Thread Contains Dumb Questions. You've Been Warned.

[solanus]

Hey, everyone.

I'm new to pipe smoking and have a lot of questions. All of them dumb. First, how often should I clean my pipe? Also, how often should I change the filter? The first pack of aromatic tobacco I bought lost its flavor after a week. I'm going to guess that keeping it in the pouch it came in was probably a rookie mistake and led to that, but how should I store the tobacco? Finally, what's a decent place to find tobacco that won't break the bank? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[davet]

https://www.smokingpipes.com/information/howto/
There you go and welcome to the forum.

 

[fitzy]

Welcome. The only stupid question is the one not asked.
I usually store my tobacco in half pint mason jars.
I tend to clean my pipes at the end of the day any pipes that I smoked that day. I'll take a fluffy pipe cleaner and wipe down the inside of the bowl with it. I then take a bristled pipe cleaner and dip just the tip in some alcohol and run it through the stem/shank a few times then follow it up with a dry fluffy cleaner.
What tobacco are you smoking? You may want to pick up an assortment of bulk tobacco's from smokingpipes.com

 

[woodsroad]

First off, these are basic questions, not dumb questions. They deserve good answers. Here's the quick version, but other forum members will chime in with links to YouTube Pipe 101 videos and the such.



How often should I clean my pipe? After every bowl, tap out the dottle and put a pipe cleaner or two through the stem. I will sometime twist up a paper towel or microfiber cloth and give the bowl a quick, light scrub.



How often should I change the filter? If you are going to use an absorbent in the stem (they are not actually filters), you should change it with every bowl.
How should I store the tobacco? Aromatic tobacco shouldn't lose it's flavor in a week, even if you live in the desert. However, you might want to transfer the tobacco to a small Ball canning jar after you open the pouch or tin. A canning jar of the appropriate size will keep tobacco from drying out almost indefinitely.
What's a decent place to find tobacco that won't break the bank? Check out any of this forum's sponsors: Smokingpipes.com, Pipesandcigars.com or 4Noggins.com. I like to patronize the local Brick and Mortar (B&M around here) store. Especially for a neophyte, the B&M offers opportunities to talk with the owner and customers about the hobby, have questions answered and most shops have a nice place to sit and enjoy a smoke.

 

[oldmansmoking]

Welcome to this great forum. I clean my pipes when they need it, once every few months. I never use a filter.

I am not OCD when it comes to cleaning pipes like some.

Listen to advice and make your own mind up to what fits with you.

E A Carey's is where I get some of my tobacco from.

Good luck
George

 

[mso489]

Great posts answering your questions. I'll just chime in on the question about buying tobacco. I advise new pipe smokers to buy in one and two ounce quantities. Even if you find something you really, really like, your tastes will change and develop. I wouldn't buy more than 2 ounces for a year or so, and even then, I'd only stock up on about four ounces of any one blend until you have a few years experience. This will save you storing tobacco you will never smoke. The economical way to buy blends is in bulk (this comes in baggies) by the ounce, and usually the best prices are at online retailers, especially when it's on sale. Store your tobacco in canning jars, mostly. Good inexpensive brands are many and include Lane, Sutliff, and Peter Stokkybye. Try various genres in small quantities -- aromatics, English, Virginia, Virginia/Perique, burely blends, Balkan, etc. Study tobacco web pages at our sponsors, and read about the constituent tobaccos in various blends, and read a lot before you buy a little at a time. The more you learn, the more thrifty you can be. Never fear to ask questions. Most members like to offer their answers -- sometimes contradictory -- and from time to time we're correct, even in our contradictions. Welcome aboard.

 

[hobie1dog]

Welcome to the forum, and you have your answers above.