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On April 22 2011 04:05 Omnipresent wrote:Show nested quote +On April 22 2011 03:51 seaofsaturn wrote:
Omnipresent's cigar guide is so good. I put it in the OP.
Kinda makes me want to have a guide like that for each section. Thanks. Cigarettes don't need much of a guide. Buy a pack, put one in your mouth, light, smoke. I'll do a pipe guide, as they're pretty complicated and quite intimidating. I'm not sure a Hookah guide is really necessary, but I can do one of those as well if people want one.
Pipe guide, yes!
Yeah the other sections are kinda pointless to have guides for. I can maybe add a few pointers for hookah or something general, as owning one is a bit more of an ordeal than going to a hookah bar.
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A beginner’s guide to pipe smoking
Buying your Pipe
Obviously the first thing you need to do is to buy a pipe. This is where the bulk of your initial investment will go. After you get everything you need, maintaining your pipe and buying tobacco is extremely affordable.
Cost - You should buy your pipe at a tobacco shop, not a grocery or convenience store. You can spend up to several hundred dollars for a pipe, but a good starter pipe will run you somewhere between $30 and $45.
Style – Pick a pipe you like. Hold it in your hand. Make sure it’s comfortable. This will be the pipe you use for a while. Pipes are made from all sorts of materials, but the most common are wood (usually Briar) and Meerschaum. You’ll want a Briar pipe to start, as Meerschaum pipes are usually more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
The Bowl – Choosing a bowl that fits well in your hand is always the most important thing, but there are other points to consider. For your starter pipe, you should pick something with a medium size bowl. You should be able to easily fit your thumb in it (to the first knuckle) with extra room to move around. Anything much larger can be tough to manage. Anything much smaller can clog easily
Stem – Again, comfort is the most important thing here. My only advice is to pick a pipe with a slightly curved stem for your starting pipe. Straight stem pipes are fine, but you might find yourself sucking in resin and moisture through the pipe if you’re not experienced. This taste’s awful.
Things you need
A Multitool – Not surprisingly, your multitool has multiple uses. You need one with at least two ends: a tamper and a scoop. Some tools also have a poker, which is helpful, but not required. These are the most common types:
http://www.fero-usa.com/images/Acc/624-1-600.gif
http://www.fero-usa.com/images/Acc/Czpt3-600.gif
Pipe Cleaners – Yup, that’s why they’re called pipe cleaners. They aren’t just for arts and crafts.
Fire– Any fire will do. Wood matches work best, since you can really get them close to the tobacco.
What to Smoke
There are hundreds of different types of pipe tobacco. Here are some things to look for when starting out.
Cost – You should be spending between $5-$15 for your first bag of tobacco (1oz or 0.5oz). Prices vary between shops. Your best bet is to ask the owner of your local tobacco shop for recommendations on starting tobacco.
Aromatic or Natural – There are many varieties of tobacco, but most fall in either the aromatic or natural category. Aromatics, as the name suggests, have very fragrant smoke. They tend to be slightly flavored like fruit, wine, vanilla, coco, etc. The scent is usually quite nice. You can smoke Aromatics just about anywhere, and no one will bother you. Natural tobaccos taste like tobacco. There’s obviously a good deal of variation. If you like Cigars, you’ll probably like natural tobaccos.
Cut – If you’re starting out, the cut is irrelevant. I’m just mentioning it in case your local tobacco shop is full of serious pipe people. You can figure out which cuts feel best for you, though you’ll probably decide it doesn’t matter.
Variety – Try lots of different tobaccos. Some shops will even let you sample a blend before you buy (just ask). Figure out what you like and stick with it.
How to Smoke
This is the tricky part. A lot of pipe smokers have pretty involved rituals, but there are some basic things you need to know.
Packing – Loosely fill your bowl with tobacco. You can use less, but start with full bowls at first. Once it’s full, press down on the tobacco slightly with your thumb. Once you start to feel resistance let go. It’s important not to pack too tightly or too loosely. When you’re starting out, err on the side of loose packing. A tightly packed bowl can be unsmokable.
Lighting – Put the pipe in your mouth and hold the flame over the tobacco. Do not touch the flame to the tobacco itself. Pull slightly on the pipe so the flame is pulled down to the tobacco. The goal is to get the top layer to smolder. If you see fire, you’ve made a mistake.
