Pipe Smoking - A Guide to Smoking Pipes
Have you ever been walking through the park and smelled the wonderful aroma of someone smoking a tobacco pipe? Have you ever considered taking up pipe smoking but didn’t know where to start? In 7 short articles you can learn how to smoke a pipe!
I encourage you to take the time to read through the Not-So Boring Guide to Pipe Smoking which is written especially for pipe smoking beginners. The guide is 6 pages and will help you choose your first pipe as well as choosing your first pipe tobacco. We’ll also cover which accessories are a must have for your tobacco pipe and which are just nice to have down the road. Once you’ve got all your pipe smoking gear we’ll discuss how to pack your pipe the right way. Once it’s packed it’s time to light it up and puff away. All the information you need to start smoking pipes is just a click away.
Introduction to Pipe Smoking for Beginners
Smoking pipes is really all about relaxation. Since tobacco was discovered its been a favorite pastime of men and now some women find themselves smoking a tobacco pipe. There are really only 3 ways to smoke tobacco: cigarettes, cigars, and the pipe. The tobacco pipe is the only option which gives the smoker a lasting sense of pleasure and a total state of relaxation.
A pipe is similar to a fountain pen or a fine time piece. It’s truly is a thing of beauty. Some even call a well-crafted pipe a work of art. It’s a pleasure to hold, inspect, perhaps tell a story about, and demands a certain amount of respect.
What you’ll find over time is that smoking a pipe is actually an art and a science. The first task to learn is packing your pipe. Once it is packed with your pipe tobacco of choice, lighting it evenly is the next challenge. Learning to actually smoke your pipe will also take some time. Don’t be afraid though, learning these skills is not a painstakingly long process nor are they hard to learn. It just takes some understanding and patience. The rewards of properly smoked tobacco pipes is a wonderful aroma and a great taste, not to mention a relaxed state of mind.
very good article, even for the experimented smokers, like me. i left the cigarettes and come back to pipe, my first love. you present a well structurated encyclopedia for pipe smokers with many things to learn of! thank you for your effort, i am pleasant surprised.
I have become addicted to water pipes (or “hookas”) - I love to great flavor blends that people come up with!!
Me and my wife went to Egypt a few years ago we blasted our way through quite a few hookas…. they were pretty cool, we bought one back with us along with some stuff to smoke, but never used it.
My younger brother bought one back from Turkey when he was around 14, he did use it, for around a year…. to smoke cannabis. My dad eventually found it in a cupboard with hundreds of cigarette filters (he broke up cigarettes to mix with it).
There are a few bars that have hookas now, though smoking is being banned in all public places (in the UK) in a few weeks, I assume that applies to hookas also…. shame really….
I have become addicted to smoking shisha as well! !
very sociable activity!
I cant believe your promoting smoking!!
Im trying to give up cigarettes at the moment, its really hard… I have to say I am sad to be giving up in a way, I will really miss it, but its not something I would recommend…. I know pipes probably are not as addictive, but still a bad plan….
If you’re trying to quit smoking…then stay out of smoking websites!
Just dumped the cig’s with no problem and the first thing I noticed was what a relaxing thing a nice bowl is with a great aromatic blend it really relaxes you. Cigarettes never gave me that satisfaction
I love the aroma of pipe smoke! Wouldn’t want to try smoking it myself though… it’s quite a hit isn’t it? I wonder if you can buy “aroma of pipe smoke” incense at all?!?
Pipe smoking is a delicous habit i left for cigars years ago…i am going to give it a second run…this time i’ll use good tobacco and pipe, as opposed the pharmacy quality stuff I used to play with.. If the pleasure police come after me, they’ll have to pry my wood pipe from my cold dead fingers.
I smoke the nargile sometimes. It’s awesome outdoors on a summer evening…or at the beach. Sometimes the authorities come to investigate thinking there might be something illegal going on. Never had any real problem though. There are lots of great flavors now. My favorite is double apple, but I like rose too, and mint and bubble gum and tutti frutti. I got many different flavors when I was in Lebanon and I keep them in our humidor which my husband hates. He says their cloying aromas compromise his Cohibas. I think we need a second humidor.
I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life, but I’ve recently begun smoking a pipe for about an hour each morning. I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and that hour of smoking a pipe is far more relaxing than any medication I’ve ever encountered. I am very saddened by the decline in pipe smoking, and I hope that it will experience a resurgence when the current mood of global prohibition subsides.
Yes indeed! The cigarette crowd has really ruined one of the most enjoyable plants on earth for most people. Pipe away! You’ll never regret it. And you’ll live 12% longer, according to the Surgeon General’s 1964 report. (Of course, nobody really knows for sure, statistics lie.)
I too have never smoked a cigarette and the smell of most give me a headache. I however can puff my pipe all night long and it let’s me relax and clears my mind. Pipe puffing is a far cry from smoking cigarettes in my opinion. Some cigars have appealled to me in the past but nothing has really stuck(Ashton cigars are very nice tho).
Pipes are more of a hobby then an addiction. I can go without my pipe for days if need be without killing anyone. It’s really a peaceful yet VERY interesting pasttime. Don’t knock it until you’ve given it and honest try…
Puff in peace everyone…
I have smoked a pipe once and it not only tasted good but it was amazing in all respects. i found this article to be very informative and i will definitely use some of the tips givin as i am a beginner at pipes.
