Question for pipe smokers

[coyotebc]

I know absolutely nothing about pipes
My son in law recently quit smoking cigarettes and is now smoking his grandfather's pipe
I believe that you have to clean the bowl regularly

So my question is
What traditional folder or blade style would work well not only as an edc, but also for a pipe smoker

His birthday is near the end of the month

Thanks

 

[Skimo]

There are traditional multi tools for pipes, few of quality.

I'm assuming he's smoking a Meerschaum?

 

[knarfeng]

I used to smoke a pipe. I used a pipe tool to clean it, not a knife.

Very important to have a tamper in order to get a good smoke. I used the tamper more than anything else.

Looks like this:

 

[jackknife]

I used to smoke a pipe. I used a pipe tool to clean it, not a knife.

Very important to have a tamper in order to get a good smoke. I used the tamper more than anything else.

Looks like this:

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Definitely that^.

The three way Czech tool is the best way to go for pipe tools. A knife, even a small one will not shape the cake in the bowl right, and risks gouging the bottom of the bowl and creating a spot for potential burn through. I never use a knife on a pipe. None of the three pen blades pictured will as good a job as a pipe tool. The second item under the czech pipe tool is a bowl reamer. It shapes the cake inside the bowl, and should be used a couple times a year or once a month depending on how much the pipe is smoked. Different tobaccos build up a cake at different rates. The cake has to kept shaped and trimed or it can create stress under heat that can crack a pipe bowl.

 

[coyotebc]

Cool
Thanks guys

 

[coyotebc]

I'm assuming he's smoking a Meerschaum?

Now you are speaking Greek LOL
Thanks for the reply he is smoking sort of a straight stemmed "normal looking" pipe
I think I know what to look for now

 

[Stich2442]

When home I use a pipe tool/knife like this given to me generously by Jack Black

When I'm out I use my Case peanut, butt end as a tamp, pen blade to clean bowl if I need a poker I just find a stick & whittle one

Pete

 

[screened porch]

Meerschaum is German for "sea foam". It's a white porous substance that was once thought to be petrified sea foam. It is carved into pipes or used to line briar pipes. If you get a good one it gradually colors with use.

 

[22-rimfire]

You have to be careful with knives and pipes. Stick with the natural tools and he can mess with it with a knife if he chooses.

If you want to buy him something "expensive", get him a butane pipe lighter. sold in pipe shops. Something like this. http://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/lighters/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=54362

 

[knarfeng]

This question is well and fully answered as far as knives go. It has now drifted out of the realm of traditional knives and into the land of Gadgets and Gear. Moving there now...

 

[Skimo]

There are pipe enthusiasts out there, they even have their own forums.

I'd suggest you or your son look at those forums and learn about proper pipe maintenance, generally cigarette users smoke a lot and wooden pipes need time to rest (from what I've gleaned) so if it's a user keepsake and he wants it to last, that's what I'd do.

 

[22-rimfire]

Also he needs to realize that smoking a pipe versus smoking cigs is a different experience. He should think of smoking a pipe like he would a fine cigar. You don't inhale pipe smoke. Watch him smoke and try to encourage him not to inhale which is the common problem cig smokers have with pipes. It is worse than cigs inhaled.

 

[tranders]

A Doctors knife can be used as a pipe tool.

 

[Daniel Dorn]

A Doctors knife can be used as a pipe tool.

Okay, I'm sorry to admit, I've not thought about that before. Perfect tool!

I'm contemplating moving from cigars to pipes, as my wife can't stand the smell of a burning cigar. Pipes may be more acceptable, plus they just look cool!

 

[OldNavy]

For a knife, anything with a round nose Wharncliffe blade. IE: non pointy flat straight edge to uniformly shave the cake to the thickness of about a dime.
Meers don't get cake! it's best to brush them out with a pipe cleaner or wipe with paper towel.

Vote no on Butane lighter! Get a piece of history a basic Zippo is still the best. Pipe Zippo's have holes in the side of the chimney to pull flame down into the bowl.
prefer std variety myself.

2 bowls a day ok in same pipe, but must be rested. best to have 3 to 4 pipes to rotate thru the week.

eventually he can add more.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KLUydVxH77c/TaxfE6WsrKI/AAAAAAAABS0/OPYDCLttehU/s640/100_0854.jpg

 

[Alann45]

I believe that you have to clean the bowl regularly
So my question is
What traditional folder or blade style would work well not only as an edc, but also for a pipe smoker

You need to use pipe cleaners liberally, cleaning the bowl less often, though I usually run the cleaner around the bowl a couple of times after I'm done.