Tamping – Once lit, take a series of small puffs to keep it going. While puffing, you should use the flat end of your multi tool (the tamper) to press down slightly on the tobacco. Carefully press around the edges. If you press too hard, the pipe may get clogged or simply go out. If done properly, you should be able to look into the bowl and see a glowing ember in the center. This heats the tobacco below it, creating smoke.
Smoking – Don’t inhale. If you have powerful lungs, it wont hurt, but pipe tobacco isn’t meant to be inhaled. Keep the stem angled towards your mouth, with the bowl below. this will help prevent moisture from dripping up the stem and into your mouth. While smoking, you may realize you’re getting less and less smoke. Tamp the tobacco slightly when this happens, and it should revitalize the pipe. You may need to relight until you get the hang of it. The draw should always be smooth, much smoother than you’re used to with cigarettes or cigars. If the draw gets too tight and you have a multitool with a poker, don’t be afraid to push the tobacco around a little. Just loosen it up. Don’t mix the embers/ash with unburned tobacco.
Practice – Really, just practice. Pipe smoking takes effort to master, but it’s a great experience once you can comfortable pack the amount you want, light it, and keep it going easily.
Cleaning
Maintaining your pipe is absolutely vital, and takes very little effort. A well maintained pipe is a joy. A poorly maintained pipe is a nightmare. Every time you finish smoking, run a pipe cleaner through the stem of the pipe. You should also bend one in half and gently sweep out the inside of the bowl (being careful not to scratch the carbon buildup on the side). If you notice a lot of moisture in the pipe when you start smoking, or after you finish, you can simply leave a pipe cleaner in the pipe between smokes. This will absorb some.
You want to be sure not to clean the bowl too much. Over time, you should build a layer of black carbon around the inside of your bowl. This is desirable. It seasons the bowl and makes it easier to smoke.
If your pipe comes apart, you should periodically (every month or so) take it apart and clean whatever you can (with pipe cleaners, no water). Make sure it’s intended to come apart. Don’t force it. Many pipes are not meant to be disassembled. If yours is one of these pipes, don’t bother with the extra cleaning.
If anyone wants more information, please let me know and I’ll add it.
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I just got done smoking my first pipe tonight! The tobacco store I went to didn't have any English blends though, all they had were aromatics and (From what I read frequently) crappy 'house blends'.
I just bought the aromatic I always hear about. Captain black. I believe I packed it decently but I had to relight it so many times. I believe it was because I didn't do the charring light correctly.
Either way, the tobacco that actually burned tasted good and had a quite pleasing aroma. 
WAY smoother then smoking the crappy machine made cigars I used to smoke, even if I wasn't smoking the pipe properly.
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On April 23 2011 13:25 UisTehSux wrote:I just got done smoking my first pipe tonight! The tobacco store I went to didn't have any English blends though, all they had were aromatics and (From what I read frequently) crappy 'house blends'. I just bought the aromatic I always hear about. Captain black. I believe I packed it decently but I had to relight it so many times. I believe it was because I didn't do the charring light correctly. Either way, the tobacco that actually burned tasted good and had a quite pleasing aroma. WAY smoother then smoking the crappy machine made cigars I used to smoke, even if I wasn't smoking the pipe properly.
Grats on the first pipe.
Problems keeping a pipe lit are usually do to either A) not packing it properly OR B) not tamping it properly during the smoke. If you pack too loosely, a lot of air can reach the tobacco and it will burn itself out. Failure to tamp properly can create a gap between the burning tobacco and the unburned tobacco This effectively eliminates the fuel source, causing the pipe to burn out. Tamping too hard can cut off oxygen to the tobacco, also causing it to go out.
If you went to a shady shop (who doesn't carry any English blends, seriously?), you may have also purchased dry tobacco. Dry tobacco will burn quickly, and is prone to going out. If the tobacco feels a lot like paper, or otherwise too dry, you have some options.
A) Set it in an air-tight container with either a shot glass of water or a couple slices of fruit. Apples work well, but only if you are alright with the blend tasting fruity. A humidor will also work, but then your cigars will taste like pipe tobacco. Aromatic blends transfer flavors pretty easily.