Hookahs on the other hand i know very well. I love how it tastes and smokes and it is amazing as well. I wish it wasnt so hard to set up and clean though. Oh well. Good things are never completely free
how about doing an article on all the different types of pipe tobacco. what’s the best time and place for each type and so on. I used to smoke this one brand that had a picture of a toad on the container…boy was that stuff good. good luck with the site.
Great article. I love the smell of pipe smoke!
Is there any “natural” tobacco that does not have any added chemicals?
Yes, all of Milan Tobacconists’ house blends. http://www.milantobacco.com is their site. They are practically in my backyard, and their stuff is excellent, and best of all, totally natural.
uhh cancer?? hello you nim rods. ok what have we learned here? to smoke. thats gr8. i think ill start now. not!
Dude, you are the nimrod. Why, because you try to help us “nimrods”.
Understand something here please! Everyone does thing that they enjoy. And, these things may not be conducive to superb health (like people who eat bad foods and too much of them for instance!). But, the fact of the matter is just that; it is something done to enable one to enjoy their life, enjoy their time, enjoy something for what it is. If pipe smokers get cancer, so be it. But honestly, you do not hear about that much. SO MIND YOU OWN FRIGGIN BUSINESS BUSYBODY!
Only a fool will waste his time trying to change people around him that do not care about what it is that the person has to say.
That’s right, fast food will kill you far faster then puffin’ a pipe a few times a week. Have we not all seen ’super size me’? The maker of the film ended up with perminent liver and kidney damage from just a month of so of Mcdonalds. There sure are a lot of old pipe puffers out there tho!:)
Pipes are a mature hobby of course where mediation is required…
I for one HATE cigarettes in every respect…they are FILLED with chemicals that are far more dangerous then natural tobacco…
Here’s a thought. Why don’t you mind your own business?
oh c’mon, lets be nice
just read these and then e-mail me if you guys would still like to talk…
http://www.reason.com/news/show/29471.html
http://www.meerschaumstore.com/health.htm
This is a very good primer on tobacco pipe smoking.
Actually, I think that pipe smoking may have a bit of a resurgence soon as cigarette smokers and even snuff tobacco users start looking for other “outlets” that may (or may not) be less addictive. The interesting thing is that because of the variety of tobacco available and the amount of “labor” involved in tobacco pipes, it has less addictive properties as an activity as opposed to just throwing a cig in your mouth and flicking a lighter.
hi i just say this thing and am doing a paper on glass pipe arrtwork, and how the artwork represents bringing back the original ritual/ elegancy of smoking a pipe. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where to find books about the history of pipe smoking, or pipe smoking in the middle east, that would be awesome
You guys are crazy to think that pipe smoking is not as addictive or harmful compared to cigarettes, etc. Although, it does smell pretty darn good when I walk by it, and it sure does look cool. But those are dumb reasons to ever smoke! Anyway, I could care less if people want to try and commit suicide the slow way, except for when it comes to my pregnant self and my infant being around random smokers who want to stand in doorways and obvious walkways and then blow smoke in our faces. How inconsiderate! I’m just saying that you should educate yourselves just a BIT before you decide what’s more or less healthy for your bodies. That is all. Go in peace. :OP
What are you doing on this site anyway, this is for smokers, It is our freedom to smoke if we want. If you don like the smoke in you face like i tell all them freedom busters like your self, hold your breath or get a mask and leve us alone.
Hehe, have you ever seen any pipe smokers in those door ways? Yes if you are pregnant you should not smoke, or smoke around your children.
really good article. If somebody wants to knoe more, you need to visit this site: water-bongs-glass-pipes.com
Most premium pipe tobacco is all natural. The drug store variety and the flavored kinds have added chemicals. I have a feeling that these chemicals that are a added to cigarettes are whats really causing the harm/addiciton.
When i smoked ciggs i couldnt go without one for too long. Now with my pipe i go for days without any problems what so ever. Cigg tobacco is SO unnatural. Calling cigarettes tobacco is like calling a Mcdonalds hamburger patty a “steak”.
While we are on the subject. For all of you who whine and cry about pipes being bad for your health. Do you eat meat? Do you drive a car? Do you drink? You realise those things are very bad for your health, are known to cause cancer, destroy the environment, blah, blah.
Thank you for your concern, but how about you mind your own beezwax. Last time i checked this is america, we can make our own decisions thank you very much. I dont need any extra taxes or laws against tobacco to help me decide. Infact, studies on pipe smoking have shown that pipe smokers acutally live LONGER than non-pipe smokers. The added benifit of ENJOYING youself, and RELAXING actually extends your life.
Too bad the busy-bodys wont enjoy that benifit, they are too busy making sure everyone else is just like them to sit down and relax.
maybe cigarette smokers wouldnt be regualted to smoking in doorways if there were proper indoor facilities. until that happens, just hold your breath and deal with it. You seriously think taking one breath of cigarette smoke while passing by will do anything to your health? Do you live in a bubble or something? The water you drink, the food you eat, the air you breath.. all contaminated… Ha, i bet you use a cell phone too.. awesome..
Pipe smoking is NOT as harmful, and NOT as addictive as cigarette smoking. Its a fact. Ive actually gone out read articles and educated MYSELF thank you, unlike you who just assumes all tobaccos are created equal. Have you actually done any reading on the subject? Do you even know how long people have been smoking tobacco without any problems? i didnt think so…
-Owned
TOUCHE’ Pipe Smoker!
btw, started doin’ it after my father, 1961
I am already addicted to a light burley custom pipe tobacco my local tobacco shop sells. It leaves a heavenly afterbite on my tounge that I savor for hours. Once it begins to die off, I just got to have another bowl. But, heck it’s only $2.99 an ounce.
