So I was at the B&M yesterday and was looking at the pipes. I broke down and decided to buy one. Nothing fancy as it's one of those "Basket Pipes" or "Seconds" whatever you want to call it. I figured for $35 dollars why not. If I crack the bowl, brake the stem and/or burn the hell out of it I'm not out much money. I also picked up a couple ounces of One-Q tobacco as it had a nice sweet smell. Once I get the hang of this I'll definitely be purchasing a better pipe, but for now this will work as I've never smoked a pipe before. It's stamped with Czech Republic on it, but as it's a basket/second type pipe I'm not sure who made it.






If anyone has any good suggestions for a pipe newbie I'm open to all comments. I'll also be watching some tutorials on you tube as well.

Good luck!  I found a lot of pipe tobacco to be very, very good (better than cigars, actually).  However, I got very frustrated with the process of trying to keep it lit.

This site is awesome if you want to figure out what kind of tobacco you should try:

http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/

Look here in the pipe forum:

http://www.cigargeeks.com/index.php?topic=3863.0

http://www.cigargeeks.com/index.php?topic=3473.0

And watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJP0JaNRw6Q



If you need any help or have any questions just post 'em up.

Looks good enough to me!  You'd be surprised, you can find some awesome basket pipes that smoke like a dream.  Have fun with it, and don't get too frustrated if you don't get the hang of it immediately.  More so than any other hobby I've taken to, pipe smoking takes a lot of patience.  Once you get the hang of it though, you'll be rewarded with some of the best tasting smoke in existence.

You may consider a corncob pipe from Missouri Meerschaum.  They make great beginner pipes, but some people stick with them long term (like me).  They're awesome to have around for trying new tobacco blends.  My favorites are the Missouri Pride (for shorter smokes) and the Natural Freehand (for longer smokes).  And if you ever get into flake tobaccos, the Missouri Pride and their cherry wood poker are great, and very inexpensive.  They might not be very elegant, but I love my natural cobs.  They smoke beautifully.  I smoke them far more often than I smoke my more expensive briars or my calabash (those are more for special occasions).  

Glad there's some more pipe discussion going on here!  I love cigars, but pipes are great, too.  Definitely a worthy pursuit.  Have fun, Metalhead!

EDIT: Spelling error.  Fixed.

Interesting video. Thanks for posting it Les.

Quotemetalhead y cigarguy - 4/18/2011  4:07 PM

Interesting video. Thanks for posting it Les.

It's a three part series,,,hopefull you watched all three.

Also I'll  +1 what Chris said.   Cobs are the easiest pipes to smoke and maintain.  I'd avoid the really cheap ones (the legend), but the higher end ones are still under $10 and are excellent.

Here's a like so you can take a look at them:

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/micocobme.html

I have the American Patriot and the Bent Legend.  The problem with the Legends is they aren't pre charred, so there is a break-in required and it doesn't smoke well the first couple of times.   The better ones require no break in.  

Briar wood pipes (like the one I'm assuming you bought) require an extensive break in.  you have to build up the "cake" that lines the bowl.   If you google pipe break-in you might some useful information.   Here's a few to get you started:

http://www.danpipe.com/break-in.html

http://www.peterson.ie/pipes/how-to-enjoy-your-pipe.html

http://www.pipesandcigars.com/newpipebreakin.html

http://www.chicagopipeshow.com/education/Documents/BreakingInAPipe-PatrickDennis.pdf

One more thing....welcome to another slippery slope!    

QuoteHot Stuff x - 4/18/2011  1:24 AM

One more thing....welcome to another slippery slope!    

Seriously.  You should see what's become of my kitchen pantry.  Needless to say, food is no longer kept in there.  

Yeah, avoid the Legend.  It's okay, but the bowl is really small.  If you're going to go with a varnished cob, go with either the Patriot (good call, Hot Stuff x) or the Diplomat.  The Patriot is unfiltered and has a really funky look that I love, while the Diplomat is filtered and more... I don't know, "presentable" in terms of appearance?  It looks less like a cob than the others, but it's still a cool pipe.  

Also, here's a little trick: a lot of the cob pipes require pipe filters, but pipe filters adversely affect the draw.  To remedy this, I suggest taking the long poker on your pipe tool (or a nail, or toothpick... really any long, narrow object) and running it through the pipe filter to mat down the little paper tabs.  Doing this will give you the best of both worlds: the filter will still absorb moisture, but the draw won't be affected.  Works wonders.

