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Posted by Michael on August 23, 2007, 7:01 pm, in reply to "Starting pipe smoking" So, you want to become a pipe smoker? A brave admission in these days of anti-smoking legislation, and smoking a pipe is certainly something that is going to make you stand out from the (student)crowd. But where to begin…? First of all, as a student I doubt that you are gong to have loads of money to spend on your first pipe, and whilst good pipes are not cheap, neither do they have to be overly expensive. Now, whilst I do not know where you are going to be studying, the chances of having a first-class tobacconist on hand are getting increasingly slim, so you might want to check out some of the retailers who sell online. At the risk of incurring the disagreement of many other pipe smokers, initially I would suggest considering a pipe that takes a 9mm filter, such as Big Ben. As to shape, it really is a matter of personal preference, but the bent designs often feel more comfortable, due to the lower centre of gravity. Essentially, go for a design and shape that you like, and that you are going to feel comfortable with. The choice of tobacco may be limited by what’s available “over the counter”, but again you could consider products available online. I would suggest starting with an aromatic, such as Black Cherry, rather than the more readily available brands such as Condor, or St Bruno – as an initial encounter with those might put you off for life! When you do finally get the chance to light up, be patient, and take it easy. Your initial experience may be nothing like you had anticipated, and may even be quite disappointing. The best advice is to persevere, as within a week or two you will discover the real pleasure of pipe smoking. One word of warning: pipe smoking is very enjoyable, but opinions are divided as to whether it is addictive. If you start, consider the very real possibility that when you go back home at the end of term you are very much going to want to smoke your pipe – and if you come from a non-smoking home (and I’m guessing that you do) that may not be without its problems. Finally, there is plenty of good advice available on the Internet about pipe smoking (as you may well have discovered), but several years ago the Pipesmokers’ Council (now defunct, due to legislation) published a guide which included tips for beginners. If you are very lucky indeed, you may find a tobacconist who still has a few spare copies. If not, then I have a spare copy, which I would be happy to send you. If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch. All the best. Michael --Previous Message--
213.122.63.160
David,
: I am off to University next
: month and at last I will be
: able to start smoking a pipe,
: something I have wanted to do
: for a long time. I would be
: pleased to obtain any advice
: from older pipesmokers. For
: example is it generally better
: to start with a straight or
: bent pipe? What tobaccos would
: be the best ones to try
: initially? Any other
: information on filling and
: smoking a pipe would be
: appreciated.
: Thanks, David
:
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