I would like to comment on this. I am a pipe smoker and have been a pipe smoker ever since I was a teenager. My Dad also, before me, was a pipe smoker. He was British. I always enjoy the British tobaccos, as they are stronger and more pure. Most that I like, are non-aromatic!
You mention that the “drugstore” varieties of pipe tobacco had added chemicals. This may be so. However, I cannot afford to buy any other. I cannot send over to Great Britain to buy any, as the cost of shipping it would be too much. Also, I think now, it is illegal to ship across the ocean by mail!! I cannot afford to buy pipe tobacco via the internet. I am on a tight budget. Pipe smoking really, is the only fun that I have!! Especially when I go out on my bicycle! But I cannot find good tobacco locally, like I used to smoke when I was a kid. I used to be able to buy DeNobili (An Italian type made of cigar clippings), they no longer make it. I cannot find other flavored tobaccos like the Walnut, and other types. They don’t have them any more!! I can hardly find the Prince Albert (which I used to use only for mixing with other tobaccos), so … the only choice I have is to buy from the “drugstore”!! I have another problem too, which is of the last year or so. They have raised the tax on all tobacco products in this state. What I used to buy in the local “drugstore” for about 8 or $9, now costs me about $26 dollars!! I have to now hold back on my smoking of pipe tobacco, though I enjoy it immensely. But the cost keeps going up, and the tobacco varieties is going down!! What can a pipe smoker do??
These articles inspired me to buy a pipe, which I now have, so thanks!
Does anyone know any good websites to buy pipe tobacco from in the UK? If anyone has any recommendations then it would be much appreciated.
http://www.mysmokingshop.co.uk is excellent for pipe tobacco as is james barber.
So many people have negative things to say about it, of course it’s obvious they’ve never enjoyed a pipe before. Unless your smoking like twenty bowls a day which literally means your sitting in actual smoketime for like 20 hours, there is no way pipes are worse than cigarettes, point two you don’t inhale, my lungs feel great after a pipe not all congested like a night out drinking where one could kill ten or more cigs easily. I recently stopped smoking cigs and though I have smoked pipes for many years now I still see myself as a beginner. You know the champion pipe smoker in the world is a dutch lady who can keep that thing going without relighting for over two and a half hours! Thats like watching an entire movie with the thing, if I can smoke it for over half an hour without lighting it again I consider that a succesful bowl. But hell I’m still a beginner so I shall surpass her one day.
i like to stuff my big pipe with weed every day and smoke the whole thing.
especially in the morning, it helps with my anxiety, back pain, headaches, nasea, foot pain, stretching my muscles, nerves, tired eyes, and diet cokes.
I just started smoking a pipe, well trying. Is it supposed to last 5-10 minutes only?
Depends on the size of the bowl, and the particular quality of the tobacco. Some tobacco mixtures are more dense and last longer. I’ve known a pipeful to last over an hour, but that’s rare. A pipeful will last much longer than a cigarette, anyway.
An odd thing is that you’ll get more of the aroma from a small bowl than a large one. If you see the old churchwarden-style pipes, with very long stems, they have a small bowl at the end - as did all clay pipes. You would probably get most aroma from one of those church wardens. There’s a great film, Treasure Island (made in 1950 but in colour) which has terrific scenes of pipe smoking, using those church wardens. The natural, authentic way the pipes are smoked (could never be done now, actors would be too self-conscious) really takes you back to the eighteenth century.
dima–Your’s probably just when out, which is normal. You will need it to relight a few times, especially if you are a beginner. When you are more experienced, you can make it last for a good 40 minutes or until the tobacco has reached the bottom of the bowl.
I am only 16 years and i know everybody will start screaming here that i am a juvenile but i still love the aroma of good pipe tobacco and its nice flavour and also the relaxation and know you all say that its is very odd a juvenile smoking pipe well for me its more than smoke its the way of life and the best way to relax.
P.S.- i am from lithuania
Thats nice to hear and I am only 18 and I would like to start to. I tries cigerettes and went so green i couldn’t even stand up. I tried a pipe and it was actually enjoyable, I mean i actually liked the experience
I’m only 18 and I smoke both a pipe and cigars. Life doesn’t last forever, so I might as well enjoy it while I can.
your a idiot..what is wrong with u??
I smoke a pipe about once a week and was just wondering how bad the effects are of this. I rarely do it more than that and wanted to know if anyone could help me out.
it depends what you put in it, herbal tobacco can be put in it. i smoke a pipe every day and recommend neat cannabis, this in my opinion is the healthiest way to smoke a pipe. i’ve not not smoked tobacco for ten years, and no longer have a smoker’s cough, plus i smoke less, and don’t smoke because i need to but because i enjoy it, remember to always clean your pipe, and defend your right to smoke the best medicinal in it!
Hi All!