A lot of purists shun filters, although I've heard good things about the  Savinelli balsa filter system.

None of my pipes are filtered except the MM Legend I have.  I only use the filter once then toss it.  

Bent pipes are a pain to clean compared to straight ones, but I find the bend helps keep the water and stray tobacco bits from getting to your mouth.

QuoteHot Stuff x - 4/18/2011  3:29 AM

A lot of purists shun filters, although I've heard good things about the  Savinelli balsa filter system.

None of my pipes are filtered except the MM Legend I have.  I only use the filter once then toss it.  

Bent pipes are a pain to clean compared to straight ones, but I find the bend helps keep the water and stray tobacco bits from getting to your mouth.

I'm no purist. I'm not trying to prove anything to myself or others. I just want a smoke I can continue refilling all day. In order to want to keep coming back, each bowl must not only be tasty and pleasurable, it must be cool and not burn a hole in my tongue, either from the heat, the steam or both. Easy cleaning is another plus I get from the right filter. So do I want a smoke "unnaturally" cool, dry and easy to clean? For me the pipe choices are corn cob or block Meerschaum, both filtered. Think long term. Your tongue might not mind the stress now, but down the road it might make you pay some way or other for the erosion.

Just make sure you don't wear you teeth down like my father.....and only tobacco ok.  

First off the pipe looks very nice. The 3 videos have alot of info in them. I always wanted to smoke a pipe. Always loved the smell of them.

Congrats on the new pipe!  

Check out this guys videos. Lots of good information and IMO a more real world look at pipe smoking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anpPn4R1xM&feature=channel_video_title

Congrats on the new pipe! I've never tried pipe tobacco, but hear good things.

agreed on the missouri meerschaum... they are great cheap pipes. and lots of great links with useful info. main tips i would add that i found helpful in enjoying a pipe are:

slow down
dry your baccy (i like mine real dry)
retro-hale

funny thing is, i suppose those points apply to cigars just the same.

Cool looking pipe !!  I have always wanted to try a pipe, just have never got around to doing it.  Enjoy.  Keep us posted how your new hobby goes.

Great advice here.

I agree -- beginners do best to begin with a quality corn cob for under $10.  I'd advise a filtered corn cob, you can always opt out of using a filter later.

That pipe tobacco site linked here is great for beginners as well -- yes, one has to spend time reading through a ton of stuff -- but it's a great way to actually save time and money to narrow down what's best in the search for your favorite blends.

Thanks for all the tips and video link posts. I smoked it again last night and think I did okay, maybe I'm a natural.  

I think it is great that you have taken the step to pipes.  I've toyed with the idea but it seems like a lot of work.  Maybe once I get done smoking all the cigars out there I'll move on to pipes.

Quotelowpro75 - 4/18/2011  3:50 PM
...Maybe once I get done smoking all the cigars out there I'll move on to pipes.

 

I've been thinking the same thing for about 10 years....

Since I was a kid I've always wanted to smoke a pipe. I've always enjoyed the sweet aroma of a pipe. There used to be a collectible/tobacco shop in the mall when I was a kid and I always loved going in there because of the smell.

Quotemetalhead y cigarguy - 4/18/2011  8:03 PM

Since I was a kid I've always wanted to smoke a pipe. I've always enjoyed the sweet aroma of a pipe. There used to be a collectible/tobacco shop in the mall when I was a kid and I always loved going in there because of the smell.

You have big dreams.  I like that.

Quotelowpro75 - 4/18/2011  8:07 PM

Quotemetalhead y cigarguy - 4/18/2011  8:03 PM

Since I was a kid I've always wanted to smoke a pipe. I've always enjoyed the sweet aroma of a pipe. There used to be a collectible/tobacco shop in the mall when I was a kid and I always loved going in there because of the smell.

You have big dreams.  I like that.

If you are going to dream, dream big!

 

Welcome to the world of pipes, Bryan!  The guys have pretty much covered it all. For tobacco, I am pretty much a convert to British style Cavendish. Very aromatic and tasty without the bitterness or excessive woods that some types have - I could smoke the black cherry varieties all day.

Les, thanks for the link to the Missouri cobs ... methinks I may pick up a couple of those.

As for the problems with the stems and whether to use a filter, I wonder if a Peterson p-lip stem would fit any of them  

Quotekola - 4/19/2011  11:34 AM

As for the problems with the stems and whether to use a filter, I wonder if a Peterson p-lip stem would fit any of them  

Nope...the peterson tenon is way too big.   I just tried it with two petersons and two cobs.