NationStates Jolt Archive

I know its a filthy habit with several health risks, but I've found it highly enjoyable and strangely relaxing. Granting that I'm a fool to invite addiction and illness, all the while paying for the habit, I've got a question.

Is a "tamper" really necessary, is the "charring light"/"false light" really useful, whats a good tobacco on the sweet side of the spectrum, will the kind of pipe affect flavor, and is it normal that I'm having to relight a dozen times per bowl?

Yes, this is tobacco, really.

You need to relight more if you don't pack it properly. Get someone to show you how to use a tamper. It's kinda impossible to explain using just words. If you have any elders in your family, ask them. They would be more likely to know about these things, even if they don't smoke themselves, and they may well know experienced pipe-smokers.

I think cigars are more popular than the pipe as it's cumbersome (not to the extend of the hookah) and requires cleaning. There's also the emphasis on the proper storage of pipe tobacco, as opposed to cigarettes and cigars.

If smoking is absolutely harmless, I don't mind copying Einstein and pipe on! Twain, Einstein and Tolkien are just some of few intellectual pipe smokers.

(I've never tried tobacco in my life!)

It's been a few years, but I can help a little. You do need to tamp - whether you want to use a tamper depends on how you feel about burning the end of your finger until you develop a callous. I did the latter, works fine. Tamping the tobacco makes for a better burn.

It's up to you how many times you re-light and tamp, puffing more frequently will keep it going. Or don't get in a rush, you can keep it hanging about unlit as well. A dozen times seems a bit much though.

If you use a burl pipe you'll need to break it in a bit, don't overheat it mainly. Meerschaum is said to be the best, but pricey. There is a difference in quality with pipes. Make sure you clean it, a gurgling pipe is disgusting.

If it's at all possible find a good tobacco shop - they'll often have it in jars so you can smell it and try it. There is an incredible array of product to choose from, much richer world than cigars to my mind. Used to be some very nice tobaccos from Scotland and Scandinavia that came in tins - I remember them as sweet and rich, very moist.

I love it. :D Its tasty, aromatic, and generally agreeable in my opinion. :)

Anyone have any suggestions as to brands or types of tobacco that are especially sweet and aromatic? :)

Yeah, I'm a pipe smoker. I really enjoy it. A tamper is absolutely neccessary. Also avoid smoking outdoors, as the wind tends to fan the embers, burning the tobbacco faster, just sucking away your precious smoke.

What are your favourite blends? For everyday smoking I go with Old Port, because it affordable, of consistent (but not high) quality, keeps its aroma nicely and is pleasently mild. When I've got money to burn (literally ;) ) I go for a custom blend, usually Danish morning tobbacco with Vanilla scent, though the Vanilla blends burn hotter for some reason, the scent is so nice even ardent non-smokers ask me light up.

I think cigars are more popular than the pipe as it's cumbersome (not to the extend of the hookah) and requires cleaning. There's also the emphasis on the proper storage of pipe tobacco, as opposed to cigarettes and cigars.

If smoking is absolutely harmless, I don't mind copying Einstein and pipe on! Twain, Einstein and Tolkien are just some of few intellectual pipe smokers.

(I've never tried tobacco in my life!)

May I add James Joyce to that list, who suposedly wrote like a chapter just about the feeling you get when smoking pipe?

I used to smoke a pipe and am considering going back to it (as opposed to the nasty cigarettes I now smoke).

I don't know if it's a custom blend, but I used to smoke Capetown...which is a blend of French Vanilla and Chocolate/Cocoa flavored tobaccos. Nice and strong aroma but quite mild. I wonder if I can get it up here. *hmmmmm*

May I add James Joyce to that list, who suposedly wrote like a chapter just about the feeling you get when smoking pipe?

addition: I'm starting to feel pretty sure that this thread is going to cause quite a number of relapses...just look at that list of adjectives. :eek:

May I add James Joyce to that list, who suposedly wrote like a chapter just about the feeling you get when smoking pipe?

Pipe smoking does appear intellectual, but I wouldn't be wanting to try that.

Ah, such great responses! I can now refute those who say nothing can be learned on a net forum!

Guess I'll have to invest in a tamper (found a combination pipe tool on the net for $6, might as well). As for tobacco blends, I'm very interested in these vanilla flavors a few have mentioned. As for outdoors, thanks to the wife, its my only option (not sure if you can smoke a pipe in Vegas restaraunts/bars, or if its courteous).

Anyway, thanks for the fine array of responses!

I tried a pipe and thought "I'm gonna switch".But i stuck to cigars.

I stopped smoking altogether now. My last one was Dec 17th 2004

Any tobacco pipe smokers about?
Give me another year on that one.

Ive fooled around with smoking pipes in the past, and found it to be rather tedious..so these days I smoke cigs.

However, i do like the smell of a nice vanilla pipe smoke, and it brings back pleasant nostalgic memories of some old people I used to know that I once respected.

Any tobacco pipe smokers about?
Give me another year on that one.

Because you won't be old enough to buy tobacco products for another year or because tobacco users drop dead a lot? I'm not being glib, I just don't follow. :)

Wait ... you can put tobacco in a pipe? Wow ...

Wait ... you can put tobacco in a pipe? Wow ...

heh, yeah...at both of the pipe shops down by the university, they've got hundreds of pipes, but don't sell tobacco...I have to get my non-wacky tobacky off the internet...