The Finer Things

brandontmilan · 12-19-2004, 01:09 PM

For cigars, I would suggest Bacarats, they're mild and sweet, and relatively inexpensive... however, the best thing to do is go to a tobacco store (a real one with cigars and pipes, not a discount cigarette store) and talk to anyone there... i've found that pipe and cigar smokers are exceedingly friendly, and very willing to offer help... try various kinds, different people like different things... watch your pocket, because it can start to get expensive, but if you limit yourself to a couple of cigars a week, that will be good for both your wallet and your health...

however, on a personal note, i would suggest picking up an inexpensive pipe (either a Dr. Grabow at Walmart or a drug store for $15, or one a little nicer for $20-25 at a cigar store) and trying it out...
I would suggest starting with a Dr. Grabow, because they are already broken in, but either way, get your tobacco at a cigar/pipe store... unlike Cigars, Pipe tobacco is much cheaper at a specialty store than at walmart or eckerds... in fact, one can get about 1.5 ounces of captain black for 3.50, but one can get 2 ounces of better tobbaco at a tobacco store for about the same price...

so here are the benefits of smoking a pipe over smoking cigars:
1. less expensive (not including the price of extremely nice pipes)
2. better tasting
3. leaves a much better smell
4. if you enjoy collecting things, pipes are a good thing to collect...
5. and, for the most part, chicks dig pipes more than cigars...

-brandon t. milan

brandontmilan · 12-19-2004, 01:36 PM

I actually have a pipe almost identical to the one you are smoking in that picture, mlqurgw.

Dr. Worm · 12-19-2004, 01:46 PM

So when I first buy the pipe tobacco, what kind and how much do I get? I have no idea how much tobacco an ounce actually is, and am clueless as to a good brand to start with.

brandontmilan · 12-19-2004, 02:23 PM

the best way to start is grab a Dr. Grabow from walmart, along with a 1.5 ounce pack of Captain Black or Prince Albert (preferably Captain, but they'll at least have one or the other)... and grab a pack of wooden matches and some pipe cleaners... its going to cost between 15 and 20 dollars... and you can buy a pipe tool at a tobacco store, but i would suggest just to get a nail with a wide head to use as a tamper...
(disclaimer: this may be an unorthodox way of smoking a pipe, but i taught myself, so feel free to correct me)
1. pack the tobacco into the bowl of the pipe, up to the rim... not too tightly, but not too loosely either... though some more experienced smokers may suggest otherwise, i think its better to pack it too tightly, than too loosely, so go with tight...

2. this may take a few tries, especially if you aren't used to lighting cigars... light a match, and hold it over the bowl of the pipe, with the pipe in your mouth... let the match burn through the head, and then begin to move the match around in a circle just above the top of the tobacco, and puff repeatedly... until it flames up pretty big... (i'm sure most of you know this, or can figure it out, but be sure not to inhale while lighting)

3. now you've lit your pipe... don't get mad if it goes out pretty soon, because it probably will... but if it doesn't, then good job... sit back, relax, and smoke away... you'll notice after about 5 minutes that the smoke will start to diwndle... take the tamper, or the big headed nail, and push down gently on the already burnt tobacco on the top... this will be sure that tobacco further down in the pipe burns together instead of separately, creating more smoke... if you don't to this, the pipe will probably go out...

4. you'll know when you are out, because you won't be able to tamp the tobacco down any further...

5. when you are finished, you can let it cool down and fill it up again, if you want, but this supposedly isn't good for the pipe... whatever you do, when you are finished, run a pipe cleaner into the pipe to clean the moisture out... the best thing to do is take the stem off of the bowl, and let the whole thing dry out, filter and all, after cleaning the loose stuff in the bowl out with the pipe cleaner... but don't scrape the thin layer of carbon off of the inside of the bowl, until it gets really, really thick... like as thick as a penny...

6. buy a couple of ounces of real tobacco from a tobacco store... be sure to ask them what is good for beginners, or what smells good or whatever else...

brandontmilan · 12-19-2004, 02:30 PM

an ounce is quite a bit of tobacco, i'm guessing enough for 4-8 bowls, depending on the size of your pipe... when it comes to buying pipe tobacco at a tobacco store, most of them simply buy some sort of tobacco in bulk, and sell it to you as their own store brand or something... however, they also have tins of popular brands, but those are usually extremely expensive... like $11 an ounce, instead of $1.50 and ounce...

Dr. Worm · 12-19-2004, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandontmilan

the best way to start is grab a Dr. Grabow from walmart, along with a 1.5 ounce pack of Captain Black or Prince Albert (preferably Captain, but they'll at least have one or the other)... and grab a pack of wooden matches and some pipe cleaners... its going to cost between 15 and 20 dollars...

I should be able to find all these things at Walmart?

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandontmilan

and puff repeatedly... until it flames up pretty big... (i'm sure most of you know this, or can figure it out, but be sure not to inhale while lighting)

When you say "puff", do you mean blowing into it? What is the problem with inhaling while lighting? I thought you were never supposed to inhale pipe smoke anyway. And just how big of a flame should I be expecting here?

BurntHombre · 12-19-2004, 03:47 PM

Dr. Worm, check out those links I posted earlier. You'll find them very helpful.

**slap_j** · 12-19-2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

When you say "puff", do you mean blowing into it?

No, that is when you draw smoke into your mouth but not into your lungs.

**Athanasius** · 12-19-2004, 05:20 PM

Benj on the left with a Dr. Grabow Wal-Mart pipe. Jonathan (me) on the right with the London Flea Market find (that he is smoking this very minute).

TheProdigalModern · 12-19-2004, 05:33 PM

Man, I love tobacco. It's the best thing since alcohol and flannel.

The last few cloves that I've gotten my hands on have been pathetic. Someone out there thinks that people want filters on cloves, which is, as we all know, blasphemy.

airon · 12-19-2004, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athanasius

Benj on the left with a Dr. Grabow Wal-Mart pipe. Jonathan (me) on the right with the London Flea Market find (that he is smoking this very minute).

ooo. was that a newcastle i spied in the background? yummie. my best friend and i like to spend our free time with a pipe and a newcastle (or maybe a nice dunkel) and discuss theology...or girls....