I cannot believe that the art of pipe smoking has been so degressed in the last half century! I am a biochemist, so as to the health concerns - well, the fact that one doesn’t inhale is quite beneficial! I am actually a cigar afficionado; however, with the price of quality cigars these days, the obvious alternative when I decided to quit smoking cigarettes was a pipe. I, as most, have always had those wonderful memories of walking into a room where a family member or neigher was enjoying a pipe and enjoying it with them - not wanting that wonderful aroma to end! The whole pipe thing is very new to me (although I’m now 40 years old); I just bought my first pipe a couple of weeks ago (a real cheap plastic thing that is wet and ugly); today, I bought a VERY fine Italian made pipe that cost me nearly a hundred bucks! Why would I do this? Like I said, I have enjoyed cigars most of my life, and I would pay a good $30 for a really decent cigar (although my neighbour works for the Canadian Embassy in Cuba and brings me back more Cohibas than any American buisnessman could dream of!); I love the class of an elegant pipe; I love the smell of pipe tobacco smoke drifting around a room; I love the feel of a pipe! I am so enjoying this experience as a beginer pipe smoker. I know now, I can quit smoking cigarettes (cause they’re gross compared to a pipe); I will still lite up a beautiful Cohibas - but who wouldn’t! As for all the health risks of smoking a pipe - well, it’s a whole lot better than smoking cigarettes; as both cigars and pipes, one doesn’t inhale - and one usually smokes a great deal less (which is why the big tobacco coorporations do not promote pipe smoking!
ENJOY!!!
Mystic Mouse
Great site. I’m going to link you from mine. I just got started on my pipe site - so don’t expect too much yet. Come visit!
I’ve been a pipe smoker for years and I don’t intend giving it up.
Thanks for this.
What a smashing article!
What with the smoking bans coming into force through most of the ‘western world’, snuff is really taking off again. Ever thought of doing one for snuff?
Cheers once again for a great article.
Greetings. I’m a little bit lost with this website, I don’t know whether it is a foro or not.If so,could any one of you tell me how to register? thanks
Best regards.
Humberto.
Great site,
It’s nice to know other people out there still enjoy the finer things in life!
In these “Reader posts” I see a lot of Nay sayers, preaching about how Awful smoking is, and I cannot help but laugh. Honestly, who goes out of their way, just to badmouth something somebody enjoys? My guess is, they’re rather unhappy, stressful people - perhaps they just need a good pipe break
After ten years of smoking cigarettes and non-smoking career of four, i discovered pipe smoking. Awesome! Exotic and relaxing is all i can say about it(with some tongue-bite though-i’m new in this). I now own two estate briar pipes(got a great deal
), each smoking in it’s own special way. I started with Mac Baren’s Mixture Modern, aromatic, and light tobacco an i’m very satisfied with it.This website offers much needed info for us pipe newbies. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Try a good Vanilla Cavendish, it will build cake quickly and tastes good in any pipe. The kinds I have found tend to be very moist but are supposed to be so actually don’t let it dry out.
I go to a tobacco outlet here in Ithaca NY that carries the most amazing Vanilla Cavendish I have every found, it’s like eating candy!:)
I smoke a pipe and I can pick it up and put it down anytime I want. currently I am not smoking but will pick it up again when I feel like it. When I smoke I usualy go through three or four pipes a day. When I want to take a break I just stop smoking for a while. I don’t see how pipes are addictive. When I go to the docktor He says my lungs sound clear, and my blood pressure is better than when I’m not smoking my pipe! So all of you who don’t smoke a pipe don’t be critical because you don’t know what your talking about and your just spouting anti-smoking retoric and knee jerk propaganda.
Been smoking cigarettes (Marlboro Smooths to kill the smell - yuck!) for several years. Decided to finally pick up pipe smoking. Bought 2 low end - new briar pipes today, 2 for $60. Also picked up an aromatic blend from Barclay and Rex. Good thing I did some research before I went into pipe smoking. Packed it well and lit a fake and real light. After that, no more lighting was needed. I admit I smoked it a little fast, but at least I knew I was going to before I started. I didn’t get a tongue bite (or at least not a bad one) and the tobacco was pleasant. If I did inhale, it was after I pulled the smoke into my mouth and inhaled about half - very little going into my lungs.
This was perhaps the most enjoyable smoking experience of all time. I cannot wait to sit on a pipe in Central Park while studying for one of my summer courses. I have never been so relaxed and so happy after smoking anything (weed is great for this sure, but I had to stop because it was difficult to function while being high all the freakin time). There was no swimming head or stomach ache like with cigarettes. Just enjoyable, delicious pipe smoke. All I need now is a warm glass of scotch and wait for my pipes to break in (I have 2, I plan on smoking once per day. Maybe I should pick up a couple corn cobs to add to my rotation?
Thanks for all the information provided on this site. I have found a new, sophisticated hobby that I am not ashamed of. Plus, I don’t have to smoke filthy cigarettes or worry about the smell. This aromatic tobacco is like an amazing cologne
Hello fello pipers, my name is Mitch and i am 22 years old. Today was a very special day for me i bought my first pipe. I went with a Peterson. Let me tell you it was a great expierience the tobacco that the gentleman at the tinder box (cigar, cigarette and pipe dealer in my area) suggested was perfect, the tobacco burnt very dry, crisp, and clean, it had a great taste and an even better aroma. I couldnt be happier when it comes to the pipe either, the man who sold it to me today suggested that i put just a really thin coating of honey on the inside walls of the bowl (this is supposed to help with the break-in period and help coat the inside of the pipe with a good layer carbon cake, it also added some taste too.) I only had to relight the pipe maybe 4 times and the bowl only got warm not really hot. I am very pleased with everything, i know that the pipe needs to sit for 24 hours to let it dry out but i cant wait until i get to pack another bowl of goodness tomorrow. I hope everyone is enjoying their pipe smoking. Take it easy everyone!
