Hello everyone, I am Mike. I am finally getting into pipe smoking, and loving it. I was always a cigar smoker, but they have lost most of their luster now that I have tried pipe tobacco. There is just so much more enjoyment in pipe smoking. I am loving it. I am looking forward to branching out and trying out new blends, but it is a rather daunting task, and is proving to be a bit expensive. Any help in searching for sample packs and the like is greatly welcomed.
@tendril77 - Welcome to the forum. Overall, pipe tobacco is less expensive than decent cigars. You can get good bulk blends for two or three dollars an ounce and have enough to smoke 4 or 5 bowls whereas you can spend $5 for a cigar and smoke one time. The bigger expense is in the pipes but even then you can buy a Missouri Meerschaum corn cob for $12 or less and it will last you for years. I have one cob that's 5 years old. A decent briar pipe can be had for around $40 and it will last a lifetime if you treat it right.
Where it gets expensive is when you catch PAD (pipe acquisition disorder) or TAD (tobacco acquisition disorder) and just buy stuff. We all get this from time to time. It's why I have over 50 pipes (but most are estate pipes, so it wasn't as costly for me.). I've been able to control my TAD to the point that I only have around 12 lbs. of tobacco on hand. I know some pipe smokers with over 300 pipes and more than 500 lbs of tobacco.
As I said, most of my pipes are "estate" pipes. My current hobby is finding used pipes at flea markets, antique shops and malls, and restoring them to smokeable condition. I've found some good pipes for under $50 that sale online in smokeable condition for over $125.
@tendril77 welcome! im with you, cigars, while they are wonderful, dont have as broad a spectrum of flavor and blends as pipes. question, have you had a specific pipe tobacco blend that youve been fond of?
also, My recommendation would be thecountrysquireonline.com , you can purchase 1oz bags, pick up a few varying blends and see where your taste buds lead you. I am a fan of second breakfast (vanilla maple) treasure island (rum flavor) and northwest treck (a blend with latakia, which is smokey in flavor, but also blended with black cavendish which mellows it out and sweetens it up just a tad)
you might enjoy the tin society as well. its a subscription plan for pipe smokers, 4 blends every month, and a quarterly corn cob pipe from MM (Missouri Meerschaum)
@tendril77 Welcome, and welcome all new members. For some inexpensive tobaccos, go to Lane STG (Scandinavian Tobacco Group) website stglanepipe.com. I am not sure if they are still running their “deal”, but when I signed up, they sent and still occasionally send coupons for some of the “old school” OTC blends that end up costing next to nothing. They may be old OTC “cheap” blends, but there is a reason they are still around after so many years. Most are quite tasty.
Another fine online merchant (but no catalog) is https://www.smokingpipes.com They, however, have posted this: < UPS and the Post Office aren't picking up orders at our warehouse because of the threat of Hurricane Florence. Please keep this in mind as you place your order. We'll continue to pick and pack orders as long as we can, and as soon as the storm has passed and UPS and the Post Office are back in service your order will ship.>
Thank you for the warm welcome. I have recently joined The STG already, which had ultimately brought me here. I have tried most of the OTC brands in my area, but there are no fine tobacconists where i am. I do love the room note and taste of the tried and true Captain Black original, but as most OTC brands seem to do, it leaves nothing to be desired about halfway through the bowl. I am looking to venture into english blends and the like. My main issue is that, I don't have a delicate pallet due to years of working in a welding shop, so stronger flavors are almost a must. So my search begins..
@tendril77 if you’re looking for stronger flavor, I’d go with English blends or verginia perique blends, very different, but both strong. I really like GL pease quiet nights, that’s a strong English blend to get you started. Or dunhill nightcap.
Welcome @tendril77 Great community here with all the knowledge on pipe smoking you can digest and then some.
As Motie2 suggested Pipes and Cigars is a great starting point and you can get many bulk blends for roughly $2.50 an oz which means you can do a lot of sampling fairly cheaply.
Once you have a better handle on what you like, you can sample the more expensive tinned varieties and hopefully not wast to much $ on duds.
Yes, but it's all (well, not all) about the monthly catalog from PipesandCigars.com, especially for us old timers; easier to browse the catalog than the website.....
Hi. Just joined and wondering if this is still active. I am a long time pipe smoker - over 50 years. I go back to the days of the Pipe Smoker's Ephemeris. I smoke burley, virgnia, perique blends as well as straight capers. Glad to be here.
@writingrav We are active as all get out. Welcome and join the discussions. We're a friendly bunch (by in large) so if you have questions, ask any of us or open a folder with your question. We have some experts amongst us and we have some folks who just have specific experiences. We all have opinions. Join us. And welcome, again.
