Questions You Thought Were Too Dumb to Ask (Pipes Edition)

[Haebar]

Anybody use that Obsidian stem oil? Does it help prevent oxidation of vulcanite stems?

[Branzig]

Anybody use that Obsidian stem oil? Does it help prevent oxidation of vulcanite stems?

Yep, it works very well in preventing oxidation.

Before I started waxing my stems, I used Obsidian oil and it worked very very well.

[mooster]

Just go for it. That smell will go away pretty quickly.

Oops...there was another page; never mind!

[bluenoser]

Why is it preferred to break in a pipe with something like Carter Hall or Prince Albert? Or is that just for us noobs?

[commonsenseman]

Why is it preferred to break in a pipe with something like Carter Hall or Prince Albert? Or is that just for us noobs?

I believe the main reasons are that they are very easy to smoke, they smoke fairly dry & they are mild enough that they don't ghost the pipe at all.

[Branzig]

Why is it preferred to break in a pipe with something like Carter Hall or Prince Albert? Or is that just for us noobs?

I believe the main reasons are that they are very easy to smoke, they smoke fairly dry & they are mild enough that they don't ghost the pipe at all.

Everything that Jeff said PLUS Carter Hall and Prince Albert have this strange ability to smoke down to a fine and dry ash all the way to the very bottom of the bowl. Nothing builds a more consistent and firm cake all the way down in my opinion than PA or CH.

[Horsefeathers]

Here's a slew of dumb questions for everyone.

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up.

2.) How do you know you're at the bottom of the bowl? I relight ash last night about 3 times before I gave up, only to dump out the ash and realize the tobacco had been smoked and I was done.

3.) How long can I keep tobacco in an opened tin?

4.) Can there be there too much (or too little) air in a jar of aging tobacco? I was looking at these jars http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20227984/ and they are 17oz. Say I buy a tin or two and throw it in the Jar. Is that too much space / air contacting the tobacco?

5.) It seems that there are far more pipers that smoke indoors than cigar smokers. Is pipe smoke less invasive than cigar smoke?

6.) Rootbeer was recommended as a beverage that pairs well with cigars. Any go to beverage that pairs well with pipe tobacco (of any kind)

7.) Are the pipe cleaners sold for pipe cleaning the same as pipe cleaners sold for crafting?

[tmoran]

Here's a slew of dumb questions for everyone.

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up. - A MM Legend usually lasts me about 30 mins, maybe up to 45, depending on the tobacco.

2.) How do you know you're at the bottom of the bowl? I relight ash last night about 3 times before I gave up, only to dump out the ash and realize the tobacco had been smoked and I was done. - Look in the bowl? I guess you can use your tamper to dig around a bit to see if any baccy is left. If it takes you 3 successive lights to try to get it going, chances are if there is anything in there, it's not worth smoking anyway.

3.) How long can I keep tobacco in an opened tin? - Depends on the ambient humidity and the type of tin. If it is dry, probably a week or less no matter what type of tin it is. If it is relatively humid, several weeks to a month, if it's a good tin. Here is how I rate the tins at holding humidity after opened, from best to worst. 1. round twist on tins (Dan Tobacco comes to mind) 2. round paint cans (Reiner) 3. Round cardboard tins with plastic lid (C&D) 4. round pop-off metal tins (Dunhill) 5. square tins

4.) Can there be there too much (or too little) air in a jar of aging tobacco? I was looking at these jars http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20227984/ and they are 17oz. Say I buy a tin or two and throw it in the Jar. Is that too much space / air contacting the tobacco? - 17 oz is a liquid measure and tobacco is by weight. A 17oz jar should hold about 4-5 oz of ribbon cut tobacco, and more of flake or cake. I'm not sure if air space will do any harm or not. I don't like air space because in my mind that's wasted space. Once you start stacking the mason jars deep, you regret all that wasted air space. I buy my tobacco based on how it fits in mason jars i.e. I now always buy 3 250g boxes of FVF at a time, because 3 boxes will fit in 2 32 oz mason jars. If I only buy 2 boxes, I still have to use 2 32 oz mason jars.