What gets me is that I can not smoke my pipe in peace, but I can sit outside and inhale diesel fumes day in and day out. I guess those are healthy?
Pipe smoking really isn’t smoking in the sense that you inhale. If you puff now and then, for example I puff about three times a week. I am however active outside etc and even though I’m only 28 my doctor says I’m in perfect health. I tell him I puff on a pipe so he looked in my mouth etc and said all was fine. However snuff/chew is very dangerous stuff. Is puffing a pipe 100% safe? No, of course it has some dangers involved but look at all the authours, scientists, celebrities etc that puffed on a pipe! Name me one that died prematurely from smoking a pipe. Tolkien and Mark Twain smoked HUGE amounts each day, to the point of burning out pipes regularly, did they die from it? nope. Now for those of us who puff a couple times a week, I really don’t think you should worry about getting cancer etc unless you either inhale it or smoke large amounts. Not that it’s a healthy hobby but it is very far from smoking cigarettes or dipping snuff. Just my opinion of course…
Hi all
Greeting from Vietnam, my name is Quang and I ‘ve justed started smoking piper for more than two months, and as days pass I find it greatly enjoyable experience. It’s not only smoking but also relaxation, sophiticated, and aesthetics…I always admire my pipe and never get tired of it. But my problem is there are no pipe maker or seller here, and tobaco either.
I have always loved the smell of Pipe Tobacco. For me it always brings a sense of nostalgia and reminds me of my beloved Grandpa who used to smoke his Pipe around my brother and I. We used to take a jar and “capture” the smoke. Many years later, my husband really enjoys his Pipes and has never smoked them in the house. However, now that I’m pregnant with our Son I have banned him to smoking his Pipes in his Home Office until we can research the effects of Pipe Smoking in the home. I really want to be able to indulge him in his loved hobby, especially since I have always loved the smell. Does anyone know what kind of house cleaning (if any) is involved with an indoor Pipe Smoker? Also, how quickly will it dissapate in the Family Room if I were to let my Husband smoke in there?
…i use pipe tobacco for a years now and lately i found that i should write a book based on my experience..your articles give me ideas on how to write that book..
I got serious about pipes two years ago after I found my old trusty Grabow in my junk drawer. I had just gotten the internet and was having fun with Googling anything I could think of. So, when I Googled “pipes and tobacco” my world “lit up” Up ’till then I had no idea that there was more out there besides Grabow and Bourkum Riff (gotta love the internet!). So now my collection has grown from one to forty pipes (thanks to Ebay) with many tins aging ’til I get to them.
My wife was kind enough to allow me a couple pipes a week during my commute. I was surprised to find that the smell did not linger in the least after I was done. Even when I picked my wife up minutes after dumping the bowl she could not detect smoke (and me with my trusty Double Mint).
If you want opinions on good tabac, check out tobaccoreviews.com.
It’s great to see more and more pipes around town. Proud to be one of them.
Happy smokes!
I’m 52 and smoked a pipe for over 30 years until I quit over two years ago. Do I miss it? YES!! Ever since I quit smoking a pipe I’m more nervous, nowhere near as relaxed as before, and little things bother me. I was a much nice person when I smoked my pipe and I plan to go back to it soon.
The reasons I quit weren’t good enough to stop. Sure, you inhale some smoke, but I never had any ill effects from it. I smoked it only a half hour a day–the rest of the day I carried around a ‘cold’ pipe.
I’m a chiropractor by profession.
Daniel
“The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of the philosopher, and shuts up the mouth of the foolish; it generates a style of conversation, contemplative, thoughtful, benevolent, and unaffected…”
-William Makepeace Thackeray, from The Social Pipe
Well to add my bit. Im sure that it isnt really very good for me but i do nothing else wrong in life. I dont frink and I dont take mind altering drugs all I do is smoke a pipe. I have about 25 or so housed in an old victorian pipe cabinet. My favourite are my two Dunhills followed by a Morelli. I really do believe that in this life one only has so long so if you like a bowl of your favourite tobacco just enjoy.
Hi fellow pipe smokers,
Just wanted to add a few words of advice for the prospective pipe smokers out there. As an ex cigarette smoker I found the biggest mistake I made, to begin with, was to draw far to hard on my pipe. Slow deliberate puffs is the key to enjoying a long relaxing smoke.
I have found less need to inhale the smoke and believe this to be less harmful to me. Pipe smoking is a delight when mastered.Great advice by the way, and every pipe smoker should check out the internet to find the vast array of beautiful pipes there are on the market.
A further comment has just come to mind. Never allow anyone to teach you fear!! Do what you like and like what you do. Also, a lot of you sound a little ‘light wieght’(no offence). I recently read a story, on the BBC web site, about a man who thought it wise to cut down to ten pipes a day! He was 79!
Enjoy your pipe, and be cautious of what you decide to believe!!
This is a great site I’v been a pipe smoker for years, corn cob pipes are the best I think . Yall take care….
Can anyone advice me on why my pipe gives off a green stain? I’ve only just bought a pipe - yesterday and really enjoy the smoke - Capt Black gold. But I noticed that there is a green stain coming off the filter part which is alarming! Is this normal? Should I be doing some kind of breaking in before I use the pipe? Incidentally it’s a wooden one made in the UK - it says The Albany Pipe and has a number 65 on it. I live in Oman and my tobacconist doesn’t have a clue. He had a few pipes to sell and doesn’t know anything about the wood, etc. Please advice if any of you have an answer. Cheers
I have been a piper for around 3 years now and have around 30 pipes, 10 high grades, 10 medium grades and 10 cheapies. I also have 5 Meers. My tobacco cellar comprises of over 40 tins and a few kilos of bulks.
