Things I wish I had known.

Subtilis87

I first smoked a pipe when I was 19, but I feel like I have learned so many things in the last year that have improved my experience dramatically( I'm 28 now). I wanted to make a list of these things gor the benefit of others, please add to the list if you can think of something.

1. You can run a pipe cleaner through your pipe while smoking to stop the gurgle.

2. You don't have to finish that bowl. If you are no longer enjoying the pipe, don't finish it for the sake of smoking it to the bottom.

3. A pipe lighter makes the relighting experience far less onerous ( No offense matches!)

4. Dry out your aromatic a few hours before you smoke it and the tongue bit problem tends to dissapear.

5. Try something different, you might really, REALLY, like it. Smoked aromatics only for a long time, and have recently fallen in love with Virginias, after trying some Christmas Cheer at a pipe club meeting.

PappyJoe

6. Not all aromatics taste like soap.

drac2485

7. Unlike a cigar you can come back to a pipe a few hours after smoking it and continue without it tasting like the bottom of an ash tray

mhajec

8 slow is smooth and smooth is fast, don't power puff, just experiment with the many ways of bowl packing

drac2485

9. Straight Virginia in a wide bowl may make you regret life and prevent you from tasting anything for a while.

10. If you end up with tongue bite or your mouth feels like it's on fire. DON'T take a huge swig of that ice cold coke... It will make it worse

dstrib

11. Variety is the spice of life. You can never have enough choices

DanielCSan9592

Making use of gravity and lightly blowing down the stem is a good remedy for mild pipe-gurgle.

highstump

Lucky 13. The weight of the tamper alone is enough, no pressure needs to be applied.

drac2485

14 You can always learn something new.

LostMason

15.Just because everyone else like a blend doesn't
    mean you will,but try it to find out
16.If you like a blend others don't,be happy,just means there is more for you..

Woodsman

LOL. Don't use a car at 25 mph to break in a pipe, don't ask.

Mangoandy

18. Don't rule out a tobacco blend or pipe on the first smoke. Some tobaccos smoke better in a different pipe and some pipes smoke better with a different tobacco.

judandhispipe

19 Don't feel you have to smoke everything. Feel free to not try things.

idbowman

20.  Some blends are like wine.  Better to crack the seal on the tin and let it breathe for a day or two before trying it.

LostMason

20.b. Some blends taste much better after aging a few months to a year or more.

21.Reviews are not gospel, They are the reviewers subjective tastes,your's

will most likely be different. Read them after trying a new blend.

ghostsofpompeii

22. Sticking the pipe of an old dead stranger into your mouth will not give you trench mouth or Ebola provided you properly sterilize and restore the pipe. Collecting and restoring old estate pipes is an enjoyable part of the hobby.  

PappyJoe

@ghostsofpompeii - #22 is not true! Old pipes will kill you! Leave them alone. Just message me and tell me where you found them and I will see that they are properly disposed of.

ghostsofpompeii

@PappyJoe 23. Pipe smokers have an excellent sense of humor.