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iamn8

Lifer
Sep 8, 2014
4,248
16
Moody, AL
There are MANY "blind" pipe smokers here, but not blind. ;) I find anything fascinating which I've never given thought to previously. This is one such topic.

 

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,265
29,180
Carmel Valley, CA
I've not seen anyone mention actual sightedness here, but as Nate notes, there are other forms of blindness.
And please do report on your first few bowls!

 

michaelmirza

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 21, 2015
638
1
Chicago, IL
Blind Piper, teach us what you learn about getting the most of out the smoke! I'd love to hear your thoughts on maximizing the nuances of taste and aroma.

 

burney

Lurker
Sep 10, 2014
28
0
Hi guys,
I am a blind pipe smoker. I have been smoking for several years, and am enjoying my smoke as much, if not more than the sighted.
I would recommend either a Bick, or a pipe lighter. Matches is also fine. I would not recommend a Zippo, not for the reasons most would think, but for the flavour it in parts to your tobacco.
Very odd, for those of you who says that you have holes in your shirts, how the hell did you do that.
I always pack my pipe to the rim, but have never had any problems with embers falling all over the place. I keep my pipe still. I don't wave it around like a conductor at a concert.
Something I have noted, as a blind guy, I tend to smoke a little faster than the average sighted smoker, thus, For me aromatic tobaccos is usually a bad idea.

 

pagan

Lifer
May 6, 2016
5,963
16
West Texas
Lots of good advice from members. As far as blends I would recommend Dunhill Early Morning Pipe, very good and widely available, also Frog Morton have some very good blends

 

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,265
29,180
Carmel Valley, CA
Hello, Burney, it is nice to have your perspective.
Holes in shirts I can tell you how I do it: smoking while driving, or some other activity that takes too much attention.
Glad you're enjoying your smokes, and I hope you will be an inspiration to others.
I hope "blind piper" returns and posts his experiences.

 

burney

Lurker
Sep 10, 2014
28
0
Hi again,
I hear you when it comes to other activities taking your attention away from your smoke. That is something that I do not have to worry about, because obviously, I cannot drive. That, might just be a good thing.
I was just smoking a dinky bowl of McBarron vanilla cream Loose cut, because big bowls bite my tongue off.
Someone asked in an earlier post, how do the blind read the forums. The answer to that is dependent on the blind person. I personally use my iPad or phone. Many would use a Windows computer running screen reading software. It can also be done on a Mac.
I also saw that many recommend Dunhill tobacco, but unfortunately it is not available where I am at. I personally like Petersons old Dublin for the Latakia and oriental content. Squadron leader is also not too shabby. At the moment it is also not really cost-effective to import tobaccos from the US. With the South African currency being as weak as it is, it is extremely expensive to be honest.
Oh, before I forget. Something else I would recommend for the new blind pipe smoker, is a straight pipe, or something with a gentle bend. Never a full bent, for the simple reason, it is almost impossible to get a pipe cleaner through it in one go, and I'm a lazy bastard.

 

lotharen

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 26, 2016
184
11
Good luck! I am interested in hearing your thoughts on your first few bowls. I just recently found this forum as well - there are lots of knowledgeable folks here and I get lost just reading the posts lol.

 

mawnansmiff

Lifer
Oct 14, 2015
7,901
8,929
Sunny Cornwall, UK.
" Me, I never light the entire surface, because I smoke mine on the verge of going out to get the most flavor. The wider the cherry of fire is in the bowl, the less flavor you have..."
Cosmic, what a good idea, I shall give that a go myself :puffy:
Regards,
Jay.

 

shutterbugg

Lifer
Nov 18, 2013
1,451
26
I apologize for my internet-bred skepticism but when I read this thread a while ago I felt like it was a put-on, because I've known numerous blind people who had no trouble smoking a hash pipe or a bong ;) Blind people are amazingly adept at things a lot more complicated than smoking a pipe. Blends can be told apart by their smell, packing is all about feel and draw, and the logistics of lighting and tamping and using a pipecleaner should be a no-brainer for a blind person. Blind people read braille, navigate city streets with a cane, cook, shave, play various musical instruments. From a fire-hazard standpoint a cigarette or cigar ought to be more challenging, because with a pipe the ashes stay in the bowl unless you turn it upside down and tap it.

 

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,265
29,180
Carmel Valley, CA
In re-readng this thread, I am struck with all the cautions and fears surrounding blind folks smoking a pipe, most likely from folks who've not worked with blind people much, or at all. Unless someone has other disabilities, any blind man or woman is perfectly capable of smoking a pipe.
And, yes there's software to read out web pages. Macs have had it for 20 years.
Carry on!

 

burney

Lurker
Sep 10, 2014
28
0
Hi again,
I would like to respectfully disagree with the person that said "unless the person has other disabilities," I only have one usable hand on top of being blind. Which does not in any way, shape or form stop me from enjoying my pipes.
I would also like to refer back to one of my earlier posts, in which I said that as a blind person I tend to smoke a little faster than the sighted. This would naturally cause tongue bite with aromatics. I found my solution in an estate Savanelli System pipe. The pLip helps a heck of a lot.

 

winton

Lifer
Oct 20, 2010
2,318
764
I remember a few times that I have been enjoying my pipe during the winter. Finally, I realized that I was seeing steam from my breath rising from my pipe. The fire had gone out long ago.

 

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,265
29,180
Carmel Valley, CA
I would like to respectfully disagree with the person that said "unless the person has other disabilities," I only have one usable hand on top of being blind. Which does not in any way, shape or form stop me from enjoying my pipes.
burney- that would be me, and clearly a blanket statement such as I made is wrong, and I apologize. I was speaking to safety, and severe limitations were in my mind. Overall I am supportive of non-sighted folks doing just about everything.
Happy smoking and

With regards,
John

 

burney

Lurker
Sep 10, 2014
28
0
Hi jpmcwjr Link,
I sorta get where you are coming from in some respects. For example, I would not recommend somebody with Parkinson's disease to smoke a pipe. that could be really dangerous.
I don't take offence very easily either, so no apologies necessary.
I hope you are well.

 

blindpiper777

Lurker
May 2, 2016
12
2
Texas
Well folks, it's been quite a while since I last posted.

For a while, I lost interest in the pipe (largely due to my inability, at the time, to afford one). However, I received my first pipe as a Christmas gift today, along with an assortment of tobaccos. This has reignited (pun definitely intended) my interest in pipe smoking.

I received a briar pipe, along with the following tobaccos:

Lane Very Cherry,

Lane 1Q (called "Ladies Love It" at my local tobacconist),

a honey-flavored aromatic blend (can't recall the name, but I think it's a local house blend),,

and an English blend (can't recall the name of that one either, probably another house blend).
About an hour ago, I smoked my first bowl; I chose to try the English blend. I was a bit nervous (considering that latakia is one of those tobaccos that you either love or hate), but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thankfully I had a sighted person nearby, to make sure I didn't burn the house down whilst lighting the tobacco. I'm probably gonna try the 1Q next.
God bless, and merry Christmas!

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
59,147
blindpiper', congrats on your first pipe and your first bowl. Glad you got such a welcome gift. I much prefer the non-aromatic blends myself, but give them all a try. Many pipe smokers prefer the aromatics starting out. Let us know how it goes. What kind of pipe did you get? Enjoy!

 
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