New to Pipes

[JCubed]

I've been smoking cigars off-and-on for a few years and just started to get into it seriously last spring. Took to it like water to a fish, and now I have a winador 3/4 full and too many toys.

Since I have apparently not learned my lesson, I'd like to get into pipes. I know less than nothing. Just ordered the Collegiate Sampler from SmokingPipes. Also got a couple MM cobs.

I have no idea what I'm doing. Been reading a lot on here. I saw the Frank method for packing (I'm sure I'll suck at that anyway). I know that aromatics are "infused" blends that don't age all that well. I know that a pipe should only be used for certain blends and left to rest for at least 24 hrs. And I know that tins, once opened, should be sealed in jars. (Feel free to correct any of that "knowledge".)

Should I be "dry boxing," or drying out, my tobacco before smoking? If so, for how long?

How clean do I need the parts of the pipe to be after a smoke? I know there's "cake," but I don't want it filthy, right? Do I need to find cork or something softer to tap it on?

What is an estate pipe? Does that just mean "used and needs some TLC"?

Best way to smoke? With cigars, I take slow, long draws, then set it down for a min or so to keep it cooler. Same thing? I could have sworn I saw something telling me to do short quick puffs...

How do I keep the tobacco dry? My house is usually 30-40 rH, depending on the day and what system is running (according to my Ambient Weather device). Is this dry enough to not worry about any media?

Thanks for any advice, guys. The kit isn't even here yet, so I'm sure this is the 1st of many noobie posts.

 

[thedismaltrade]

Read the sticky "getting started with pipes" that will help. Welcome to the dark side

 

[GWBowman]

As yes, the next slippery slope. I'm still green and growing, but it sounds like you've done some good research. I've decided (code for my opinion) aromatics smell better than they taste and most non-aromatics taste better than they smell. Welcome from Virginia.

 

[Pugsley]

Much of this you will learn as you go, but I can answer a couple questions now.
Estate pipe means pre-owned and can be anything from unsmoked to beyond repair.
Cake is a good thing, to a certain extent. It's a layer of carbon on the inside of the bowl that protects the wood from the intense heat generated by burning tobacco. With a new briar pipe I usually break it in by smoking 3 or 4 bowls of burley, such as Carter Hall, as it smokes fairly cool and builds cake quickly. With a cob I don't worry about it, but in my opinion there are few things more enjoyable than a bowl of burley in a cob. It's a great morning smoke.

 

[JustTroItIn]

Should I be "dry boxing," or drying out, my tobacco before smoking? If so, for how long?

This will be dependant on the tobacco and your taste. Personally, I rarely feel it necessary to dry my tobacco. When I do, <30 minutes on a paper towel should be plenty of dry time.

How clean do I need the parts of the pipe to be after a smoke? I know there's "cake," but I don't want it filthy, right? Do I need to find cork or something softer to tap it on?

You can never have enough pipe cleaners. If your pipe starts to gurgle as you are smoking it there is nothing wrong with shoving a pipe cleaner in there to suck up a bit of the moisture mid smoke. Cake is something you want, but not excessively, and will form naturally as you smoke your pipe. For briars and cobs, after getting a light coating of cake on a new bowl I usually will wipe the bowl out with a folded pipe cleaner after every smoke to keep it getting too thick too fast. For Meerschaums, you don't really want any cake to form and should wipe the bowl after every smoke regardless.

What is an estate pipe? Does that just mean "used and needs some TLC"?

You got it. Used pipes.

Best way to smoke? With cigars, I take slow, long draws, then set it down for a min or so to keep it cooler. Same thing? I could have sworn I saw something telling me to do short quick puffs...

Again, dependent on tobacco and personal taste. Some tobaccos I can puff like a freight train. Others require slow sipping of the pipe. Listen to what your tongue is telling you. Ashy, flavorless, and/or bitey you are smoking too fast. Relighting after every puff and you may be smoking too slow but this can also reflect how well the bowl was packed.

How do I keep the tobacco dry? My house is usually 30-40 rH, depending on the day and what system is running (according to my Ambient Weather device). Is this dry enough to not worry about any media?

Personally I have never had to worry about any media to keep my tobacco moist. This is especially true when using mason jars. Tins can be a different story and depend on the tin and how long they will be open. I have some tins that have been open a few months and show no sign of getting too dry. Others I have noticed the tobacco drying a bit and have transferred to mason jars.

 

[JCubed]

I appreciate the advice, guys.

As far as keeping tobacco around 10-18% rH (what the "Getting started with pipes" thread mentioned), what is used to ABSORB the moisture to that low of a level? Seems pretty dry for at the house. And are "aging" jars and "smoking-out-of" jars different rH?

 

[CVAC085]

I spoke to a friend who is fairly new to pipes. And being he's more experienced with it than me, he told me about a guy on youtube by the name of StogieFarts....yes FARTS. LOL. Not sure if he's a member on this forum or not though. Anyway, watching his channel and his how-to videos of pipe smoking definitely helped me learn about pipe smoking rather than me sitting here to read it all. I tend to be a better visual and hands-on learner over just reading directions. If you have a chance to check his videos out, hopefully it can help you as well just like it did for me.

 

[Whtwtrman79]

I appreciate the advice, guys.

As far as keeping tobacco around 10-18% rH (what the "Getting started with pipes" thread mentioned), what is used to ABSORB the moisture to that low of a level? Seems pretty dry for at the house. And are "aging" jars and "smoking-out-of" jars different rH?

Read this article by gl pease it does a much better job of explaining this than I ever could, I believe your reference should be 10-18% mbw (moisture by weight) and not 10-18 % relative humidity. Which would likely give you tobacco the consistancy of dust

Hope this helps

http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/dust-in-the-wind-a-primer-on-tobacco-moisture/