I absolutely love this hobby. I smoke between 2 and 4 bowls a day and enjoy each one.
If you have not experienced your favourite blend from a beautiful pipe, you have not lived.
Mo, South Africa
Pipes have helped me relax for years now…..my wife (an ex-cigarette smoker, now a non-smoker) is in favour of my hobby to the point that she has bought me pipes as gifts. My Dad smoked a pipe, as did my grandfather. Pipes rule!
ever hear of your oropharynx? this should concern all of you pipe smokers much more than lung cancer! both cigars and pipes are still cause CANCER! TObacco is and never will be a safe past time! please help rid the world of this plant and stop chasing the dragon. of course it feels good smells good etc. however so does heroin, cocaine, marijuana, booze, but the truth is we all know better and hopefully we should pass our wisdom onto the upcoming generations on the dangers we know all to well!
Good old Nick hey!!? Certainly not St Nicholas, aka, Father Christmas.
Are you frightened Nick? We all have a terminal dis-ease, it’s called life! You will only ever do one thing perfectly and that’s to be perfectly dead. When we all reach perfection civilisation ends, so get on with it and stop teaching others guilt and fear.
Pipe smoking create’s thinking man hey. Enjoy XX
(Nick) ever here get the f_ _k lost!!! this site is for pipe smokers NOT FOR HATERS
I am 48 years old and have smoked a pipe (falcon mostly) since I was 18 years old.
I started out as a draughtsman at RollsRoyce back in 1976 and at that time all the old guys smoked a pipe. I love it for the relaxation it provides and I will never give it up. I have a collection of old pipes and a fantastic pipe rack to show them off. I pity the anti-smoking lobby. Sure smoking is not perfect for your health - over eating fatty foods is far more dangerous though!!
I am slim and healthy and enjoy long walks (with my pipe!!) and also wind surf! I smoke a couple or three times a week when walking the dog and I am at my most relaxed - Love it!!
Keep up the good work and happy smoking to you all!
I always get the impression that smoking a pipe is “less bad” for the body than smoking a cig.
Bertrand Russell, J.B Priestly, Albert Einstein and Edward Heath were all renowned pipe smokers and they lived to ripe old ages. There was a guy in the newspaper the other day who claims to have smoked a pipe his whole adult life and he was celebrating his 100th birthday!! It just goes to show that you should believe the evidence of your own eyes and not concocted government statistics (by the way I’m British and I can’t abide the hypocrisy of the UK government that places heavy restrictions on smokers whilst turning a blind eye to the rampant drug and alcohol abuse that takes place in this country).
I swapped my 40 cigarettes a day habit for occasional pipe smoking a few years ago and I’ve never looked back.
I too am an ex-cigarette smoker. I first got addicted to dip. Then I picked up cigarettes. I also tried my hand at chew for a while too, but it messed up my mouth. After that I went back to occasional cigarettes when drinking but could no longer stand the smell, especially the next day. I started smoking cigars a few times a week and one of my good friends would often join me for a nice relaxing smoke. He mentioned that he was interested in pipe smoking so I bought him a pipe for this past Christmas. I couldn’t deal with the fact of giving that beautiful thing away without having one for myself so I bought another one. I have to say it is the most enjoyable smoking experience ever. I love to smoke mine with a nice glass of bourbon on the rocks. There is nothing more relaxing. In addition, the smell is pleasant and doesn’t make the room smell repulsive for a week like only a few cigarettes will. Best of all, my girlfriend does not mind at all. She couldn’t stand when I smoked cigarettes, but seems to be very content with my new hobby.
I am no expert, just an average citizen, but I’d like to offer my common sense view on the health effects.
I am not concerned at all!! Here’s why:
1. Pipe smoke is not directly inhaled.
2. Even the small amount that is inhaled indirectly is unremarkable when compared to the smoke inhaled, when one smokes 20 cigarettes a day.
3. The anti-tobacco crowd will say and do ANYTHING to stop tobacco use. Look at the hysteria over second hand smoke. I am 26 years old. My parents, aunts, uncles, their friends, were raised at a time when everyone smoked; and it was inside, unlike today. Not to mention they all smoked themselves, most of them starting in their early teens. The constant exposure to second hand smoke from the time they were born, combined with their own cigarette smoking from an early age, should have been enough to kill them off by their forties. However, they all seem to be doing just fine. Granted they no longer smoke, but that’s not the point. The point is that the anti tobacco crowd will lie, especially about the dangers of second hand smoke, to get you to quit. They will never admit that the “dangers” of pipe smoking are negligible when compared to other activities like crossing the street, going to McDonald’s or smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
Just wanted to give people a heads up that I am starting a bog and web site dedicated to my love of Pipe smoking. Come on over and join us!!
http://www.pipes-smoker.net
hey guys i was wondering if anyone knew about old pipes, i inherited one from an old uncle and it says 1776 on the front with an eagle holding 3 arrows and a grapevine. it has a sheild on it with 13 diamond shapes and 11 stripes. on the bottom it says “Tavern Schooner” with a USA mark and a patent pending mark that has four boxes with letters inside. C, M, T, X are the letters. ANYONE KNOW WHAT IT IS AND WORTH?
The pipe smoker’s guide has been a good read. I started pipe smoking a couple weeks ago and his tips on selecting a pipe and tobacco have been very helpful. Got my eyes set on a good Nordig or Butz.
