how does one smoke a pipe?
August 6, 2005 3:08 PM Subscribe
How does one smoke a pipe? Just talking about proper pipes and proper tobacco - nothing wacky
Best answer: Google is your friend
I fancied myself quite the academician in college, so took up such attendent habits as pipe smoking and strolling with my hands clutched behind my back. Though I rarely smoke the pipe anymore, here is my process:
1. Pack the tobacco in pipe. Don't pack it too tightly, but don't pack it too loosely, either (good advice, I know). The tobacco should spring back slightly when poked.
2. Light the pipe. Purists will insist you use wooden matches; I found a lighter to work just fine. While you light, draw in slowly. Don't inhale. Just draw, with your mouth, sending the excess smoke out the side of your cheek. If you were ever a cigarette smoker, you don't need to draw nearly as hard--doing so will get your nowhere.
3. Light and draw until you're getting big billowing volumes of white smoke, and it seems like the tobacoo deeper down is lit. Then quit with the fire. Puff away a bit. The pipe will soon go out.
4. Tamp down the ashen top a bit, and relight.
5. Think about all things philosophical; muse about religion; cross your legs and enjoy the feel of your elbow patches.
6. Spit
Don't worry if the pipe goes out a lot. I'm not sure I've ever had a smoke without having to relight at least a few times . . .
posted by kables at 6:22 PM on August 6, 2005 [1 favorite]
I fancied myself quite the academician in college, so took up such attendent habits as pipe smoking and strolling with my hands clutched behind my back. Though I rarely smoke the pipe anymore, here is my process:
1. Pack the tobacco in pipe. Don't pack it too tightly, but don't pack it too loosely, either (good advice, I know). The tobacco should spring back slightly when poked.
2. Light the pipe. Purists will insist you use wooden matches; I found a lighter to work just fine. While you light, draw in slowly. Don't inhale. Just draw, with your mouth, sending the excess smoke out the side of your cheek. If you were ever a cigarette smoker, you don't need to draw nearly as hard--doing so will get your nowhere.
3. Light and draw until you're getting big billowing volumes of white smoke, and it seems like the tobacoo deeper down is lit. Then quit with the fire. Puff away a bit. The pipe will soon go out.
4. Tamp down the ashen top a bit, and relight.
5. Think about all things philosophical; muse about religion; cross your legs and enjoy the feel of your elbow patches.
6. Spit
Don't worry if the pipe goes out a lot. I'm not sure I've ever had a smoke without having to relight at least a few times . . .
posted by kables at 6:22 PM on August 6, 2005 [1 favorite]
Here is an AskMefi thread with great info about pipe smoking -- especially the posts by Jammer.
posted by nixxon at 7:03 PM on August 6, 2005
posted by nixxon at 7:03 PM on August 6, 2005
I used to work for a guy who "smoked" a pipe. He'd pack it while he talked to you and wave it a while. Then he'd hold a lighter over it and puff frantically, until he got a tiny smoke cloud. Then he'd wave it around for about 20 minutes. Then he'd make a production out of dumping it into an ashtray and scraping it. Rinse, repeat.
I never saw him actually smoke it. YMMV.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 7:38 PM on August 6, 2005
I never saw him actually smoke it. YMMV.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 7:38 PM on August 6, 2005
If you're going so far as to smoke a pipe you might as well go whole hog and insist on using only Swan Vestas - "The Smoker's Match." Also, carry a set of 'pipe tools' on your keychain or perhaps on a watch fob.
posted by jtron at 7:51 AM on August 7, 2005
posted by jtron at 7:51 AM on August 7, 2005
If you want to try it without shelling out lots of cash, try one of these. I picked up a "Missouri Meerschaum" a while back and it taught me how to properly pack a pipe.
I stopped almost immediately because the area I live in doesn't supply any of the enjoyable tobaccos. Bad tobacco can make you think you're smoking cat hair.
posted by Kickstart70 at 10:09 AM on August 7, 2005
I stopped almost immediately because the area I live in doesn't supply any of the enjoyable tobaccos. Bad tobacco can make you think you're smoking cat hair.
posted by Kickstart70 at 10:09 AM on August 7, 2005
If you have a tobacco shop in town, they can provide a mix for beginners that has less bite. It doesn't smell as nice, but it won't burn the mouth as much.
posted by phewbertie at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2005
posted by phewbertie at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by furtive at 3:59 PM on August 6, 2005