretty good pipes. Don't go cheap on us, here is a pipe that you should buy.

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rasmussen/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=102541
Let us know how it smokes when you get it. lol
Seriously, here is a pipe that would be a very good starter.

http://www.4noggins.com/Savinelli-Oscar-Lucite-207.aspx
My first pipe was a Savinelli and I have owned a number of them over the years and they have all been very good smokers. They are consistently rated as being one of the best bang for the buck pipe companies out there.

 

[judcole]

Welcome to the forum. Petes have a strong following. I would second the advice to get some cobs to give you an instant rotation, but don't stop there. Lastly, let me add my standard advice to new folks: smoke the best pipes and tobacco you can afford. They don't need to be $1,000 pipes but, once you get that Pete and cobs, buy yourself a decent pipe every so often. Don't be afraid to buy estate (used) pipes from a recognized, reliable source; when you get some experience under your belt you can try eBay - before then, consider one of the sponsors of this site. Smokingpipes.com is well-regarded.