Pipe-smokers!!

M

mgeoffriau

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
922
Ok, folks. I just got my first tobacco pipe, and have enjoyed a couple of pleasant but short smokes. Any tips for a newbie? I've googled for tips pages and have learned about packing the tobacco, lighting techniques, etc.

Any personal tips? Unique habits or practices?

Thanks!
 
First off, do not load the pipe all the way for the first few smokes. Only fill the bowl half way. Don't ever clean out a hot or warm pipe. Wait until it is cooled down before removing the old tobacco. You want a crust to form on the insde of the bowl to season, if you will your pipe so when that crust buols up be very careful of the way you remove it. personally I use a pipe reamer for that specific purpose.
Don't make a habit of changing flavors as it will leave a taste in the pipe of multi flavors you may not like.
There are several web sites out there that you can visit to learn more and get some products for the pipe.
Now, sit back and enjoy!!
 
Smoke slowly, buy a meerschaum, and prepare to shell out money on some beautiful pipes.

Also, be careful about any cleaning advice you get. Far too often someone has some brilliant cleaning solution that will end up cracking a shank. Other than that, enjoy one of the best hobbies out there!
 
If you're going to do this, follow the advice of my doctor and try combinations of pipe materials and tobacco that allow for a 'cool' smoke. Pipe smokers often use the term 'bite.'

It seems that heat, especially for pipe smokers, creates the perfect condition for cancer of the tongue, usually on the tip. I asked about this in college trying to find an alternative to smoking cigarettes; after all, my parents' family doctor smoked a pipe, so hence, it had to be 'safe.'

Just tumors in a different spot.
 
My advice is, buy a second one.
A pipe needs rest for a while after smoking, preferrablly a few days. Time dries up the "juice" inside the bowl. Average pipe smokers start with one smoking pipe, but it's the most difficult way to keep the pipe (and smoking pleasure) in good condition.
Meerschaum pipe is a very good idea for it needs no breaking in. If you don't care cosmetic damage of the pipe like scratches, and are not very clumsy as to fall it on to the floor, meerschaum pipe is the best starter IMO. Even a cheap one, meerschaum pipes do not differ in smoking taste.
Have good smoking.
 
Sorry mate, but the best advice(most likely the
only honest one you'll get here) is stop now before
it becomes a real habit.

I'm not kidding. I smoked a pipe for 20 yrs not
knowing any better as to the health implications.
That is until they found pre-cancerous spots in
my mouth. :( Now that I've quit (10 yrs ago) I
still have to have twice yearly check to see if
they have returned.

You really can do better things with your money
than smoke a pipe (or anything else for that
matter):barf:
 
Tightwad,

You probably have something called 'lukeplacia.' I am unsure of the correct spelling.

And yes, it's a problem for pipe smokers. However, more than 30% of the snuff and smokeless dippers out there have lukeplacia and don't know just how deadly this can get.

I've heard of ribs being used to rebuild jaws of tobacco users. It's lucky you found the problem areas.

Somehow the advice here to "sit back and enjoy" will never be able to work for me knowing these problems.
 
I'd love to buy zippos and pipes and all the cool stuff that goes with but I can't bring myself to smoke so I have an excuse to have those things...more knives I guess.
 
I smoked for years, mostly cigarets, a lot of pipes, ended up easing way off with just an occasional cigar. Much better now that I quit altogether, about 6 years ago, I guess.

Please don't start. I loved the smell of tobacco, but by the end of the day, it wasn't worth the wheezing.

I hate reformed 'whatever's ... I don't mean to preach. But you've gone this long without it, and it's not a good long-term bet. Never mind the risk of cancer or leucoplasia, the general weakening of your cardiovascular and respiratory systems is just unnecessary.
 
