New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart

[Zanaspus]

Originally Posted by OnePyroTec

When "I" open a tin, it goes straight to a canning jar. I have so many cigars & pipe tobacco that I could never finish a tin before it would dry out because I am usually smoking a different tobacco most of the time.

When I travel for work for days on end, I do take a range bag (it is cushioned) full of the little jars & the pistol case carries about a dozen pipes . Sometime is it is just a day trip, I'll load a few pipes or take an old tin with some tobacco in it.

You're a better man than I am. I would suggest that in the future you let a tin or two "dry out." There are a lot of tobaccos out there that are simply better when "crackly."

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

You're a better man than I am. I would suggest that in the future you let a tin or two "dry out." There are a lot of tobaccos out there that are simply better when "crackly."

I do not know about crackly, but I definitely like my tobaccos better on the drier side than the wet or even moist side.

[OnePyroTec]

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

You're a better man than I am. I would suggest that in the future you let a tin or two "dry out." There are a lot of tobaccos out there that are simply better when "crackly."

I do dry 'em as I go. If I dried then packed it into jars, it would turn to dust. (I pack the jars pretty tight sometimes)

I smoke a lot of cobs too...when I'm done with a bowl, I tend t take a paper towel and wad it up a bit to wipe the inside of my cob...sometimes I'll dampen it a tiny bit if I let the pipe cool down before wiping.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Dude Here

Here's one I'm hoping you old farts can help me with. My pipe smells and tastes like an ashtray. Pretty badly too. I've had two bowls through it thus far and it's got a black char on the inside of the bowl. Is the ashtray taste and charring normal? I've ran about six pipe cleaners through it since I bought the pipe. The cleaners help a little but but it's still got a really strong ashtray smell and taste. I'm pretty sure it's something I'm doing wrong though, probably smoking too fast/hard. Any help ya'll can give me to get that smell and taste out is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Edit: it's a Missouri Meerschaum pipe and a burley house blend from the B&M that I'm smoking.

Originally Posted by OnePyroTec

I do dry 'em as I go. If I dried then packed it into jars, it would turn to dust. (I pack the jars pretty tight sometimes)

I smoke a lot of cobs too...when I'm done with a bowl, I tend t take a paper towel and wad it up a bit to wipe the inside of my cob...sometimes I'll dampen it a tiny bit if I let the pipe cool down before wiping.

A) Does it still have the filter in the stem? If so, get rid of it. It is more of a pain than it is a benefit, and often smells nasty.

B) You do not need to wipe the inside of the bowl. Dump the dottle and let a bit of a cake build up on the inside of the bowl, that is what protects the pipe itself. When you wipe it out, the cake doesn't have a chance to build up.

How to build a cake? This is the simple explanation. Smoke your pipe down to dottle (ash), put your thumb over the bowl and shake the ash inside for a couple seconds, remove thumb and dump dottle out, set pipe down and let it rest. If you have not done so, run a pipe cleaner through it. A cake will develop on the inside of the bowl and protect the pipe itself, this is a good thing.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[Dude Here]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

A) Does it still have the filter in the stem? If so, get rid of it. It is more of a pain than it is a benefit, and often smells nasty.

B) You do not need to wipe the inside of the bowl. Dump the dottle and let a bit of a cake build up on the inside of the bowl, that is what protects the pipe itself. When you wipe it out, the cake doesn't have a chance to build up.

How to build a cake? This is the simple explanation. Smoke your pipe down to dottle (ash), put your thumb over the bowl and shake the ash inside for a couple seconds, remove thumb and dump dottle out, set pipe down and let it rest. If you have not done so, run a pipe cleaner through it. A cake will develop on the inside of the bowl and protect the pipe itself, this is a good thing.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Thanks for the cake building advice Rev! It came with a filter but I pulled that out as soon as I walked out of the shop. I don't smoke filtered cigars, why would a pipe need one. Gonna go for another bowl tonight, hopefully that ashtray flavor will dissipate some more.