B) Sprinkle a small amount of water (preferably distilled) in the pouch with the tobacco and mix it around.
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Y'know it was probably me packing it too loosely and a combination of not tamping it properly.
About the english blend thing it was rather odd...
It's a legitimate tobacco store that sells a wide range of pipes, cigars, even hookahs. After purchasing my pipe, pipe tool, and pipe cleaners, I asked him about a good not TOTALLY aromatic blend.
Since I've been smoking the machine made cigars for awhile and I enjoyed them for the time being, I wanted a more natural blend, maybe with a little flavor but not exactly aromatic. Maybe some kind of semi-aromatic english blend?
He explained to me that ALL pipe tobacco blends are aromatic and you just had to choose from blends with varying strengths. Even with my very light research on pipe tobaccos (Youtube.. lol) I knew he didn't really know too much about pipe tobacco, maybe he was more of a cigar guy.
The captain black tobacco doesn't seem too dry for the time being so I don't think it was a problem with dryness.
I actually have a questions: After the first smoke I read for how-to's and watched more videos about how to properly light the tobacco and wanted to give it another try. I would say it was about an hour and a half is when I attempted the second time, and promptly afterwards I went on to read that you should give your pipe atleast 12 hours to rest before smoking it again. Do you think I could have messed mine up in any way?
And should I run pipe cleaners through my stem after each smoking session?
Also, I notice that when I'm smoking my pipe I don't see the lit tobacco all the time (The cherry). Is it still burning correctly if I don't see a nice full cherry upon every draw of the pipe?
Thank you for your time.
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On April 23 2011 18:02 UisTehSux wrote:
I actually have a questions: After the first smoke I read for how-to's and watched more videos about how to properly light the tobacco and wanted to give it another try. I would say it was about an hour and a half is when I attempted the second time, and promptly afterwards I went on to read that you should give your pipe atleast 12 hours to rest before smoking it again. Do you think I could have messed mine up in any way?
No, you're fine. The idea is that you should give you pipe time to rest and dry out a little between smokes. This will help to keep the wood from warping, the seals strong, and to prevent mold. It's mostly for people who smoke pipe multiple times every day. For that, you really need a few pipes.
It's perfectly fine to smoke multiple bowls in rapid succession or with only a couple hours between them, as long as you aren't doing it every day from the same pipe.
And should I run pipe cleaners through my stem after each smoking session?
Yes. Just put one in through the mouth piece. Insert it as far as you can and move it around a bit. This will pull out most of the moisture and resin in the stem.
Depending on your pipe, you may be able to get the pipe cleaner all the way through the stem until it's visible in the bowl, or it may stop half way. If it stops half way, your pipe was likely meant to be taken apart (not every smoke, just from time to time). Some pipes have a little metal piece in them (not sure the technical term, but it looks like a metal tube with a ball on the end) that's designed to cut down on the amount of moisture that comes through the mouth piece and to prevent and moisture buildup from stopping the flow of smoke (sounds like little bubbles). This leads to a more consistent smoke. Pipes like this are usually meant to be taken apart for periodic cleaning.
Remember, always be careful before attempting to disassemble your pipe. It may not be designed to come apart. Don't force it. Also make sure the bowl and stem are both cool before you disassemble it. Taking it apart while the bowl is still warm (and the wood is expanded) can damage the seal. When in doubt, ask someone at your local shop.
Also, I notice that when I'm smoking my pipe I don't see the lit tobacco all the time (The cherry). Is it still burning correctly if I don't see a nice full cherry upon every draw of the pipe?
The cherry should pretty much always be visible while smoking, assuming you look inside the bowl. If your bowl is getting low, the cherry may be covered in ash and difficult to see. Immediately after tamping, the cherry may be slightly dim.
If you think your pipe may be going out, you can give it a series of short puffs.
I also have a quick note on packing. When taking tobacco out of the pouch, make sure it's loose before putting it in the bowl. If you pull a chunk out of the bag and put it in your pipe, it may be too dense to smoke.
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Marlboro 27's are by far the most optimal cigarette that I've found to date.
Someone said something about another company being most popular in the States, but I would definitely say that Marlboro is, followed by Pall Mall.
27's aren't a light cigarette, but they are much more "mellow" and less shitty on your throat than a Marlboro Red, which I would say is the cigarette of the nation.
