A Few Small Tips for Pipe Beginners
Packing
Proper packing is the be-all and end-all for enjoyable pipe smoking. There are various packing methods, and the most common one is described here in detail. Note: this guide refers to tobacco in the so-called mixture cut. Pressed tobaccos like flakes or curly cuts are either rubbed into individual strands before smoking or packed 'as they are.' However, this is not recommended for beginners.
- Take a pinch of tobacco between your thumb and forefinger and let it fall into the pipe. Repeat until the pipe is filled to the brim.
- Use your finger or a pipe tamper to lightly and evenly press down the tobacco so that the pipe is only about one-third full.
- Fill the pipe with pinches of tobacco up to the rim again and press down again so that the pipe is now almost two-thirds full.
- Finally, fill in enough tobacco so that the pipe is slightly overflowing and press down the tobacco with a bit more pressure until it is just below the rim, creating an even surface.
- Check the draw resistance by pulling on the cold pipe. There should be a slight resistance, comparable to drinking through a straw. If the pipe is too tightly or too loosely packed (with slightly loose being less problematic than too tight), empty it and start again from the beginning. Practice makes perfect!
Filters (especially activated charcoal filters) significantly increase the draw resistance on their own, so it may be necessary to pack the pipe much more loosely or not press down the tobacco as much.
Lighting
Lighting the pipe happens in two stages. Put the pipe in your mouth and light the top layer of tobacco by moving a match or lighter in circular motions over the tobacco while gently drawing on the pipe. It is normal for the tobacco to rise a bit during this process. Remove the pipe from your mouth and gently and evenly press down the tobacco; the pipe will most likely go out, which is okay.
The goal is to create an even layer of charred tobacco that acts as a 'lid' over the actual embers.
Now it's time for the actual lighting. Put the pipe in your mouth and run the match or lighter over the tobacco again while drawing more firmly on the pipe. Sometimes it takes several tries until the tobacco glows evenly.
Do not stick the match or lighter into the pipe bowl, but try to draw the flame into the bowl. Be careful at the bowl edges, especially when using a lighter.
During Smoking
Do not draw too hard or too often on the pipe; it should gently smolder and not glow like a blast furnace! You should rather gently 'sip' on the pipe as if taking a very small sip of a very expensive drink. A Danish pipe maker once said you simply need to breathe with the pipe in your mouth. The gentler you draw on the pipe, the cooler and drier the smoke will be, and the better the tobacco will taste.
If the pipe goes out in between, simply relight it and continue smoking. It is normal for the pipe to warm up during smoking, but if it gets so hot that you can no longer comfortably hold it in your hand, set the pipe aside and let it cool down before continuing. Especially in the beginning, it will take some time to find the right draw strength and frequency for you.
During smoking, condensation (water vapor) forms as in any combustion process. If using a filter, it will absorb the condensation. If you smoke without a filter and the pipe starts to 'gurgle,' insert a pipe cleaner from the mouthpiece just into the bowl bore to absorb the condensation. For bent pipes, it is usually necessary to bend the cleaner slightly for this purpose.
NEVER take a hot pipe apart! An exception to this are pipes with so-called 'army' or 'plug' mouthpieces. These are designed to be disassembled when hot. Pipes with regular mouthpieces can be damaged or even break at the shank by doing so.
During smoking, the draw resistance of the pipe will decrease. If it becomes too light, gently tamp it down with the tamper.
Most pipes today come with a so-called 'pre-carbonized' coating that is supposed to accelerate or even eliminate the traditional break-in period of the pipe. However, it is advisable, even with such pipes, to smoke the first 6-10 bowls particularly carefully and slowly as much as possible to the end so that the so-called 'carbon layer' can build up in the bowl bore, which protects the wood during smoking from the heat of the smoldering tobacco.
After Smoking
When the pipe is smoked out or you no longer enjoy it, stir the ash with the reamer of the pipe tool, set the pipe aside, and let it cool (about 30 minutes).
Then empty the ash. Please do not knock the pipe against hard objects; this will cause unsightly 'dings' on the bowl rim and in the worst case can even cause it to break.
Disassemble the pipe by twisting the mouthpiece clockwise from the bowl. If you use a filter, remove it now. Clean the mouthpiece and the smoke channel with a few pipe cleaners. For filter pipes, it is advisable to wipe the filter chamber in the shank and mouthpiece with a twisted paper towel. Finally, wipe the bowl bore with a 'U'-shaped pipe cleaner. Then reassemble the pipe by twisting it clockwise again and let it dry for at least a day.
Regular Maintenance
With a little care, your pipe will serve you faithfully for many years.
As soon as the carbon layer becomes thicker than about 1.5-2 mm, it should be reduced to this measure, as otherwise the pipe bowl can crack due to the different expansion rates of the wood and the carbon layer during smoking. There are so-called 'pipe reamers' available in specialty shops for this purpose. Some pipe tools come with a rounded blade that also serves this purpose. Your specialty dealer will be happy to show you how to use these tools correctly or perform this work for you. Please do not use a pointed knife blade, as this can damage the pipe.
After about 10 smokes, the pipe should be thoroughly cleaned. There are liquid cleaners available in specialty shops, and 70% isopropyl alcohol from the pharmacy serves the same purpose. The cleaning is done as in the normal cleaning after smoking, but the first 2-3 cleaners or the paper towel are moistened with a few drops of cleaner/alcohol. Please do not let alcohol get on the outside of the pipe, as this can damage the surface finish of the pipe. When the cleaners no longer show significant discoloration when pulled out, clean with dry cleaners and let the disassembled pipe sit for a day to allow the alcohol to evaporate completely.
Over time, the surface finish of the pipe will wear off. Ebonite (rubber) mouthpieces will also discolor over time. With care cloths and polishes available in specialty shops, you can bring your pipe back to a high gloss, or you can have your dealer polish the pipe.
These tips and hints are not the be-all and end-all but merely a compilation of experiences that work for many pipe smokers worldwide. Ultimately, you will have to find out what works best for you, whether you prefer to smoke with or without a filter, which tobacco you like best, etc., but that is precisely what makes the joy of pipe smoking.