Maybe I should make an effort to set those concerned minds at (relative) ease:

I have no intention of starting a habit. My guess is that I will average less than ten smokes a year. At the heart of it, I just wanted the ability to enjoy a smoke at those rare times when nothing else quite fits: sitting around a campfire on a cold night, etc. (fill in whatever romantic image comes to mind).

I know that there is always a risk involved, but that's life. I don't go looking for danger, but I'm not going to live my life scared either. I know that immense dangers of long term exposure to tobacco smoke in any form (my mother is a nurse), but I don't see the problem with enjoying the very occasional smoke now and then.
 
Esav,

Sorry, guy, I didn't mean to sound like a crusader, while I admit this is one of my peeves.

I worked for two years in a dental clinic, first in their finance deaprtment, but then in the supply department as their purchasing agent. My natural curiosity got me asking "What's this for?" to many of the dentists and surgeons.

Most times, they answered me, and those answers weren't always real pretty.
 
I smoke one cigar a day, and a pipe every once in a while since 1973.

Be aware of healh hazards, a search on the web will bring up lots of info, unfortunatley there isn´t much research done about cigar and pipe smoking, however, everyone seems to agree that if you inhale you are just as bad or worse as with cigarrettes, if you smoke a pipe, enjoy the flavor and don´t inhale, it is a good idea to change the side of the mouth where you smoke the pipe, and rinse your mouth after smoking.

If you don´t smoke more than once a day you shouldn´t need more than one pipe, but it´s nice to have several (I have more than 50), I´m partial to Peterson´s standard system pipes, I feel they smoke nice and cool, I have 4 of them and they are the ones I always pick up.

I suggest you just drop the tobacco loosely to the rim, then gently push it about halfway down the bowl, drop some more loosely to the rim then gently push it 1/4 th down, with time you´ll learn to pack fine cut or dry tobacco a bit tighter, thicker and humid a bit looser.

Light the top of the tobacco evenly while puffing very gently, make sure the whole surface gets lit, take your pipe tamper and put it off without pushing, light it up gain, do this 2, 3 or 4 times as necessary so that the tobacco is burning evenly.

It takes some practice to smoke properly, puff too hard and the pipe will overheat, puff too soft and it will go off, use your pipe tool to keep the tobacco packed evenly and not too tight or loose, be aware that a layer of ashes is being formed as you smoke which prevents air from getting to the unburned tobacco. Handling all this is part of the smoking ritual and it takes time and practice to get it right.

After smoking, let the pipe cool down and clean it, if you don´t your next smoke may be bitter, some people leave a pipe cleaner inside the mouthpiece when the pipe is not in use.

There are many varieties of pipe tobacco, you may have to try around until you find one you really like.

You have gotten good advice here from other forumites, and there´s plenty of info around the web if you look around.

Enjoy responsibly.
 
Sorry, guys. Saying that smoking a "little" bit is
like saying I'll play Russian roulett a "little"
bit.......sooner or later the loaded chamber will
come up! :rolleyes:

Bottom line is........tobacco products are not good
for your general health in any shape or form.:barf:
 
Originally posted by The Tourist
Sorry, guy, I didn't mean to sound like a crusader, while I admit this is one of my peeves.
Click to expand...
Not at all. I only meant myself. I've had reformed smokers nag and nag me, till I had to tell them to lose themselves, so I hate to act like I've been redeemed, when it's only a habit. It's a personal decision, and like anything, a little moderation goes a long way.
 
Esav,

I was approaching this for an issue that not many smokers even think about.

Sure, with all of the media attention, smokers are notified about LUNG cancer concerns, and even that happens with cigars. There is not enough discussion on other problems.

It could be that pipe smokers approach this like dippers. "Hey, I'm not pulling smoke into my lungs, so this is a better alternative." How often have you heard debates on tongue, lip and esophagial cancer?

Here's something I didn't know until later in life. There is a correlation to bladder cancer, I assume since the body is trying to clean itself.

Of course, as long as you keep the crap out of my lungs, it's not a real important issue.
 
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