Trial of Newbie Mantra.

[Gerald Boone]

Reading this site I notice that newbies now struggle from too much information instead of too little.
We often seem to have new pipe smokers asking if they did it right? The answer is did you enjoy it? Did you get smoke? Did you not break the pipe? Did you put it in the correct orifice (you do what you want, but I won't encourage it)? Then yeah you did it right. Could you do it differently and end up with a more enjoyable and hassle free smoke? Of course you could have. Are you better at kissing now? Better then you were with your first partner? You did both correctly, but now you have experience and more input. Pipe smoking is the same.
Long story short going to try a mantra for the new pipe smoker.
"Load, Smoke, Refine".
Side note why do people learn wines and all those little details and swirling and tasting stuff? And learn the nuances. So they can have more fun with wines. Drinking a bottle of ripple to get sideways is fine too. The question is what are you looking for?
Also most of the wine snobs I know started with the intention of just getting drunk and eventually realized there are more joys in wine then just a buzz.

Sounds good to me. Bottom line was it a good smoke, did I enjoy the smoke. The only think I have changed over time is I smoke more slowly and savor the tobacco more slowly and completely. Every puff is a delight.

 

[anotherbob]

Sounds good to me. Bottom line was it a good smoke, did I enjoy the smoke. The only think I have changed over time is I smoke more slowly and savor the tobacco more slowly and completely. Every puff is a delight.

precisely. It's somewhat complicated compared to a cigarette or dip. But while there are factors that have effects the bottom line is that there isn't a perfect way to smoke. Getting better just means you can enjoy it more.

 

[Mike N]

I run into new pipe smokers often at the shop in a college town near me. If asked, the one thing I share is to not be afraid to run a thin pipe cleaner during the smoke through the shank into the bottom of the bowl if the draw is not going smoothly. It works wonders clearing any moisture or obstruction.