Excellent, excellent article. I an going to try and link it to my Facebook. I enjoy cigars and pipes. What an incredible experience on one of those perfect spring days or summer evenings where you sit on the porch, with a pipe or cigar, a nice bottle of Scotch and enjoy the world through your thoughts, memories, and the present. Anti Smokers and their lobby just need to just go away. I am an American and I admit I was an adamant anti-smoker and thought all tobacco was evil. But soon I realized America was and should be based on individual freedom. That freedom is under constant attack now from the far left and the political landscape is perfect for them. Be aware and get involved. Support those businesses who buck the system and proudly proclaim their individual rights and the free market economy. Don’t let Nancy Pelosi (sp?) and the current crew dictate to you their far left views of what is right. To all who read this, smoke well, smoke in peace!
hello,
is there any one on here that has been smoking pipe for at least oohh lets say 35 years? and if so do you have any health problems related to pipe smoking? is it better to smoke pipe then cigaretts or cigars?
Yes, Matt. I’m 67 and started smoking a pipe at 14. That’s 53 years and they’ve been good years. No problem. I smoke a pipe and cigars, usually about 6 or 7 times a week , if I can find the time. No point in smoking while you work; its a bother and you can’t smoke properly and enjoy it to the full. I’ve done a little study of some famous pipe and cigar smokers and the only ones who died from it were President Grant, of throat cancer at age 63. He smoked 20 cigars a day during the war. And Sigmund Freud was a “heavy” cigar smoker who had oral cancer which resulted in his suicide, assisted, at age 83.
But consider George Burns, Churchill, Edison, Twain, Groucho Marx, Einstein, and Lord Russell: they lived long lives and died of causes unrelated to tobacco, so far as we can know.
The key, it seems to me, is moderation, as it is in anything involving reasonable people. Don’t be scared of tobacco; use it sensibly and enjoy it. That’s what its there for.
Hey Colin,
I am 61 and have been smoking cigarettes since I was 16. That’s 45 years. I have had to quit for surgery three times now but I keep going back to smoking. I have no health problems from smoking as of yet but you never know. I am looking for an alternative to cigarettes and was thnking about a pipe and I don’t have a clue where to start. Any words of wisdom??? One thing that seems to be problematic is that I am a female and I have never seen another woman with a pipe. HELP
good answer. I smoked comm cig from the age of 13 - quit when I was 20 and pregnant with my son. Went back to tobacco 13 years later during divorce, this time roll-your-own by mail, suppossidly organic. I quit with Chantix in 2007 and never regret or EVER consider buying commercial garbage to smoke.
This f…. world right now gets to me. I want to smoke something and I am going to go find some kind of reasonable smoke!
Hey - you find an answer please let me know because I am going out of my mind. Really want a smoke right now and I’m presently on chantix and it’s not working for me.
I quit smoking cigarettes after 20 years and picked up the pipe a few months ago. Your article was very helpful in selecting a starter pipe and tobacco. Are there any quality pipe tobacco cigars out there?
I thank you for the article it helped me alot. As for those who chastise the rest of us for smoking. Perhaps you should chastise politicians and big business for inducing so much stress in the world. If there was no stress then there would be no need for us to relax with a nice pipe of tobacco or a fine scotch (smile) Yes my other vice. I have looked around for quite a number of years I have traveled to various parts of the world and here is what I have discovered…. NOBODY LIVES FOREVER! So I have adopted this philosphy on life,“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away” I for one happen to love enjoying a fine pipe and a scotch as the sun sets each evening. May you all find the same peace I have in those moments….
yes! I believe you are right - today is April 15 2009 - my husband and I just paid beyond our withholding $2500 to the federal govmt. I gave up my home rolled Santa Fe Tobacco in 2007 and now crave the calm that tobacco brings. Don’t have a connection for anything around here and guess I will go take up a pipe soon.
Very nice article. Really enjoyed it. I am a cigarette smoker for 17 years now since the age of 14. I now and then quit for a month or so. This time i just didn’t want to stat again so i bought an expensive pipe (
not sure if its the correct thing i did). I always wanted to start smoking pipe and give up the cig’s. Waiting for my pipe to arrive this week. Do you believe i should buy a cheaper one also as a beginer?
It’s best to buy a cheap pipe as a beginner. It’s easy to torch the bowl rim or overheat the pipe when you begin puffing. It takes time to get the pattern right. Corn cobs, Medicos, or Dr Grabows are good choices. Prince Albert is a good tobacco to begin with. It is mellow, tasty, pleasant smelling, and contains nicotene which will curb your cig craving. Captain Black is another good one.
Hello all. What an interesting article. I came on here to find out how to actually smoke a pipe. I just bought a pipe yesterday so haven’t tried it yet. I have always been a fan of smelling pipe tobacco but sadly it is a dying art and you now have to wander past an old chap smoking a pipe on a park bench to savour it’s marvellous aroma. It looks so relaxing. Also I feel I need to smoke it in private as I am a woman. Are there any other lady pipe smokers out there?
There ARE women pipe smokers out there. I remember reading an magazine article about 10 years ago by a leading U.K. businesswoman who was a pipe smoker. She smoked lovely, elegant pipes, I think specially designed for women. A bit of Googling would undoubtedly reward you here.