@writingrav we are most definitely active, most more than i am. I’ve only been part of the forum for maybe 7 months or so, and this is my favorite forum. It’s small, but active, and you really get to know peoples tobacco (and more) interests. Helpful too, we’re here for ya!
A friend, who is deep into this stuff (he always carries a Tarot deck wrapped in a cloth) recommends the use of the Swiss Ephemeris for Users as an alternative to a book. The site features downloadable .pdf's https://www.astro.com/swisseph/swepha_e.htm
@EmbalmerSTL welcome! As is always my two cents... lean on the more seasoned members here for advice and ask any questions you may have. Don’t be shy. There are a lot of knowledgeable fellas in the group. @PappyJoe in particular from my experience is one to take notice of. But everyone will pitch in and make you feel at home.
Comments
Overall, pipe tobacco is less expensive than decent cigars. You can get good bulk blends for two or three dollars an ounce and have enough to smoke 4 or 5 bowls whereas you can spend $5 for a cigar and smoke one time. The bigger expense is in the pipes but even then you can buy a Missouri Meerschaum corn cob for $12 or less and it will last you for years. I have one cob that's 5 years old. A decent briar pipe can be had for around $40 and it will last a lifetime if you treat it right.
Where it gets expensive is when you catch PAD (pipe acquisition disorder) or TAD (tobacco acquisition disorder) and just buy stuff. We all get this from time to time. It's why I have over 50 pipes (but most are estate pipes, so it wasn't as costly for me.). I've been able to control my TAD to the point that I only have around 12 lbs. of tobacco on hand. I know some pipe smokers with over 300 pipes and more than 500 lbs of tobacco.
As I said, most of my pipes are "estate" pipes. My current hobby is finding used pipes at flea markets, antique shops and malls, and restoring them to smokeable condition. I've found some good pipes for under $50 that sale online in smokeable condition for over $125.
question, have you had a specific pipe tobacco blend that youve been fond of?
also, My recommendation would be thecountrysquireonline.com , you can purchase 1oz bags, pick up a few varying blends and see where your taste buds lead you. I am a fan of second breakfast (vanilla maple) treasure island (rum flavor) and northwest treck (a blend with latakia, which is smokey in flavor, but also blended with black cavendish which mellows it out and sweetens it up just a tad)
you might enjoy the tin society as well. its a subscription plan for pipe smokers, 4 blends every month, and a quarterly corn cob pipe from MM (Missouri Meerschaum)
Welcome, and welcome all new members.
For some inexpensive tobaccos, go to Lane STG (Scandinavian Tobacco Group) website stglanepipe.com.
I am not sure if they are still running their “deal”, but when I signed up, they sent and still occasionally send coupons for some of the “old school” OTC blends that end up costing next to nothing. They may be old OTC “cheap” blends, but there is a reason they are still around after so many years. Most are quite tasty.
https://www.pipesandcigars.com/help/request-catalog/
Another fine online merchant (but no catalog) is https://www.smokingpipes.com
They, however, have posted this: < UPS and the Post Office aren't picking up orders at our warehouse because of the threat of Hurricane Florence. Please keep this in mind as you place your order. We'll continue to pick and pack orders as long as we can, and as soon as the storm has passed and UPS and the Post Office are back in service your order will ship.>
https://www.pipesandcigars.com/help/request-catalog/
Another fine online merchant (but no catalog) is https://www.smokingpipes.com
Glad to be here.
We are active as all get out. Welcome and join the discussions. We're a friendly bunch (by in large) so if you have questions, ask any of us or open a folder with your question. We have some experts amongst us and we have some folks who just have specific experiences. We all have opinions. Join us.
And welcome, again.
https://www.amazon.com/Pipe-Smokers-Ephemeris-Book/dp/B000E1GRF2
https://www.amazon.com/Pipe-Smokers-Ephemeris-Book-II/dp/B0080Z4V3E/ref=sr_1_1
The Pipe Smoker's Ephemeris began as a small, hand typed journal in 1964 until it got to be a real glossy magazine in the '90th. This publication is "a limited edition, irregular quarterly" that contained an exhaustive amount of information about pipes and tobacco, chock full of pipe related stories, illustrations, information, photographs, etc.
Many copies are offered for sale on the interwebs.....
His opinions matter, as he really knows his stuff when it comes to pipes, tobacco, and pipe smoking.
A friend, who is deep into this stuff (he always carries a Tarot deck wrapped in a cloth) recommends the use of the Swiss Ephemeris for Users as an alternative to a book. The site features downloadable .pdf's
https://www.astro.com/swisseph/swepha_e.htm
Another possibility is http://www.ephemeris.com/ephemeris.php
Welcome to our forum. Check out the Free Pipe Smoking Library folder.......