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On April 24 2011 01:53 SpaceJam wrote:
Marlboro 27's are by far the most optimal cigarette that I've found to date.
Someone said something about another company being most popular in the States, but I would definitely say that Marlboro is, followed by Pall Mall.
27's aren't a light cigarette, but they are much more "mellow" and less shitty on your throat than a Marlboro Red, which I would say is the cigarette of the nation.
In the UK I would say that the most popular Cigarettes are Malboro Gold, also known as Malboro lights. Or Benson and Hedges silver.
I know this becuase I work at the checkouts at a supermarket
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Marlboro Reds are the only serious end game cigarettes, every smoker just drifts towards them like flies to the light.
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Smoking is a terrible mistake.
Here's why.
Nicotine is Poison, actually more poison then black widow venom.
If all the Nicotine from 5 cigarettes went streight into your blood stream. You would DIE.
Chemical addiction is very powerful. The reason why people "think" they enjoy tabacco is because nicotine stimulates and connects to dopamine pathways and your brain gains a sense of satisfaction. A highly complicated neurological reaction, in all senses you're brain is being tricked, given false data.
The worst part about common day tabacco is how it has been manipulated by corporations to become a product for profit.
At least canabis remains fairly biologically unaltered. And to be honest, Canabis has massive positive potential. Once again it was removed and made illegal by corporations. Another profit based manipulation of common people's minds.
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On May 25 2011 01:35 tdynasty wrote:
Smoking is a terrible mistake.
Here's why.
Nicotine is Poison, actually more poison then black widow venom.
If all the Nicotine from 5 cigarettes went streight into your blood stream. You would DIE.
Chemical addiction is very powerful. The reason why people "think" they enjoy tabacco is because nicotine stimulates and connects to dopamine pathways and your brain gains a sense of satisfaction. A highly complicated neurological reaction, in all senses you're brain is being tricked, given false data.
The worst part about common day tabacco is how it has been manipulated by corporations to become a product for profit.
At least canabis remains fairly biologically unaltered. And to be honest, Canabis has massive positive potential. Once again it was removed and made illegal by corporations. Another profit based manipulation of common people's minds.
If people are so adamant about anti-smoking then by all means make a stop tobacco smoking thread. When you make these posts in here it's not only pointless, but annoying.
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On May 25 2011 01:35 tdynasty wrote:
Smoking is a terrible mistake.
Here's why.
Nicotine is Poison, actually more poison then black widow venom.
If all the Nicotine from 5 cigarettes went streight into your blood stream. You would DIE.
Chemical addiction is very powerful. The reason why people "think" they enjoy tabacco is because nicotine stimulates and connects to dopamine pathways and your brain gains a sense of satisfaction. A highly complicated neurological reaction, in all senses you're brain is being tricked, given false data.
The worst part about common day tabacco is how it has been manipulated by corporations to become a product for profit.
At least canabis remains fairly biologically unaltered. And to be honest, Canabis has massive positive potential. Once again it was removed and made illegal by corporations. Another profit based manipulation of common people's minds.
Thanks for telling us the obvious, jerk.
People really care what you think about smoking in the Tobacco smoking thread.
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On May 25 2011 01:35 tdynasty wrote:
Smoking is a terrible mistake.
Here's why.
Nicotine is Poison, actually more poison then black widow venom.
If all the Nicotine from 5 cigarettes went streight into your blood stream. You would DIE.
Chemical addiction is very powerful. The reason why people "think" they enjoy tabacco is because nicotine stimulates and connects to dopamine pathways and your brain gains a sense of satisfaction. A highly complicated neurological reaction, in all senses you're brain is being tricked, given false data.
The worst part about common day tabacco is how it has been manipulated by corporations to become a product for profit.
At least canabis remains fairly biologically unaltered. And to be honest, Canabis has massive positive potential. Once again it was removed and made illegal by corporations. Another profit based manipulation of common people's minds.
I agree with you that the chronic is awesome, other than that get out of here troll, go whine in the anti-tobacco thread or something where people will actually care.
I used to be a cigarette smoker myself, smoked Marlboro Reds for 5 years but I have been 1 year and 1 month quit and counting!