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

Like Wayne, I dump the majority into a jar but keep some in the tin for smoking. I do like the idea of using rubbemaid/tupperware too though Todd, I'll have to pick up something during my next errand run. Seems a small price to pay for a little more peace of mind. The issue never presented itself in the past as I would only buy enough baccy to smoke. Now that I'm starting to branch out and explore more, I've found I have a small "collection" of blends on my hands that I wouldn't want drying up.

As always, thanks to all who contribute to this thread, top notch information and ideas.

[RevSmoke]

If I take a couple pipes along fishing or golfing for, I don't usually have room for more than one blend in one container (and a 3-finger cigar case). A tin (or tobacco pouch) is safer for me than even a small Mason jar held in my pocket. The round twist-to-open tins seal fairly nicely and float better than Mason jars too.

I have even taken to putting labels on old tins, taking a few ounces out of a larger Mason jar to put in that tin, and till the tobacco is gone, keeping that tin in my Rubbermaid storage.

Of course, as I shave with a double edge razor, I put spent blades in an old Robert McConnell Scottish Flake tin that I super-glued shut and cut a corner slit in with a saws all. I have put spent blades in there for the last 2 years and there is still room.

Tins come in handy.

[Dude Here]

Here's one I'm hoping you old farts can help me with. My pipe smells and tastes like an ashtray. Pretty badly too. I've had two bowls through it thus far and it's got a black char on the inside of the bowl. Is the ashtray taste and charring normal? I've ran about six pipe cleaners through it since I bought the pipe. The cleaners help a little but but it's still got a really strong ashtray smell and taste. I'm pretty sure it's something I'm doing wrong though, probably smoking too fast/hard. Any help ya'll can give me to get that smell and taste out is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Edit: it's a Missouri Meerschaum pipe and a burley house blend from the B&M that I'm smoking.

[DaBear]

Originally Posted by Dude Here

Here's one I'm hoping you old farts can help me with. My pipe smells and tastes like an ashtray. Pretty badly too. I've had two bowls through it thus far and it's got a black char on the inside of the bowl. Is the ashtray taste and charring normal? I've ran about six pipe cleaners through it since I bought the pipe. The cleaners help a little but but it's still got a really strong ashtray smell and taste. I'm pretty sure it's something I'm doing wrong though, probably smoking too fast/hard. Any help ya'll can give me to get that smell and taste out is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Edit: it's a Missouri Meerschaum pipe and a burley house blend from the B&M that I'm smoking.

Since its a cob, no need to worry. Cobs need about 5-10 bowls smoked in em to break in. Those first bowls that "ashtray" flavor comes from the bowl getting its initial char. Once thats done itll calm down. Then you get my favorite thing about a cob after its smoked, that faint smell of my great-grandmother's corn if you smell the outside of the bowl.

[Dude Here]

Originally Posted by DaBear

Since its a cob, no need to worry. Cobs need about 5-10 bowls smoked in em to break in. Those first bowls that "ashtray" flavor comes from the bowl getting its initial char. Once thats done itll calm down. Then you get my favorite thing about a cob after its smoked, that faint smell of my great-grandmother's corn if you smell the outside of the bowl.

Thanks for the info! So another question on the same topic. Do briars that come "pre-charred" still go through that ashy taste period? Or do briars not really have this happen to them at all? Thanks again!

[DaBear]

Originally Posted by Dude Here

Thanks for the info! So another question on the same topic. Do briars that come "pre-charred" still go through that ashy taste period? Or do briars not really have this happen to them at all? Thanks again!

Briars tend to not have that same period like a cob. On the other hand, a new briar still needs broken in and a good cake formed in the bowl for heat reasons mainly. A good cake helps keep the bowl cooler throughout the smoke, and in newer briars, this typically means the bowl will get hot much quicker than will be the norm down the road. And I'm assuming the "pre-charring" you're referring to is the bowl having a finish on the inside. Thats just something a lot of companies use to help that initial cake form in the bowl.

[OnePyroTec]

I can say for sure that my cobs I use a lot, have a good amount of cake in them. I have even had to ream a couple old ones. But at the same time, they never have smelled bad.

