Shane O'Hare
WOLVERINE!A Gentleman's Pipe!
May 5th 2009 18:00
A mans pipe is something that has been bastardized over the years. Brought down to the level of scummy substance abuser. I'm here to help bring it back up to the level of society it belongs to.
I've always wanted to be a gentlemen, gentleman, gentle-guy. Sharp suits, sophisticated movies and music, people, places, things. If its worth doing its worth doing as well as you can do it and as sexy as you can do it.
When i first got into smoking pipes it was hard work. I burnt rims, I broke stems from bowls, I burnt dry gross tobacco. I was lost. But i found many different online resources, talked to some old guys at the golf course and finally devised my own little perfect way to pack a bowl and enjoy some fine tobacco.
These principals will work on all types of pipes, just some have different shapes or interiors and you'll have to adjust for your specific pipe. My pipe ill be using today is named "Amadeus". Its good to name your pipe...go on name it...you're calling it that? That's a stupid name.....well to each his own.
So lets learn some basics.
Once you have your chosen tobacco (ill talk about choosing your smokable in future articles) take it out and pour some on a plate.
Letting it sit drys the exterior of the tobacco so that it can take a flame at lower temperatures.
Next get your smoking device
Make sure its clean and free from previous smoking debris. Blow through it to clear anything.
Next pack your bowl
Hold your pipe over the plate and sprinkle some tobacco into the pipe. Tap the bowl so it settles and keep doing it till you get a full bowl.
Next suck on it a bit so things settle, not too hard now. If its really hard to suck through then its packed to tight and will burn unevenly.
Next remove the excess
Now light it. Put a flame to it (no torches yet, only matches or lighters. BICS work best for beginners) and pull evenly on it. Remember don't breathe in just suck, like a straw. Do this for about 20 seconds, moving the flame all over the tobacco. It will expand and some might come out, just brush it off and keep burning. Once its at a point where you can keep drawing on it and smoke comes out and you don't need to have flame to it, its ready. Now just put it down. Let it go out. Yeah I'm serious. NO, now stop that. Put it down and let it go out. It wont take long.
This is called a charring light. It dries the interior of the bowl and levels the moisture in the tobacco.
Once its good and out, no more smoke comes when you draw it, its time to stamp. I suggest getting whats called a Czech tool. Just small multi tools for pipes. You can get them at any smoke shop. Make sure the fire is out, and gently stamp the tobacco down. Not too hard or it'll pack to hard and all this work will be for nothing! Stamp it down to about half way. Once its nice and down do a relight and repeat.
After you've re lit the tobacco and stamped it its time to put more in. Do the same before, sprinkle till its full and do some grooming. Now light it up till it can keep smoke without flame. Now let this one go out. I know its hard work, but once you get it down you can light any pipe and smoke it for hours. Now that its out, stamp it down to the 3/4 mark on your pipe. Remember not too hard, gentle is better. You might not make it to the 3/4 mark, but close is fine, this is an art! Now again relight it and stamp it down again.
Now your pipe is ready for the final light. Light it up nice and good, drawing for 30 seconds instead of 20. Now its READY! Sit back and enjoy your labor. Most bowls should last at least half hour, depends on how fast you smoke.
Now go, get a starter pipe and some tobacco and enjoy the finer things in life. You'll look like a sophisticated gentleman who likes to enjoy the fruits this world has to offer.
So comment with questions or.....comments and tell me what you think. Next time ill cover pipe cleaning conditioning and tobacco choices.
--Shane
"Enjoying the finer things since '89"
I've always wanted to be a gentlemen, gentleman, gentle-guy. Sharp suits, sophisticated movies and music, people, places, things. If its worth doing its worth doing as well as you can do it and as sexy as you can do it.
When i first got into smoking pipes it was hard work. I burnt rims, I broke stems from bowls, I burnt dry gross tobacco. I was lost. But i found many different online resources, talked to some old guys at the golf course and finally devised my own little perfect way to pack a bowl and enjoy some fine tobacco.
These principals will work on all types of pipes, just some have different shapes or interiors and you'll have to adjust for your specific pipe. My pipe ill be using today is named "Amadeus". Its good to name your pipe...go on name it...you're calling it that? That's a stupid name.....well to each his own.
So lets learn some basics.
Gather Your Materials
Once you have your chosen tobacco (ill talk about choosing your smokable in future articles) take it out and pour some on a plate.
This helps it dry out enough so when you smoke it doesn't need to burn very hot.
Letting it sit drys the exterior of the tobacco so that it can take a flame at lower temperatures.
Next get your smoking device
Old Amadeus. My first and best pipe. Ready for another smoke!
Make sure its clean and free from previous smoking debris. Blow through it to clear anything.
Next pack your bowl
Hold your pipe over the plate and sprinkle some tobacco into the pipe. Tap the bowl so it settles and keep doing it till you get a full bowl.
Next suck on it a bit so things settle, not too hard now. If its really hard to suck through then its packed to tight and will burn unevenly.
Next remove the excess
Perfect first pack.
Now light it. Put a flame to it (no torches yet, only matches or lighters. BICS work best for beginners) and pull evenly on it. Remember don't breathe in just suck, like a straw. Do this for about 20 seconds, moving the flame all over the tobacco. It will expand and some might come out, just brush it off and keep burning. Once its at a point where you can keep drawing on it and smoke comes out and you don't need to have flame to it, its ready. Now just put it down. Let it go out. Yeah I'm serious. NO, now stop that. Put it down and let it go out. It wont take long.
This is called a charring light. It dries the interior of the bowl and levels the moisture in the tobacco.
Once its good and out, no more smoke comes when you draw it, its time to stamp. I suggest getting whats called a Czech tool. Just small multi tools for pipes. You can get them at any smoke shop. Make sure the fire is out, and gently stamp the tobacco down. Not too hard or it'll pack to hard and all this work will be for nothing! Stamp it down to about half way. Once its nice and down do a relight and repeat.
After you've re lit the tobacco and stamped it its time to put more in. Do the same before, sprinkle till its full and do some grooming. Now light it up till it can keep smoke without flame. Now let this one go out. I know its hard work, but once you get it down you can light any pipe and smoke it for hours. Now that its out, stamp it down to the 3/4 mark on your pipe. Remember not too hard, gentle is better. You might not make it to the 3/4 mark, but close is fine, this is an art! Now again relight it and stamp it down again.
Now your pipe is ready for the final light. Light it up nice and good, drawing for 30 seconds instead of 20. Now its READY! Sit back and enjoy your labor. Most bowls should last at least half hour, depends on how fast you smoke.
Now go, get a starter pipe and some tobacco and enjoy the finer things in life. You'll look like a sophisticated gentleman who likes to enjoy the fruits this world has to offer.
So comment with questions or.....comments and tell me what you think. Next time ill cover pipe cleaning conditioning and tobacco choices.
--Shane
"Enjoying the finer things since '89"
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Comment by Waysouth
Romantic Writer
Given To Gaming
Waysouth
Spanish Honduras
Cool pictures as well, nice post.
Comment by Shane O'Hare
Modern Existence
The Niche Blog
Once you get a feel for your specfic pipe and its level of pressure it takes to stamp it down youll notice how long it takes to smoke.