Noob with a Few Questions

[RookieGuy80]

A pipe cleaner ran through every now and again should stop that pipe juice from running down the stem. For now, just run it through when you think you need to. Later you'll get to know better when you need to.

Loading the pipe just takes a little practice. I've been gravity filling with great results. Add in a pinch, tap the sides. Add in another pinch, tap the sides. Once the pipe is full by doing that, very very very lightly push down with your finger and sprinkle just a little bit more. Charring light, tamp the tobacco even to make a mostly flat surface. Then light and smoke.

And then start drying just a little more.

 

[tobakenist]

I have one Dr Grabow pipe in my collection, it's a Freehand and was sent over to me in the Uk from a friend in the USA, it was a bit of a joke because he knew I collected Freehands but the smoke is no joke, it smoked perfectly from day one and 10 years later it is one of my best pipes, I only collect Petersons and Freehands but this cheap Dr Grabow is the most smoked Freehand in my collection, I would never knock DG's.

 

[RookieGuy80]

Dr. Grabows. There's nothing particularly wrong with then as a whole. But there's nothing particularly right about then either. For the money better options exist, like Morgan Bones or estate pipes. For just slightly more money great options exist, like Ropp or Rossi or estate pipes in better condition.

That said, there are indeed great examples of Dr. Grabow. The freehand has been mentioned a couple times. I have a Westbrook that is a champ with va/pers. And I've had a couple older Grabows which smoke pretty good.

 

[DaSOB]

I have one Dr Grabow pipe in my collection, it's a Freehand and was sent over to me in the Uk from a friend in the USA, it was a bit of a joke because he knew I collected Freehands but the smoke is no joke, it smoked perfectly from day one and 10 years later it is one of my best pipes, I only collect Petersons and Freehands but this cheap Dr Grabow is the most smoked Freehand in my collection, I would never knock DG's.

The DG Freehand Rustic looks like my cup o'tea. Think I'll get one.

 

[jon11]

Smoke the best tobacco you can afford, in the best pipes you can afford. It will increase your enjoyment of the hobby. There's a difference between being frugal and being cheap.
The fact that your Grabow stem broke without it being treated roughly should tell you everything you need to know about those pipes.

Couldn’t agree more! Hold off on buying that next DG and spend a little more on a quality pipe. Your enjoyment should increase!

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Thanks for the compliment. I haven't shown you what I have to select from. When I started with the Legend, about 9 ys ago, I also had been retired for a yr, and fell into this pipe thing with a vengeance. I had a blast obtaining inexpensive pipes for about 3 or so yrs and now I've got about 80 or 90. I have only spent more than $50 for a pipe once. It is the one in my avatar. A Dunhill Shellbriar from 1954.
When you read these pages about old pipes, you start to grasp what makes a pipe valuable. Often, it is its simplicity and ease of smoking, and that is often a cob.
The older Grabow's from Chicago are quality all the way. I've also got a few of Grabow's Westbrook models and they're nice to smoke too.
I have two wonderful Artisan pipes that were gifted to me by Chris Besse of Red Deer Alberta. He was making a lot of pipes there for awhile, but has been pre-occupied, I guess, of late.

That 3rd pipe in my pic from the bottom, is an African meer I got that had been mixed in with a 'lot' of cobs I won on ebay. I got about 6 or 7, some new, for about $10.00, including the meer by Kiko.
One of the ways I've acquired pipes, (some really crappy) is by bidding and winning on pipe racks that come with old pipes. You eventually want rack space. I have even made alterations to an old headboard that once held a mirror, and sitting on the floor looks like a fireplace with mantel. On top I have most of my pipe racks, and in the fire pit I've put in holders for another 3 dozen pipes.

I have one of Chris' pipes and it smokes amazingly well!

 

[FLDRD]

Can't resist saying something...
"All the above."
And there are LOTS of good quality pipes to be found for only about "1 C-note".
And cobs have their place too...
Cheers.

 

[kcghost]

Lots of good advice here. Some of it is contradictory, but not "wrong". In those cases you have to try what is suggested and see if it works for you.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

The 1 thing I've learned about smoking a pipe over the past few years is that it will vary on many things. The best analogy I can think of might be driving manual. You need to learn for yourself. People can tell you how and guide you, but until you get in the driver's seat and start working the stick, clutch and gas, you won't really get it. You'll grind the gears, stall the car and lurch quite a few times. But once you find that sweet spot when you are feathering the gas and lifting the clutch, it will be smooth as butter and you'll be off to the races. Enjoy the ride, sir!

Additionally, I have quite a few cobs that are great smokers along with an assortment of Savinelli's, Peterson's and Meers.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Great analogy

 

[PipeIT]

Be sure to read the article, ‘The Myth of Brand and Maker in Pipesmoking’, by Dr. Fred Hanna.

Pipe Brand Myth

Not sure if it was mentioned, but there is the term Estate, meaning preowned pipes, this is where you can find deals on pipes you might not otherwise be able to afford, also get a hold of older pipes, prized for their vintage years etc...