There is a woman pipe smoker posting on the Puff.com forum if you haven’t been there.
http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-pipe-forum/
If you feel you need to smoke in private because you’re a woman, you might consider something in dazzling colors like a Butz Choquin Astral. Click through this site to find them.
http://www.frenchyspipes.com/index.php?crn=203&start=5
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com is a brilliant site packed full of pipe tobacco reviews (including a few from me, my name there is ‘Contemplative’)
I started smoking a pipe at age 41, having not smoked anything for the previous 12 years, and having hardly smoked anything but the occasional cigarette or cigarillo before then. I’m 63 now, and smoking my variety of pipes has been a very enriching experience. It’s also undoubtedly stress-reducing. In fact I don’t know how I’d have got through those last 22 years without my pipes and baccy.
I love that you are spreading the love of the leaf. I have been a cigar and pipe smoker for years. I have a blog with reviews of tobacco and info about tobacco pipes here.
I agree just chill sit back and relax and smoke a pipe or bong for that matter!
I have done it all. I used to smoke cigarettes (pack and a half a day)for a few years and even tried smoking a pipe a few times. I enjoyed pipe smoking the few times I did it because of the novelty of it and the aroma. I think I enjoyed smelling the pipe tobacco tin more than I enjoyed actually smoking the stuff. I have also smoked through a water bong that gave a cool, pleasant quality to the smoke. Anyway, I quit smoking several years ago for one reason and one reason only. My friends told me it was bad for my health, but I ignored them. One of my college professors gave a chilling lecture on the dangers of smoking, I ignored him too. The reason I quit is my mother - she said it plainly - I looked like hell and always smelled of smoke. That really stuck with me and I quit, cold turkey. True story! I don’t regret it and here’s why - another true story - I was in the hospital recently for a test and in the bed next to me was a man who was 59 years old, with his wife sitting next to him. He had a tube in his throat that went into his stomach- I know, gross, and you know what’s coming, but please read on. His wife was in there with him and talked with me about his condition - because he couldn’t talk. He had cancer of the throat and esophagus (sp?) and the only way he could eat was through that tube. (I noticed he also had some breakfast powder in a travel bag that his wife probably mixed for him when he was hungry - I guess she had to inject in in the tube?) Anyway, she went on to say he had smoked, and that’s what caused the cancer. She then said that he had grandchildren who wanted to come from another state and visit him, but she didn’t think he’d be around long enough to see them. (This is true - I am not being rude or making this up, I wish I was!) I thought hard about what she had just said - she didn’t think he’d be around long enough to see his grandchildren come visit. Imagine that for a moment -you have children (or child), your whole life ahead of you, and you live just long enough to see your children have children, and then suddenly you are given a death sentence of massive metastatic cancer (self-imposed no less). His grandchildren probably loved him dearly, and he probably had so much to share with them, but he probably won’t live long enough to see them on their next visit - and he knows this. HE KNOWS THIS…… Devastating is too mild a term. If there is any worse horror story to witness, I cannot think of it. I will never forget my brief time in that hospital room a couple years ago, it will haunt me forever. Especially so since I have a young daughter I want to see grow up and I want to see her children, too. I don’t want a death sentence imposed by smoking. You don’t need this. You want relaxation? Drink hot tea every night - endless flavors to choose from, great aroma, decaf or not. Sort of like pipe smoking in liquid form, right? Take it from me, please - I have seen the results of smoking - you have a healthy body to enjoy life on Earth with - don’t screw it up and die a very horrible death because you want to look like Sherlock Holmes or some other fictional character. I hope I have convinced at least one or two people to quit - because remember - it is NEVER too late to quit - your body will thank you for it immediately! It is only too late when they insert the tube in your throat, and then…..
Some of these posters say that pipe tobacco is safer because it doesn’t have a lot of additives like cigarettes do. Maybe those mysterious additives cause cancer? Pure tobacco is safer? False! False! False! The cancer causing stuff is in the tobacco leaf itself, and comes out in the complex chemicals and “tar” that is caused from smoking it. Nicotene does not cause cancer, additives don’t cause cancer, the complex chemicals that result in smoking the pure leaf itself is what kills you. So, basically, smoking “pure” tobacco is actually be worse than smoking tobacco with artificial additives.
Some posters say pipe smoking is safer because you don’t inhale, or don’t inhale as much. False! Lip, throat, tongue, bladder, and stomach cancer are commonly caused by pipe or bong smoking. Remeber, bongs or other filters don’t take out any of the complex chemicals or bad stuff that causes cancer.
i bought a pipe for a £1!!!!
Any thoughts on smoking rolling tobacco through pipes? Being a newbie myself, I thought I’d just go out and buy a pipe without doing any research.
I prefer using the pipe to rolling, but it is any more harmful?
Why does pipe tobacco have a different flavor?
Cheers
Wow what an ignorant post! Of course those chemicals they add cause cancer. Almost any complex chemical you inhale into your lungs can cause cancer and can promote bad cell health in general. Of course tobacco causes cancer as well, but filtering the smoke the water most certainly reduces the amount of tar. Tar contributes to cancer, pure and simple. Scare tactics are not a good way to get people off of tobacco. What we need is responsible and filtered (through water not fiberglass) tobacco use…
Just enjoyed my first bowl. Amazing. Many more to come.
Great article. Thanks!
I always read about the characters in Tolkiens novels, smoking pipes and all, and it seems quite good…
I was curious if rolling pipe tobacco will give the same effect as smoking it from a pipe. I’m not a cigarette smoker or anything, I just thought it would be a fun experiment to have different methods.