It seems that pipe selection for most is a personal thing. I understand what you’re saying as I already see myself drawn to certain pipes when browsing websites.?
Selecting Your First Pipe
- Thread starter Daydreamer
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Thanks. Good to know.Yes, MM cobs are very good smokers but newbies need to be aware that it takes three bowls for the vegetal taste to go.
Me no like breaking in a new cob. [I've got 9 in the mail]
I appreciate everyone’s thoughts on the topic so far. Very helpful information to help steer me in the right direction on selecting a pipe or pipes to start out with. Thanks to the forum members for sharing your experience on the topic and have a great and safe holiday weekend!
The thing people complain about most with Cobs is burning off the excess nub of the shank inside the chamber, if you're handy with a Drill or Dremel tools it can help to cut off the excess and then if you make sure to smoke a fast burning half bowl to char the exposed wood you won't taste it after that.
Thanks. Good to know as I was just looking at these pipes. I was just wondering with the cob if the inside of the bowl should be coated with anything before you smoke it the first time. I read somewhere that honey was suggested. Any thoughts on this?
I've done the honey coating, but I believe it is more a beloved ritual than helpful with smoking.
As a cigar smoker, you will be pleased with the cost difference. You can buy a tin of premium pipe tobacco that will give you twenty smokes or more, depending on the size of your pipes chambers, that will cost as much as one premium stogy. Plus you have more control over the smoke, packing the bowl, mixing tobaccos, and smoking technique.
As a cigar smoker, you will be pleased with the cost difference. You can buy a tin of premium pipe tobacco that will give you twenty smokes or more, depending on the size of your pipes chambers, that will cost as much as one premium stogy. Plus you have more control over the smoke, packing the bowl, mixing tobaccos, and smoking technique.
In my opinion a good starter pipe can be had in the range of $15 - $150 , that covers the entire gamut from MM cobs and basket pipes all the way up to entry level Savinellis, Peterson’s and other reputable makers.
An easier way to deal with the protruding bit of hardwood stem; as a soon as I taste the wood at the end of the bowl, I clear the ash, add a couple of pinches of tobacco and really fire it up to get the stem smouldering.
Doing this at the end of the first two bowls fixes the issue without the risk of compromising the pipe with a drill.
@Daydreamer I find no need to coat a new bowl.
In fact I sandpaper off any 'carbon' coating from the manufacturer.
Cost is definitely a factor and it seems the cost of cigars is on the rise. At 2/day avg @ $10/stick avg sometimes less with bargains it’s about $600/ month. So I’ve been settling for some in the $4-5 range that are decent. So saving money is a plus for me. I’m especially looking forward to the variety in tobacco with pipe smoking.
These are some good tips to know. It amazes me that those pipes can withstand that much heat. Has my interest sparked.
For me, and many others, it's a simple cost benefit analysis.
How much do you want to spend investing a hobby that you may or may not like?
You can literally get into pipes for $10 with a cob, a bic lighter & a pouch of Captain Black. You will almost certainly not enjoy yourself. You can also purchase a $5,000 pipe, $200 lighter & $100 tobacco too and it could be only marginally better.
I had immediate access to my grandfather's pipes. I also picked up cobs to sample tobaccos and a Dr. Grabow for my first "regular" pipe until I was in a position to afford better.
My happy spot is Peterson's, however I still absolutely love MM cobs and have about 10 higher end pipes.
Keep asking questions. It's nice to have a resource like this available for answers. Let us know how it goes and if you need any more information.
Regards,
Chris
Thanks for going into stem material for me, I have a better understanding of pros and cons now.?
It’s always good to hear a personal perspective on how someone got started with pipe smoking. It’s a little more involved than just trying different cigars.
Yes it is, though I should mention that I've done this with the MM cobs that have a hardwood insert in the base.
Despite what others say; price has little to do with it [though cost is a plus - I've 9 MM cobs in the mail for the price of one Savinelli or Peterson]
There appears to be an attitude where some equate smoking a cob with drooling hillbillies who know no better.
Some have even mentioned that they fear being judged for smoking a cob or are embarrassed to in certain company.
Meh, I'm the type who would take a cob to a formal function just to stir the snobs.
Some blends, like Burley for instance, actually taste better smoked in a cob.
All other blends taste just as good in a cob as a briar IMO.
Sure they're cheap but they would not be so popular if they were inferior smokers.
They're practical, sturdy and easily replaced.
Sure, I've plenty of briars that I enjoy smoking but MM cobs will always be a part of my rotation.
Between my set of $200-$300 pipes and my $10 cobs, the cobs smoke better, they're just subjectively ugly.
Today I spent all afternoon drilling and filing out the button and stem on my Ser Jacopo trying to bring it up to the same standard as a Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman.
At this point I practically won't smoke a pipe until the draft has been reworked.
Some people say a wide draft ruins a pipe, others say it's critical to a good smoke: Airflow: The Key to Smoking Pleasure - Pipedia - https://pipedia.org/wiki/Airflow:_The_Key_to_Smoking_Pleasure
Buying a Cob and comparing side by side isn't difficult.
Today I spent all afternoon drilling and filing out the button and stem on my Ser Jacopo trying to bring it up to the same standard as a Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman.
At this point I practically won't smoke a pipe until the draft has been reworked.
Some people say a wide draft ruins a pipe, others say it's critical to a good smoke: Airflow: The Key to Smoking Pleasure - Pipedia - https://pipedia.org/wiki/Airflow:_The_Key_to_Smoking_Pleasure
Buying a Cob and comparing side by side isn't difficult.
That is no problem and it is also possible to buy small plastic adaptors that fit in the filter slot.
Too long to read through. As much as I enjoy cob, I do need to inform new smokers that there is certain "taste" to new cob pipe. It's something like sweet corn, and you might or might not like it. But it should go away after smoking for awhile.. Or not. I don't mind it at all. It's rather nice.