I can’t attest to the newer Grabows, but on that subject of Estate, I have a Dr. Grabow Commodore 65 Zulu, dated from 1967-1969 with a vulcanite stem, and this thing is amazing!

So if you have a thing for Dr. Grabow, be on the look out for older Estates.

 

[OzPiper]

I can’t attest to the newer Grabows, but on that subject of Estate, I have a Dr. Grabow Commodore 65 Zulu, dated from 1967-1969 with a vulcanite stem, and this thing is amazing!

So if you have a thing for Dr. Grabow, be on the look out for older Estates.

View attachment 238783

Now THAT is a fine looking pipe

I have Dr.G’s and I have S.Bangs. I smoke them all. It’s the specific pipe not the name that matters

I don't have any Grabows, only because I have deliberately steered clear of collecting American made pipes (not because of quality issues - just too big a rabbit warren to dive into ).

However the majority of my pipes are estates.
My $20-$30 bargains smoke as well as their stablemates costing many times that, in most instances

 

[PipeIT]

Now THAT is a fine looking pipe


I don't have any Grabows, only because I have deliberately steered clear of collecting American made pipes (not because of quality issues - just too big a rabbit warren to dive into ).

However the majority of my pipes are estates.
My $20-$30 bargains smoke as well as their stablemates costing many times that, in most instances

I thought you’d seen this before?

Here’s some other pics, the blast is quite wild around the bowl. More amazing looking in person...

 

[OzPiper]

I thought you’d seen this before?

Here’s some other pics, the blast is quite wild around the bowl. More amazing looking in person...

View attachment 238786

View attachment 238787

View attachment 238788

View attachment 238789

Yes I have.
But with fine specimens like that, I never tire of looking at them

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I do think there is a difference in the smoke of a good pipe vs a cheap pipe. Grabow is cheap, will give a decent smoke for the $$. If you go up in the price you will get a substantially better pipe. Increasing the $$ more will get you an incrimentally improved smoke most of the time. And then you get to the price where most smoke well, and the rest is an improvement in aesthetics, which is also important.

I have many pipes in the $300-$600 range and they smoke appreciably better than my cheaper pipes. The problem from there is finding a pipe that not only looks better, but also smokes better. Some $1000 pipes will not smoke better than a good Grabow, but on average they will!

Factory pipes have quality control, and you can expect a superior smoke for more money. Artisan pipes are not always a better smoke, so buyer beware.

 

[peejhunt]

First, I've been using Dr. Grabow pipes because they're inexpensive. But I've read comments about them being "cheap", that the quality has declined over the years, etc. Personally, and maybe because I'm not a real veteran pipe smoker, I find that they seem to smoke just fine. However, I did have an issue with the neck on the stem of one pipe breaking even though I wasn't treating the pipe roughly. I glued it back together and can still use the pipe, but from some of the comments I've seen the breakage may be attributable to "cheap plastic" rather than some more robust material.

I have around 25 Dr. Gs and nearly every one of them smokes quite well. only 2 of the newer models needed to have their stems "opened up". This is to let the smoke move more easily. Interestingly, the ease of air flow also impacts your packing method. My SOP is to pack and then give it a draw before lighting. if the tobacco feels fairly firm but the air flow still moves freely, you're golden. If, on the other hand you can barely get air to draw through the tobacco, then pick the baccy out and try again. (no wasted tobacco. )
A good pipe allows for easy air flow and a well packed pipe does the same thing.

 

[minerLuke]

I have a few Dr Grabows, a freehand, a savoy and a lark. I was just smoking my freehand today and thinking to myself how well it smokes for a ~$40 pipe. I have higher end pipes English, Italian, Danish etc but my Dr G's can hang with the best of them for taste, draw, dryness etc.

My only complaint is the cheap soft plastic stems. I wish they offered a decent acrylic or vulcanite stem. I had to throw one of mine out awhile back after chewing up/breaking the stem in one. Only lasted a couple years...

 

[sparker69]

Generally pack it loose, looser than you think.

Some of the best advice I've heard on here.

 

[minerLuke]

Some of the best advice I've heard on here.

I found moving over to the gravity fill method over the 'three pinch' method to be one of the biggest gamechangers in improving my pipe smokes. In fact, with the gravity fill method I notice I'm less reliant on drying the crap out of everything to get a decent smoke. I can smoke blends that quite a bit more wet with near perfect success, including 'goopy' aromatics.

The only slight downside I have noticed with gravity fill is a tendency for my bowls to burn a bit quicker now because they are packed lighter, but for me the positives far out weigh the negatives.

 

[RookieGuy80]

[Snip]

The only slight downside I have noticed with gravity fill is a tendency for my bowls to burn a bit quicker now because they are packed lighter, but for me the positives far out weigh the negatives.

I can't be the only one who read that as "now I can have more bowls".