Right now I have a very nice Cigar collection in my humidor which currently consists of:
- Montecristo No. 4
- Montecristo No. 3
- Cohiba Robustos
(all Cuban of course)
They are so good and relaxing after a long day, combined with a glass of fine rum or whisky and its just heavenly. Throw in some friends and Poker and then its a great evening!
Ill post some pictures of my humidor later if you guys are interested.
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I smoke red Marlboros, fuck im gonna die
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I used to smoke cigarettes and, still on occasion, smoke cigars. But I bought a pipe about 2 weeks ago and have been trying different tobaccos and I must say: I love it more than anything. The best thing about smoking from a pipe, is that the lingering smoke smell isn't as strong as opposed to smoking a cigarette or a cigar. My hands don't smell of smoke, and my clothes and breath don't smell as bad from the smoke either.
The time you spend packing your pipe, cleaning it, and sitting down an enjoying it is way better as well. It actually takes some time to smoke instead of just sucking it back.
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On May 25 2011 00:54 Ganjamaster wrote:
Marlboro Reds are the only serious end game cigarettes, every smoker just drifts towards them like flies to the light.
I have never liked Marlboro Reds, usually I go with either Unfiltered Lucky Strikes, unfiltered Camels or Camel Filters. I used to smoke Parliament Full Flavors when I was a coke addict for obvious reasons but they are too expensive now.
"The public health authorities never mention the main reason many Americans have for smoking heavily, which is that smoking is a fairly sure, fairly honorable form of suicide." ~Kurt Vonnegut
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I haven't ever smoked a cigarette (never really appealed to me), but I do enjoy smoking my hookah and Al Capone's (cigarillos dipped in cognac)
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Love the post and everything in it besides the notion that it's too late for you to stop smoking. You may not want to, but it is not impossible! And it's not healthy to go around telling folks that it is impossible to quit x ( My dad started smoking cigarettes two years before I was born, and has pretty much been trying to quit since the day he got hooked... Failed literally hundreds of times, and this year he has finally quit cold turkey, and i havent seen him with a cigarette since! ALSO -- my korean friend's father had been smoking for THRITY PLUS YEARS and finally quit recently. Both of them say they feel 100% better now that they've put it behind them.
I have smoked hookah for about 3 years now and I never get cravings (that i cant manage at least) and it's great for parties (not to mention all the girls i know LOVE hookah) (hint hint) Long story short I hope that if any of you smoke enough cigarettes per day to pose the serious health risks, that you at least make an attempt to stop. If not for health reasons, just for the sheer cost per pack -- and pick up a hookah if you need something to ween with!
P.S. Smoke Weed.
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On May 25 2011 06:32 RBKeys wrote:
I used to smoke cigarettes and, still on occasion, smoke cigars. But I bought a pipe about 2 weeks ago and have been trying different tobaccos and I must say: I love it more than anything. The best thing about smoking from a pipe, is that the lingering smoke smell isn't as strong as opposed to smoking a cigarette or a cigar. My hands don't smell of smoke, and my clothes and breath don't smell as bad from the smoke either.
The time you spend packing your pipe, cleaning it, and sitting down an enjoying it is way better as well. It actually takes some time to smoke instead of just sucking it back.
As much as I love cigars, there really is something special about a pipe. Take as much or as little as you like. Smoke it as quickly or slowly as you like. There's also something really nice about maintaining your pipe. If you do it properly, you know your pipe is better than it was 6 months ago.
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On May 25 2011 06:45 Moldwood wrote:
Love the post and everything in it besides the notion that it's too late for you to stop smoking. You may not want to, but it is not impossible! And it's not healthy to go around telling folks that it is impossible to quit x ( My dad started smoking cigarettes two years before I was born, and has pretty much been trying to quit since the day he got hooked... Failed literally hundreds of times, and this year he has finally quit cold turkey, and i havent seen him with a cigarette since! ALSO -- my korean friend's father had been smoking for THRITY PLUS YEARS and finally quit recently. Both of them say they feel 100% better now that they've put it behind them.
Wait, you mean you think people should quit smoking? I've never heard anything like that before. Tell me again about the health risks. What's that all about? Are you sure? I thought tobacco was good for you...
Really though, we know. If by some freak chance we didn't know, people have taken time to tell us on every page of this thread.
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EPT
