[Krysty]

Originally Posted by Lee Modlin

You know, I realize you are new to this site, but you really shouldn't go into a thread for smokers and start dissing them. If you want to discuss the negative effects of smoking, feel free to start a thread and do so. This, however, is not the place to do so.

i apologize if it seemed as if i was dissing you...that was not my intention at all...i asked because i really would like to know...it's intriguing to me why people who knew the risks continue...i don't kno any smokers except for me paedophilic french teacher and i'm not going to stay around him (by myself) long enuf to ask...so once angain i'm sorry if it seemed like i was attacking you. i wasn't

[Dr. Worm]

A few weeks ago, I fractured my back in several places while skiing, and am very lucky to not be paralyzed. Skiing has a lot of risks. People die all the time skiing. Why would people continue to ski if they knew the risks? Because they like to ski.

[airon]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

A few weeks ago, I fractured my back in several places while skiing, and am very lucky to not be paralyzed. Skiing has a lot of risks. People die all the time skiing. Why would people continue to ski if they knew the risks? Because they like to ski.

I love skiing and smoking, I am fully aware of the risks of each and I continue to do them both. Oh, I also like driving fast and jumping off of really high things....although, that last one is best if I am on my skis and there is snow underneath, but, I've done it without. It hurt. Then I did it again.

[SilverNitrate]

Originally Posted by Krysty

I don't understand...if you know...y continue killing yourself and everyone around you?

Many people enjoy swimming... and every time they do, they risk the chance of drowning... yet they do it anyways.

Many people enjoy climbing mountains. They are aware that they could fall to their death at any moment, yet they do so anyways.

Many people enjoy skydiving... they are aware that their parachute may not open... yet they do it anyways.

Same with bunjie jumping...

Basically, no matter the risk... if it's enjoyable... it's enjoyable. Why do you do the things you enjoy?

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by Krysty

I don't understand...if you know...y continue killing yourself and everyone around you?

1. I never smoke unless I'm around other smokers or alone, and I'm sure that goes for other people here, too.
2. ...because smoking's fun?
3. "Everything created by God is good if it is received with thanksgiving."

[FTS]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

Some questions about cleaning your pipe.

How is the best way to clean it?

How often should you clean it?

What does cleaning it accomplish?

I'd like to know as well.
Sometimes, no matter how well I think I cleaned out my pipe, the next time I smoke, I get little black particles coming through. It's not very nice.

[TheProdigalModern]

Originally Posted by Lee Modlin

They didn't have Djarum...

One of my roommates walked in tonight, and announced that he had just smoked "some of the best cloves ever."

From his pocket he pulled a pack of Djarums. They were okay, but I think that overzealous consumption of pipe tobacco has numbed my mouth to more subtle smokes. Do not berate me, for I berate myself.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

Some questions about cleaning your pipe.

How is the best way to clean it?

How often should you clean it?

What does cleaning it accomplish?

This may not be directly related to your question, but it's important to note that you shouldn't shake out your ash when performing a relight. That interferes with building up the cake you need to break in your pipe.

When I am done smoking in one of my pipes, I let it cool a bit and then shake out all the loose ash and dottle (into my large ash bowl, but that's just because I don't want to the downstairs neighbors to find ash all over their porch). Hold the pipe lovingly (LOVE!) by a section of the bowl, not the stem, when shaking out ash. If you hold the stem, you run the risk of shaking too hard and splitting the two parts of your pipe. That would suck.

If you're still building up cake on your pipe or looking to maintain what you have, place a finger over the top of the bowl and give a few light shakes before emptying your ash and dottle (pre-ash tobacco remaining in the bowl).

I then use a pipe cleaner to carefully dislodge any bits sticking to the inside bowl. You're not doing a hard scrub here, just making sure nothing substantial will be there for your next smoke. I then run a pipe cleaner through the shank, which will hopefully appear in the bowl. If it gets blocked, you may have to carefully force it a bit to get any bits that may have transferred to the stem out. I've never had a problem at this stage, but if you do you can wait until the whole pipe is completely cool and then seperate the parts to get a bit more thorough with the pipe cleaner.

Run a series of pipe cleaners through the stem down into the bowl until they come out pretty much clean (not blackened or with pieces of dottle and ash).

Then, to make sure excess condensation doesn't soak into the pipe, I leave a pipe cleaner in the stem extending down into the bowl for a while. Advice ranges on this - some folks have told me to leave the cleaner in. Others say leaving the cleaner in is a bad idea. I leave the cleaner in for a while but no longer keep it in until my next smoke.

Also, moisten a pipe cleaner with a little saliva and rub around the rim of the bowl to keep that clean. I also use a handerchief to wipe off the pipe.