I really wouldn't recommend a knife for the bowl.
You don't want to accidentally gouge the bowl or cake, that can lead to hot spots and possible burn out.
If the cake has built up you may want to reduce it some, but you want to do it evenly. Best tool for that is a reamer, not a knife. There are numerous reamer sets (some very attractive) and adjustable reamers.

I used to smoke a pipe. I used a pipe tool to clean it, not a knife.

Very important to have a tamper in order to get a good smoke. I used the tamper more than anything else.

Looks like this:

:thumbup: VERY important. Without proper tamping at the beginning and during the smoke you really are not going to get the full enjoyment.

The one pictured is a good basic model, but there are some quite fancy tools and tampers made from attractive and/or exotic materials that would make a very nice gift.

Aside from a tamper or tool, if he's getting serious about using the pipe to get off cigs and smoking it quite a bit, a second pipe might be a good gift. A pipe needs to "rest" a bit between smokes and a second (or third) pipe allows you to smoke while the other takes a break.
You can get a fairly good briar for ~$30 or so, just avoid the drug store brands.

 

[leghog]

Vote no on Butane lighter! Get a piece of history a basic Zippo is still the best. Pipe Zippo's have holes in the side of the chimney to pull flame down into the bowl.

And the black can Zippo fuel is odorless.

Also, consider cobs (google Missouri Meershaum --- only ones I recommend considering). Those really in the know know they aren't hokey. Easy to break in (a few smokes), very inexpensive so great when out in the woods, and delivers a cool smoke everytime.

Nearly anything will work for a tamper. Even a nail.

You'll have to decide if it's about pipes or sa good smoke. For me it's all about a good smoke. For many it's about collecting pipes. Other than cobs, I'm now down to only 6 pipes, and all of those aren't yet in rotation. The rest have been given away. I'm left with two Wileys, aTiepen, a CPS pipe of the year, a Nording, and a Savinelli basket pipe w/ so many fills Sav cut the makers mark of it (yet probably the best smoker of the lot), and a handful of cobs.

 

[Alann45]

And the black can Zippo fuel is odorless.

Thanks, was not familiar with that. Can I assume since its odorless it also adds no "taste"?
Me and most of my customers preferred butane and stayed away from Zippo type fuel lighters because they added an unwanted flavor.

Problem with butane is that the basic BIC type doesn't really work well for pipes and the lighters designed for pipes tend to get pricey, though many are gorgeous and collectibles in their own right.
Colibri made (or makes) a nice pen style that didn't cost a lot, held up fairly well and had a tamper cap at one end....very handy and the one I used 90% of the time.
Most of the butane pipe lighters are fashion statements (read more expensive) and tend to be finicky and require a bit of maintenance.

Course the smokers bar at the shop I worked/lived at was stocked with plain old non/low sulfur wood matches that worked quite well .

Also, consider cobs (google Missouri Meershaum --- only ones I recommend considering). Those really in the know know they aren't hokey. Easy to break in (a few smokes), very inexpensive so great when out in the woods, and delivers a cool smoke everytime.

Cobs are excellent and if not abused and can last a really long time and provide a really good smoke experience. May not be the perfect fashion statement , but there are some very nice looking ones. Fairly durable, inexpensive. You just have to be careful about burnout. Not recommended for someone switching from cigs, they will puff too fast and burn them out.

For me it's all about a good smoke. For many it's about collecting pipes.

:thumbup:Folks loose sight of that. Figure out what it takes to make for a good smoke. Materials, tobac and technique. Once you get that nailed you can decide if you want to buy pipes for looks or collecting. Past ~$60 you are paying for something besides the pipes ability to smoke well.

 

[leghog]

Thanks, was not familiar with that. Can I assume since its odorless it also adds no "taste"?

Correct. Taste is actually odor.

Me and most of my customers preferred butane and stayed away from Zippo type fuel lighters because they added an unwanted flavor.

Butane is simply just too hot for pipes. Matters not the delivery system. Sooner or later (usually sooner) you'll scorch the briar. Use wood matches or a Zippo.

 

[HwangJino]

If suggest corncobs for edc and fine wood ones for the man den