[Col. Kurtz]

Thanks for all the great advice frats! I'm heavily down the slope now. My first few tries with a pipe were unfulfilling. With your kind guidance I feel like I'm fully experiencing all the bowl has to offer. I never thought I'd get the same satisfaction as with a cigar, yet I do and then some. Also it's much more cost effective. Thanks!!

[Dude Here]

Back again with another question gentlemen.

What is sort of the general rule of thumb when it comes to puffing on the pipe? By this I mean that in the cigar world one draw per minute is the most general advice given, is there a similar timeframe with pipes? I've been experimenting with several different cadences and have yet to find one that really feels right. Thus far taking a small puff (sip I guess) every few seconds is working the best for keeping the pipe lit, but are longer paced fuller draws the better way? What's the best puffing method for really tasting the tobacco? Thanks again everyone, this is a new and exciting venture and it's really nice to have a resource like this available.

[Zanaspus]

Originally Posted by Dude Here

Back again with another question gentlemen.

What is sort of the general rule of thumb when it comes to puffing on the pipe? By this I mean that in the cigar world one draw per minute is the most general advice given, is there a similar timeframe with pipes? I've been experimenting with several different cadences and have yet to find one that really feels right. Thus far taking a small puff (sip I guess) every few seconds is working the best for keeping the pipe lit, but are longer paced fuller draws the better way? What's the best puffing method for really tasting the tobacco? Thanks again everyone, this is a new and exciting venture and it's really nice to have a resource like this available.

It depends on the tobacco really. Pure Virginias and Va/Pers are meant to be sipped and kept right on the edge of going out. By doing so, you can get puffs of sweetness you never knew existed in the tobacco world. English and Burley blends on the other hand tend to be very blend specific. There are several of these that I find deliver the best flavor when puffed like a steam engine, while there are others that taste best when smoked like a pure Virginia. Experiment extensively with what you're smoking.

This is why I always have to laugh when reviewers say things like, "I tried one bowl and knew it was not for me." I don't really feel I'm qualified to judge a tobacco until I've smoked at least 2 (preferably 8) ounces of a particular blend.

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

Spot on advice Tony. Very well put.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

It depends on the tobacco really. Pure Virginias and Va/Pers are meant to be sipped and kept right on the edge of going out. By doing so, you can get puffs of sweetness you never knew existed in the tobacco world. English and Burley blends on the other hand tend to be very blend specific. There are several of these that I find deliver the best flavor when puffed like a steam engine, while there are others that taste best when smoked like a pure Virginia. Experiment extensively with what you're smoking.

This is why I always have to laugh when reviewers say things like, "I tried one bowl and knew it was not for me." I don't really feel I'm qualified to judge a tobacco until I've smoked at least 2 (preferably 8) ounces of a particular blend.

Originally Posted by CoffeeWaterBeer

Spot on advice Tony. Very well put.

[Col. Kurtz]

I'm roughly a month into pipe smoking and really digging it so far. I thank all you old farts for the kind advice.

I have quite a few open tins that I have sampled.

C&D Crosseyed cricket
Dunhill Flake
Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture
Squadron Leader
Three Nuns (current)
Escudo
Home and Hearth Burley Kake

Here are my takes and ranking so far:

7. Crosseyed Cricket - Aromatic- Sweet and smokey. Tough to get my arms around this one. Had quite a few bowls to start, but haven't found my way back recently... Not bad, just different.

6. H&H Burley Kake - mild aromatic - Not as smokey as sweet. I can see the nutty characteristics associated with burley here. Nice room note for the non-smoker. Very cool smoking and easy. Nice and relaxing, but lacking in flavors and engagement for me.

5. Dunhill Flake - Straight Virginia - I call this the champagne of pipe tobacco. Not strong, not spicy. I've folded and stuffed: I've cube cut and rubbed it out. A full bowl lasts two hours. I'm tired of this one half way through. Light, and savory. I don't get the sweet out of this that others do. Not bad, but not very engaging. I think I may rub this out with some burley kake to see what happens...

