The Finer Things

ChrisHarbison · 12-20-2004, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlqurgw

It will moisten the tobacco without making it wet. That way it will have less bite and more flavor. Is the tobacco you bought dry?

Really? Hmm, I've never tried that, does it matter what flavor the tobacco is? I typically smoke a sweeter aromatic blend.

I'm adding to the pictures. This is a pipe my friend got as a gift from Korea. It's a real pipe that they smoke over there. It's about 3.5 feet long made of bamboo.

mlqurgw · 12-20-2004, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisHarbison

Really? Hmm, I've never tried that, does it matter what flavor the tobacco is? I typically smoke a sweeter aromatic blend.

I'm adding to the pictures. This is a pipe my friend got as a gift from Korea. It's a real pipe that they smoke over there. It's about 3.5 feet long made of bamboo.

It doesn't seem to matter. I have never been able to tell that I have put an apple in by the flavor. Very nice pipe. Is it clay?

ChrisHarbison · 12-20-2004, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlqurgw

It doesn't seem to matter. I have never been able to tell that I have put an apple in by the flavor. Very nice pipe. Is it clay?

Interesting, I'll have to put a slice in my bag. I assume that it helps the tobacco keep longer?

No, the shaft is made of bamboo, the bowl and the mouthpiece are metal.

mlqurgw · 12-20-2004, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisHarbison

Interesting, I'll have to put a slice in my bag. I assume that it helps the tobacco keep longer?

No, the shaft is made of bamboo, the bowl and the mouthpiece are metal.

It keeps the tobacco moist. I had some that I hadn't smoked in 2 years. Very dry, so I put an apple core in it and in about a day it was moist again and I was able to smoke it. The reason I asked if the pipe was clay is because many are made of clay. In the revolutionary days that was the common material of pipes. I had a friend who found one buried on a farm recently that may have gone back to the 1700's. Of course it could also be from the War Between the States era. They used clay then also.

ChrisHarbison · 12-21-2004, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlqurgw

It keeps the tobacco moist. I had some that I hadn't smoked in 2 years. Very dry, so I put an apple core in it and in about a day it was moist again and I was able to smoke it. The reason I asked if the pipe was clay is because many are made of clay. In the revolutionary days that was the common material of pipes. I had a friend who found one buried on a farm recently that may have gone back to the 1700's. Of course it could also be from the War Between the States era. They used clay then also.

Oh how cool. Regardless of what era it was from, that would be an excellent find. If you can manage, post some pics of it.

mlqurgw · 12-21-2004, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisHarbison

Oh how cool. Regardless of what era it was from, that would be an excellent find. If you can manage, post some pics of it.

I haven't seen him in awhile so I doubt I could post any pics.

Jeffrey · 12-21-2004, 12:39 AM

A couple months back I bought a Cassano briar pipe. It was only seventy dollars, but it was recommended as a pipe easy for beginners to maintain yet still desireable as a long-term entry into a collection.

Currently I'm smoking a private blend tobacco using a Virginian colonial process involving rum - some modern wiseass named it "Jamaican Ska." After the holidays I intend to select a variety of other blends to try.

Cigarettes were only an occasional indulgence with friends, but after smoking pipe tobacco I doubt I will be able to accept another fag.

ChrisHarbison · 12-21-2004, 12:44 AM

I've smoked Jamaican Ska before. I'm not a big fan, but I'm pretty picky too, so my not being a fan doesn't say much.

Jeffrey · 12-21-2004, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisHarbison

I've smoked Jamaican Ska before. I'm not a big fan, but I'm pretty picky too, so my not being a fan doesn't say much.

I like the aroma a great deal. I ended up buying it over the other blends not so much out of the idiosyncratic appeal (me being a huge fan of true Jamaican ska) but out of the allure of the rum aroma.

However, I hardly have the experience with pipe tobacco that you possess. What would you recommend that I select the next time I'm out shopping?

**Athanasius** · 12-21-2004, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

I like the aroma a great deal. I ended up buying it over the other blends not so much out of the idiosyncratic appeal (me being a huge fan of true Jamaican ska) but out of the allure of the rum aroma.

However, I hardly have the experience with pipe tobacco that you possess. What would you recommend that I select the next time I'm out shopping?

Jeff-

Remember to clean your pipe between blends. I'd recommend the "Professor's Treatment" from pipes.org. Salt and a bit of alcohol, a bit of elbow grease, and you've got a nice clean pipe.

**Athanasius** · 12-21-2004, 04:46 AM

**Athanasius** · 12-21-2004, 04:52 AM

I'm bidding on this today. It's a mini-hookah, but it smokes properly (so the seller claims). I figured it would be a good way to try the hookah before investing a real amount of money into it. Everything I've been reading has made it sound really nice.

Jeffrey · 12-21-2004, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athanasius

Jeff-

Remember to clean your pipe between blends. I'd recommend the "Professor's Treatment" from pipes.org. Salt and a bit of alcohol, a bit of elbow grease, and you've got a nice clean pipe.

Thanks for the advice - I give my pipe a light cleaning after every smoke before putting it away, and then regularly give it a more thorough goings-over.

ChrisHarbison · 12-21-2004, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

I like the aroma a great deal. I ended up buying it over the other blends not so much out of the idiosyncratic appeal (me being a huge fan of true Jamaican ska) but out of the allure of the rum aroma.

However, I hardly have the experience with pipe tobacco that you possess. What would you recommend that I select the next time I'm out shopping?

I personally like the sweeter, smoother, aromatic blends over the harshers English blends. I enjoy Durfur's Castle personally, but it may be called something different at your local tobacco shop.

BurntHombre · 12-21-2004, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisHarbison

I personally like the sweeter, smoother, aromatic blends over the harshers English blends. I enjoy Durfur's Castle personally, but it may be called something different at your local tobacco shop.

I've gone the opposite direction over the years. The English blends are definitely an acquired taste -- sort of like going from wine coolers to cabernet.

Pick up a tin of McClellan Arcadia for a nice sample of some English blend.