Pipe Newb

[dethmutt]

Hi all,
Im very new to pipe smoking, last month to be exact. Im a long time cigar smoker, Perdomo Lot 23 and padron 1964. I have 2 savinelli pipes now, a arco and a bing's fav, along with a Mr brog, and the first pipe I picked up off amazon because I wanted to try it, cheapy set. My first experiences were with lane limited 1q and some random cherry cavindish. I was about to return to my cigars until I happened upon a tin of dunhill nightcap, (Wait Im not going to complain that its gone). I thought the flavor was amazing and seemed to be spending a lot of time on the patio late nights puffing away. I did grab about 5 tins before it sold out, but anyway. I have sampled many pipe tobaccos since then and each one has its good and bads.. well now that ive wasted your time talking about nothing. Im having a problem with tongue burn. Ive been using the 3 step method to pack, and have tried my best to slowly pull,(Honest!!). Im just wondering is there maybe a break in period for new pipe smokers? or is my cigar background causing me to pull entirely too fast even though it seems slow??? Thanks all, sorry for the novella

 

[jpmcwjr]

No problem, and welcome to the forum!
The number one cause of tongue burn or bite is moist tobacco, second is smoking it too fast. The combo is deadly! Dry your tobacco a bunch and reload! Some problems can arise by just too many bowls too soon in the journey. There are other causes, of course, and some tobaccos just don't go well with an individual's chemistry.

 

[dethmutt]

Thanks jpmcwjr,
Out of a normal tin. Generic. whats the average you would dry it before loading?

 

[olkofri]

Till you can press it into a ball and it springs back. If it stays clumped, it's too wet; if it crumbles, it's too dry. Note that aromatics shouldn't be dried as much, lest they lose taste. (Of course, some say that they actually taste better if they're dry, but well, I won't venture to argue: I prefer mine on the moist side [but not so moist that the toby stays clumped].)
Things that have caused me tongue bite: relighting too much; relighting dottle or the last quarter of the bowl, since there's less tobacco between the heat of the flame and your mouth; poor packing; puffing like a cigar/cigarette.
Relights are normal, although the less the merrier. What I've been doing is to light the pipe holding the flame about 1/4 inch above the rim, not letting it touch the tobacco: like a cigar, where it's the superheated air that sets the tobacco aflame, not the fire itself. I attribute to this technique the reduction in my tongue bite problem. It's also possible that tongue bite be more common among newcomers to the hobby, who still have a sensitive mouth; but since you're a cigar smoker, I'd not think this to be the case. Again, everyone's mouth chemistry is different. Some people enjoy red virginias without an issue, some others get an infernal experience with them—just for the sake of an example.
Out of the tin is usually too moist. Then again, there are tins and then there are tins. Some manufacturers like Samuel Gawith, their blends are so sopping wet that hours of drying are required; some others' blends are essentially ready to smoke out of the tin. Since the relative humidity varies from location to location, we can't provide you with a given time in minutes/hours to dry your toby: you have to go by feeling.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Until it reaches a relative humidity level of about 70%..... Since almost no one uses a hygrometer, the old clump test might be best. Take a pinch of tobacco and squeeze it. It it doesn't spring back quickly, it's too wet.
As to time, it really makes a lot of difference where you live and what you start with. But a couple of hours on a plate or counter, spread out a few bowls worth. Sample every half hour. When you can feel a difference, smoke a bowl or a half bowl. This should get you started.

 

[dethmutt]

Thank you Olkofri,
I have run into that relighting at the bottom. I appreciate the help!

 

[dethmutt]

thanks JP.
I appreciate the Help!

 

[dethmutt]

Well I have a humidor from my cigar days. Would it be usefull with pipe tobacco? I fought to keep 76%.. it seemed to find its middle at 60%

 

[dethmutt]

and Ive been trying to dry out some to smoke.. but I keep over pouring.. LOL anyone have a guide as to how much to dust out for a bowl?

 

[dethmutt]

Ive got a funky latakia vanilla thing going with remnants.