4. Squadron Leader - English/oriental Mixture - moderate strength, mild to moderate smokey flavors. The tin note is more smokey and scotch-ey than the smoke. Very nice tobacco. Perhaps not my cup-o-tea. Love the icky sticky consistency of this one out of the tin. Very appealing!! Not giving up on this one by any means, just more wild about the next three right now.

3. Escudo - VAPER - Very nice coin cut tobacco. One coin quitar pick folded into my small Kaywoodie is perfect. One hour of bliss. Slow smoking and cool. I find myself tamping the edges into the fire. I've not had as much luck rubbing it out. I figure it's coin cut for a reason. Not spicy or confrontational at all. Very smooth and strong in a backhanded kind of way. I can see many layers in this smoke. It seems to hit it's stride right before it clogs up my stinger with dottle.

2. Elizabethan Mixture - VAPER - this was tops in my book for a while. Spicy, smooth, sweet, and thick smoke. What more can be said about this one? I could be a very happy man smoking nothing but this. I love it.

1. Three Nuns - Virginia, Kentucky - Curly cut - spun There seems to be some controversy surrounding this one. I never had the pleasure of smoking the VAPER blend, so I can't compare the two. The original must have been bliss if this is a mere shadow as some allege. This is perfect in my opinion. The tin smells like sweet horse feed. Heavy molasses scents and flavors. Smokes cool with no bite. I was worried since this is a Mac Baren blend and others are concerned with the McB bite. The small coins stack and fold nicely in my pipes. I seem to tamp and push this one together quite a bit, but the sweet; humid, cool smoke is it's own reward. I don't have to tamp and relight as much as Dunhill flake, but it's almost as annoying. The flavors on re-lighting are superb. Thick; smooth, tongue coating, nutty sweetness. Bliss.

Again, thanks for the pushes in the right direction. I can't wait to try more blends.

Next on my list is Hal O the Wynd, or Dunbar if I can find it locally.

Cheers!

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Col. Kurtz

3. Escudo - VAPER - Very nice coin cut tobacco. One coin quitar pick folded into my small Kaywoodie is perfect. One hour of bliss. Slow smoking and cool. I find myself tamping the edges into the fire. I've not had as much luck rubbing it out. I figure it's coin cut for a reason. Not spicy or confrontational at all. Very smooth and strong in a backhanded kind of way. I can see many layers in this smoke. It seems to hit it's stride right before it clogs up my stinger with dottle.

2. Elizabethan Mixture - VAPER - this was tops in my book for a while. Spicy, smooth, sweet, and thick smoke. What more can be said about this one? I could be a very happy man smoking nothing but this. I love it.

1. Three Nuns - Virginia, Kentucky - Curly cut - spun There seems to be some controversy surrounding this one. I never had the pleasure of smoking the VAPER blend, so I can't compare the two. The original must have been bliss if this is a mere shadow as some allege. This is perfect in my opinion. The tin smells like sweet horse feed. Heavy molasses scents and flavors. Smokes cool with no bite. I was worried since this is a Mac Baren blend and others are concerned with the McB bite. The small coins stack and fold nicely in my pipes. I seem to tamp and push this one together quite a bit, but the sweet; humid, cool smoke is it's own reward. I don't have to tamp and relight as much as Dunhill flake, but it's almost as annoying. The flavors on re-lighting are superb. Thick; smooth, tongue coating, nutty sweetness. Bliss.

Again, thanks for the pushes in the right direction. I can't wait to try more blends.

Next on my list is Hal O the Wynd, or Dunbar if I can find it locally.

Cheers!

So, I am assuming the Thee Nuns is the new edition? I'd gladly trade you a for few bowls of Three Nuns - I will send you a couple of Hal 'O the Wynd? If you are interested, give me a PM.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Todd

[Col. Kurtz]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

So, I am assuming the Thee Nuns is the new edition? I'd gladly trade you a for few bowls of Three Nuns - I will send you a couple of Hal 'O the Wynd? If you are interested, give me a PM.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Todd

Indeed it is. PM incoming