I wrote down my first impressions about smoking a pipe so that I could present them while it was all still new to me.
Too many times people write about something they know well, having worked with it for years, and thereby make it inaccessible to complete newcomers. So to avoid that I'm going to tell you what was important to me about the first week or so of smoking a pipe, in case you ever get an urge to try it.
Of course you should read about it on the internet and watch the videos. I did and so I expect you will. I'll cover that same info briefly, just in case, but I want to tell you what I learned from actually smoking.
1) Get a corncob pipe from Missouri Meerschaum. If you go in a smoke shop, they will almost surely have them. The reason I say that is that it's the best pipe you can get for under $50. Get a mild non-aromatic tobacco from your tobacco guy, and try it out for a few days. If you can't enjoy that, you won't want to have spent $90 on a low grade briar or $200 for a entry meerschaum. Only smoke it once or twice a day at first. Let it cool down between.
2) Smoke slowly. Read everything about packing and lighting your pipe, but then, however slow you are smoking, smoke slower. It's better to relight your pipe than let it get too hot. What I did was puff, puff, draw slowly while exhaling. Blow out the smoke (don't inhale), then take three or four slow breaths before drawing on the pipe again. This will make each draw about 15 seconds apart, which is not a bad rate.
3) There is a "button" on the end of the stem you put in your mouth. This is to hold with your teeth. Do not hold this with your lips. In fact, I've started making sure that the button is about a half inch inside my mouth. The smoke will make your mouth tingle, but if you draw it past your lips or directly on the tip of your tongue, it starts to "bite". You can prevent tongue bite by smoking slowly, but drawing the most concentrated part of the smoke past your lips is just too much.
4) Blowing out the smoke. I saw a lot of videos of people "dribbling" out the smoke. I can't do that. I mean, I can, but ew. I get much more satisfaction and get the smoke away from my beard and clothing by pursing my lips and blowing like I'm blowing out a candle. Eventually I have learned to blow slowly , but still not dribbling.
5) After you decide if you like it, go back to the tobacco shop, find the most knowledgeable pipe smoker there, and make that guy your new friend. Ask him about pipes and tobacco. Remember what he says and then look it up later. Start comparing three or four pipes that you like, hold them and look for qualities that he mentions. BTW, look for a centered draught hole. I made a $80 mistake by not doing that.
Lastly, choose your next pipe thoughtfully and enjoy. You will probably want to try out a Briar pipe.
But be careful about Pipe Acquisition Disorder. I now have seven pipes and two more on order.
I intend to write a couple of additional articles about pipe smoking. But please feel free to ask questions, correct my mis-impressions, or contribute to the discussion. I am far far far from an expert, I'm just writing down things I had to learn as a beginner. We don't even want to get started on selecting tobaccos, I'm making a spreadsheet to try to wrap my head around that topic.
This will also be part of a project I am working on about how to be a batchelor. I have an unsettling amount of experience at that.
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Great article, I will have to see if you have any more since this. As an avid pipe and cigar smoker for a few years now I always enjoy hearing people's first impressions. Like you said, I really think nothing of it anymore. Hope you're still puffing away
Hi~ Yes and thank you. I've acquired too many pipes and hoarded way too much tobacco, especially since my actual pipe smokes per day is something less than two. But it's an interesting hobby.
Hahaha, I don't know anyone who took up the pipe and liked it who doesn't have the same story. This is just what I keep in my office in jars currently. The rest is strewn about the house, in humidors and vehicles. (Un)fortunately, shortly after getting into pipes I discovered cigars and there went the money. At this point I really only smoke a few times a week when I have time. I have a very understanding wife, lol.