 

[olkofri]

Depends on the size of your bowl. I favour small bowls (~18-20 mm diameter, ~30-35 mm depth). For that, I've found the larger cup of a jigger would fill it.
This is how I dry my tobacco: I just take a pinch out that would fill said jigger, maybe a wee bit more and spread it onto a Size 4 or larger coffee maker filter, then let it dry till it's ready (as described above). I keep my blends in mason jars, by the way.
The purpose of the coffee filter is manifold: it's a bit absorbent, so it helps a bit with the drying (though not really that much); it's cup-shaped, so when I pack my pipe over it I don't make a mess on the table; it's also easy to fold it in half and pour the remnants of tobacco back into the mason jar; finally, after my smoke, I use it as a receptacle for the dottle, ash, and dirty pipe cleaners and napkins I use to wipe my bowl (I don't like cake in my pipes), then I just close its ends and all that goes into the waste basket.
These are the filters that I use:

 

[dethmutt]

Awesome. TYVM for the tip!

 

[dethmutt]

and a good measurement to dry, for a smoke is? Christ I have so much left over.. LOL

 

[olkofri]

You know? Another thing I've been doing lately is to just dry a bunch of toby (enough for several bowls—not measured exactly, though, but let's just say 1/4 of the 2 oz. tin) and then, once dried, I put it in a separate mason jar. This is my 'ready to smoke' tobacco, from which I can pack my pipe without worrying about measuring out a bowl and set it out to dry. Then you can do the 'old codger packing', in which you just stick the pipe into the jar or bag and finger tobacco in till it's packed.
Mason jars will maintain the tobacco at whichever humidity it has when you jar it.

 

[Civil War]

Welcome to the Forums!!

 

[dethmutt]

Aye olkofi,
I bought a couple of 64 oz glass jars, a couple of 16 oz, and a shitload of 3 oz.... LOL the 3 oz's are nice to pop open and take a bowl. labelmakers rock!

 

[thehappypiper]

Hi Pipe Newb

I am not as fanatical about drying tobacco as many other knowledgeable forum members. In fact, I have never dried any Dunhill tobacco; for me, it is great right out of the tin. Mind you, I always smoke in a well air-conditioned room. I find I relish the stickiness of something like Condor or Full Virginia Flake and appreciate the fact that these tobaccos are sold with enough moisture for the customer to be able to store/age for years without worrying about drying out. A Dunhill ribbon cut dries very quickly once opened. with a "wet flake" tobacco, one has the option of drying to your preferred moisture level. with Condor, I will rub reasonably well, then leave on my coffee table for about 45 minutes. I find a drier tobacco is a bit light and sharp. I like an unctiuous, slow smoke. Marlin Flake I smoke in pure flake form, with the "bundle, stuff, twist and cut" method. I usually allow this to dry for 30 minutes in flake form, and crumble very tiny "dust" on top to help it get going.

But I think as an experienced cigar smoker you shouldn't be starting with an aromatic tobacco.

Tongue-bite, like nicks and cuts from straight razors, is almost an inevitable part of the process of becoming a pipe smoker. As is jaw ache. You are using your mouth differently and your muscles will have to adapt. I suggest you try a tobacco which approximates the flavour of a good cigar. This will allow to be be more aware of your smoking pace and make the change less jarring. If you can get your hands on MacBaren's HH Old dark Fired or something familiar, I think you will find it more easy to understand the physics of a pipe.

 

[dethmutt]

lol Actually I just ordered MacBarens latakia flake. along with a meerschaum pipe..

 

[dethmutt]

happy piper, thanks for the reply!
nightcap is my fav! 3 tins and a pound, in the cellar...
Aye you make a good point.. Deertongue is verymuch like cigars. But I do so love the English Pipe Blends Ive found. Im still trying everything! I do have a pipe dedicated to deertongue. 2 two latakia , and a new meerschaum on the way.
I see that most veteran smokers seem to favor Virginia. Im still greeding on latakia!

 

[Chasing Embers]

and a good measurement to dry, for a smoke is? Christ I have so much left over.. LOL

Fill the pipe you intend to smoke with the intended tobacco. Dump the tobacco and let it dry. Perfect measurement for that pipe.