Make sure to never, ever seperate the parts of the pipe while it's hot! You run the risk of getting things warped and ill-fitting over time.

After a good number of smokes (like all subcultures/hobbies, advice ranges. I've only been smoking since December and so have only done a full cleaning for my first pipe and for my two estate pipes) after your cake has been developed, it's good to do a pipe-sweetening/thorough clean. Advice on this ranges, and far be from me (a novice) to give something that may be taken as a final word. Google (as if anyone uses any other search program) "pipe sweetener" or "pipe sweetening" or "pipe cleaning" to look for advice. I personally used a method that requires non-iodized salt and high proof alcohol. It's worked for me.

Cleaning a pipe accomplishes many things. First off, it's part of the Zen-like process that distinguishes pipe smoking from other tobacco varieties. You're maintaining a tool instead of just tossing away what's left.

However, on the practical side, cleaning keep condensation and juices from soaking into the pipe and making the taste bitter. A lot of us smokers produce enough saliva that a pipe without cleaning would get a nasty flavor.

Leaving the residue in your pipe will mar future smokes. It's recommend already to generally reserve a pipe for each genre of blend you're going to smoke regularly - you don't want each of your pipes to "taste like burning!" Cleaning keeps your pipe from getting bitter or sour and to make sure your next smoke tastes like the blend you've just packed in.

After smoking and cleaning a pipe, most folks recommend leaving it to sit a day or two. Smoking a couple bowls in the same pipe in a short timeframe every now and then won't kill your pipe, however. But keeping a rotation of pipes means all of them will last a bit longer.

Now that I owe six pipes, I can do this (I haven't dumped two hundred bucks on this hobby though - shop smart, shop S-mart). Really, if you smoke different blends in one pipe you will eventually notice a dominant or odd flavor in each future pipe - but a thorough pipe-sweetening will fix this.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Vershal

From his pocket he pulled a pack of Djarums. They were okay, but I think that overzealous consumption of pipe tobacco has numbed my mouth to more subtle smokes. Do not berate me, for I berate myself.

What pipe blends do you smoke? I guess this can be a good general question for all pipe smokers here.

Heck, let's open it up. What brands/blends of tobacco in any form do folks here regularly indulge in?

[SilverNitrate]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Heck, let's open it up. What brands/blends of tobacco in any form do folks here regularly indulge in?

I really enjoy Pipe World's Columbian Mocha... that's "my blend". Although, I also enjoy any of the vanillas and honey scented ones. I'm not a big fan of the harsher blends. (ie. Presbyterian Mixture et al)

Oh, and I got a new pipe this weekend. It's really nice. If I had a digital camera I'd take a picture of it. Oh well.

[Athanasius]

I think I'm gonna set up my hookah tonight for some Sermon-writing smoke!

[Role Modlin]

Originally Posted by Vershal

One of my roommates walked in tonight, and announced that he had just smoked "some of the best cloves ever."

From his pocket he pulled a pack of Djarums. They were okay, but I think that overzealous consumption of pipe tobacco has numbed my mouth to more subtle smokes. Do not berate me, for I berate myself.

Cloves are still cigarettes, even though they tatse much better. Cloves were a stepping stone to cigars for me and I fear that I may have to try the pipe before it's all over and done with.

I still like my cloves though. I've been smoking them for almost twelve years now.

[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Athanasius

I think I'm gonna set up my hookah tonight for some Sermon-writing smoke!

You lucky (illegitimate child)! Hopefully this week or next I am going to try my first hookah.

Originally Posted by SilverNitrate

I really enjoy Pipe World's Columbian Mocha... that's "my blend". Although, I also enjoy any of the vanillas and honey scented ones. I'm not a big fan of the harsher blends. (ie. Presbyterian Mixture et al)

I am in your debt for the recommendation on the former. Columbian Mocha is just fantastic.

I've tried a range and have not settled on a favorite yet. Recently I've been enjoying latakia-dependent blends like Pepe #9. I enjoyed Staghorn, which is similar, but when I found the stronger Pepe #9, I was sold! But I enjoy some fruitier aromatics, as well.

Oh, and I got a new pipe this weekend. It's really nice. If I had a digital camera I'd take a picture of it. Oh well.

I may borrow a roommate's digital camera and take a picture of my "Vice Rack" (which I guess is some finer snacks and things as well as tobacco). I think I may have a couple pics of some of my pipes already. None of me smoking.

[thelitgirl]

Djarum Blacks, mmm.

[Dr. Worm]

When you finish smoking a bowl, how much ash and the like should be left at the bottom?