My first pipe

[sagedil]

So as mentioned when the topic came up, I decided to add ppe smoking to my tobacco use. snus has just opened up such a new found love for tobacco, decided t was finally me.

Unlike some people...Chad!!!! I didn't just jump into it blind. Besides elmoes acting as my personal coach, I made my way over to www.smokersforums.co.uk and read every newbie thread. i learned how to pack my pipe, how to sip it, not puff it, how to make sure I kept t cool, and how to clean my pipes after.

Originally, I was gonna start with a cobb pipe but fund 3 brier pipes that were wonderful and inexpensive, two of them bought from folks at Smokers Forum

So two of the pipes came today. I am still waiting for a few tools to show up, but couldn't wait. So am starting with just Prince Albert, a very mellow tobacco that burns cool, is easy on a newbie, and available everywhere. So picked some up, dried it for about 15 minutes and loaded her up.

And I love everything about it. inhaled a bit my first puff but quickly adjusted and I am in love. It just feels so right, so ancient, lie I am in a family that dates back centuries. Snus will always be the base of my tobacco usage, and snuff always a welcome blast of flavor. But I can see pipes becoming a huge issue I obsess over, really my most favorite time of the day.

Since Chad hasn't mentioned it again, suspect his foray didn't go so well. But I do hpe a few folks here will join me in this new hobby.

[Veganpunk]

Sage do you have Prince Albert in a can?

Sorry couldn't resist! :wink:

Sounds like your having fun though.

[sagedil]

If you must know, I have Prince Albert in a pouch. :lol: :lol:

[lxskllr]

I'm glad you're enjoying it. A pipe's a nice way to unwind. It's a great sensory experience, that uses all the senses.

[sagedil]

There was a moment as I was sitting there just puffing, my book laid down for a moment. Where I got it. Just feeling so much at rest, like the world fell away for a moment. Rare for me, but the whole purpose of smoking a pipe.

I highly encourage folks to investigate it, but don't just go blindly in. Most folks who do will have a bad experience, and never get a chance to discover why it is so good. If folks are interested, check out the Smokers Forums I listed above.. They have a section for newbie questions and I read all 8 pages of threads before I did anything, HUGE reason why my first foray was so successful

[vodkaniac]

Sounds nice. I would like to try that out as well. Not to open a can of worms, but did you look into the health aspects of pipe smoking? Or is that even a consideration at this point?

[sagedil]

There are certainly more risks than using snus/snuff. Cancers of the mouth and lips are possible, as well as the esophagus. Fortunately, those cancers also tend to be highly treatable. There really isn't that much info, but some studies have shown the mortality rate of people who smoke 4 -5 bowls a day is lower than non smokers. Some have speculated that s due to the decrease in stress that pipe smokers enjoy.

A more recent study concluded that folks who smoke a pipe exclusively share the same risk as folks who smoke cigars exclusively. The biggest risk is in those folks who needlessly inhale pipe smoke, which can lead to lung cancer. I don't, so that is not an issue.

One article that talks about it is http://www.meerschaumstore.com/health.htm

For me, in the end, I know I have dramatically cut my risk from when i smoked. i am not trying to eliminate all risk, so will accept some risk which is still dramatically lower thamn when I smoked cigarettes.

[vodkaniac]

I knew from reading many of your posts that risk wan't a HUGE factor for you - why I was curious. Sounds like the way you are using is relatively safe. I have an uncle in his 80's who is a major pipe smoker. No health problems. Anyway, I also know from your posts you don't go into anything blindly. Thanks for that info. Like you, I use snus and snuff, with snus being my mainstay. I bellieve that a pipe might be that one little thing I'm missing. :lol:

[sagedil]

LOL, no, most definitely not blindly. And I can no speak well enough of www.smokersforums.co.uk. If you even have any interest or curiosity, check t out. Unlike here, they have many folks who have been smoking pipes for 40+ years. I could never hope to be there like I am here. although they added a snuff and smokeless tobacco section just last month so I can at least be a bit useful there. :wink:

But yeah, I at least made sure I knew what I was playing with. you are correct, I don't really feel like I need to strive to eliminate risk, but I feel I have some responsibility to at least know what the implications are. For me, aat least, the benefits and joy outweigh the added risks.

There is just something so visceral about smoking a pipe that have never felt using snus. In many ways, why I love snus so much is how mostly invisible it is to me. Often, just something do without much thought that completely takes care of my nicotine. But that same ease is a bit boring. why I added snuff 9 months ago, and I do so love my snuff. in many ways, snuff thrills me even more than snus. But snuff has it's own limitations. My use is over as soon as I do it. It is a momentary pleasure. Sure, I can snuff a bunch throughout the day, but the joy is followed immediately by nothingness.

Pipes offer me that opportunity to truly savor tobacco. To spend 45 minutes, or an hour, or even more in direct appreciation of how the tobacco tastes, and I have never forgot how I just always enjoyed the physicality of the smoke.

Snus will always be the base of my tobacco use. Snus will always ensure my nicotine levels are met. And I will continue to enjoy the blast of flavor I get from snuff, just the appreciation for the history behind it, the direct consumption of tobacco from my hand to my nose. But I think adding pipes will be the perfect third leg. My moment of truly focusing all my attention in an extended way to the beauty that God gave us when he gave us the tobacco leaf. Using all three I finally think I have truly embraced all that tobacco can be.

[chadizzy1]

Re: My first pipe

Since Chad hasn't mentioned it again, suspect his foray didn't go so well. But I do hpe a few folks here will join me in this new hobby.

Still working on it. I've been doing alot of nasal snuff lately, I'm working on an addition to the website about Nasal Snuff, with a little help from one of the stores - so between snus and snuff I haven't had the time to focus on it.

[sagedil]

:wink: :lol: :lol:

[fedora]

Well done, Sage. I'm a sometimes piper smoker as well and agree with you on all points. Basically it is truly a wonderful experience and way to enjoy tobacco. It is quite fun trying different blends and so forth too.

Anyhow, enjoy. I encourage you in your pursuit.

[TBD]

I smoke 3-4 bowls a week. I enjoy the English blend tobaccos the most. Pipe smoking and snuff use are the two oldest known ways to ingest tobacco, although it would be hard to prove when people started using it orally since there would be no accessories needed.


I'm a bit leery of pipes as I had a great uncle that developed throat cancer after 40 + years of smoking them. He did smoke all the time so increased exposure may have played a big part, plus we all know the pipe may not have had anything at all to do with it. Still I love a bowlfull when I have an extra 1/2 hour to spend on enjoying it.

[vodkaniac]

For me, aat least, the benefits and joy outweigh the added risks...

There is just something so visceral about smoking a pipe that have never felt using snus....

Pipes offer me that opportunity to truly savor tobacco....

Wow. That was like reading the tobacco users manifesto. Really enjoyed it. Had me salivating just about

I'll definitely check out that forum you linked.

After being heavily into snuff for many months, my snuff use just trailed off to nothing. Not intentionally, just kind of forgot about it. Like you say, snus is the foundation. Now I'm back into it. Just as a pleasure, not a need. If I can take up a pipe and keep it as an occasional pleasure and not a genuine need, then I'll feel comfortable risk wise.

I know Tropical Bob is a regular pipe smoker - and risk reduction is very important to him.

[tom502]

Chad, I'd like you to do nasal snuff reviews like you do with snus.