5.) It seems that there are far more pipers that smoke indoors than cigar smokers. Is pipe smoke less invasive than cigar smoke? - IMO, yes. The aroma is more pleasant and doesn't cling to stuff as long.

6.) Rootbeer was recommended as a beverage that pairs well with cigars. Any go to beverage that pairs well with pipe tobacco (of any kind) - I like coffee with burley, green or herbal tea with VA, and Chai with Latakia or Kentucky, but I am boring. I don't drink soda or alcohol, so my choices are quite limited

7.) Are the pipe cleaners sold for pipe cleaning the same as pipe cleaners sold for crafting? - They are different. The actual pipe cleaners seem stiffer and don't fall apart as easily.

Mine in bold. Very good questions, by the way.

[Branzig]

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up.

Kind of hard to answer without knowing what pipes you are smoking...I have pipes that last 15 minutes and pipes that will go for 90+ mins. You need to factor in tobacco cut as well. A MM legend full of Carter Hall will probably last me around 20 minutes where as a folded flake of FVF in the same pipe will go 45 mins. A lot of factors.

2.) How do you know you're at the bottom of the bowl? I relight ash last night about 3 times before I gave up, only to dump out the ash and realize the tobacco had been smoked and I was done.

Smoke density is a good factor. If it goes out pretty much instantly after lighting it, then you are probably to the dottle. Also taste plays a big part of it. If it taste terrible and like ash, you are done. It is a lot like the nub of a cigar...when it becomes harsh and bitter, time to call it quits.

3.) How long can I keep tobacco in an opened tin?

Another "depends" answer. Samuel Gawith flakes can go about 2 months in a tin and be fine. A fine Burley can dry out on you in as little as 3 weeks. A goopy aro will last eternity (but will lose flavor). My general rule of thumb is get it into a jar within a month.

4.) Can there be there too much (or too little) air in a jar of aging tobacco? I was looking at these jars http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20227984/ and they are 17oz. Say I buy a tin or two and throw it in the Jar. Is that too much space / air contacting the tobacco?

I don't worry about this stuff. I buy jar. I put tobacco in jar. Me smoke tobacco.

I would rather have a lot of 8oz canning jars full than bigger ones half full though myself.

5.) It seems that there are far more pipers that smoke indoors than cigar smokers. Is pipe smoke less invasive than cigar smoke?

I don't smoke indoors, unless you count the shop and garage indoors. I think pipe smoke sticks around and stinks up stuff just as much as cigar smoke does. The main difference is there is a lot less smoke produced I would say when you puff a pipe, and in general, pipe tobacco isn't as pungent as cigar smoke is. Unless you're smoking latakia. That stuff will stink up a room.

6.) Rootbeer was recommended as a beverage that pairs well with cigars. Any go to beverage that pairs well with pipe tobacco (of any kind)

I love coffee with Burley and Va. Black/green tea goes well with all pipe tobacco in my opinion. I like peppermint tea with latakia, that is fun to me. Water is always good with pipe tobacco. I drink a lot of beer with my pipes too...but I have been told my pairings are awful so I won't share them...I like bold flavors and people complain that their taste buds aren't manly enough to handle all the flavor awesomeness that mine can.

7.) Are the pipe cleaners sold for pipe cleaning the same as pipe cleaners sold for crafting?

Don't use craft cleaners for your pipe. They are for crafts and not absorbent like "true" pipe cleaners are.

Nice Questions!

[Haebar]

Here's a slew of dumb questions for everyone.

1.) How long does a "typical" bowl last? I realize this is going to depend on the size of the pipe and how fast you smoke. I know when I sit down for a Robusto it can take me anywhere from 50-80 minutes to get through it. If I don't have at lest 80 mins free I won't light it up.

As Branzig mentioned, many variables here. A bowl of Half & Half in a medium sized billiard lasts me about 30-35 minutes. A bowl of crumpled flake in the same pipe could last 45-50 minutes. Also how much you puff makes a big difference. My brother always finishes his cigar first, even when we are having the same cigars because he smokes faster. It's significant; he usually finishes a good 5-10 minutes before me.